On April 1, 2025, Finland’s Prime Minister announced the country’s intention to withdraw from the international treaty banning anti-personnel land mines. Contrary to the date’s association with pranks, this declaration is no April Fool’s joke. Historically, wars have compelled states to suspend, derogate from, or even terminate treaty obligations. In many cases, the erosion of treaty commitments becomes visible first on the battlefield before formal withdrawals are announced.

In 2021, during a seminar on gender mainstreaming in India’s foreign policy, India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, emphasized the need for a gender-balanced foreign policy. Jaishankar underscored three crucial aspects: encouraging women's participation in foreign policy issues, integrating women's interests into policy frameworks, and adopting feminist perspectives.

This is the second (and last) part of the article delves into China’s strategic patience, training methodologies, and information warfare. It broadly examines how Beijing is positioning itself for long-term dominance while controlling global perceptions

Cautious Approach and Strategic Patience

The evolving security landscape, characterized by the rising tide of disinformation operations, rapid technological advancements, and the persistent spectre of chemical weapons use, presents an unprecedented challenge to international peace and security. The deliberate weaponization of falsehoods—exacerbated by the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI)—has emerged as a formidable instrument of geopolitical warfare.

The 50501 Movement began on February 17, 2025, and quickly became one of the most impactful social movements in recent U.S. history. With protests in all 50 states, millions gathered before state capitols, raising signs and chanting slogans opposing government policies. The movement, originating as a response to contentious policies such as the Trump administration's "2025 Plan" and controversial immigration reforms, expanded beyond the U.S., gaining global attention.

This is a two part article. The first part focuses on the current state of China's military capabilities while also exposing the vulnerabilities undermining its strategic ambitions. 

The age-old adage coined by Deng Xiaoping, "hide your capabilities, bide your time," appears to have subtly evolved into a contemporary mantra: "show your capabilities, let everyone speculate." This paradigm shift was strikingly evident in the recent alleged unveiling of China’s elusive sixth-generation fighter jet, purportedly the first of its kind in the world.

India's foray into Antarctic geopolitics began in 1955–56 with “The Antarctic Question,” marking the country's official intervention under then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. As historian Sarvepalli Gopal observed, Nehru’s geopolitical vision was rooted in advocating world peace and fostering solidarity among post-colonial nations, positioning India as a diplomatic force on global platforms traditionally dominated by Western powers.

Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, Afghanistan has faced a sharp decline in human rights, with women and minorities bearing the brunt of repression. The Taliban’s enforcement of moral policing, public floggings, and the systematic dismantling of girls' education reflects their rigid interpretation of Sharia law despite global condemnation. This article examines the impact of these policies on Afghan society, particularly women and girls while highlighting the Taliban’s justification through religious edicts.

In Greek mythology, Icarus was the son of an architect called Daedalus. They wanted to escape from the island of Crete since the king had imprisoned them for sharing their secrets. Daedalus had constructed wings from birds’ moulted feathers and some other materials. He had used the beeswax for the ‘construction’ of the wings. Daedalus had warned his son that he should not fly too high. But Icarus became overambitious and flew too close to the Sun. The heat melted the wax in his wings, and he drowned in the sea.

The India-Russia relationship has entered a new phase, marked by intensified bilateral engagements over the past six months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Moscow twice this year, in July and October, to strengthen ties with Russia, a steadfast ally. Most recently, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s three-day visit to Moscow (December 8–10, 2024) signaled a new chapter in the India-Russia defence partnership.