Attack on the Brazil Congress
Just a week after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva took office, his opponent’s wild supporters stormed the Three Powers Plaza—an area that houses the Supreme Court, the Presidential Palace, and the Congress.
World leaders strongly condemned this act of violence, as it severely damaged the democratic will of Brazil.
The Sad Reality of Companies Closing Down in Pakistan
The previous year proved to be very bleak for various industries and companies in Pakistan, with several expecting to shutdown and suffer huge losses this year as well.
Some industries have already shut down operations, while others are expected to follow the trend thus projecting industrial growth to be a negative 4% in FY23.
Exploring the India-China Border Dispute in Arunachal Pradesh
The absence of clear demarcations in the Arunachal Pradesh region has led to multiple conflicts between China and India. Tawang, the reason for the recent skirmish, is claimed by both India and China. Leveraging the tactical and cultural importance of the Tawang region in Arunachal Pradesh will undeniably provide a strategic advantage to either of the two nations.
Pak-Afghan Clashes at the Chaman Border
The Taliban regime came into power by overtaking the Afghan government in August 2021. Despite the fact that Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize the Taliban government, relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained contentious since then.
Deadly cross-border exchanges at the Chaman border on 13th November, 11th December, and 15th December have alarmed the people of the two states who fear a dramatic escalation of the conflict.
The Hierarchical Structure of the Pakistan Armed Forces
An organisation, especially one as huge as the military, functions better when it has structure and procedures in place. This structure includes distinct hierarchies or systems of people organised in a ranked order within each military branch.
Mahnoor Najeeb and Maryam Ibrahim set out the structure and ranking of each of the service branches of Pakistan’s military forces.
Protests Against China’s Zero-COVID Policy
China continues to stand by its zero-covid policy, one that requires extended lockdowns, mass testings, and quarantines. The government believes this is necessary to completely eliminate the virus from China.
Waves of protests are now erupting all across China. Although citizens previously yielded to these strict measures, it seems patience has worn out.
The Tigray Conflict: A Truce for Peace in Ethiopia
Mahnoor Najeeb details the brutal conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Following the recount of the ill-fated relationship, she briefly describes the recent peace deal that has been struck between the Tigray forces and the state authorities.
Arshad Sharif’s Death & the Suffocation of Free Speech
The recent assassination of the brilliant investigative journalist, Arshad Sharif, reflects the rising power of extremist ideologies and the diminishing space for political discourse.
The dark past of Pakistan (as well as that of Kenya) in terms of assassination and forced disappearances calls for a fair investigation into the murder of Arshad Sharif.
Investigating and sharing the truth is a right, and brutally murdering someone exercising that right is a crime against humanity.
The Assassination of CJ Meskanzai: The Latest Victim of the Baloch Insurgency
The re-emergence of increased separatist movements is a direct consequence of trans-provincial alliances between Baloch and other separatist groups.
The Baloch insurgents are now reaching new extremes – and have even started attacking high-profile individuals. One such tragedy was the senseless killing of Chief Justice Meskanzai.
The Bosnian Genocide: The UN’s Ultimate Failure
Nothing explains the United Nations’ peacekeeping failure better than the Bosnian War (1992-1995). Despite the presence of UN peacekeepers, the war culminated in one of the most horrendous massacres of all time—the Srebrenica massacre. The United Nations’ incompetence in preventing the genocide of the Bosnian Muslims, and the great powers’ hesitance to intervene cost the world the lives of more than 100,000 Bosniaks.
The Maritime Border Deal Between Israel & Lebanon
Israel and Lebanon have been at war since 1948. Both nations have been claiming rights over an 860 sq. km. patch of an area in the Mediterranean Sea that contains parts of the Karish gas field and Qana gas field.
Negotiations between the two nations were underway since October 2020 but failed to bear fruits until recently. The historic maritime deal has now been mediated by the United States.
Oil Theft in Nigeria: A Bitter Reality
Nigeria is a country with the second-largest oil reserves in Africa, and is considered the 12th-largest oil global producer. These facts are great motivation for individuals who set up illegal pipelines to steal oil.
Mahnoor Najeeb believes that oil theft is prevalent because of Nigeria’s resource curse—the inability to make use of the abundant resources available.
