Policy analysis

In a sobering assessment released this week, the United Nations has painted a complex portrait of Afghanistan under Taliban governance, where a dramatic increase in security incidents coincides with fragile stability, devastating cross-border violence with Pakistan, and a deepening humanitarian and human rights crisis.

Sri Lanka’s prison system is under intense scrutiny following multiple deaths in custody.

Experts argue that investment in agriculture, mining, manufacturing and transport infrastructure could help improve export performance and reduce dependence on imports.

The government has projected growth of around 4 per cent for the next fiscal year, while aiming to keep inflation under control and continue fiscal consolidation.

The report comes as India is in the grip of a escalating heat crisis and heatwaves are becoming more frequent, intense, and deadly, threatening lives, livelihoods, public health, agriculture, and economic productivity.

International mediators, including Qatar, continue to play pivotal roles. The coming weeks will test whether this ceasefire evolves into a comprehensive framework for Middle East security or remains a fragile pause.

The Jewar airport is expected to reshape investment patterns, logistics networks, real estate activity and regional mobility across a large part of western Uttar Pradesh.

For the disarmament community, this moment underscores the urgency of revitalizing the NPT. Without genuine steps toward Article VI commitments (disarmament), the treaty risks becoming a hollow shell, inviting withdrawals or parallel regimes that favour proliferation.