A Narrowing Path to Peace in Ukraine

As the Russia–Ukraine war grinds into yet another year, diplomacy has re-entered the spotlight, though not without controversy and deep uncertainty. Recent proposals circulating among Kyiv, Moscow, Washington and European capitals suggest a possible shift from maximalist war aims to pragmatic, if uncomfortable, compromises. Yet peace remains fragile, conditional, and far from assured.

Lamka’s Roads Are Failing Its People

Lamka, the commercial heartbeat of southern Manipur, is expanding rapidly in size, population, and economic activity. Yet its basic infrastructure - especially its roads - remains painfully behind. Daily commuters already know the routine: jolting through deep potholes, navigating half-finished drain lines, and breathing air thick with dust or diesel fumes. What should be a bustling, connected township instead feels like a maze of neglected terrain.

The Nupi Lan - Observed on 12th December

The Nupi Lan (meaning "Women's War" in the Meitei language) refers to two significant mass movements led by women in Manipur, British India, against colonial authorities and oppressive policies. These movements are landmark events in Manipuri history, renowned for their display of women's power and unity.

The First Nupi Lan (1904)

The first Nupi Lan broke out in 1904 in response to the British colonial authorities' reintroduction of the forced labour system known as the Lallup.

DAY-NRLM as a “Silent Economic Revolution” — Argument summary

DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana — National Rural Livelihoods Mission) qualifies as a silent economic revolution because it deliberately builds millions of community institutions (SHGs → federations), channels financial inclusion and livelihoods supports through those institutions, and—over a decade—has quietly transformed the economic agency, savings/credit access, and market linkages of rural women and households. The revolution is “silent” because it advances structural change from the ground up (social capital, norms, local governance of livelihoods) rather than through headline big-ticket infrastructure projects.

Manipur’s Uneasy Calm: A Dangerous Silence in Our Own Backyard

From Imphal to Churachandpur, from Kangpokpi to Moreh, Manipur today sits under an uneasy calm. The gunfire has decreased, markets have partially reopened, and highways are operating under heavy security. Yet for ordinary citizens, this is not peace. It is a tense silence layered with fear, separation, and deep mistrust. Neighbours who once shared daily life now live across guarded buffer zones. What Manipur is witnessing is not reconciliation - but enforced coexistence under military watch.

A clean, categorised list of popular AI apps for the beginners

Artificial intelligence (AI) is technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human learning, comprehension, problem solving, decision making, creativity and autonomy. Applications and devices equipped with AI can see and identify objects. They can understand and respond to human language. They can learn from new information and experience. They can make detailed recommendations to users and experts. They can act independently, replacing the need for human intelligence or intervention (a classic example being a self-driving car).

The Journey of the Wise Men of the East: A Parable for the Contemporary World

Introduction

The biblical narrative of the Wise Men from the East—traditionally known as the Magi - occupies a brief yet profound place in the Gospel of Matthew (2:1–12). Though appearing only once in the New Testament, their journey has exerted immense influence on Christian theology, intercultural philosophy, and global ethics. The Magi symbolize seekers of truth, bearers of wisdom across civilizations, and agents of peace who transcend political fear and ethnic boundaries. In the contemporary world - marked by conflict, fragmentation, religious intolerance, and epistemic crisis - the journey of the Magi stands as a powerful parable for ethical leadership, spiritual discernment, and cross-cultural cooperation (Brown, 1993; Wright, 2001).

Christmas: Origin, Santa and Cultural Differences

Christians began celebrating Christmas on December 25th during the 3rd and 4th centuries, with early evidence from a Roman almanac in 354 AD. The date was influenced by theological reasoning, cultural context, and political factors, with connections to pagan winter solstice festivals like Sol Invictus. The Gospels do not provide a specific date for Jesus’ birth; early Christians focused more on Easter, and later used theological calculations to determine December 25th. Most Western Christian denominations celebrate Christmas on December 25th, while Eastern Orthodox churches often celebrate it on January 7th due to calendar differences.

1. The History of Christmas

Christmas has deep historical roots that blend Christian beliefs with ancient cultural traditions.

A Historical Analysis of the Global Readiness for the Birth of Christ

Abstract

This research outlines the convergence of geopolitical, cultural, and religious factors in the Mediterranean world during the first century BCE and the first century CE. Often termed Praeparatio Evangelica (Preparation for the Gospel), this period is characterised by the intersection of the Pax Romana (Roman political stability), Hellenistic cultural unification (linguistic standardisation), and the Jewish Diaspora. This study argues that these distinct historical currents created a unique "fullness of time" (Galatians 4:4), facilitating the rapid dissemination and reception of early Christianity.

The Characters of Kind Herod

The character of Herod the Great (who ruled Judaea from c. 37–4 BCE) is defined by a deep and terrifying contradiction: he was both a magnificent, highly effective ruler and a brutally paranoid, tyrannical murderer.

His character can be summarised across three main dimensions, largely sourced from the detailed histories of the 1st-century Jewish historian Flavius Josephus.

1. The Politician and Administrator (The "Great")

Herod earned the title "the Great" from history due to his political savvy and his immense contributions to the prosperity and infrastructure of his kingdom.