Samina Yasmeen, The University of Western Australia Tensions between former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan and the current coalition government are coming to a head. Khan made a speech in the northern city of Rawalpindi near Islamabad on Sunday, August … Continue reading What’s the dispute between Imran Khan and the Pakistan government about?
Mathew Guest, Durham University This autumn’s Brazilian presidential election offers a glimpse of how 21st century populist leaders are using religion to enthuse their support base. The incumbent, right-wing firebrand Jair Bolsonaro, rose to power in 2018 with support from … Continue reading Brazil: how populist politicians use religion to help them win
After my session with Saudi students on Sun Tzu & Art of War, they put together some great quotes for me. Continue reading Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman & with Sun Tzu Quotes
NU Chairman Invites Indian Ambassador to Strengthen Peace within the Indo-Pacific Region Continue reading The ‘Ashoka Approach’ and Indonesian Leadership
Explainer: Nietzsche, nihilism and reasons to be cheerful Jamie Parr, Australian Catholic University German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) is sometimes dismissed as a malevolent figure, obsessed with the problem of nihilism and the “death of God”. Understandably, these ideas are unsettling: … Continue reading Nietzsche’s Jihad for Questioning
Robyn J. Whitaker Christmas, at least in Western countries like Australia, brings together diverse myths and European traditions. Santa magically produces and delivers presents to the entire world in one night, hot Australians dream of a white Christmas, Jesus’s miraculous … Continue reading Miracles and magic: the dual stories at the heart of Christmas
Miriamne Ara Krummel, University of Dayton On Dec. 31, people from cultures all around the world will be raising a toast to welcome in A.D. 2022. Few of them will think about the fact that A.D. signals “anno Domini,” Latin … Continue reading How common is the ‘Common Era?’ How A.D. and C.E. took over counting years
Ahmet T. Kuru, San Diego State University A Sri Lankan working in Pakistan, Priyantha Kumara, was lynched by a mob of hundreds of people on Dec. 3, 2021, over allegations of blasphemy, or sacrilegious act. After being assaulted, he was … Continue reading Understanding the history and politics behind Pakistan’s blasphemy laws
Kambaiz Rafi, UCL and Scott Lucas, University of Birmingham In late August 2021, the US completed its withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, ending a 20-year occupation. The Taliban retook the country with shocking speed. The Islamic fundamentalist political group was … Continue reading What’s next for Afghanistan? Two experts make predictions
Alex Farnsworth, University of Bristol; Michael Farnsworth, University of Sheffield, and Sebastian Steinig, University of Bristol Dune, the epic series of sci-fi books by Frank Herbert, now turned into a movie of the same name, is set in the far … Continue reading Dune: we simulated the desert planet of Arrakis to see if humans could survive there
Mohammed Abbasi 