Secularism's Old Soldier
After reading A Maverick in Politics 1991-2024 (Juggernaut), my response was that this is a book written by a brilliant mind. These are not the memoirs of a maverick but a brilliant ideologue caught in a time capsule. It encapsulates the tragedy of the author's life and career as he so honestly acknowledges: 'What remains are the memories and fantasies of yesteryear. …..Coping with failure was more personal. …I just never thought the Gandhi family that had brought me into politics would bowl me out too. Do I regret having quit the Foreign Service midstream to take the plunge into politics? Not for one second. I took my decision consciously, never looking back, knowing that it might end in disaster, not triumph….No, I regret nothing'.
Unlike most who are 'born' into politics and do not switch from civil service to a completely different milieu, Mani, as we affectionately call him, refused after moving to politics, to change with the times, or accept that India had changed. He liked his time capsule and unlike Dr. Who, of BBC fame [a British science fiction programme produced by the BBC], refused to emerge from it. The consequences were clear and revealing and frequently tragic.
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Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on Drohobych, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Caroline test and more (Week 116)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on International Relations to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for June 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), consider the following statements: 1. The group is the world's largest regional organisation by geographical area and population. 2. It is an international organisation with primarily European members that deals with security issues. 3. The roots of the SCO lie in the 'Shanghai Five', of which India was also a part. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh refused to endorse the draft statement at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) conference because it lacked the reference to the Pahalgam terror assault on April 22, but did include the Jaffar Express kidnapping in Pakistan in March. — The SCO consists of ten countries: India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. The SCO's origins may be traced back to the 'Shanghai Five' of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, which formed in 1996. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — The collapse of the Soviet Union into 15 independent countries in 1991 raised fears in the region about the rise of radical religious groups and ethnic tensions. To address these challenges, a group was formed to coordinate security efforts. — The SCO was founded on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai. The organisation is the world's largest regional organisation in terms of geographic area and population. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — The SCO is one of the few international groups dealing with security matters that is primarily composed of Asian countries. The Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) meets on a regular basis to exchange information. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. With reference to the Caroline test, consider the following statements: 1. It is a rule of customary international law that says states can use force only when absolutely necessary, to address an imminent, overwhelming threat. 2. It was first used when the Portuguese forces crossed into India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — The Caroline test — a rule of customary international law that says states can use force only when absolutely necessary, to address an imminent, overwhelming threat — stems from 1837, when British forces crossed into the United States to destroy the American ship Caroline, to prevent rebels from attacking Canada. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct. — It is still illegal to employ military action to prevent a non-imminent future attack. Some experts believe Israel's present bombing campaign violates that rule. — 'There is simply no plausible way of arguing that Iran was about to attack Israel with a nuclear weapon, which it doesn't even have,' Marko Milanovic, a law professor at Reading University in England, wrote in a recent blog post. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow are the nuclear facilities in: (a) Russia (b) Israel (c) Iran (d) Ukraine Explanation — The United States and Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear sites are the first time that any country's operating nuclear facilities have been targeted for destruction. As a result, various worries have arisen in the aftermath of the assaults, including the possibility of radiation leaks. — While Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the world's nuclear watchdog, have reported no increases in radiation levels thus far, other concerns remain. These include concerns regarding the safety and location of nuclear material kept at the targeted facilities in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. With reference to the places in news and the region associated, consider the following pairs: 1. Drohobych – Croatia 2. Cherkasy – Russia 3. Bryansk – Ukraine How many of the pairs given above are correctly marked? (a) Only one pair (b) Only two pairs (c) All three pairs (d) None of the pairs Explanation — Russia launched its most comprehensive aircraft bombardment on Ukraine overnight, undermining hopes for settlement in the nearly three-year-old conflict. — According to Ukraine's air force, Russia used 537 aerial weapons, including 477 drones, decoys, and 60 missiles. Of these, 249 were intercepted, and 226 were most certainly neutralised by electronic jammers. — 'This was the most massive airstrike on Ukraine since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022,' stated Yuriy Ihnat, the Ukrainian air force's spokeswoman. The strikes hit several places, including the western city of Drohobych, which was far from the front lines and saw a drone strike start a fire at an industrial site and shut out power. — At least two civilians were killed—one in Kherson and the other in Kharkiv—and six were injured in Cherkasy, including a kid. Ukraine also claimed the loss of an F-16 warplane supplied by Western partners, which fell after being damaged while targeting enemy targets. The pilot has died. — Russia claims it downed three Ukrainian drones overnight. Seven Ukrainian drones were intercepted in western Russia's Bryansk area, with two persons reportedly injured in a separate strike, according to regional governor Alexander Bogomaz. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. The Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) is a United States military facility is near the border of: (a) Mexico (b) Canada (c) Cuba (d) Bahamas Explanation — The Department of Defence is expanding a militarised zone along the southern US border where troops are authorised to detain people who enter illegally for possible federal prosecution on charges of trespassing in a national defence area. — The Air Force declared the annexation of a sinuous 250-mile (400-kilometer) section of border in Texas, amid a surge of military forces following President Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the border. According to a defensive Department official, the Navy has also been told to build a new national defensive area along the border. — The newly declared national defence area on land and water along the Rio Grande comprises two Texas counties and includes the towns of Brownsville and McAllen. It will be treated as an extension of the Joint Base San Antonio. The Air Force stated that it is prepared to immediately erect warning signs prohibiting entry into the area. The military strategy was pioneered in April along a 170-mile (275-kilometre) stretch of the border in New Mexico and expanded to a swath of western Texas. Hunters, hikers and humanitarian aid groups fear that they will no longer have access. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 115) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 116) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 116) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 116) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 116) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 115) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
Hans India
5 hours ago
- Hans India
Thailand: Protesters call for PM's resignation as demonstrations erupt after leaked phone call
Bangkok: After a phone call between Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and the former Cambodian leader Hun Sen was leaked, thousands of protestors gathered in the Thai capital, Bangkok and demanded the Prime Minister's resignation. Shinawatra was heard addressing Hun Sen as 'uncle' in the phone call along with making a comment on a Thai military commander handling the dispute saying, 'just wanted to look cool and said things that are not useful', which sparked public anger, also resulting a key partner in her ruling coalition, to quit. Shinawatra defended herself, saying that the call was a 'negotiation technique', while apologising. Before leaving to visit flood-hit northern Thailand, Shinawatra told reporters it is the people's "right to protest, as long as it's peaceful". Thousands of protestors gathered around the 'Victory Monument War Memorial' in Bangkok, waving flags, holding placards with slogans like 'PM is the enemy of the state', braving through monsoon. BBC reported that the rally was the largest of its kind since the ruling Pheu Thai party came to power in 2023. The Prime Minister should 'step aside' because 'she is the problem', said Protest leader Parnthep Pourpongpan. The United Force of the Land, a coalition of national activists, organised the rally. They have been seen to have protested against other Shinawatra-led governments as well for over two decades. They also read out in a statement that the executive and the Parliament were not working in the 'interest of democracy and constitutional monarchy' to the crowd gathered for the rally. The Constitutional Court will decide on Tuesday whether to take up a petition by senators seeking Shinawatra's removal for alleged unprofessionalism over the Hun Sen call, or not. Hun Sen stated that he had shared the audio clip with 80 politicians, and one of them allegedly leaked it. He later shared the entire 17-minute recording on his Facebook page, where it can be heard that the call was about a recent dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, which in turn has led to an increase in tensions between the nations after the death of a Cambodian soldier in a border clash.
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First Post
6 hours ago
- First Post
UK government condemns 'Death to IDF' chants at Glastonbury festival
British authorities are also investigating statements made by Irish rap trio Kneecap, who have been fiercely critical of Israel and its current military assault against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip read more Bob Vylan performs on the West Holts Stage on the fourth day of the Glastonbury festival at Worthy Farm in the village of Pilton in Somerset, south-west England. AFP A British punk-rap group faced escalating criticism on Sunday for using anti-Israel statements during the Glastonbury festival, which prompted a police investigation. During their Saturday set, Bob Vylan led fans in chants of 'Death, death to the IDF,' an allusion to the Israeli military's acronym. British authorities are also investigating statements made by Irish rap trio Kneecap, who have been fiercely critical of Israel and its current military assault against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD One of Kneecap's members wore a T-shirt dedicated to the Palestine Action Group, which is due to be outlawed under UK terror legislation. The UK government has 'strongly condemned' Bob Vylan's shouts, which event organisers claimed had 'very much crossed a line'. 'We are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence,' the festival said in a statement. Avon and Somerset police said Saturday that video evidence would be assessed by officers 'to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation'. 'Life is sacred' The chants about Israel's military, condemned by the Israeli embassy in London, were led by Bob Vylan's frontman Bobby Vylan. They were broadcast live on the BBC, which airs coverage of Britain's most popular music festival. 'I thought it's appalling, to be honest,' UK minister Wes Streeting said of the chants, adding that 'all life is sacred'. 'I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens,' he told Sky News. The Israel embassy said in a statement late Saturday 'it was 'deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But Streeting, Labour's health secretary, also took aim at the embassy, telling it to 'get your own house in order'. 'I think there's a serious point there by the Israeli embassy. I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously,' he said, citing settler violence in the West Bank. A spokesperson for the BBC said Vylan's comments were 'deeply offensive' and the broadcaster had 'no plans' to make the performance available on its on-demand service. 'A joke' Kneecap, who have made headlines in recent months with their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel stance, led crowds in chanting abuse against UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer, and other politicians, had said the band should not perform after its member Liam O'Hanna, known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. He appeared in court earlier this month accused of having displayed a Hezbollah flag while saying 'Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah' after a video resurfaced of a London concert last year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Iran-backed Lebanese force Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant group Hamas are banned in the UK, and it is an offence to express support for them. O'Hanna has denied the charge and told the Guardian newspaper in an interview published on Friday that 'it was a joke – we're playing characters'. Kneecap regularly lead crowds in chants of 'Free Palestine' during their concerts. Their fans revere them for their anti-establishment stance and criticism of British imperialism but detractors call them extremists. The group apologised this year after a 2023 video emerged appearing to show one singer calling for the death of British Conservative lawmakers. Israel launched an offensive against Hamas in the Palestinian territory of Gaza after the Islamist militant group launched an attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 56,412 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to Hamas-run territory's health ministry. The United Nations considers these figures to be reliable. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
