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News18
11-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Disorder In World Order: How Power, Principles, And Alliances Are Fracturing
The display of the naked truth of the façade of world order and decency came about in the recent vote on condemning the Taliban for the repression it is conducting in Afghanistan. The world as we, the Baby Boomers or Generation X, all born prior to 1964 saw, was a wonderful place with clearly defined lines between good and evil countries and people. It was contingent upon which side of the border one was born on, and there was no choice. In the first half of the 20th century, there were the good guys, the Allies, because they won eventually and wrote the books and global orders after the First and Second World Wars, and then there were the evil forces, the Axis, who lost and therefore had to suffer the humiliation in the history books and thereafter had to heed and follow the Allies for the balance of the 20th century. In the second half of the 20th century, times began to improve, with both winners and losers licking their wounds. Yet, a need was felt for enemies and evils. Thus, the Cold War had to be manufactured. Nonetheless, the world was simple to understand, maintaining a balance between good and bad, as the Gods – be they Abrahamic, the crores of Indians' deities, or 'NO God" for non-believers – had always desired. There is no order without balance. Eventually, in the last few decades, the Soviets decided to implode, leaving no major evil to fight. There was only one gun-wielding superpower on Earth, left standing to police and dominate the world. The world was unipolar, and everyone was cheering. The 21st century is turning out to be a challenge to understand, as difficult as it is for Generation Z and later millennials. It is becoming disorderly, with the Chinese staking claim, new power centres, small but aligned and partnered, emerging, and the role of non-state actors becoming preeminent. By non-state actors, one doesn't imply the bad terrorist ones, but the worst kinds: the corporates and military-industrial complexes who desire only order through controlled disorder by them. The world is difficult to comprehend even for the best geopolitical armchair academics. The common citizens of the world have already given up as they find the orders written by the so-called good guys, world police, and preachers of good behaviour – the Western and First World – not only because of the power they wield but also because they are all white, the colour of good, being turned on its head. The leader of the most powerful country backslaps, shakes hands, and embraces a US/world-designated terrorist with $10 million on his head in the White House, the romanticised residence of the world. Then, he takes the level one notch up by having lunch at his residence with a proxy military dictator who appointed himself as a Field Marshal, bypassing all civilian leadership and letting down the entire population of Pakistan that elected a government, however flawed the election may have been. It became clear that the more terror one controls, the world would seek the company. It is like in India, where politicians used to have musclemen a few decades back, but now the order has been established that the muscleman has taken over the reins as it is much easier to avoid sharing power. The international organisations have fallen into disarray. They were, in any case, established by the 'First World" after the Second World War to continue colonisation of the rest of the world in a much more refined and gentlemanly manner, extracting resources and forcing markets. Those countries who didn't fall in line were declared non-democratic, and then the controls were re-established through the most brutal dictator or feudal available locally, directly or through proxy democratic governments. The most telling expose has been the United Nations. The display of the naked truth of the façade of world order and decency came about in the recent vote on condemning the Taliban for the repression it is conducting in Afghanistan. They were the bedfellows of the Americans and the NATO countries in the first venture of the 'First World" in the last quarter of the 20th century, defeating the Soviets and, in the process, sowing seeds for the worst kind of religious terrorism in the region. The spark has only touched these countries as the worst is yet to come in Europe and the US. Not having learnt the lessons of the British losing each and every foray in Afghanistan in the first half of the 20th century, and the Soviets losing their only major confrontation ever to the Taliban, the 'First World" tried to tame their earlier bride through proxies and physical presence in the 21st century. They were surprised and shocked to be unable to tame the uneducated, disparate, and divided tribals with no big guns, gunships, missiles, aircraft, and aircraft carriers. The world's biggest powers, with more than 75 percent of the world GDP, powerful militaries, excluding China that was not a party to the misadventure, failed to tame the big turbaned, dishevelled, and only equipped with Russian-origin Kalashnikovs and steely resolve. The Taliban owned the world in the United Nations. In the United Nations General Assembly Vote on condemning repression by the Taliban, the shocker was that the US and Israel voted against it. The US had recently been booted out unceremoniously, leaving billions of dollars' worth of military equipment and pride behind after 20 years. And Israel, on the wrong end of Islamic terror, had also followed suit. India had to abstain, as your enemy's enemy is your friend, to deny the strategic depth so sought after by Pakistan and keep the channels for trade towards the CAR. Clearly, Afghanistan is not so distant for India. Iran chose to abstain for its own compulsions. They share a tenuous border with Afghanistan. China has significant resource interests in Afghanistan, and Russia wanted some credibility through a possible future partner. Only 116, out of the entire 193, fully cognizant of Taliban repression against non-Muslims and women, voted for the motion. They are yet to learn the game of trade and terror. The world has become a strange place where morality, freedom of choice and voice, and democracy are unfamiliar terms with trade and terror, state-sanctioned or non-state-driven, having taken primacy. The rise of China and its abrasive conduct, the realisation of the third world emerging to the reality that they also matter, and the diminishing power, military, and economic, of the most powerful countries and their alliances having overplayed their hands for too long, has made the world uncertain and disorderly. The economic crises brought about by the greed of the big corporates and the climate impact caused by huge consumerism by a few at the expense of the rest are impacting those who were always exploited. Having migrated in search of jobs or been invited to do the low-end work in the host country, these migrants, legal or illegal, now rise to claim the space given voluntarily but without a thought to the long-term consequences. Technology is the third T, forming a triad with trade and terror, causing disruptions never witnessed before. The securing of rare earth materials, besides the niche research and development that drive the engines of rapid technological evolution, has become a moot point of conversation or threats in a recent trade war on tariffs that has now emerged due to another T, Trump, driving the agenda. The countries of the world are fractured, internally and externally. The old-time established norms of loyalties, alliances, and friendships between nations and even individuals, however powerful they may be, are shattered, driving the disorder. The affection between the two powerful entities on either side of the Atlantic, the US and NATO, is now under stress due to commitment about funds. Money can make any marriage go bad. The same was witnessed in the last few months of May to July 2025, forcing the unwilling partners of NATO in Europe to commit 5 percent of the GDP in defence. Similar stress can be seen in other alliances, due to the waning and waxing of power of different lead countries. SAARC never took off, SCO is under stress, ASEAN is operating under fear of China, BRICS remains a tiger on paper, and the state is similar in formal and informal alliances, associations, and partnerships. Even the non-state partnerships of terror organisations and corporates are under stress and duress due to different reasons. The only committed partnership remains that of the corporates in the uncertain and volatile world of disorder. India needs to survive this uncertain and disorderly world through careful manoeuvring in trade, controlling terror, internal and external, and managing Trump, until he survives avoiding impeachment, and investing in technology. The only close and tough challenge will come from China, under internal distress and external overstretch, and yet powerful enough. A deft economic and political management of China with a powerful military is imperative. If the Chanakyan philosophies are followed in letter and spirit, and the culture of National Interests imbibed from the world's most powerful, the leadership of the country can stay the course of achieving the mission of Sashakt Bharat @2047 that is both Viksit and Surakshit. Chaos and disorder are the environments where Bharat lives daily and thrives in the long term through innovation and survivalist instincts. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. About the Author Lt Gen DP Pandey LT Gen DP Pandey is Former GOC 15 Corps tags : Afghanistan donald trump Geopolitics Narendra Modi terrorism view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 11, 2025, 13:09 IST News opinion Opinion | Disorder In World Order: How Power, Principles, And Alliances Are Fracturing Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — July 11, 2025
Bridge collapse There are incidents in India, of late, of bridges collapsing even as they are being built. But the collapse of a portion of a 40-year-old bridge in Vadodara needs closer inspection. The reason for the collapse is not far to seek. For several decades, trucks have had four wheels at the rear and two in front. Such trucks with a total of six wheels are now obsolete. The bridge was probably one of many constructed with these trucks in mind. But now a number of trucks have 10 wheels to carry double the cargo, thus exponentially increasing the weight of the trucks. When such countless and slow-moving loaded trucks cross such bridges, the durability of the bridges comes into focus. In future, it must be ensured that bridges are constructed keeping this factor in mind (Page 1, July 10). V. Lakshmanan, Tirupur, Tamil Nadu This is not an isolated incident but a growing symptom of a nationwide epidemic: ageing infrastructure, shoddy repair work, and officials asleep at the wheel. Bridges are not supposed to tremble under traffic. They are supposed to stand strong. Yet, time and again, weak design, poor oversight and sheer apathy turn them into traps. Our infrastructure is not the only thing crumbling. So is our governance. And people are paying for this with their lives. K. Chidanand Kumar, Bengaluru End the wars As a peace-loving citizen, a nonagenarian and as one who has lived through both the First and Second World Wars, I find it distressing that the Russia-Ukraine war and the Palestine-Israel conflict are leaving a trail of suffering. It would be my earnest and humble plea to the United Nations to earnestly get these warring nations to sit together and make a sincere attempt to usher in peace. Mani Nataraajan, Chennai
Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Macron brands Brexit 'regrettable' but says UK and Europe united against threats
French President Emmanuel Macron was invited to give a speech to MPs and peers during his state visit, who gathered in the packed-out Royal Gallery in Parliament French President Emmanuel Macron has said Brexit was "deeply regrettable" but quitting the bloc doesn't mean Britain has left Europe. In an address to Parliament on the first day of a lavish state visit, he warned the peaceful world order is being "attacked on a daily basis" and the UK and France were united in facing down these threats. Mr Macron was invited to give a speech to MPs and peers, who gathered in the packed-out Royal Gallery. To laughter, he joked: "We love monarchy, especially when it's not at home." His address turned sombre as he said France would never forget Britain's support during the First and Second World Wars, and praised Sir Winston Churchill's vision in building a post-war order. But he said this vision of "a world order based on law, justice and respect for territorial integrity" was "today being attacked on a daily basis as we witness direct attacks on our democracies, the return of war on our continent, the resurgence of imperial impulses and the flouting of international rules by destabilising powers". He warned that "every time Vladimir Putin's Russia advances in Ukraine, the threat moves closer to us all". But he vowed: "Europeans will never abandon Ukraine, never." Mr Macron also called for a ceasefire in Gaza without conditions, and urged Hamas to release all the hostages it has held since the October 7 attacks. The French President also put pressure on the UK to recognise a Palestinian state, saying it was the only way to peace. He also pointed to the "burden" on both Britain and France from the small boats crisis and promised there would be tangible results to end the vile trade of people smugglers trafficking desperate people across the Channel. Brexit was "deeply regrettable", he said, but he said he respected the UK's decision to leave the European Union. He said it had taken a few years but both sides have agreed to the basis of a new relationship - and praised Mr Starmer's efforts to build closer ties. Heads of state and visiting dignitaries are occasionally invited to address Parliament, with US Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, as well as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, previously speaking to MPs and peers in this room. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a speech in Westminster Hall in 2023, where he urged Britain to give him "wings for freedom" to counter Russian aggression. The choice of venue for Mr Macron's speech raised eyebrows as the grand setting features large murals of the Battle of Trafalgar and the Battle of Waterloo, two great 19th century military defeats for the French at the hands of the British and their allies. Passing peers told journalists that a previous French president requested the murals were covered during a past state visit. Some claimed it was Charles de Gaulle, others insisted it was Jacques Chirac. Mr Macron's state visit is the first by a French President in 17 years, when Nicolas Sarkozy was a guest of the late Queen Elizabeth. The French President and his wife Brigitte were greeted by the Prince and Princess of Wales when they arrived at RAF Northolt this morning before travelling to Windsor Castle to join the King and Queen for lunch. He also visited Westminster Abbey, where he laid a wreath at the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, and then travelled the short distance to Parliament. Mr Macron's visit to Britain comes comes amid talks between the UK and France on a deal to stem the flow of small boats crossing the Channel. Negotiations are expected to go down to the wire over a so-called "one in, one out" deal to allow the UK to send Channel migrants back to France in return for allowing asylum seekers from Europe with a legitimate claim to join relatives in Britain. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister hailed investment by French energy giant EDF in the Sizewell C nuclear plant as "a vote of confidence in the UK as an investment destination". However the company appears to be reducing its stake for 16.2% to 12.5%.
Hans India
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
‘Mr Soldier (From Military Madhavaram)' gears up for august release
Inspired by the valorous legacy of Military Madhavaram, a village near Tadepalligudem in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district, Mr. Soldier (From Military Madhavaram) has been successfully completed under the Sri Dharani Arts banner. Produced by VRM Patnaik and USN Patnaik, the film is now ready for a grand release across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in the second week of August. The makers extended heartfelt gratitude to the Ex-Servicemen's Association, the village Sarpanch, and residents of Military Madhavaram for their unwavering support during production. The film is based on the real-life sacrifices of the village, which has sent thousands of soldiers to defend India over the years. Remarkably, over 2,000 men from this village fought in the First and Second World Wars. Today, nearly 5,000 continue to serve in the Indian Army and other defense sectors. Central to the narrative is the tragic yet heroic tale of Major Raju, a decorated officer who, after enduring false accusations, sacrificed his life and that of his family in protest—an act that continues to inspire generations.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
There's so much to explore beyond the seafront in Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth isn't just about the glittering lights of the seafront. Beyond the buzz lies a quieter side, one of rivers, reeds and rich natural beauty waiting to be explored. Located where the Broads National Park meets the North Sea, Great Yarmouth Borough boasts a unique landscape. The meeting point for the rivers Bure, Yare and Waveney marks the beginning of more than 125 miles of navigable rivers, broads and man-made channels that wind through some of Norfolk and Suffolk's most peaceful and picturesque countryside. These waterways can be explored by boat, paddle board or on foot, a great way to take in the beautiful, natural surroundings. A standout destination is Breydon Water, a vast RSPB nature reserve that is also part of the Berney Marshes. Wet grassland, intertidal mud and saltmarsh makes an ideal place for wading birds and waterfowl to shelter, feed and rest. Throughout the year, thousands of ducks, geese and swan's visit. Look out for pink-footed geese, widgeons and black tailed godwit in the water. While on the banks, you might spot redshanks, avocets and lapwings. For those who love a good walk, the Angles Way is a breathtaking route from Breydon Water to Burgh Castle. As you stroll past windmills and grazing marshes, you'll eventually arrive at one of the best-preserved Roman sites in East Anglia. Burgh Castle Fort, built in the third and fourth centuries, was once part of a chain of 'Saxon Shore' forts defending the coast from invaders. Today, it stands as a peaceful reminder of our region's ancient past, with panoramic views stretching across the marshes. Take a walk from Winterton to Martham Broad (Image: Great Yarmouth Borough Council) Across the borough nature thrives, from windswept dunes at Winterton Beach, where you may spot a grey seal along the shoreline in the winter, to the picturesque and peaceful stretch of water at Martham Broad, which is teeming with dragonflies and rare birds. Many of these places are connected by scenic walking paths or cycle routes, making it easy to discover nature just moments from the town. There are also a variety of parks where you can enjoy the peace and quiet, play with the kids or enjoy a picnic. Bure Park sits alongside the River Bure and features a children's playground, seasonal pitch and putt and 20 acres of open space. It also has a lake with wildfowl and plenty of picnic seating – something to please everyone. In the centre of town, St George's Park features memorials for the First and Second World Wars, as well as beautifully planted flower beds and a children's play area. You'll also be able to spot a couple of pieces included in the sculpture trail that takes place this summer from here, too. St George's Park will host a couple of pieces included in the sculpture trail that takes place this summer (Image: Great Yarmouth Borough Council) Exciting new additions coming to the town include the redevelopment of Emerald Green Park in Gorleston-on-Sea, which will include a brand-new skate park, a multi-use games area, and exciting new play equipment. Designed with inclusion in mind, this will be a vibrant space for all ages to enjoy – encouraging active lifestyles and a stronger sense of community. Whether you're visiting for the first time or rediscovering your hometown, take time to venture beyond the promenade. From ancient ruins and wildlife-rich marshes to peaceful parklands, Great Yarmouth is so much more than just a seafront – it's a place where nature, history and community live side by side.
