Former diplomat Navtej Sarna is guest at Explained.Live today
The conflict expanded between Israel and Iran, as Israel and the US struck Iranian cities that housed nuclear facilities and military bases. Iran too struck back on Israel's oil refineries, military bases and cities. This has triggered unprecedented turmoil and crisis in the region.
As the situation is complex, there are many questions: Has Israel established dominance over Iran? Is there a possibility of a regime change in Iran? Has Israeli PM Netanyahu over-reached? Will President Trump bring peace to the Middle East? What does the Israel-Iran conflict mean for India? What happens to the humanitarian situation in Gaza?
To answer these questions and more, join Explained.live with former Indian Ambassador to Israel, the US and the UK, Navtej Sarna, who has also served in Tehran, at 6 pm on July 30. He will be in conversation with Shubhajit Roy, Diplomatic Editor at The Indian Express.
Sarna joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1980 and served as an Indian diplomat for the next 38 years. His diplomatic journey included assignments in places as diverse as Moscow and Warsaw, Thimphu and Tehran. He held several critical appointments — Foreign Office spokesman, India's Ambassador to Israel, High Commissioner to the UK, Secretary to the Government of India and India's Ambassador to the United States — till his retirement from diplomatic service in 2018.
Pursuing a parallel passion as a writer, Navtej Sarna has written 10 books that explore different genres — novels, short stories, travel, literary essays and translations.
Explained.Live is a unique series of explanatory conversations that The Indian Express hosts from time to time. Sarna has been a speaker at the Explained.Live session in May, 2024.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
14 minutes ago
- First Post
Witkoff in Israel to discuss Gaza crisis after Trump cites ‘hungry children' to refute Netanyahu claims
Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Israel amid reports of starvation coming out of Gaza. This will be Witkoff's first known visit to Israel since May read more US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff speaks to members of the news media with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt outside of the West Wing at the White House in Washington, US, on March 6, 2025. Reuters File US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is heading to Israel amid mounting international anger over the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. US officials close to the matter, told the New York Times, that this will be Witkoff's first known visit to Israel since May, when the United States negotiated the release of the last living American-Israeli hostage held by Hamas in Gaza. This time, Witkoff is expected to arrive in Israel under grim circumstances. The visit is coming at a time when widespread hunger has gripped the Gaza Strip, with thousands suffering from starvation. The World Food Program said that more than one in three Palestinians are not eating for multiple consecutive days. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Meanwhile, Gaza health officials say that dozens of people, including children, have died of starvation in recent weeks. Witkoff's visit came a week after Trump publicly acknowledged starvation in Gaza, breaking away from the narrative proposed by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who outrightly denied it was occurring. 'That's real starvation stuff, I see it, and you can't fake that,' Trump said on Monday. West raises concerns over Gaza crisis Witkoff has been the Trump administration's leading negotiator when it comes to reaching a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which will also entail the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. However, those talks stalled last week. Meanwhile, the devastating conditions in the coastal enclave have prompted a global outcry in Israel over the past several days. Last week, France announced it would recognise the state of Palestine, a move followed — albeit conditionally — by Britain. In the midst of this, a coalition of about 30 countries, including some of Israel's traditional allies, called last week for an immediate end to the war. More than 60,000 people have now been killed in Israel's campaign against Hamas in Gaza, which has been raging on since the Palestinian group's surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
14 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Statehood for Palestine? The legal test, the war, and the global shift
Global calls for Palestinian statehood rise, but legal, political, and diplomatic roadblocks remain complex and contested Shivansh Jauhri New Delhi As the war in Gaza enters its twenty-second month, momentum is building across Europe to formally recognise Palestine as a sovereign state. With Canada, Britain, and France signalling readiness to endorse Palestinian statehood if Israel fails to agree to a ceasefire, the long-fraught legal and diplomatic battle for recognition has entered a pivotal phase. At the heart of the debate lies not only the humanitarian crisis in Gaza but also complex questions of territory, governance and global geopolitics. Why Europe is reconsidering Palestine statehood now Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday said he would recognise statehood for Palestine if Israel failed to agree to a ceasefire by September. Starmer's move comes days after France made a similar announcement. The Israel-Palestine war, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched coordinated attacks across Israeli borders, has dragged on for nearly two years with mounting casualties—mainly on the Palestinian side. Global momentum grows amid Gaza's humanitarian crisis Both Britain and France have indicated they may formally recognise Palestine 'at the right time'. The prolonged war has created a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with widespread damage, food shortages, and attacks near aid distribution centres. Media reports continue to highlight the dire conditions, placing mounting pressure on Israel for a ceasefire. The UN Security Council has blocked full membership due to repeated US vetoes What does it take to become a recognised state? According to the Montevideo Convention (1933), an entity must fulfil four criteria to qualify as a sovereign state: Defined territory A clear geographical area, even with disputed borders. For instance, Israel was recognised in 1948 despite unresolved borders. Palestine: West Bank and Gaza Strip qualify as significant territories. Permanent population A stable, resident population. Refugees don't negate this requirement. Palestine: Around 5.5 million people reside in West Bank and Gaza. Functioning government An administrative authority that enforces laws and maintains order. Palestine: The West Bank is governed by the Palestinian Authority (Fatah), while Hamas controls Gaza—leading to fractured governance. Capacity to engage in foreign relations Ability to independently enter treaties and build diplomatic ties. Palestine: Fatah-led administration has signed treaties and joined international organisations, but Hamas's control in Gaza hinders a unified foreign policy. Why international recognition still matters more than legality While legal criteria for statehood are clear, diplomatic recognition by other countries—especially powerful ones—often determines legitimacy. Recognition by sovereign nations Recognition by global powers, especially permanent UN Security Council members, is pivotal. Palestine: Recognised by 140 countries, but not by the US or other key veto holders. UN membership and global bodies Joining major international institutions adds weight to statehood claims. Palestine: UN observer since 2012; full member of UNESCO, Arab League, and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Stability and effectiveness Stable governance and territorial control enhance credibility. Palestine: Political split between Hamas and Fatah, and the ongoing war, challenge both stability and governance. Why global powers are shifting gears Humanitarian fallout in Gaza More than 650 days of war have created the worst humanitarian crisis in Gaza's history, with thousands of deaths—mostly women and children—and limited access to aid. International outrage is growing. Diplomatic frustration with Israel Israel's rejection of a two-state solution and continued strikes on aid sites have triggered global frustration. Some nations now see recognising Palestine as a way to pressure Israel diplomatically. Where does India stand on Palestine? India officially recognised Palestine in 1988 and supports a two-state solution. It maintains diplomatic ties with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Recently, India backed a UN resolution to end Israeli occupation. However, due to trade and defence relations, India has refrained from criticising Israel directly. What could happen next Israel may retaliate diplomatically by recalling envoys or severing ties The US veto power could still block full statehood, but prolonged humanitarian suffering will intensify global scrutiny of Israel's actions
The Hindu
14 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Raichur MP alleges stagnation in Institutions of Eminence scheme
Raichur Lok Sabha member G. Kumar Naik has criticised the Union Government's handling of the Institutions of Eminence (IoE) scheme, saying the Centre has failed to deliver on its core promise of building globally competitive universities even eight years after its launch. On July 28, the MP had raised the issue in the Lok Sabha. Following up, on July 31, Mr. Naik released a statement in which the MP stated: 'Bureaucratic inertia, underfunding, and lack of institutional autonomy' have derailed the Central Government's flagship programme for higher education excellence. 'The state of higher education in India speaks volumes in the silence that has followed. The ambition was to put Indian universities on the global map. But as the numbers show, the reality is far from this goal,' he said. According to the reply by the Union Ministry of Education to his query, only 114 institutions have applied under the IoE scheme since its launch in 2017. Of these, just 11 are greenfield institutions that are yet to commence operations. The MP termed the figures 'abysmally low', noting with concern that prominent institutions such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, known for its work in the social sciences and development studies, are excluded from public funding under the scheme. Mr. Naik pointed out that while 12 universities have been granted the 'eminence' tag, no new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed since 2022. 'This is because the Empowered Expert Committee, which was supposed to process new applications, has not been reconstituted after its term expired in 2021,' he said. Highlighting the 2026 QS World University Rankings, Mr. Naik said only six Indian institutions have made it to the top 500 list – five of which have consistently figured in the rankings since 2012. 'The scheme aimed to elevate Indian institutions into the top 500 globally. However, according to the 2026 QS World University Rankings, only six Indian universities have made it to that list so far. Five of these had already entered the top 500 by 2012, during the tenure of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Since then, only one additional institution, the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, has made it to the list under the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. Even that has seen a steep fall in its global standing, slipping from 147 in 2016 to 219 in 2026,' he said. Pointing to ₹10,000 crore earmarked for 10 public institutions under this scheme, Mr. Naik claimed that almost 40% of the amount remains unallocated, and even Delhi University had received only ₹481 crore. 'Worse, this year's budget estimates have been slashed by nearly 68% compared to 2023-24, to just ₹475.12 crore,' Mr. Naik said. Mr. Naik flagged a broader decline in public investment in education, pointing out that the share of education in the Union Budget has fallen from over 4% in 2013-14 to 2.5% in 2025-26 whereas the number of students in higher education has grown from 3.2 crore (32 million) in 2013-14 to 4.3 crore (43 million) in 2021-22. He added that one-third of faculty posts in Central universities remain vacant as of March 2023. 'The 2017 policy shift from grants to loans has only added pressure on our universities. It is making higher education more expensive for students, and financially unsustainable for institutions.' he claimed. Quoting a 2023 report by the Ministry of Science & Technology, Mr. Naik noted that India's expenditure on research and development (R&D) had declined to just 0.64% of GDP as of 2020-21, continuing a downward trend since 2009-10. 'Our researcher base is also shrinking, with the number of researchers per capita five times lower than the global average. While China is producing frontier AI models like DeepSeek, we are struggling to fill teaching vacancies,' he said. 'The quest for 'eminence' will no doubt continue, but whether it is driven by meaningful action, or left to wither in quiet neglect is for the Indian political class to decide,' he stated.
