On Cam: Gunman Kills Ukraine Intel Agent in Kyiv; Officials Probe ‘Targeted Assassination'
According to a spokesperson for the SBU, who spoke to CNN, the officer was fatally shot outside an apartment building in Kyiv.
A high-ranking officer from Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) was shot dead in Kyiv on Thursday morning in what Ukrainian authorities described to CNN as an apparent targeted assassination. The killing, which took place in broad daylight in the capital city, has prompted an urgent investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies.
According to a spokesperson for the SBU, who spoke to CNN, the officer was fatally shot outside an apartment building in Kyiv. The security agency confirmed that an investigation was underway but withheld the officer's identity pending further inquiries. CNN reported that Ukrainian police and intelligence units are now working jointly to identify and apprehend the perpetrator.
Surveillance footage from a nearby CCTV camera—widely circulated on local Telegram channels and reviewed by CNN—appears to show the chilling moment of the attack. Although CNN has not independently verified the video, the surroundings in the clip match official photographs released by Kyiv Police. In the silent footage, a man exits a residential building carrying bags and walks toward a parked vehicle. Suddenly, a masked gunman approaches and appears to shoot him at close range. After the victim collapses, the attacker fires again before fleeing on foot. A passerby is seen running from the scene in panic.
The SBU plays a central role in Ukraine's national security apparatus and has led several high-profile operations against Russian interests. CNN previously reported that SBU agents were responsible for 'Operation Spiderweb," a daring drone strike campaign that targeted Russian military airfields deep inside enemy territory. The operation resulted in the destruction and damage of multiple strategic aircraft, including bombers and surveillance planes—delivering a significant blow to Moscow's aerial capabilities.
CNN has also reported that the SBU was allegedly behind the assassination of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, a top Russian military official accused of deploying chemical weapons. The killing of the SBU officer this week raises fresh concerns about the escalating covert warfare between Ukrainian and Russian intelligence operatives.
Authorities in Kyiv have yet to publicly link Thursday's assassination to Russia or its intelligence agencies, but the incident marks another deadly episode in Ukraine's ongoing shadow war.
view comments
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.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
22 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Trump fumes at Netanyahu over Gaza famine, warns Putin on Ukraine: ‘Not here to be played'
US President Donald Trump is discovering the limits of his one-on-one diplomacy as two of the world's most volatile conflicts, Russia's war in Ukraine and Israel's war in Gaza, spiral further beyond his reach. In remarks this week, Trump expressed deep frustration over recent conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Once confident he could end both wars quickly, Trump now concedes he's disappointed, even disillusioned, with two leaders he's long claimed to understand. 'I thought we would be able to negotiate something, and maybe that'll still happen,' Trump said about Putin. 'But it's very late down the process. So I'm disappointed.' The feeling is mutual across multiple foreign fronts. In recent weeks, Trump has struggled to translate personal relationships into diplomatic outcomes. His calls with Netanyahu, in particular, have grown increasingly tense amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Israeli leader, once a close Trump ally, has faced pushback from the US President over civilian deaths, bombings of religious and government buildings, and images of starving children beamed into Trump's Scotland residence just days ago. 'I see it, and you can't fake it. So we're going to be even more involved,' Trump said in Scotland on Monday, visibly shaken as he addressed reporters. 'I think everybody, unless they're pretty cold-hearted — or worse than that, nuts — there's nothing you can say other than it's terrible when you see the kids.' On Netanyahu, who said earlier on Monday that there was no starvation in Gaza, Trump replied: 'I don't know. Based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry. We're giving a lot of money and a lot of food and other nations are now stepping up.' As per a report by CNN, sources inside the White House say Trump had already planned to confront Netanyahu over Israeli military actions before leaving for his golf properties in Scotland. But it was the photos — children emaciated, parents grieving — that prompted him to take more urgent action. Even First Lady Melania Trump was said to be 'deeply affected,' helping spur the President's response. 'He asked us, 'What can we do to help right now?'' one senior official said, CNN reported. 'It had clearly gotten under his skin.' While Trump has long prided himself on bypassing traditional diplomatic channels, often handing out his personal number and encouraging world leaders to text, that informality has its limits. Even in North Korea, his relationship has shifted from camaraderie to confrontation as substantive deals remain elusive. In Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un has gone silent, declining to respond to Trump's overtures. While Kim's sister claimed their relationship is 'not bad,' she confirmed North Korea would not abandon its nuclear arsenal. In Europe, Trump's irritation with Putin is only growing. 'Absolutely crazy,' he said of Russia's ongoing missile and drone strikes in Ukraine. Earlier this year, Trump gave Moscow a 50-day ultimatum to agree to a ceasefire or face new sanctions. Now, he's shortened that window to just 10 days. 'He was fed up,' one adviser said, CNN quoted. 'Putin wasn't responding, and Trump wanted to send a message.' Despite years of speculation about their relationship, Trump has insisted he wasn't 'played' by the Russian President. He even shared a private moment with the first lady: 'I tell Melania, 'I spoke to Vladimir today, it was a good call.' And she says, 'Oh really? Another city was just hit.'' At the start of July, Netanyahu presented Trump with a letter nominating him for a Nobel Peace Prize. Weeks later, their relationship was rocked by Israeli bombings in Gaza and Syria, including an attack on a Catholic church. Trump, caught off guard by the escalation, confronted Netanyahu directly over a phone call, White House officials said. 'Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time,' one White House official told Axios, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. As per report by CNN, sources say Trump also discussed the situation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who urged Trump to use his influence to pressure Israel to open humanitarian corridors. The Israeli military later announced 'humanitarian pauses' and new aid routes but Trump remains skeptical that enough is being done. The tension is notable for two men whose political fortunes have long been intertwined. Trump has both praised and rebuked Netanyahu over the years, calling him 'a great leader' but also blaming him for prematurely congratulating Joe Biden in 2020. 'Bibi and I just went through HELL together,' Trump wrote recently, invoking similar language he has used to describe Putin. Still, the peace deals Trump once promised — the ones he hoped might lead to a Nobel Prize — remain stubbornly out of reach.
Indian Express
22 minutes ago
- Indian Express
UPSC Key: The 25 per cent tariff, The Resistance Front and Kamchatka Earthquakes
Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for July 31, 2025. If you missed the July 30, 2025 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here FRONT PAGE Trump hits India with 25% tariff plus a Russia penalty Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Main Examination: General Studies II: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests. What's the ongoing story: US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, along with a penalty for procuring military equipment and energy from Russia, comes barely a day before the intended deadline to conclude agreements. Key Points to Ponder: • 'US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports'-Know in detail • Apart from the 25% tariff, what additional threat did President Trump mention regarding India? • Why the U.S. imposition of a 25% tariff plus penalty against India represented a significant departure from prior U.S. trade strategy regarding tariff differentials. • How India responded? • Compare the tariff rates imposed on India with those on other U.S. trading partners like Vietnam or Japan. • What is US-Pakistan oil agreement? • What does it mean for Pakistan? • What does US-Pakistan trade deal mean for India? Key Takeaways: • All those assumptions are now under a cloud, as policymakers in New Delhi grapple with Trump's statement announcing a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods from August 1, alongside an additional but unspecified 'penalty' for its defence and energy imports from Russia. • On the face of it, India's Commerce and Industry Ministry said the government had taken note of Trump's statement and was 'studying its implications'. Alongside this, the trade ministry also reiterated its engagement in negotiations that aimed at concluding 'a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement', which placed importance on 'protecting and promoting the welfare of India's farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs'. • The official also underlined that the view in government here is that a majority of those who have rushed in to sign deals with the world's biggest economy have ended up with lopsided agreements that effectively extracted more than what it gave. This includes countries such as the UK and Australia that have a trade deficit with the US. • Trump on Monday had cut short a deadline for Moscow to make progress toward a Ukraine war peace deal or see its oil customers slapped with secondary tariffs of 100 per cent in 10-12 days. 'So I think anyone who buys sanctioned Russian oil should be ready for this,' US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had said. • China is the largest buyer of Russian oil, at about 2 million barrels per day, followed by India (just under 2 million a day) and Turkey. China had agreed to cut tariffs on US goods to 10 per cent from 125 per cent in May, while the US had agreed to lower tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 per cent from 145 per cent. Do You Know: US President Donald Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, has key consequences. • One, it puts India at a disadvantage in comparison to competitors. Two, it put the onus back on the Indian side to fast-track its negotiations for an interim deal with the US. Indications are that the outer limit for a deal, currently pegged at around October from New Delhi's perspective, might need to be brought forward. • What complicates the equation for India is that the Chinese are at an advanced stage of negotiations towards a deal, which could have a favourable tariff rate and potential waivers on secondary tariffs, which include the tariff on account of Russian oil imports and the proposed 10 per cent BRICS tariff. • Though Trump did not specify the rate of penalty for India on account of Russian oil and defence imports, earlier statements made by Trump indicate that it could be to the tune of 100 per cent. • This way, India stands to potentially lose the US tariff advantage vis-a-vis China at least till the time a deal is struck, even if Beijing, too, faces the same penalty for importing from Russia. Beijing does stand to have a first-mover advantage as it has already wrapped up its negotiations ahead of India with the US. A final China deal, however, is still elusive. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Road to October pact gets tougher, shrinks room to drive a better deal 📍How Trump's 25% tariffs announcement could impact future India-US trade negotiations 📍Trump announces 'deal' with Islamabad to develop Pakistan's oil reserves: 'Maybe they'll sell to India someday' ISRO-NASA satellite placed in orbit, to map Earth in detail Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: General Studies III: Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nano-technology, biotechnology and issues relating to intellectual property rights. What's the ongoing story: In its most significant launch since the Moon-landing Chandrayaan-3 in 2023, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Wednesday placed NISAR satellite, a first-of-its-kind collaborative project between India and the US, into its intended orbit. Key Points to Ponder: • NISAR mission-know its features and objectives • What is the significance of the NASA–ISRO collaborative model in the NISAR mission? • What is the potential use of NISAR data? • How NISAR complements India's existing earth observation systems? • What are the geopolitical and scientific significance of the ISRO NASA collaboration on NISAR? • What are the advantages of dual frequency SAR (L band and S band) in studying Earth surface processes? • Know the role of NISAR in India's disaster management strategy, especially in hazard prone regions like the Himalayas. • How NISAR complements existing Indian remote sensing satellites like CARTOSAT and RISAT? Key Takeaways: • The uniqueness of the satellite lies in the fact that it carries two Synthetic Aperture Radars (SARs) of different frequencies that are designed to work together to produce some of the most detailed images of the Earth ever captured from space. SARs are imaging equipment that use the non-visible microwave radiation to create pictures of the Earth from space. Never before have two SARs been mounted on a single satellite. • The NISAR satellite flew on a GSLV rocket launched from Sriharikota Wednesday evening. The satellite was deposited in the Sun Synchronous Polar Orbit (SSPO), about 747 km from the Earth, within 19 minutes of the launch. This was the first time that ISRO used its powerful GSLV rocket to drop a satellite in the SSPO. Usually, the PSLV rocket is used to access these orbits, but NISAR satellite was too heavy to be handled by PSLV. In fact, at 2,392 kgs, NISAR is the heaviest Earth observation satellite ever. Do You Know: • NISAR is meant to take high-resolution pictures of the Earth, which will be useful for a wide range of research activities, including in climate change, disaster management, agriculture, forestry and urban planning. The two SARs, working in tandem, can map the terrain in minute detail, and, by repeating their observations in a cyclic fashion, can capture the changes happening at as small a scale as one centimetre. • NISAR satellite would map the entire globe every 12 days, providing a series of detailed images that can have various applications ranging from predicting disasters, helping in rescue efforts afterwards, developing new models for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, and most importantly studying the impacts of climate change. The mission life of the satellite is five years. • The concept for a NISAR-like mission emerged in 2007 when a US committee had recommended a space mission to study how changes in land, ice or vegetation cover were taking place. The mission was supposed to carry out surface deformation monitoring to facilitate studies of earthquakes, landslides and volcanoes, apart from making observations that will help the study of climate change, global carbon cycle, changes in vegetation, biomass and ice-cover. • NASA began working on the project in 2008. ISRO came into the picture four years later, when it identified science studies and applications that were complementary to the primary objective of the mission. NASA and ISRO had collaborated earlier — there was a NASA payload on ISRO's Chandrayaan-1 — but never jointly developed or executed a space mission. The two agencies signed a deal on NISAR in 2014, and have been engaged in developing this mission since then. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍NISAR's two eyes on Earth UNSC report names The Resistance Front, cites Pahalgam terror attack Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. Mains Examination: • General Studies II: India and its neighbourhood- relations. • General Studies III: Role of external state and non-state actors in creating challenges to internal security What's the ongoing story: In a first, The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow outfit of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba that had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, has found mention in a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) report monitoring sanctions on terror outfits. Key Points to Ponder: • The Resistance Front (TRF)-know in detail • The Resistance Front (TRF), linked to the Pahalgam attack, is believed to be an offshoot of which terrorist organisation? • Know the role of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in past terrorist activities against India. • What are the challenges and consequences of conducting precision strikes on foreign soil, considering international law and diplomatic relations. • Know the historical patterns of terrorist attacks by groups like LeT and JeM and how India's military responses have evolved over time. • Know the significance of TRF being named by the UNSC Monitoring Team. • How TRF operates as a proxy of LeT and the implications of such organizational front structures for counter-terror policy? Key Takeaways: • According to the report of the Monitoring Team (MT) of the UNSC 1267 [ISIS (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida] Sanctions Committee, the entry under the Asia section reads: 'On 22 April, five terrorists attacked a tourist spot in Pahalgam, in Jammu and Kashmir. Twenty-six civilians were killed. The attack was claimed that same day by The Resistance Front (TRF), who in parallel published a photograph of the attack site. The claim of responsibility was repeated the following day.' • Sources pointed out that the paragraph on TRF and the Pahalgam terror attack is the first and largest part under the South Asia section. 'It is in sync with what we have been stating on the links between the TRF and the LeT and its support from Pakistan,' a source said. • This is the first time that the TRF has been mentioned in any UN document, sources said. In the past, India's consistent efforts for naming the TRF in the UNSC statements were stymied by Pakistan. • The development is significant as all decisions of the 1267 Sanctions Committee, including MT reports, are adopted by consensus by members of the UNSC. Pakistan is a non-permanent member of the UNSC. • After Operation Sindoor, which followed the Pahalgam attack, India had reached out to most of the UNSC member countries — permanent and non-permanent members – with multi-party political delegations visiting these countries in May-June. • According to sources, the inclusion of TRF in the MT report despite Pakistan's efforts highlights Islamabad's undeniable involvement in fomenting terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. 'It also attests to our credibility in the UN on the counter-terror front,' the source said. Do You Know: • On July 18, the US State Department had designated TRF as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). 'TRF, a Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) front and proxy, claimed responsibility for the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack which killed 26 civilians. This was the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks conducted by LeT. TRF has also claimed responsibility for several attacks against Indian security forces, including most recently in 2024,' the US State Department had said. • The Resistance Front (TRF) had claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 tourists, sources in central agencies said. The Resistance Front (TRF) is an offshoot of the Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). • The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) declared the TRF a 'terrorist organisation' under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in January 2023. The government said it was engaged in propaganda on terror activities, recruitment of terrorists, infiltration of terrorists and smuggling of weapons and narcotics from Pakistan into Jammu and Kashmir. • But the TRF first started making headlines in 2020. In May of that year, five Army commandos were killed in a gunbattle in Keran, in which five TRF militants were also killed. Similar clashes occurred around that time in Handwara and Sopore, killing security personnel. • The first was the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 in August 2019. The second was the decapitation of the LeT in Kashmir in 2018. • The Lashkar-e-Taiba was founded around 1985, and one of its main goals was merging the whole of Kashmir with Pakistan. However, by the end of 2018, it had suffered significant reverses at the hands of Indian security forces. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Pahalgam attack: How 'The Resistance Front' grew, spread in Kashmir 📍2000, '02, J&K terror's old ghost: attack during high-profile US visit Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme: 1. Hand-in-Hand 2007' a joint anti-terrorism military training was held by the officers of the Indian Army and officers of Army of which one of the following countries? (2008) (a) China (b) Japan (c) Russia (d) USA Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme: 📍The scourge of terrorism is a grave challenge to national security. What solutions do you suggest to curb this growing menace? What are the major sources of terrorist funding? (2017) GOVT & POLITICS Cash row: 1985 Act empowers us to call in-house inquiry, SC tells Justice Varma Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian Polity and Governance Main Examination: General Studies II: Structure, organization and functioning of the Executive and the Judiciary—Ministries and Departments of the Government and their role in the Polity. What's the ongoing story: The Supreme Court Wednesday reserved decision on Allahabad High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma's plea challenging the in-house inquiry ordered by the Chief Justice of India over allegations of cash discovery from his official residence in Delhi, and remarked orally that The Judges (Protection) Act, 1985, 'empowers' the top court to order such a probe 'for maintaining institutional integrity'. Key Points to Ponder: • Who is Justice Yashwant Varma? • Why Justice Yashwant Varma is in news? • What is the Judges (Protection) Act, 1985? • What you know about Justice Varma case? • Discuss the significance of judicial accountability in ensuring the independence of the judiciary in India. • The Justice Varma case highlights what? • The judiciary is expected to remain impartial and independent of political influence—analyse judicial appointments and removals impact this independence. • How a Sitting Judge Can Be Removed From Office? • What is the Procedure for Removal of a Judge in India? • What is Impeachment? • What are the constitutional provisions and procedures governing the impeachment of High court judges? • The process of impeachment of a judge of the Supreme Court is laid down in Article 124(4) of the Constitution of India-True or false? • What Article 218 of the Constitution of India says? • What are the Grounds of Impeachment? • What role do parliamentary Houses and presiding officers play in the impeachment of High court judges? Key Takeaways: • Justice Dipankar Datta, presiding over a two-judge bench which heard Justice Yashwant Varma's plea, pointed to Section 3(2) of the Act. 'Nothing in sub-section (1) shall debar or affect in any manner the power of the Central Government or the State Government or the Supreme Court of India or any High Court or any other authority under any law for the time being in force to take such action (whether by way of civil, criminal, or departmental proceedings or otherwise) against any person who is or was a Judge.' • The bench, also comprising Justice A G Masih, made it clear that the remit of the in-house inquiry panel was not to find out who the cash discovered at Justice Varma's house during an accidental fire belonged to. 'Why do you want to invite us to the report, whether it's your money or not? That was not the remit of the committee,' Justice Datta told Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who appeared for Justice Varma. • Justice Datta said the term 'otherwise' appearing in the 1985 Act 'has to be given some meaning.' 'It means a non-punitive proceeding which is contemplated by the in-house procedure for maintaining the institutional integrity. And, therefore, this 'otherwise', other than the judgements, empowers the Supreme Court of India to direct this in-house inquiry.' Do You Know: Shashank Maheshwari Writes: • The judiciary forms one of the three pillars of a democracy and derives its authority from the Constitution. The outdated notion of legislative supremacy has now been replaced: The Supreme Court in Keshav Singh vs Speaker, Legislative Assembly (1965) and People's Union For Civil Liberties vs Union of India (2005) recognised that the Constitution is supreme. The Constitution provides strong safeguards for judicial independence, including security of tenure, fixed salaries charged to the Consolidated Fund, protection from discussion in legislatures, and immunity under laws like the Judges (Protection) Act, 1985. Provisions for the removal of high court and SC judges by Parliament on grounds of 'proven misbehaviour' or 'incapacity' under Articles 124 and 217 create an accountability mechanism. • Under Article 124(5), Parliament enacted the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968, which provides the procedures to investigate judicial misconduct. Further, on May 7, 1997, the SC's Full Court adopted the 'Restatement of Values of Judicial Life'. It authorises the Chief Justice to constitute an in-house committee to investigate allegations against judges of the higher judiciary. This was recognised in C Ravichandran Iyer vs Justice A M Bhattacharjee (1995). • While drafting the Judges Inquiry Bill, 1964 under Article 124(5), eminent legal figures like C K Daphtary and G S Pathak emphasised that complaints against judges should originate from MPs, not the executive, and be submitted to the Speaker or Chairman. If accepted, a three-member judicial committee would investigate the charges. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Who is Justice Yashwant Varma, the Delhi HC judge in middle of 'cash recovered at home' row? EXPRESS NETWORK Sacred Buddhist Piprahwa gemstones, put up for auction, repatriated to India after 127 years Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: History of India Main Examination: General Studies I: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times. What's the ongoing story: Jewels forming a portion of the sacred Piprahwa relics of the Buddha, which had recently come up for auction at Sotheby's Hong Kong, were repatriated to India on Wednesday, 127 years after they were taken away during colonial rule. Key Points to Ponder: • What are the Piprahwa relics of Buddha? • What are the Piprahwa gems? • What the controversy is about? • What is the significance of the Piprahwa gem repatriation? • Know the role of public private partnerships such as that between the Indian government and Godrej Industries in securing cultural artefacts. • What are the strengths and possible limitations of public private partnerships model for heritage diplomacy? Key Takeaways: • Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X: 'It would make every Indian proud that the sacred Piprahwa relics of Bhagwan Buddha have come home after 127 long years. These sacred relics highlight India's close association with Bhagwan Buddha and his noble teachings. It also illustrates our commitment to preserving and protecting different aspects of our glorious culture.' • The relics were discovered during the excavation of an ancient Buddhist stupa in Uttar Pradesh's Piprahwa, near the India-Nepal border. They hold immense religious and cultural importance for the Buddhist community. • Besides the ornaments and gemstones that appeared for auction, the Piprawaha tranche comprises bone fragments believed to be that of the Buddha, along with soapstone and crystal caskets, and a sandstone coffer. • The other portions of the Piprahwa relics have been held in the vaults of Kolkata's Indian Museum since 1898. These will also be displayed at an exhibition in Delhi's National Museum along with the repatriated gems. • The gemstones, meanwhile, became part of the private collection of William Claxton Peppé, who had conducted the excavation. His grandson and heir Chris Peppé put them up for auction through Sotheby's Hong Kong. Do You Know: • Pirojsha Godrej of Godrej Industries Group stepped forward to acquire the collection of 349 jewels, officials from the Ministry of Culture told reporters Wednesday. The value of the transaction was not disclosed but the collection is estimated to be worth over $100 million. • With this unconventional move by allowing a private industrialist to step in and get back the sacred relics, right from Hong Kong which has a huge Chinese influence, the government has reaffirmed India's bid to establish itself as the birthplace of Buddhism vis-à-vis China. The move also allowed the government to not get into a commercial transaction for the relics, which would have raised ethical issues. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Ministry of Culture Takes Steps to Halt Auction of Piprahwa Relics by Sotheby's Hong Kong EXPLAINED The Kamchatka quakes Syllabus: Preliminary Examination: Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World. Mains Examination: General Studies I: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location-changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes. What's the ongoing story: An 8.8 magnitude earthquake, one of the strongest on record, struck the Kamchatka Peninsula, in Russia's far-east, about 6,500 km east of Moscow, on Wednesday morning, triggering a tsunami that struck several countries on both sides of the northern Pacific Ocean. Key Points to Ponder: • Map Work-Kamchatka Peninsula • Map Work-Earthquake-prone areas in India and in the World • Map Work-Mark Circum-Pacific Belt • Earthquake zones in World-Know in detail • Circum-Pacific Belt and Earthquake-Connect the dot • Where and when did the earthquake occur? • What is called Ring of Fire? • What does the Ring of Fire have to do with Kamchatka Peninsula? • Why does the earth shake when there is an earthquake? • What are the Major and Minor Plates? • The movement of the tectonic plates creates three types of tectonic boundaries-What are they? • Why earthquakes remain unpredictable? • What exactly causes earthquakes? • Can earthquakes be predicted? • What is focus or seismic focus of Earthquake? • What is epicentre of Earthquake? • The intensity of earthquake is highest in the epicentre and decreases as one moves away-True or False? • What is continental drift and how does it differ from plate tectonics? • Do shallow earthquakes cause greater damage? • What are the pre disaster measures taken to manage earthquake disaster? • What is post-disaster management of earthquakes? • What is it about an earthquake that causes a tsunami? • What is a tsunami? Key Takeaways: • The tsunami generated waves as high as 3-4 metres in the Kamchatka Peninsula and some other places, about five feet in Hawaii, and about two feet in Japan. Flooding and damage were reported from several places, but no lives were lost. • The earthquake in Kamchatka was the strongest since the 9.1 magnitude quake that had struck Japan in 2011. That quake too had caused a major tsunami which then led to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima. • Wednesday's event was rare — only five earthquakes of magnitude 8.5 and above have occurred in the past 20 years — but it occurred in a region that is one of the most earthquake prone in the world. Do You Know: • Kamchatka Peninsula lies on the Circum-Pacific seismic belt, more popularly known as the 'Ring of Fire', that witnesses the maximum number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on Earth. • This seismically active belt encircles almost the entire Pacific Ocean — on its eastern side is the western coast of the Americas, and on its western side lies the Far East and Oceania. It touches countries like the United States, Mexico, Chile, Peru, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan and Russia. • According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Ring of Fire accounts for more than 80% of the planet's largest earthquakes. The biggest recorded earthquake, of magnitude 9.5 in Chile in 1960, occurred in this belt, and so did a magnitude 9.2 event in Alaska in 1964. In fact, each of the 23 events of 8-plus magnitude recorded in the last 20 years have happened along this seismic belt. • The nearly 2,000-km long region extending from Kamchatka Peninsula in the north to northern Japan in the south, and including the volcanically-active Kuril Islands of Russia, has witnessed more than 130 earthquake events of 7-plus magnitude since 1900, USGS data show. In 1952, this region even recorded a magnitude 9 earthquake. • The Circum-Pacific seismic belt is home to multiple subduction processes, in which the Pacific tectonic plate is clashing against continental land. • Subduction is a geological process in which one tectonic plate — put simply, a large section of the Earth's crust — presses against another. Usually, the heavier or denser plate, that is, the one with more mass per unit of area, tends to go below the lighter plate. But this process results in deformities and creates a huge stress at the plate boundaries. It is this stress that is released in the form of earthquakes. Other Important Articles Covering the same topic: 📍Massive 8.8 quake hits Russia, tsunami waves reach Japan, Hawaii, California For any queries and feedback, contact Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Priya Kumari Shukla is a Senior Copy Editor in the Indian Express (digital). She contributes to the UPSC Section of Indian Express (digital) and started niche initiatives such as UPSC Key, UPSC Ethics Simplified, and The 360° UPSC Debate. The UPSC Key aims to assist students and aspirants in their preparation for the Civil Services and other competitive examinations. It provides valuable guidance on effective strategies for reading and comprehending newspaper content. The 360° UPSC Debate tackles a topic from all perspectives after sorting through various publications. The chosen framework for the discussion is structured in a manner that encompasses both the arguments in favour and against the topic, ensuring comprehensive coverage of many perspectives. Prior to her involvement with the Indian Express, she had affiliations with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) as well as several coaching and edutech enterprises. In her prior professional experience, she was responsible for creating and refining material in various domains, including article composition and voiceover video production. She has written in-house books on many subjects, including modern India, ancient Indian history, internal security, international relations, and the Indian economy. She has more than eight years of expertise in the field of content writing. Priya holds a Master's degree in Electronic Science from the University of Pune as well as an Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from the esteemed Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, widely recognised as one of the most prestigious business schools in India. She is also an alumni of Jamia Milia Islamia University Residential Coaching Academy (RCA). Priya has made diligent efforts to engage in research endeavours, acquiring the necessary skills to effectively examine and synthesise facts and empirical evidence prior to presenting their perspective. Priya demonstrates a strong passion for reading, particularly in the genres of classical Hindi, English, Maithili, and Marathi novels and novellas. Additionally, she possessed the distinction of being a cricket player at the national level. Qualification, Degrees / other achievements: Master's degree in Electronic Science from University of Pune and Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management (EPPPM) from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta ... Read More
Time of India
22 minutes ago
- Time of India
Two decades of momentum in India-US ties hits road bump
Strategic affairs experts express concern over escalating tensions in India-US relations due to President Trump's tariffs, perceived favoritism towards Pakistan, and pressure on India's ties with Russia. These actions mark a shift from the previously strong bilateral relationship, potentially forcing India to navigate challenges in key sectors independently. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads US President Donald Trump's 25 per cent tariffs on India, his "bullying tactics" and increasing attempts to hyphenate New Delhi with Islamabad are worrying signs after over two decades of unfettered upswing in bilateral ties, strategic affairs experts said on actions including his announcement on a trade deal with Pakistan and his offer of support to develop its "massive oil reserves" notwithstanding Islamabad's collusivity with Beijing reflected a "clear shift" in Washington's overall approach to the Indian sub-continent, they now cannot take the US for granted as a strategic partner and may have to resign to the possibility of dealing alone with massive challenges in the domains of semiconductors, critical defence technologies, energy and to combat terrorism, they US president on Wednesday announced the 25 per cent tariff on India from August 1 along with an unspecified "penalty" for buying "vast majority" of Russian military equipment and crude oil, adding India has the "most strenuous and obnoxious" non-monetary trade India was analysing the potential impact of the US tariffs on its exports, Trump again blasted New Delhi for its trade links with Russia, indicating a serious strain in the bilateral ties. "I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care."The foreign policy experts said the current state of India-US relations has entered into a trajectory that is a total contrast to nearly two decades of rapid expansion in ties whose foundation was laid by President Bill Clinton's path-breaking visit to India in 2000. The presidency of Barack Obama that began in 2009 marked a rapid stride in the the last few months, India and the US held several rounds of negotiations for a bilateral trade deal but it could not be sealed in view of sharp divergences in certain critical areas including agriculture and dairy."There is clearly a shift in US approach towards Pakistan after President Trump's meeting with Pakistan Army Chief Gen Asim Munir over a month back," said one of the experts on condition of is particularly disturbing as the Trump administration is also appearing to be going noticeably soft on China, India's key adversary, said the announcing Washington's trade deal with Islamabad, Trump also said that the US will work together on developing Pakistan's "massive oil reserves"."We are in the process of choosing the oil company that will lead this partnership," the president said while half-jokingly adding: "Who knows, maybe they'll be selling oil to India some day!." The comments have not gone down well in India."We are a sovereign democracy with a global outlook, not a convenient scapegoat. If partnership is the goal, as it is, then respect can be the only foundation," former foreign secretary Nirupama Menon Rao India is estimated to have 671 million tonnes of crude oil reserves, there is no such data for Pakistan. Some reports claimed that the country could have a potential reserves of 32-35 million tonnes."Trump's language shows his frustration over India not succumbing to his pressure. In a way, his language also reflects our uncompromising position on certain crucial issues," said Ajay Srivastava of Globat Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).Srivastava argued that India must try to firm up the trade deal with the US adopting a flexible approach without compromising its stated position on sectors such as agriculture and dairy."At a deep level, I think Donald Trump does not understand the importance of the India-US relations," he experts said Trump is trying to exert pressure on New Delhi to agree to his demands as he got favourable trade deals with major partners like Japan, the UK and the European Union in recent bullying tactics will not work at all, said another bilateral trade between India and the US was around USD 130 billion last year and there was a projection of upward mobility in the any disruption in India's exports to the US could have an adverse impact on overall trade have been apprehensions about implementation of several mega initiatives between India and the US including COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) following Trump's adverse COMPACT initiative, aimed at driving transformative change across key pillars of cooperation, was launched following talks between Modi and Trump in February.
