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  How Israel Became the Unbeatable Power of the Middle East For a country barely the size of New Jersey, Israel’s repeated victories over far larger Arab coalitions remain one of the most studied phenomena in modern geopolitical history. Since its founding in 1948, Israel has fought multiple wars—often against several neighboring nations at once—and not only survived but strengthened after each conflict. The question that continues to fascinate military analysts and historians alike is: how did such a small nation defeat entire regional alliances? A Legacy Born from Survival The story begins long before 1948. Jewish ties to the land of Israel trace back thousands of years to the ancient kingdoms of David and Solomon, with Jerusalem at the center of both faith and identity. After centuries of persecution in Europe—including the Holocaust that killed six million Jews—the Zionist movement pushed for a homeland where Jews could live securely. When the United Nations voted in 1947 to...

Taylor Swift Set for Huge Announcement on Good Morning America: Fans Anticipate Eras Tour Documentary Taylor Swift fans are buzzing with excitement as Good Morning America (GMA) teases a major announcement from the pop superstar, scheduled for October 13, 2025 . The morning show shared a promotional video hinting at something big for Swifties, saying, “Tomorrow we're keeping it 100 with an exclusive Taylor Swift announcement. Tune in only on GMA.” Many fans immediately speculated that the announcement could be related to the long-awaited Eras Tour documentary . In the teaser, an intriguing exit sign is visible in the background—a subtle clue that some interpret as symbolic of Taylor closing the Eras Tour era and moving toward her next musical chapter. The promo further asks, “What's next for her? Find out tomorrow on GMA,” fueling even more speculation. The timing of this announcement adds to the excitement. Exactly two years ago on October 13 , the Eras  Tour movie debut...

Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Rethinking History and Honoring Native Heritage In recent years, many U.S. states, counties, and cities have increasingly chosen to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day . Both observances fall on the second Monday of October. This shift reflects a growing awareness of the need to honor the history, culture, and resilience of Native peoples rather than celebrate the colonial legacy associated with Christopher Columbus. In 2021, President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to formally recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Although it is not yet an official federal holiday , a bill proposing to make it one is pending in Congress. By contrast, Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1934. It was originally intended to celebrate Italian-American heritage during a time when Italian immigrants faced severe discrimination and even violence, including the lynching of Italian Americans in the late 19th century. However, for many Indigenous...

Donald Trump’s Remark on Nobel Peace Prize: “There’s No Reason I Shouldn’t Get It”  Date: Friday, October 10 Category: World News | Politics | Opinion Introduction Recently, I came across an interesting interview with Donald Trump that caught everyone’s attention. When asked whether he expects to receive the Nobel Peace Prize , Trump gave quite a confident — even bold — reply. Trump’s Statement on the Nobel Peace Prize In the interview, Trump said, “I have stopped seven wars, and I’m actively working to stop the eighth one. I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t receive the Nobel Prize. I’m fully qualified for it. Unless someone finds a reason not to give it to me, I deserve it.” His words clearly reflect his self-assurance — he believes he has done enough to earn one of the most prestigious awards in the world. A Humorous Take on the Situation When I discussed this with a friend, we couldn’t help but laugh. I said, “Maybe he actually should get the Nobel Prize — for t...

It seems impossible to end corruption in India. Governance, Ethics, and Vigilance  In the world of civil services, every action of an officer reflects not only on the individual but also on the system they serve. Recent developments from Madhya Pradesh underscore the critical importance of ethics, transparency, and accountability in governance—a lesson for all UPSC aspirants. A young IAS officer, Nagarjun B. Gouda , who recently joined the 2019 batch , has come under scrutiny after Right to Information (RTI) disclosures revealed serious irregularities in the handling of fines for illegal mining. While these revelations may seem alarming, they also offer valuable lessons in administrative ethics and the need for vigilance in public service. The RTI, filed by activist Anand Jat , exposed that a contractor who had caused environmental damage through illegal mining faced a fine of ₹51 crore . Shockingly, the penalty was reduced to just ₹432 , and the officer allegedly received a bri...

What’s Really Happening in India❔ It's high time for change.  A few weeks ago, a tragic incident took place in Delhi. A 50-year-old man was riding his bike with his daughter when suddenly, a tree fell on them. He died on the spot, and his daughter was left seriously injured. The reason? Heavy rainfall. The same kind of rain that recently brought Mumbai to a standstill. Many argue that Mumbai faced 800 mm of rain in just three days — an amount no city could handle. But then, take a look at Gurugram. The city receives less than 600 mm of rain in an entire year, yet eight people have already lost their lives this year alone due to waterlogging. And this isn’t an isolated issue. Remember the viral video where a biker was assaulted by strangers for no reason? Or the shocking case from Mohali, where a brilliant Indian scientist — who returned from countries like Switzerland and Germany to contribute to Indian research — was beaten to death over a parking dispute. These incidents say a...

Current Affairs for UPSC: 3 October 2025 Exploring Gravitational Waves: From Earth to the Moon and Beyond Hello everyone, and welcome once again to our page. In this week’s Science Editorial, we dive deep into a fascinating scientific development — the detection of gravitational waves and the future experiments that aim to expand our understanding of the universe. If you have studied this topic before, this will serve as a thorough revision. And if not, you’re in for an exciting journey through space-time. Understanding the Cosmic Symphony Think of the universe like a grand orchestra. When you listen to a song, you hear different instruments playing together — the piano, guitar, drums, and vocals. Their blend creates a melody. Similarly, the universe is constantly “playing” through a mix of signals: electromagnetic waves, X-rays, gamma rays, gravitational waves, and more. These different frequencies together form the music of the cosmos. Among these cosmic notes, scientists focus o...

Sonam Wangchuk’s Arrest: A Test of India’s Tolerance for Dissent When the news broke that Sonam Wangchuk, the Ladakh-based engineer, innovator, and activist, had been arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) in late September 2025, it sent shockwaves far beyond the icy deserts of Leh. Wangchuk is no ordinary activist. For decades, he has symbolized a rare blend of scientific ingenuity and social reform, best known globally as the inspiration behind Aamir Khan’s character in 3 Idiots . In Ladakh, however, he is revered not as a pop-culture figure but as a community leader fighting to preserve the fragile Himalayan ecosystem and the rights of its indigenous people. A Voice for Ladakh Wangchuk has long warned about the ecological and political marginalization of Ladakh since its separation from Jammu and Kashmir in 2019. His hunger strikes earlier this year drew attention to demands for constitutional safeguards, Sixth Schedule protections, and genuine autonomy to protect Lada...

SSC CGL 2025 — My Take on Expected Cut-Offs, Trends & What You Should Do Next The SSC CGL Tier-1 exam  for  2025 turned out to be comparatively easy — so many students reported attempting a large number of questions with confidence. In fact, as the paper for the year 2025 was so easy and students were doing more and more questions — many attempted around 80–90 questions with decent accuracy — I think the cut-off is likely to be pushed up this year. Below I’ve shared my personal expectations, why the cutoffs may move the way they do, and what you should focus on next. Expected Cut-Offs (my opinion) > These are my estimates based on how the exam played out and the general buzz among students.  General (UR): around [160–165] OBC: around [150–155] SC: around [130–135] ST: around [120–125] Because the 2025 paper was on the easier side and a lot of candidates managed to solve 80–90 questions, the cutoff, in my opinion, could land at the higher end of usual ranges. Remem...