{"id":3571,"date":"2025-02-24T09:50:03","date_gmt":"2025-02-24T09:50:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawentranceindia.com\/blogs\/?p=3571"},"modified":"2025-02-24T09:50:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T09:50:03","slug":"mlc-daily-current-affairs-24-february-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawentranceindia.com\/blogs\/mlc-daily-current-affairs-24-february-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"MLC Daily Current Affairs – 24 February 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today in History (February 24th<\/sup>,1582)<\/h1>\n

24 February 1582 \u2013 Pope Gregory XIII announces the New Style (Gregorian) calendar, which remains in use as the internationally accepted civilian calendar to this day.<\/p>\n

Summary of Today’s News<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Trump’s Attack on USAID and India<\/span><\/h3>\n

Imperialism is when a country extends its power and control over other countries or territories. Imperialism can involve the use of military force, economic power, or cultural influence.
\n o\tU.S. President Donald Trump criticized USAID and India for an alleged grant for \u201cvoter turnout\u201d during Indian elections.
\no\tThe allegation was based on a figure released by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on February 16.
\no\tTrump has referred to the figure five times at various public events.
\nDetails of the Allegation:<\/strong>
\no\tTrump cited an $18 million figure (shifted from the previously mentioned $21 million).
\no\tHe questioned why the U.S. would give money to India for elections, calling India one of the highest tariff nations.
\no\tTrump referred to the grant as \u201chelping India with its elections\u201d and criticized India for taking advantage of the U.S.
\nContradictions in Trump’s Statements:<\/strong>
\no\tFebruary 19: Trump expressed respect for India but found the $21 million allocation unacceptable, claiming India has \u201ca lot more money.\u201d
\no\tFebruary 20: He implied the money was provided by the previous U.S. administration to \u201cget somebody else elected.\u201d
\no\tFebruary 21: Trump suggested the funds were part of a \u201ckickback scheme\u201d for the previous U.S. government.
\no\tFebruary 22: He stated the money was \u201cgoing to my friend Prime Minister Modi in India for voter turnout.\u201d
\no\tFebruary 23: It was unclear if Trump mistakenly referred to the $18 million figure or if it was a revised number.
\nQuestions on the Allocation:<\/strong>
\no\tDoubts were raised about whether the funds had been transferred as a \u201cdisbursal\u201d or were still an \u201cobligation\u201d from USAID.
\no\tThe DOGE post on X mentioned that U.S. taxpayer dollars were \u201cgoing to be spent,\u201d not that they had already been spent, and all planned payments had been canceled.
\nInvestigations and Evidence:<\/strong>
\no\tIndian media and the Washington Post published investigations revealing that USAID officials had no evidence of a \u201cvoter turnout\u201d project for India.
\no\tThe DOGE has not responded to requests for further details on the alleged allocations.
\no\tThe Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over the allegations, stating they were \u201cdeeply troubling,\u201d but declined to comment on Trump’s remarks.
\nConclusion:<\/strong>
\no\tOngoing uncertainty and contradictions surrounding the claims and evidence related to the alleged voter turnout project in India.<\/p>\n

A New Age of Imperialism<\/span><\/h3>\n

What is imperialism?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Decline of the Rules-Based International Order:<\/strong>
\no\tIn Ernest Hemingway\u2019s The Sun Also Rises, a character is asked how he went bankrupt. \u201cGradually and then suddenly,\u201d describing the decline of the rules-based international system.
\no\tRussia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 tested the principles of the UN Charter.
\no\tThe U.S. shifted from supporting Ukraine to echoing Russia\u2019s repudiation of the Charter, damaging the UN-based system of global governance.
\nBirth of the Post-WWII World Order:<\/strong>
\no\tThe current world order emerged after World War II, following conferences between 1941-1945 involving the U.S., the U.K., and the Soviet Union.
\no\tThe aim was to form an international organization based on collective security to maintain peace and manage state relations as sovereign equals.
\no\tAt the Tehran Conference (1943), the \u201cfour policemen\u201d (U.S., Britain, Soviet Union, and China) were designated to enforce peace.
\no\tFrance was included at the Yalta Conference (1945) mainly to manage territories occupied by Nazi Germany.
\no\tDespite flaws, the system allowed for a rules-based order where great power rivalries were managed through collective security and economic integration.
\nThe Shift Towards Spheres of Influence:<\/strong>
\no\tThe Yalta Conference implicitly accepted spheres of influence for the Soviet Union, the U.K., and the U.S.
\no\tOver time, the system gave way to self-determination for states, with international relations becoming more predictable and consensual.
\no\tNorms and principles of the UN system and Bretton Woods organizations helped mitigate power imbalances.
\nUpending the World Order by Donald Trump:<\/strong>
\no\tTrump undermined international agreements, such as pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization.
\no\tHe initiated a review of U.S. membership in international organizations and imposed unilateral tariffs, disrupting the global trading system.
\no\tTrump\u2019s actions signaled the behavior of a declining power pursuing nationalist policies, expanding influence in the Western Hemisphere, and prioritizing mercantilist interests.
\nTrump\u2019s Ties with Russia:<\/strong>
\no\tTrump\u2019s reinstatement of ties with Vladimir Putin and attempts to negotiate a peace in Ukraine without involving Kyiv stunned Europe.
\no\tTrump referred to Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a dictator and supported Russian demands against NATO\u2019s presence in Ukraine.
\no\tEurope must now manage its own security without relying on NATO and the U.S.
\nA New, Brutish World Order:<\/strong>
\no\tThe rhetoric from the U.S. White House under Trump signals a shift towards a world order where might makes right, marked by growing imperialism.
\no\tThe U.S. is retreating from the global stage, focusing on its own hemisphere and seeking territorial acquisitions (e.g., Greenland, Canada, Panama Canal, Gaza).
\no\tThis retreat marks the beginning of a new imperial age, with the world dividing into spheres of influence.
\nImpact on Global Power Dynamics:<\/strong>
\no\tThe U.S. retreat allows Russia to pursue its imperial ambitions in Ukraine and reassert its lost glory.
\no\tChina, backed by Russia, may feel emboldened to advance its claims on Taiwan, especially with the U.S. no longer providing security guarantees in East and Southeast Asia.
\no\tIndia faces growing insecurity, as China has never accepted the McMahon Line, further destabilizing the region.
\nConclusion:<\/strong>
\no\tThe changing dynamics suggest a new world order that is aggressive and dominated by power struggles, with might taking precedence over diplomacy.<\/p>\n