English Group "Only Achievers"

2021-04-30 06:11:11 - to challenge or confront someone.

15. Vow (V)- solemnly promise to do a specified thing.

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Happy learning! ओपन / कमेंट

2021-04-30 06:11:10 The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 30th April

In his first address to a joint session of Congress, U.S. President Joe Biden made clear that his administration would continue pressing forward with promises made during his election campaign last year, including vigorously meeting the health challenges of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, kick-starting the engines of the U.S. economy to provide sustainable job opportunities in the digital era, and reasserting the position of his country as a driving force for democracy worldwide including pushing back on China’s aspiration to be a regional hegemon in Asia. Mr. Biden’s first 100 days in office have been coterminous with arguably the most fraught times in recent U.S. history, given the devastation wreaked by the coronavirus on life and economic activity — making the U.S. the worst performer worldwide until recently surpassed on this grim scale by India. However, the Democrat has risen to the challenge posed by the virus, when compared to his predecessor Donald Trump’s response, in terms of signing into law a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill and funnelling direct payments of $1,400 per person to more than 160 million households. Reports suggest that this shot in the arm could boost economic growth this year to 6% or higher, and revive the nearly 8.4 million jobs lost to COVID-19 by 2022. Whether this will be enough to mollify the likely anger of wealthy Americans for the tax hikes he proposes to slap them with is unclear. Yet, it is not the economy but the wounds of racist hatred that he will have to work even harder to heal. The recent conviction of the police officer responsible for the death of African-American George Floyd represents but the first step toward bridging the chasm between prejudiced, overzealous law enforcement and racial minorities.

Notwithstanding the considerable progress made by the Biden administration in domestic politics, it is in the international arena that much work remains unfinished to repair the damage wrought by his predecessor, an isolationist who prioritised transactionalism and bilateral quid pro quo over strengthening the U.S. as a global voice for plurilateral cooperation and regional engagement. Mr. Biden, contrarily, has thrown down the gauntlet to China, assuring its President Xi Jinping that Washington would continue to maintain a strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific “not to start conflict, but to prevent one”. Recognising the multi-dimensional character of Beijing’s challenge to the rules-based international order, Mr. Biden has also vowed to stand up to “unfair” trade practices, including disallowed subsidies for Chinese state-owned enterprises and industrial espionage, as well as speak out on perceived violations of fundamental freedoms and rights relating to, for example, Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea and in Hong Kong and the Xinjiang region, respectively. Whether facing conservative opposition to domestic policies or hostile pushback on the global stage from geopolitical rivals, Mr. Biden must hold fast to the values that saw him elevated to the White House.

CREDIT SOURCE :- The Hindu
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1. Vigorously (adv.)- in a very forceful or energetic manner

2. Push Back (Phrasal Verb)- disagree with or oppose an action or proposal.

3. Hegemon (N)- a supreme leader.

4. Coterminous (Adj)- being of equal extent or scope or duration.

5. Fraught (Adj)- full of unpleasant things such as problems or dangers.

6. Devastation (N)- damage and destruction

7. Wreak (V)- to be the cause of.

8. Grim (Adj)- very serious or gloomy. भयंकर, विकट

9. Mollify (V)- to make someone feel less angry or upset. शांत करना

10. Chasm (N)- a very large difference between two opinions or groups of people. दरार, गहरा मतभेद

11. Plurilateral - A plurilateral agreement is a multi-national legal or trade agreement between countries.

12. Wrought (Adj)- made or done in a careful or decorative way.

13. Quid Pro Quo (N)- something given or received for something else.

14. Throw Down The Gauntlet (Phrase) ओपन / कमेंट

2021-04-29 05:49:07

13. Catalyst (N)- a person or a thing that causes change (परिवर्तन लाने वाला व्‍यक्ति या वस्‍तु)

14. Surge (N)- a sudden strong movement in a particular direction by a large number of people or things

15. Strides (N)- a long, decisive step.

16. Virulence (N)- bitter hostility; rancour.

17. Fatigue (N)- the feeling of being extremely tired

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Happy learning! ओपन / कमेंट

2021-04-29 05:49:07 The Hindu Editorial with Vocab - 29th April

Salutary steps: On Election Commission norms to curb COVID-19 spread

Amid criticism that it did not enforce steps to curb the spread of COVID-19 during the protracted campaign for Assembly elections in four States and one Union Territory with sufficient vigour, the Election Commission of India has now banned victory processions after the results are declared on May 2. It has also restricted to two the number of persons who can accompany the winning candidate to meet the Returning Officer and collect the election certificate. These are significant steps to prevent any escalation in the already alarming infection rate. Further, the ECI has come up with measures at counting centres, including a stipulation that agents cannot enter the counting hall without producing either a negative test report for COVID-19 or final vaccination reports. While such stringent norms are welcome, it is regrettable that the enforcement of earlier norms for COVID-appropriate behaviour by political parties, candidates and their supporters was often quite lax during the long campaign. The Madras High Court’s remark to the effect that ECI officials should bear a great responsibility for the horrific spike in infections, illness, hospitalisation and deaths will resonate with the public. While it was quite in order that the court voiced its displeasure with the ECI for failing to make all parties adhere to its norms, the suggestion by the Bench that ECI officials should bear sole responsibility for the situation was avoidable, bordering on the intemperate. However, the court’s caution that the counting process should not become a catalyst for a new surge has undoubtedly helped and led to new norms for counting day activities.

As the election draws to a close, the time may have come for the ECI to reconsider its resort to multi-phase polling as a permanent practice. Granted, some States are prone to violence, but should it not reconsider the practice, taking into account the strides made in communications and logistics? Multi-phase voting has been defended for the last three decades as something necessary because of the time needed to move central forces to different parts of the country; security and sensitivity in select constituencies are also considerations. However, in the present round, the first three phases of the West Bengal elections were held alongside those of Assam, and polling in the three other States and Puducherry was completed on April 6. With only one State left, there was a good case for fulfilling logistical requirements within a week or so and getting the remaining polling work done in one or two phases by April 15. A prolonged campaign contributes to build-up of tension. Covering an entire State in as few phases as possible will help localise the potential for violence, prevent the spread of tension due to the virulence of the campaign, besides reducing the fatigue of forces deployed throughout the campaign, up to the day of counting. A shorter election may be a safer one too.

CREDIT SOURCE :- The Hindu
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1. Enforce (V)- to make people obey a law or rule or do something that they do not want to

2. Curb (N)- to limit or control something, especially something bad

3. Protracted (Adj)- lasting for a long time or longer than expected or usual.

4. Vigour (N)- effort, energy, and enthusiasm. जोश

5. Escalation (N)- an increase in the intensity or seriousness of something. वृद्धि

6. Come up with (Phrasal Verb)- produce something, especially when pressured or challenged.

7. Stipulation (N)- a condition or requirement that is specified or demanded as part of an agreement. शर्त

8. Stringent (adj.)- used about a law, rule, etc.) very strict (क़ानून, नियम आदि) बहुत कठोर

9. Lax (Adj)- not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful. लापरवाह

10. Spike (N)- a very high amount, price, or level, usually before a fall:

11. Sole (adj.)- only; single (केवल; सिर्फ़; एकमात्र)

12. Intemperate (adj.)- having or showing a lack of self-control; immoderate. ओपन / कमेंट