The Recent Upsurge in Military Expenditure

THERE is an upsurge in military expenditure all over the world which is spearheaded by the upsurge in Europe. Of course there are different estimates of military expenditure, depending on what one includes under this heading. We shall, in what follows, take the estimates of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) for our analysis.

The Silence around Israel’s Nuclear Weapons

ON June 13, 2025, Israel launched what it called a “preemptive strike” on Iran, targeting residential areas and civil nuclear facilities, and its military leaders and scientists. This attack was a long-time dream of Prime Minister Benjamin Netyanyahu who had been crying wolf for over three decades about the possibility of the Iranians developing a nuclear bomb.

Starlink Spectrum Deal Poses National Security Risk

IN a strongly worded letter addressed to cabinet secretary T V Somanathan on June 9, 2025, former secretary to the Government of India, EAS Sarma has raised serious concerns over the Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) administrative clearance to Elon Musk’s Starlink for use of India’s satellite spectrum, warning that the move violates Supreme Court guidelines and poses a significant national security threat.Referring to his earlier letter dated June 2, 2025, Sarma reminded the government that administratively allocating satellite spectrum to a private foreign entity like Starl

UP: SFI Holds State Level Convention

ON June 16, 2025, the state convention of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Uttar Pradesh, concluded in Lucknow. The convention was held to protest the continuous reduction in scholarships from the high school level to Ph.D. studies. Adarsh M Saji, all India joint secretary of SFI, attended as an observer.

The convention was held in two sessions.

Condemn US and G-7 Belligerence

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on June 18, 2025

THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemns US President Donald Trump’s belligerent statements on Iran. Such rhetoric will further escalate tensions and push the entire West Asia region towards war and instability.

AI 171 Crash: Don’t Supplant Existing Investigation

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on June 16, 2025WITH regard to the tragic crash of Air India 171 in Ahmedabad, as per international protocols and norms set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has commenced its independent investigation into the causes and circumstances surrounding the crash.

Halt Israel’s Attack on Iran

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on June 13, 2025THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly denounces the Israeli attack on Iran and demands an immediate halt to the ongoing military operations. This act once again demonstrates that Israel is behaving like a rogue state, launching attacks on countries in West Asia at will and violating international laws and conventions.Israel has carried out a series of strikes against Iran, resulting in the deaths of senior nuclear scientists, army generals, and numerous civilians.

On the Air India Crash

CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on June 13, 2025THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) is deeply saddened by the tragic crash of the Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London, which resulted in the death of 265 people.

SC Verdict on NEP Upholds Federalism

THE Supreme Court’s dismissal in May 2025 of a petition seeking to enforce the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and West Bengal should be welcomed. The apex court rightly held that it cannot compel states to implement the NEP and may only intervene if the policy's implementation or non-implementation violates citizens’ fundamental rights.

AIPSO Holds Palestine Solidarity Protest in Mumbai, Defies Ban

ON June 18, under the banner of the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO), a militant yet peaceful public demonstration was held on the outskirts of Azad Maidan in Mumbai to express the solidarity of Mumbai’s citizens with Palestine and to demand an end to the Israeli genocide in Gaza.

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