The Hindu Editorial (Missed opportunity) – Jun 28, 2025

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The Hindu Editorial (Missed opportunity) – Jun 28, 2025:

1. Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) (noun) – The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation, the creation of which was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai (China). The SCO currently comprises eight Member States (China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) and is seen as a counterweight to NATO (The North Atlantic Treaty Organization). It was established as a multilateral association to ensure security and maintain stability across the vast Eurasian region, join forces to counteract emerging challenges and threats, and enhance trade, as well as cultural and humanitarian cooperation.
2. stance (noun) – position, viewpoint, stannd, perspective, approach.
3. communique (noun) – official communication, official announcement message, statement, report, press release, bulletin, missive, advisory.
4. grouping (noun) – group, association, organization. 
5. withdraw (verb) – leave, pull out of, quit, move out of.
6. reference (noun) – mention, comment, remark.
7. at the behest of (phrase) – in the name of, because of, on behalf of, at the request of, in the interest of; at the order of.
8. given (preposition) – considering, taking into account, bearing in mind.
9. resolve (noun) – determination, willpower, firmness, resolution, courage.
10. redouble (verb) – make something more intense/ stronger; to increase, strengthen, intensify something considerably
11. sound (verb) – appear, look, seem.
12. draft resolution (noun) – a document that seeks to fix the problems within the organisation. The draft resolution can be tabled after the delegates/members voted on amendments with which the ideas of some delegates on how to resolve an issue are proposed.
13. resolution (noun) – a formal decision taken at a meeting with the help of a vote; motion, proposal.
14. resolution (noun) – a form in which a legislative body expresses an opinion or a purpose with respect to a given matter or topic (that is temporary in nature).
15. host (noun) – presenter, organizer, arranging nation of (an event).
16. reportedly (adverb) – supposedly, seemingly, apparently, allegedly, professedly, ostensibly, purportedly. ​
17. refer (verb) – mention, cite, comment on, point out, bring up, call attention to.
18. disturbance (noun) – disruption; upheaval, commotion, turmoil.
19. at the instance of (phrase) – at the request of.
20. leave out (phrasal verb) – miss out, omit, skip, overlook, exclude, drop.
21. cross-border (adjective) – across a border between two countries.
22. ask for (phrasal verb) – require, call for, necessitate, demand
23. stark (adjective) – clear, distinct, evident, obvious, striking.
24. founding (adjective) – relating to the the charter based on which the grouping/association established.
25. charter (noun) – constitution, body of law, system of rules, fundamental principles.
26. intra- (prefix) – within.
27. inter- (prefix) – between
28. curb (verb) – control, contain, restrict, limit.
29. separatism (noun) – the act of supporting cultural, ethnic, tribal, religious, racial, regional, governmental, or gender separation from the larger group.
30. extremism (noun) – radicalism, fanaticism, dogmatism.
31. signature (adjective) – distinctively associated/connected with someone or something.
32. Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) (noun) – a permanent organ of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation tasked with coordinating counterterrorism efforts across member countries and advancing cooperation on SCO initiatives to mitigate the “Three Evils” – terrorism, separatism and religious extremism.
33. stick to (verb) – comply with, abide by, conform to, stand by, adhere to, follow, obey, observe.
34. anodyne (adjective) – inoffensive, neutral, unobjectionable, unexceptionable; dull, boring, tedious, unexciting; inoffensive, non-contentious; soothing, relaxing, pain-killing, pain-relieving, palliative, anesthetic, sedative. (anodyne as a noun means a “painkiller”)
35. all eyes are on something (phrase) – it means that everyone is paying careful attention to something and wait for what will happen.
36. summit (noun) – meeting, conference, conclave (international meeting/conference of heads of state/government).
37. address (verb) – tackle, deal with, attend to, try to sort out.
38. shortcoming (noun) – fault, flaw, imperfection/defect.
39. three-pronged (adjective) – having three different parts.
40. the new normal (phrase) – an earlier unusual situation that becomes a standard now.
41. Chair (noun) – chairperson, convener.
42. disquieting (adjective) – discouraging, depressing, distressing, disturbing, disheartening.
43. thaw (noun) – an increase in friendliness.
44. unlike (preposition) – different from; not similar to; in contrast to/with.
45. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) (noun) – Established in 1985, it is the regional intergovernmental organization and geopolitical union of states in South Asia. Its member states are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
46. hold sway (phrase) – hold power, have the greatest influence, have control, have the upper hand.
47. come/follow close on the heels of (phrase) – to happen very soon after something; close behind, soon after, right after, following closely, immediately following
48. disassociate (verb) – dissociate, separate, detach; break away from, break off relations with.
49. take sides against (phrase) – to not support/back, do not give one’s support to, not be on the side of, disassociate oneself with; not agree with
50. critical of (adjective) – reproving, disapproving, condemning, criticizing.
51. delegation (noun) – a group of representatives; delegates, (diplomatic) mission, deputation, envoys, emissaries.
52. not to say (phrase) – used to introduce a more  critical way of explaining something; not to mention, not including, not to speak of; to say nothing of.
53. prominence (noun) – importance, influence.
54. chair (verb) – lead, direct, preside over, be in charge of, be in control of.
55. the India-Central Asia forum (noun) – a mechanism for strengthening relations between India and the five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The 4th meeting of this dialogue is scheduled to take place on June 6, 2025, in New Delhi, alongside the India-Central Asia Business Council meeting on June 5. These events aim to foster cooperation in areas like trade, connectivity, technology, and development, while also addressing regional security concerns.
56. forum (noun) – meeting, conference, council, convention.
57. host (verb) – receive guests, have guests, play host, provide hospitality; arrange, organize, have (an event).
58. in-person (adjective) – relating to an event/class where people/student physically present together.
59. turn (noun) – time, chance, opportunity.
60. rankle (verb) – annoy, upset/irritate; continue to be painful/fester.
61. break with (phrasal verb) – end relations with; leave an organization.
62. cry foul (phrase) – to protest against/complain about something done by someone is wrong (or) not fair.
63. interest (noun) – common concerns (in politics/business).
64. lie in (phrasal verb) – to exist; be present or be found in something.

Note : 

1. Click each one of the words above for their definition, more synonyms, pronunciation, example sentences, phrases, derivatives, origin and etc. from http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/.

2. Definitions (elementary level) & Synonyms provided for the words above are my personal work and not that of Oxford University Press. Tentative definitions/meanings are provided for study purposes only and they may vary in a different context.  

3. This word list is for personal use only. Reproduction in any format and/or Commercial use of it is/are strictly prohibited.

The Hindu Editorial (Missed opportunity) – Jun 28, 2025: