Learning stealth from the French military
The La Fayette, the French Navy’s frigate, is lean, mean and silent. Some takeaways from a tour of the classic.
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Courtesy: The Iran Project
Saudi Arabia feels Iran’s pinch
OPEC’s announcement of a cut in oil production shows that Saudi Arabia is being affected by low oil prices even as Iran gains ground
Courtesy: IBG News
India: an arbitration hub?
India’s goal of establishing arbitration centres for BRICS nations will not be possible without a holistic assessment of its arbitration policy.
Courtesy: Gateway House
India Trilateral Forum: building bridges
The 11th India Trilateral Forum, a meeting series between India, Europe and the U.S., reflects a more confident India from whom expectations – especially to counter China – are high. This will require a realistic re-labelling of India by the Western powers.
Courtesy: The Wire
Balochistan: India’s trump card?
Prime Minister Modi’s reference to Balochistan in his Independence Day speech, which coincided with the Kashmir unrest, sparked speculations of this being smartly retaliatory. But the province’s geo-strategic complexities mean that New Delhi will have to play the ‘human rights’ card carefully.
Courtesy: Wiki
India bolsters Indian Ocean strategy
In the last few years, India has stepped up its engagement with the countries of the Indian Ocean. At the first Indian Ocean Conference held last week, a consensus emerged that New Delhi needed to redouble their efforts to foster political, security, economic, and cultural cooperation in the region.
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GST: adding edge to exports
The GST will not only advance domestic market efficiencies but also add teeth to India’s economic diplomacy by improving the ease of doing business and enhancing competitiveness for exports.
Courtesy: T20 China
T20: Thinking for G20
The T20 Summit held in Beijing last week provided an opportunity for scholars, think tank representatives, and government officials to engage in meaningful discussion of global economic governance in preparation for the G20 summit in September. The summit's organisers and participants are now taking greater steps to produce more tangible and relevant policy options for the consideration of states worldwide, in the context of fostering global good.
Courtesy: World Social Forum
Reaffirming a different globalisation
Globalization appears to be giving way to a wave of nationalist protectionism. At this juncture, it is vital to focus on alternative visions of globalization anchored in concern for the environment, human rights, and economic democracy. The World Social Forum in Montreal from 9-14 August will gather more than 5000 people from across the world and serve as a window to the diverse endeavours in favour of a pro-local globalization based on trans-national solidarity.
Courtesy: Livemint
Securing oil: buy now, hold exploration
The fall in oil prices means it is now cheaper for ONGC to acquire discovered oil fields than to explore on its own. To profit from the changed dynamic, India needs to go big on a ‘buy’ strategy.