2015 has begun on a sombre note as France suffered the worst terror attack in the country's history, and India saw protests by right-wing conservative groups against the screening of the film-PK. Both instances show an increasing intolerance against the questioning of established religions

A fall in oil prices has pushed down the values of oil companies globally, giving India a rare chance to acquire assets cheap and hedge its economy against future increases in energy prices. There are plenty of plum assets to pick from—such as Rosneft, the state-owned Russian oil major

With the weaker-than-expected agreement at the recent Climate Change Conference at Lima, there is an urgent need to replicate innovative green endeavours in civil society and business for a sustainable global economy with grassroots empowerment

The India-Russia nuclear agreement envisages 12 nuclear reactors to be built in India. These will help India shift its energy mix towards nuclear power, which is cheaper than coal and less polluting

Space exploration may take a hit as terrestrial politics plays spoilsport with the U.S. government spearheading a sanctions programme against Russia. With China pursuing an independent space programme of its own, Russia’s departure from the effort may mark the beginning of a divided space once again after the Cold War

2014 was celebrated as the year of India-China friendship with many joint high level diplomatic, defence and cultural events to strengthen relations. The cities of New Delhi and Mumbai will see the debut of the Chinese Kunqu Opera to mark the close of the year

Globally, metropolitan cities are becoming powerful centres that sustain entire countries. In the case of Mumbai, the government can work backwards by stitching the infrastructure and governance together. The tried-and-tested technique is to host an international institution or event. Gateway House argues that Mumbai is most appropriate to be home to the headquarters of BRICS

The fall in oil prices is creating new complexities for the energy exporting economies of West Asia. With smaller profits, these countries may not be able to buy off political dissent at home and fund client governments and rebels abroad. Lower energy prices could also mean a renewed chance for peace

The imposition of sanctions by Western countries on Russia has conflagrated the Ukrainian crisis with both sides indulging in an asymmetrical sanctions game. The hardening of positions has caused the Russian and the European economies to suffer, with no end in sight for the conflict

A rare opportunity to visit the North Atlantic Treaty Organization headquarters in Brussels provides a good opportunity to assess the organisation’s functioning. Interactions with its officials brought out the challenges the alliance faces, and its constant efforts to remain relevant in Europe’s security landscape