How Indian Air Force’s Gagan Shakti exercise packed a punch together with Army and Navy
Published: The Print
02 May 2018
Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa seems determined to position the Indian Air Force as a critical tool of statecraft in an increasingly complex strategic neighbourhood. Speaking at the Vivekanada Foundation recently, he strongly argued a case for the IAF as a force that has the capability to punch well above its weight.
The Gagan Shakti exercise, which saw the IAF fly over 11,000 sorties between 10 and 22 April, helped dispel widespread apprehensions that IAF’s combat edge was seriously blunted by declining force levels. The exercise demonstrated that offensive capability was still at the heart of Indian air power. Click here to read...
China installs cruise missiles on key South China Sea outposts, report says
Published: The Japan Times
03 May 2018
China has secretly installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its fortified outposts in the South China Sea, a report said Wednesday, as Beijing seeks to further project power in the disputed waters.
CNBC, citing sources with direct knowledge of U.S. intelligence reports, said that the missile platforms had been moved to outposts on the Spratly group of islands within the past 30 days. Such a deployment would be the first to the Spratlys, which are some two-thirds of the way east from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines. Click here to read...
Sri Lanka's China-backed Port City sees up to $4 billion investment interest
Published: Reuters
02 May 2018
A Chinese-backed real estate project near Sri Lanka’s main port is in discussion with investors for up to $4 billion in investments in its first phase, the developer said on Wednesday. Work on the $1.4 billion Port City project by China Communication Construction Company (CCCC) (601800.SS) started in 2016 as part of Beijing’s ambitious plans to create a modern-day “Silk Road” linking Asia to the Middle East and Europe. Click here to read...
The project is expected to attract $13 billion in investment over next 20 years.
China’s Belt-and-Road Billions Come With a Cost
Published: Bloomberg
02 May 2018
When a 25-year civil war ended in 2009, Sri Lanka had little choice but to turn to China. Beijing stepped up aid and arms shipments as the U.S. and Europe withdrew funding, leaving China in position to quickly offer loans and financing. Many countries in South Asia are in a similar position. Myanmar and Iran were under western sanctions, while extremist violence has kept investors away from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
“No one was interested in investing in Sri Lanka,” said Luxman Siriwardena, a former finance ministry official who is now executive director of Colombo’s Pathfinder Foundation, a research group. “Anything is great when there is no alternative.”
Even so, Sri Lanka’s experience came with some costly lessons. Click here to read...
Pakistan offers Russia ‘strategic partnership’ for the first time
Published: The Express Tribune
02 May 2018
Pakistan has offered Russia a ‘multidimensional strategic partnership’ as the two former cold-war rivals celebrate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
“We believe that long term multidimensional strategic partnership between the two countries will be mutually beneficial for the people of Pakistan and the Russian Federation and would contribute towards regional peace and stability,” said a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Tuesday. Click here to read...
India, Nepal revive bid to bring 22-yr-old mega dam project back to life
Published: The Times of India
02 May 2018
India and Nepal have decided to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) of their ambitious Pancheshwar multi-purpose dam project by December and agreed to resume fresh negotiations to resolve critical issues of water sharing and power purchase agreement under the project which was conceived over 22 years ago.
Besides generating hydro-power to the tune of 4,800 MW, augmenting irrigation potential and controlling floods, the project - a centerpiece of the February, 1996 Mahakali Treaty between the two countries - also has potential to address Delhi’s growing water demand through a proposed Sharda-Yamuna inter-linking of rivers. Click here to read...
Unique initiative by Bastar Police to counter Naxal insurgency
Published: Business Standard
02 May 2018
In a unique initiative to counter Naxalism in the insurgency hit-Bastar, Police have launched several songs for residing tribals, especially in the local language, with the aim of motivating the tribal youth to opt for the right paths, ones that lead to development and a bright future.
In accordance with a popular recruiting method for the Naxals since the 1990s, cultural troupes, like the 'Chetna Natya Mandali', enter villages and perform anti-government acts, songs and short plays to influence innocent villagers' and recruit them in their forces. Click here to read...
