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Turmoil in Kyrgyzstan
Apr 12, 2010

Turmoil in Kyrgyzstan

Trouble was brewing in this Central Asian Republic after the Bakiyev administration hiked the price of water, fuel and electricity late last year

Turmoil in Maldives and India's timid response
Mar 07, 2015

Turmoil in Maldives and India's timid response

After demonstrating a sharp sense of deeper engagement with the neighbours, from the day of the swearing in, it was widely expected that Modi would exercise a more muscular foreign policy. Surprisingly, our official response to events in Male has been timid and even that has been rebuffed by the Foreign Minister of Maldives.

Turning the Pak nuclear debate to Delhi's advantage
Oct 20, 2015

Turning the Pak nuclear debate to Delhi's advantage

The centre of gravity of India's foreign policy seems to rest in Pakistan. India has not been able to overcome this psychological vulnerability, despite the growing strategic separation between India and Pakistan. It gets a lot worse when it comes to Pakistan's relations with America.

TV Ads: Some regulation necessary, but TRAI notification not adequate
May 08, 2013

TV Ads: Some regulation necessary, but TRAI notification not adequate

At an ORF discussion on advertising regulation on television, while there seemed to be agreement that some regulation is necessary to prevent excessive advertising and harmful or offensive content from airing, the TRAI's notification was badly timed and not adequate to the needs of the industry.

TV media as the new mom and dad
May 14, 2013

TV media as the new mom and dad

It was not a big surprise that the Bill that came into force as the 'The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013' on April 3 retained the age of consent at 18, taking away from the teenagers the right to make their sexual choices; a right that they had actually possessed for the last three decades.

Twin crises in the Gulf: Implications for India
Apr 30, 2020

Twin crises in the Gulf: Implications for India

Countries in the Gulf region are facing a proverbial perfect storm: oil demand falling to its lowest levels in decades, disagreements within the group of oil-exporting nations on supply cuts, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The plummeting of oil prices is affecting these countries’ fiscal positions, business sentiments, and economic growth. India has stakes in all this; after all, the country has strong economic, commercial and diaspora ties with th

Twin State assembly elections a test for  Prime Minister?
Oct 10, 2014

Twin State assembly elections a test for Prime Minister?

The electorate of two Indian states -- Maharashtra and Haryana -- is going to cast their votes on October15 to choose their government for the next five years. The big question is whether it is going to be government(s)

Twisted ideology is a dangerous game
Nov 20, 2015

Twisted ideology is a dangerous game

The world too has dealt with different forms of terror in the past from Black September to Baader Meinhof and Red Army Faction, none is more dangerous an adversary than the Islamic jihadist who goes beyond semantic aberration.

Two Blows to India-Pakistan Ties
Jul 16, 2011

Two Blows to India-Pakistan Ties

The latest terrorist attack on Mumbai and careless comments by an Indian minister on the scrapping of aids by the United States may set back ties with Pakistan.

Two decades of celebrating inequity
Feb 19, 2011

Two decades of celebrating inequity

Twenty years after the launch of economic reforms, India has visibly changed. But the 'common man' is still confused and struggling even though most people in the low income group can afford a TV, mobile phone, scooter and even a room or two in a poor residential area.

Two nations take lead in securing Indo-Pacific century
Jun 25, 2013

Two nations take lead in securing Indo-Pacific century

The changing distribution of power and the Chinese challenge to US primacy demands that countries like India and Australia bear larger responsibility for security. The future of the Indo-Pacific can't be tied solely to the twists and turns of the dynamic between Washington and Beijing.

Two-speed regionalism
Jun 24, 2015

Two-speed regionalism

Instead of agonising over the failures of the Saarc, Delhi has recognised that two-speed regionalism is quite common around the world. Also, India has often looked beyond the Saarc to benefit from trans-regional cooperation, like BIMSTEC

U.S. Election: A horse race in the final stretch
Oct 26, 2012

U.S. Election: A horse race in the final stretch

Ohio remains the key for the Romney campaign. Without Ohio, Romney will likely lose. If Obama continues to hold on to Ohio, he can win reasonably comfortably. So, in the final stretch, Obama is ahead by a nose, but it is still too close to call.

U.S. policies in the Eurasian region
Dec 12, 2005

U.S. policies in the Eurasian region

There is a preponderance of storms around the Black Sea. Its ancient beaches are littered with shipwrecks from the classical world. Some American geologists insist the great Biblical flood occurred there.

Ufa BRICS Summit boost for Indian economy
Jul 21, 2015

Ufa BRICS Summit boost for Indian economy

There are three major takeaways for India from the Ufa BRICS Declaration. First, the focus on increasing trade-ties amongst BRICS nations, second, strengthening cooperation amongst BRICS in areas of Information, Communication, and Technology (ICTs) and third, India's role at the United Nations.

UIDAI-NPR row: Identity politics of a different kind
Apr 07, 2012

UIDAI-NPR row: Identity politics of a different kind

The tussle between the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the National Population Register (NPR) is not about turf. It's about bureaucracy's control over us.

Ukraine crisis affects Tokyo's efforts to improve ties with Moscow?
Mar 31, 2014

Ukraine crisis affects Tokyo's efforts to improve ties with Moscow?

Going by Japan's response to the Ukraine crisis, it appears that Tokyo attaches more importance to its alliance with the US than to the prospects of a robust Russo-Japanese partnership. And, with President Obama scheduled to make a visit to Japan in April, Abe is keen to maintain full solidarity with the US.

Ukraine crisis: Are Cold War clouds gathering again?
Mar 28, 2014

Ukraine crisis: Are Cold War clouds gathering again?

For Ukraine, joining EU or NATO would not be prudent as well as joining the Eurasian Union as it would not serve Ukraine's national interest. A close association with Russia as well as special partnership with EU may be a better option.

Ukraine crisis: China gains at the cost of Europe
Apr 03, 2015

Ukraine crisis: China gains at the cost of Europe

Former Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr Goran Persson, feels that India should take an active role in negotiating between the European Union and Russia, who are fighting over Ukraine. He believes that new developments will mean that China-Russia relations will prosper at the cost of Russia-Europe relations.

Ukraine is about the future of Europe
Oct 13, 2015

Ukraine is about the future of Europe

President of Germany's Green Party affiliated Heinrich Boell Stiftung, Ralf Fuecks, thinks that Ukraine has to "return to sovereignty within certain safeguards" and that "an agreement with Russia is possible". He hinted this could be in the form of a free trade zone and a more comprehensive economic cooperation.

Ukraine needs a West-Russia deal for stability
Mar 07, 2014

Ukraine needs a West-Russia deal for stability

What Ukraine really needs at this point is for both the West and Russia to work towards Ukraine's political and economic stability. The solution should see the territorial integrity of Ukraine being upheld and a common solution acceptable to all the sections of that country.

Ukraine's future not in either East or West
Aug 25, 2014

Ukraine's future not in either East or West

It may be the strategy of Russia to bleed Ukraine dry, says Dr Andrew Kuchins, an expert on Russia. Ukraine has had 5-6 per cent negative economic growth this year. He says even a 30 plus billion dollar package from the IMF and others may not be enough to put Ukraine back on its feet again.

Ukraine-like change not acceptable to EU, says official
Apr 10, 2015

Ukraine-like change not acceptable to EU, says official

The past 18 months of the crisis in Ukraine has brought back memories of the Yugoslavian crisis, says Mr. Césare Onestini, the Deputy Head of delegation of the European Union in India.

Ukraine: Heading towards civil war?
Jan 30, 2014

Ukraine: Heading towards civil war?

There have been fears expressed that if the situation in Ukraine worsens, it could spread across the border to Russia. While that appears highly unlikely at present, an escalation of the confrontation raises the spectre of a civil war in Ukraine.

UN committee pulls up Pakistan for racial discrimination
May 01, 2009

UN committee pulls up Pakistan for racial discrimination

Pakistan's record in fulfilling its international commitments to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination came under strong criticism when its periodic report on implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination came up for examination

UN honour for Bangladesh: Demands new approach in visualizing the country
Oct 05, 2010

UN honour for Bangladesh: Demands new approach in visualizing the country

On September 19, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed received a UN award for the country's extraordinary performance in reducing child mortality rate, a millennium developmental goal (MDG).

Unbated PWG Naxal Violence in Chhatisgarh
Dec 04, 2003

Unbated PWG Naxal Violence in Chhatisgarh

A wave of pre-election violence, intimidation and destruction unleashed by Naxalites of the People¿s War Group (PWG) has been continuing in the post election phase in the central Indian State of Chhattisgarh. Legislative Assembly polls were held there on December 1, 2003. Polling could not be held in parts of Konta constituency, Dantewada district,

Unbundling state effectiveness: Current perspectives
Aug 20, 2018

Unbundling state effectiveness: Current perspectives

Decentralisation, with all its limitations, is the way to go for India to make the state effective in fulfillment of its sovereign functions.

Unbundling the coal-climate equation
Oct 07, 2015

Unbundling the coal-climate equation

Ahead of the Paris climate summit, India announced on October 2 its INDCs for climate change mitigation and adaptation. While this commitment has drawn fulsome praise from many, the green ayatollahs have predictably ignored its herculean clean energy ambitions and focused on Indian dependence on coal. It is time to lay bare the 'coal hypocrisy' of these privileged 'western greens'.

Uncertainties and concerns about the forthcoming Nigerian elections
Feb 04, 2015

Uncertainties and concerns about the forthcoming Nigerian elections

With barely two weeks left, there is still no clarity on the details of the forthcoming elections in Nigeria. Will Nigeria hold Presidential elections on February 14 and the Governors of the States poll on February 28 as scheduled?

Uncertainty about Yemen's future
Aug 21, 2013

Uncertainty about Yemen's future

As Yemen's two-year transitional period comes to an end, there is increased anticipation regarding Yemen's future. Main points of contention in the National Dialogue Conference (NDC) were pertaining to the solutions to the southern issue.

Uncle Sam's bear hug
Jul 19, 2005

Uncle Sam's bear hug

Through most of the Cold War and for over a decade after it ended, the phrase that best described Indo-US relations was ¿estranged democracies¿, coined by Dennis Kux, a former US diplomat. The two democracies, the world¿s largest and the world¿s most populous, regarded each other with wary suspicion.

Under China's Shadow, India Looks to Australia
Feb 11, 2013

Under China's Shadow, India Looks to Australia

More than the growth of the Indian diaspora in Australia or two-way commerce, the potential for naval cooperation and reshaping the political geography of the Indo-Pacific excites the relationship's strategic proponents.

Understanding Anar Ullah Bangla, a new terrorist outfit
Sep 20, 2013

Understanding Anar Ullah Bangla, a new terrorist outfit

Last month, the security forces of Bangladesh unearthed the existence of a new terrorist group called Ansar Ullah Bangla. The discovery of this group surprised many since the country for a few years has been having an active counter-terror operation in place.

Understanding China’s message to our country
Jun 04, 2020

Understanding China’s message to our country

After Doklam, China seems to want to ‘expose’ once again how India’s Quad allies are concerned only about the shared waters of the Indo-Pacific

Understanding continuing decline in Indian exports
Oct 08, 2015

Understanding continuing decline in Indian exports

For India to become a part of the global value chains, a better intellectual property regime is needed. Further, India needs to take measures to be a part of the mega regionals which are going to shape the future of global trade architecture such as TPP and RCEP.

Understanding disease and shaping public health policy in a time of pandemic
May 23, 2023

Understanding disease and shaping public health policy in a time of pandemic

A pandemic of the viral disease COVID-19 has reached millions of people around the world with significant rates of mortality. With no specific treatments or vaccines in the immediate horizon, limiting contact with infected persons, the use of masks, and hand hygiene offer the only mitigation for now. This has led most countries to adopt severe isolation measures, which have in turn caused disruption of economic activity and increased unemployment

Understanding emerging contours of powers and hegemony
Sep 28, 2010

Understanding emerging contours of powers and hegemony

Dr. Sergey Kurginyan noted that the world at present faces the threat of descending into a vortex of chaos and whoever succeeds in managing this chaos effectively will be able to take control of the future of the international system as the new hegemon.

Understanding India, UK perspectives on Afghanistan
Mar 21, 2013

Understanding India, UK perspectives on Afghanistan

To understand the different perspectives of the UK and India on the evolving situation in Afghanistan and the implications of the Arab Spring, Observer Research Foundation organised an interaction with experts from the Foreign Commonwealth Office on March 21, 2013.

Understanding the dynamics of Baloch nationalism
Nov 23, 2009

Understanding the dynamics of Baloch nationalism

The state of Pakistan, dominated by Punjabis, has responded to Baloch nationalism with brutal methods of suppression

Understanding the Economic Issues in Sri Lanka’s Current Debacle
Jun 21, 2022

Understanding the Economic Issues in Sri Lanka’s Current Debacle

Sri Lanka, which in the 1970s was being hailed as a development success story for a low-income nation, is now mired in a financial and economic disaster, its worst yet since independence in 1948. Despite notable investments in infrastructure projects, and a largely stable growth rate from 2013 to 2019, the Sri Lankan story was marred by a series of untimely and mismanaged economic measures that led to the current meltdown. External factors have c

Understanding the Emerging Contours of Power and Hegemony
Mar 15, 2011

Understanding the Emerging Contours of Power and Hegemony

Observer Research Foundation and the Experimental Creativity Centre (ECC), Moscow, completed the second leg of their collaborative research project on the theme "Understanding the Emerging Contours of Power and Hegemony - Contemporary Geo-political Narratives" in New Delhi on March 15-16, 2010.