Comment & Briefs

The political deadlock in Israel is set to continue, with Netanyahu failing to garner adequate support and Yair Lapid facing the deadline of June 2, 2021 to cobble together the necessary support to form a coalition government.

The talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia mediated by Iraq may help in the de-escalation of regional tensions.

The Israel-Hamas clash diminishes prospects for the revival of the peace process and strengthens Hamas’ position as the preeminent Palestinian faction.

India must continue to engage with the Tatmadaw, even as it supports the efforts of the UN and the ASEAN to restore democratic processes and prevent violence and conflict in Myanmar.

Nepal’s Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli faces tough challenges as he tries to cobble a majority in the House of Representatives.

Cyber-related risks to the energy sector can be minimised by strategic intelligence gathering on potential threat actors, weaving of cyber security strategies into corporate decisions, industry-wide collaboration as well as up-to-date backup systems.

The attack on former Maldivian President and current Speaker of the Majlis, Mohammad Nasheed, on May 6, 2021 has brought to attention the country’s tenuous political stability, compounded by the problem of Islamist radicalisation.

The ban imposed on the Tehrik Labaik Pakistan (TLP) by the Pakistan government will not defang the religious radicalism that forms its core strength.

The growing ties between China and Iran can have challenges for India’s relations with Iran and interests in the Persian Gulf region. Nonetheless, it is unlikely to seriously affect India-Iran bilateral ties that remain robust and have withstood challenges earlier.

The interweaving of philosophy with statecraft lends Kautilya’s Arthashastra a unique comprehensive approach. Even if some of the Kautilyan tenets are resoundingly commonsensical, the lamp of philosophy credibly illuminates its Indianness.