Indian Express | Black Sea Deal: Is it the beginning of the end for the Russia-Ukraine War?

With the new agreement brokered by the US, it is expected that even if not permanent, a long-term ceasefire in the Black Sea will finally allow for freedom of navigation and continuation of trade and commercial shipping. However, this time around, Russia, too, has learned its lesson, and has demanded that Western sanctions on its participation in global agricultural and fertiliser supply chains be immediately lifted, and a sanctioned Russian Bank be connected to the SWIFT international payment system – only then will it see the terms of the agreement through.

By Anushka Saxena

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Life of Soldiers | Anti-Submarine Warfare: Doctrine and Capabilities of the PLA Navy

At the recently concluded Zhuhai Airshow in Guangdong, China, a new unmanned combat vessel of the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), the ORCA, made its debut as part of the Asian giant’s naval arsenal. As official sources highlighted, this 500-tonne displacement high-speed stealth unmanned surface combat vessel, equipped with a diesel-electric dual-mode propulsion system, is capable of performing a host of tasks including Beyond-Visual-Range (BVR) fire strike, and air and missile defense. But perhaps what is most interesting, is its reported ability to perform anti-submarine search and strike autonomously. If true, the PLAN may just be ushering in a transformed era for China’s undersea warfare capabilities.

By Anushka Saxena

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