Anmol Singla

Stretching between northeast Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, the Red Sea serves as one of international commerce’s most vital sea routes. Every year, thousands of merchant vessels carrying crude oil, liquefied natural gas, manufactured goods and consumer products transit its waters before passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and onward toward the Suez Canal. The Bab el-Mandeb itself is a relatively narrow passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and, ultimately, the Indian Ocean.

India’s coastal defence architecture and sub-surface warfare capabilities received a major boost on Wednesday as the Indian Navy officially commissioned INS Malvan — the second of eight indigenously designed Mahe-class Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW-SWC). Built by Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) with over 80 per cent indigenous content, the warship was formally inducted into active service during a ceremony at the Karwar Naval Base in Karnataka.

Nepal has approved a redesign of one of its most commonly used coins, removing a politically sensitive map that has been at the heart of a long-running territorial dispute with India. While the government has presented the move as part of a routine overhaul of the country’s coinage, the move has raised questions and prompted speculation that Kathmandu may be attempting to reset the tone of its relationship with New Delhi without altering its official territorial position.