Topics Archive

Technological changes and social contracts

Talk delivered at World Policy Conference by Tobby Simon . Social contracts have been the basis of how we construct societies. Every couple of generations we script new social contracts, and they…

The year of the rooster

Liberal democracies must examine their own glass houses to see how the liberal order has produced too many losers, too many corporate robber barons, while creating a level of social inequality, job…

Human pig

Embryos that are part human (less than 0.001% human) and part pig have been produced and are being analysed by scientists. It is the first proof of Chimeras - named after the mythical lion-goat-…

UN condemns Israel, again

On 24th Jan 16, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would build 2,500 more homes in Jewish settlements "in response to housing needs". It is the second such announcement by the Israeli…

One nation one election

On 25 Jan 2017, President Pranab Mukherjee, in his customary eve of Republic Day address to the nation, came out in support of simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. President…

Hottest year 2016

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA declared 2016 as the warmest year, breaking the record three years in a row. NASA data shows that average surface temperature in 2016…

US backing out of TPP

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. The trade pact was, former President Barack Obama's pivot to Asia, signed by 12 nations…

Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) decapitated

On 24 Jan 16, in one of his first executive orders, President Donald Trump formally pulled out the US from negotiations in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, trade deal. Thus, Donald Trump has fulfilled…

Chelsea Manning

On 18 Jan 17, President Obama commuted the sentence of Chelsea Manning, who was otherwise scheduled to serve 35 years, till 2045. US Private Bradley Manning (now Chelsea Manning) was convicted in…

Battle in Tata sons

On 24 Oct 16, Cyrus Mistry was unceremoniously dismissed as Chairman of Tata Sons. Tata Sons is the holding company of the US$ 103 billion Tata conglomerate. The largest shareholder in Tata Sons is…

Gambia

On 19 Jan 17, it was announced that President-elect of Gambia, Adama Barrow would be sworn-in, at the country’s embassy at Dakar, in neighboring Senegal. The incumbent President of The Gambia, Yahya…

Russian view on Trump

Russia is giving Donald Trump the kind of fawning television coverage usually reserved for Vladimir Putin. Inside the Kremlin, the initial euphoria over having a Putin admirer in the White House is…

Russia and the us presidential election

On Friday (06 Jan17), US President-elect Donald Trump is finally expected to attend the intelligence briefing, on alleged Russian interference in the US Presidential election. 

Jallikattu – an ordinance in the offing

The centre on Friday cleared the TN government’s proposal to promulgate an ordinance to hold Jallikattu. The State government had proposed to issue an ordinance but as the subject falls under the…

China’s free trade agenda

U.S. Treasury Secretary nominee Steven Mnuchin said during his Senate confirmation hearing he’s willing to label China as a currency manipulator if warranted. His views on the country are significant…

Apple in India

In May 16, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, met PM Narendra Modi to look into the possibility of ‘make in India’ – Apple products. Apple struck a deal in October 16 with Reliance Jio. As part of the deal,…

Legal status for robots

On 11 Jan 16, it was reported that the European Parliament is preparing to vote, on the first set of comprehensive rules, regarding how humans should interact with robots and Artificial Intelligence…

Us expels russian diplomats

Will Vladimir Putin’s Diplomatic finesse bring longer-term benefits?

The other Brexiteers

On the 10th of January 2017, Both Northern Ireland and Scotland made symbolic gestures towards a year of forced unity amongst the countries within Britain. Nicola Sturgeon announced that there would…

Overseas citizen of india (OCI)

On 08 Jun 16, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, at Bangalore. The celebration is held regularly to celebrate Indian diaspora, across the world.