Topics Archive

Prisons-Boot Camps for Crime and Terror

Bloody prison riots followed by police brutalities have become a frequent occurrence. The core principle of incarceration-penance followed by reformation - is belied by the crumbling prison system.…

Cultivated Meat: “Soul” Food

The global demand for meat is set to double by 2050. With Clean Meat technology making considerable headway, are we ready to make the conscious shift to this more sustainable source of meat?

ENDS to Vaping

An ordinance has banned the electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) or e-cigarettes in India with immediate effect. Is this a death knell on the tobacco industry too?

UAPA 2019: Striking a Balance

India’s 2019 Amendment to Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, (UAPA) 1967 underscores the conflict between restrictions on basic human rights and security compulsions of the state. 

Damocles’ Sword Over Cash Starved Pakistan

Having failed twice to meet the milestones set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the prospects of blacklisting loom large over an economically stressed Pakistan.

CDS- Integrating Indian Defence Forces

Will the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) kickstart the long due integration of Indian Defence Forces - creating a Joint Multidimensional Force that will be at par with the modern militaries of other…

An Overdose of Opioid: Johnson & Johnson

Does the landmark judgement of a US Court against Johnson & Johnson for promoting excessive opioids lay bare the complicity of large pharmaceutical corporations in placing profits before social…

White nationalism : A growing force?

In the age of instant communication, with world-wide reach, nationalist groups target communities of colour and also religious minorities through the available social platforms. 

The Protests in Russia

Over 60,000 Russians staged the country’s biggest political protest, defying a clampdown to demand free elections to Moscow’s city legislature. What does the biggest political protest in Moscow in…

Animal-Human hybrid in the making 

After the development of human - monkey in China, the Japanese government has approved stem cell experiments to create animal-human hybrid disregarding the species barrier and other ethical issues.

RTI Amendment: Threat to autonomy?

The Lok Sabha has passed the Right to Information (Amendment) Bill, 2019 which seeks to make changes to the statutorily fixed tenure and service conditions of Information Commissioners.

Chinese cameras ban at U.S. facilities

U.S. federal agencies are yet to comply with a mandate on Chinese made surveillance cameras which was imposed by the Congress in 2018. The agencies are required to remove the cameras before the…

Tolerating intolerance in the US

A Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed a resolution to condemn President Donald Trump’s "racist comments" towards four Democratic congresswomen of colour. Does the American President’s…

Taliban negotiates with Afghanistan

An Afghan delegation (not representing President Ashraf Ghani) met Taliban officials in Qatar to seek a political solution to end the 18 year long conflicts in the country. Can the negotiation with…

Universities under scrutiny for foreign funding

The U.S. Education Department has opened an investigation into Georgetown, Texas A&M University over foreign funding from Qatar Foundation and Chinese Telecom company, Huawei. What is the impact…

World to edge closer to 10B by 2050

The world population is expected to increase from 7.7 billion to 9.7 billion in 2050. But the population growth rate is tempering down as the fertility level is gradually decreasing. How will the…

Peace to Prosperity Summit in Bahrain

The US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner launched a long-awaited Middle East initiative with a two-day conference in Bahrain amidst protests, uproar and boycott by the Palestinian…

AI for Agriculture in India

The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with IBM for a pilot study on using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and weather technology solutions in agriculture.…

Kashmir: A new haven for Narcotics and Arms

Beneath the political turmoil in Kashmir, the narco smuggling networks is fast growing. How are these drugs supply chains kept alive in Kashmir?

Trump's U - turn at the G20 summit

US President Donald Trump announced that US technology companies could resume selling to China's Huawei Technologies, effectively reversing a ban imposed by the US Commerce Department. Why did the US…