Topics Archive

Sri Lankan Elections

Victory in the Sri Lankan Presidential elections of the former defence chief, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, 70, could herald a new era in the political scene of the ‘Emerald Island’. With his brother and…

The ‘Browning’ of Canadian Politics

Justin Trudeau’s second coming may not be as rosy as the first time around. After losing the majority vote, Trudeau is faced with some challenges. Will his charm offensive see him through another…

Indian Telecom – Case of Poor Connectivity?

The telecom sector was once the most prominent poster child of India’s booming growth story. It was a veritable gravy train that one thought could chug on till eternity. With more than a billion…

United Nations: Cash Strapped?

As on 04 Oct 2019, 65 nations had failed to pay their share in full; amounting to a shortfall in cash of US$ 1.38 billion. Does the UN’s Financial Vulnerabilities Impede its’ Operational…

Lebanon-The Mirror of Middle East

Lebanon located at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian hinterland has a rich history and a special cultural identity of religious and ethnic diversity. By Middle East standards,…

Synergia Conclave 2019 - Inaugural Session

Leaders and experts from around the world converged at the Synergia Conclave to discuss “The Future of Security-Beyond the Curve from October 17th to October 19th. The conclave was inaugurated by…

Future of Security: Digital (Cyber Space)

As a digital work environment permeates business, governance, military and critical infrastructure, long-established security protocols and perimeters will be challenged. MK Narayanan, Former…

Industry 4.0 – Promise and Vulnerabilities

Most experts agree that the advent of Artificial Intelligence, smart platforms, 5G and the Internet of Things are likely to change the nature of the world and usher in new vulnerabilities and threats…

Understanding China and its Vision, Mission, and Challenges

Dr Patrick Mendis, a Sri Lankan-born American diplomat scholar, who is a distinguished visiting professor of global affairs at the National Chengchi University and a senior fellow of the Taiwan…

Ayodhya: Seeking Closure

27 years after Babri Masjid was demolished in Ayodhya, the Supreme Court of India has ruled in favour of the building of Ram Mandir in its place. What is next for Ayodhya?

RCEP & India- Dodging Competition

In a surprise move, Indian ‘Act East’ policy did a volte-face when India opted out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) raising questions about the competitiveness of Indian…

NATO - On the Decline

French President Emmanuel Macron, in a recent interview, has described NATO as, ‘brain-dead’. In its 70th year, the US-led military alliance is showing extreme signs of stress raising the question of…

Big Brother is Watching you

Snooping on Social Media and its alleged manipulation has invoked terrifying visions of an Orwellian State where there are no secrets. Will we all eventually live in an Orwellian dystopia?

Twitter-Ethics or Political Expediency?

Jack Dorsey hit a high moral note when he banned paid political ads on Twitter while Facebook continues to allow such ads, fake or not. This raises the question of whether it is entirely ethics or…

Run on the Banks?

The run on Punjab & Maharashtra Cooperative Bank (PMC) has gripped the attention of Indians who trust the Indian banking system with their life savings. Will the country's beleaguered banking…

INFOSYS: Blowing Hot Blowing Cold

Infosys was shaken by an internal controversy which led to its shares crashing 16% to ₹643.30 and wiping out ₹53,452 crores from its market capitalisation. Is India’s iconic company still challenged…

A Caliphate sans Al Baghdadi

A triumphant U.S President announced to the world the demise of the Islamic State Group leader, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi. Does the threat of the ISIS die with him?

Indian Army-New Tools of Trade

The Indian infantry, the most combat active in the world, was at least two to three decades behind contemporary modern infantry rifle. With the SIG Sauer and Kalashnikov AK-203, is it finally going…

Netherlands: Green rules turn red

The Dutch experience in having to face strident public anger while implementing international protocols is illustrative of the dilemma governments face while balancing the aspirations of the people…

Lebanon- A Country Reborn

Lebanon has seen a rapid decline in its economy over the last decade, and recently witnessed the largest protests since 2005 against their political leaders who have ruled for almost three decades…