Topics Archive
Technology - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 20, 2019
Israeli spyware targets cloud services
Israeli company NSO whose spyware hacked Whatsapp claimed that it could gather an individual’s data from servers of Microsoft, Apple, Google, Facebook and Amazon.
General Interest - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 19, 2019
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…
General Interest - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 18, 2019
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…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 18, 2019
The reset in US-Pakistan ties
With the Trump administration desperate for a quick and honourable exit from Afghanistan, the role of Pakistan is to facilitate it by bringing the Taliban to the negotiating table. Can the unique…
Technology - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 16, 2019
Facebook to be fined $ 5bn
US regulators have approved a forfeit of $5bn on Facebook to settle an investigation into data privacy violations. Would this fine deter Facebook? What are the implication of other restrictions and…
General Interest - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 16, 2019
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…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 12, 2019
US - Qatar relationship: Strategic or Uncertain
Amidst the ongoing tensions in the Persian Gulf and the blockade by the Saudi led coalition, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Washington to discuss security in the Gulf and…
General Interest - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 12, 2019
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…
War - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 10, 2019
Transhumanism and genetic super soldiers
According to Alexander Sergeyev, Head of Russia’s Academy of Sciences, the country plans to develop ‘genetic passports’ for military personnel. If nations are creating super soldiers, can this…
General Interest - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 10, 2019
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…
General Interest - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 10, 2019
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…
Indian Economics - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 9, 2019
US Sanctions impacts Chabahar funding
The government of India has reduced the previously allocated amount for Chabahar port from INR 150 Cr to INR 45 Cr in the Budget 2019-2020. What would the likely impact of the resulting slow progress…
World - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 9, 2019
Trump extends trade war to Vietnam
The U.S. Commerce Department announced that it would impose duties of up to 456 per cent on corrosion-resistant and cold-rolled steel from Vietnam which are produced in South Korea or Taiwan. The U.S…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 5, 2019
Japan sanctions South Korea
Japan will strengthen restrictions on exports of materials used in smartphone displays and chips to South Korea amidst a growing dispute over South Koreans forced to work for Japanese firms during…
General Interest - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 5, 2019
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.…
General Interest - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 4, 2019
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?
General Interest - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 3, 2019
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…
Business - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 2, 2019
Caixin Index falls - Worry for global trade
China’s Caixin Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) continues to be at 49.4 for the second consecutive month. A reading below 50 signals contraction. The employment sub-index has also dropped from 47.2…
Geopolitics - Analyses & Assessments - Jul 1, 2019
Qatar offers a bailout to Pakistan
Cash-strapped Pakistan has secured a bailout package of $3 billion from Qatar. Is Pakistan able to convince more lenders to bail itself out of this economic predicament? Would this mean broadening…
Technology - Analyses & Assessments - Jun 29, 2019
Twitter: Censoring High Profile “Rule Breakers” Online
Social media platform Twitter has recently announced that it will be de-emphasizing content posted by influential “rule breakers” who post content in violation of its terms of service, instead of…