India’s Corona-diplomacy
Over the last month, India’s Corona-diplomacy has been evident. The government’s two-point plan is to protect its citizens and help its neighbours and friends.
Courtesy: Shutterstock
Courtesy: Shutterstock
Courtesy: Shutterstock
Cybersecurity and privacy in the COVID-19 era
COVID-19 and remote working have resulted in a surge in demand for digital intermediaries, such as Zoom. Most of these are U.S.-based, with some having servers in China, which has aggravated privacy concerns. IT companies have responded quickly by fortifying themselves internally through a range of measures, but it is now time for India’s highly accomplished tech industry to devise secure, scalable platforms with India-based servers
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Scale up national cloud for AI in defence
Indigenous development of key Information Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure is critical to scaling up the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the armed forces. Home-grown cloud technology, like National Cloud Meghraj, can help in this transformation while also meeting India’s cyber-physical security demands for data exchange and data localisation
Courtesy: MEA/Flickr
A fair chance for SAARC 2.0?
The first-ever virtual summit of leaders from member-states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation on March 15 was an innovative exercise in showing solidarity in containing a pandemic. Here is an assessment of its tangible outcomes – and longer-term ways to prepare for SAARC’s revival
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Iran caught between nuclear and Coronavirus
Iran is reeling from the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), with no access to medicine or equipment due to severe sanctions, the continuing uncompromising position of world powers, and an ill-advised regime
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Is rare earth still China’s dominant lever?
The second-most important issue on everyone's mind after the Coronavirus, is Rare Earths - those metallic elements like scandium and cerium, used in every aspect of modern electronics like our cell phones, rechargeable batteries, florescent lighting. The reason is: China. China has the world's largest deposits and production of rare earths, and has not hesitated to withhold its export to countries that disagree with it in the past.
Courtesy: Ministry of External Affairs
The action imperative for G20
COVID-19 unified G20 leaders at an extraordinary summit last week. An idea given a nudge by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, here was an opportunity for all participants to put together a plan and make a pledge for international cooperation, focusing on four main themes. Next, will they be able to turn words into action?
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COVID-19 can accelerate 3D printing in India
The pandemic has highlighted the positive role of 3D-printing technology. Identifying this potential, and seeking to insert India into the new global value chains, the Ministry of Electronics, IT & Technology has announced a National Strategy for Additive Manufacturing. It will address the lacunae in the country's additive manufacturing ecosystem, including physical hardware like printers, software, materials and service providers.
Courtesy: Lovneet Bhatt
Afghan Hindus & Sikhs under attack
The 25 March 2020 attack on a Sikh gurudwara in Kabul focused world attention on the plight of Afghanistan’s indigenous Sikh and Hindu minorities, the target of both local lawless elements and religious fundamentalists. They once were a significant part of Afghanistan’s principally Muslim population and a mark of its cultural syncretism and religious pluralism
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COVID-19 can speed ‘Make High-Tech in India’
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the deficiencies of India’s precision instrument import-dependency and the global supply-chain vulnerabilities of international high-tech manufacturing giants. New Delhi can incentivise such companies to manufacture under the Make in India and Assemble for the World in India programmes