An annual important networking occasion for security experts, the GLOBSEC 2017 Bratislava Forum, had surprisingly little representation from major European countries, such as Germany and France. Russia’s misuse of cyberspace was loudly censured, but Chinese activity in the South China Sea, and the recently concluded Belt and Road Forum received little attention

A robust currency is welcome, but only if a country’s economic fundamentals bear it out. The numbers offer specious comfort as a strong currency makes imports more attractive. The truth is that India’s economic growth is middling and private capital formation is not visible

The President’s policy bite has been far weaker than his policy bark. He has not turned out to be the fascist dictator people feared he would be. Why then does he induce such visceral hatred?

This is the first time in 30 years that Moody’s has made a change in China’s rating. Coming close on the heels of the high-profile Belt and Road Forum, this was an embarrassment that was avoidable

Critical infrastructure–like healthcare or the financial services industry–makes for ransomware’s favourite prey, and nation-states must unite to respond suitably to the anarchy that can be unleashed by another attack, like WannaCry

Iran’s presidential elections have always been unmatched in the unpredictability of their outcome. Will the pro-reform vote be able to hold out against Ebrahim Raisi, the current president’s most serious competitor, with his appeal to the masses and traditional, conformist Iranians?

The Oceans Dialogue 2017, held last month in Thiruvananthapuram, devoted itself to aspects of ocean governance, such as security management, combating terrorism, depletion of marine resources and providing disaster relief, serving as a precursor to the UN General Assembly’s Ocean Conference in June

Improvements in wind energy technology can not only benefit India’s energy profile, but also enhance relations with neighbouring countries

Iran’s former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s disqualification from contesting the May 2017 presidential election has reduced the number of aspirants to six. The winner may well be a contender for the post of next Supreme Leader too

Extreme right candidate, Marine Le Pen, and Emmanuel Macron, a centrist, will figure in the first round of presidential elections in France on April 23. In a country that has always voted either Republican or Socialist, a departure to the far right will have an impact the markets and many implications for Europe