ed Armed Rebel Groups Lobby in D.C., Just Like Governments. How Does That Influence U.S. Policy? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Feb 6, 2020 Feb 6, 2020Armed rebel groups push for funding and recognition, and often get it. Full Article
ed Why is the United States So Bad at Foreign Policy? By www.belfercenter.org Published On :: Jan 13, 2020 Jan 13, 2020Stephen Walt writes that the United States' unusual historical experience, geographic isolation, large domestic market, and general ignorance have weakened its ability to make viable foreign-policy strategies. Full Article
ed The Low-Yield Nuclear Warhead: A Dangerous Weapon Based on Bad Strategic Thinking By www.belfercenter.org Published On :: Jan 28, 2020 Jan 28, 2020In the unintuitive world of nuclear weapons strategy, it’s often difficult to identify which decisions can serve to decrease the risk of a devastating nuclear conflict and which might instead increase it. Such complexity stems from the very foundation of the field: Nuclear weapons are widely seen as bombs built never to be used. Historically, granular—even seemingly mundane—decisions about force structure, research efforts, or communicated strategy have confounded planners, sometimes causing the opposite of the intended effect. Full Article
ed The Need for Creative and Effective Nuclear Security Vulnerability Assessment and Testing By www.belfercenter.org Published On :: Feb 10, 2020 Feb 10, 2020Realistic, creative vulnerability assessment and testing are critical to finding and fixing nuclear security weaknesses and avoiding over-confidence. Both vulnerability assessment and realistic testing are needed to ensure that nuclear security systems are providing the level of protection required. Systems must be challenged by experts thinking like adversaries, trying to find ways to overcome them. Effective vulnerability assessment and realistic testing are more difficult in the case of insider threats, and special attention is needed. Organizations need to find ways to give people the mission and the incentives to find nuclear security weaknesses and suggest ways they might be fixed. With the right approaches and incentives in place, effective vulnerability assessment and testing can be a key part of achieving and sustaining high levels of nuclear security. Full Article
ed So Do Morals Matter in U.S. Foreign Policy? I Asked the Expert. By www.belfercenter.org Published On :: Apr 24, 2020 Apr 24, 2020In his new book, Do Morals Matter? Presidents and Foreign Policy from FDR to Trump, Joseph S. Nye developed a scorecard to determine how U.S. presidents since 1945 factored questions of ethics and morality into their foreign policy. In an interview, Henry Farrell asked him a few questions to get to the heart of his findings. Full Article
ed Who said what after the United States Grand Prix By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 01:15:54 GMT Read what the teams and drivers had to say after the United States Grand Prix Full Article
ed Red Bull anger aimed at Karthikeyan By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:28:09 GMT Sebastian Vettel said that getting held up by a backmarker cost him victory in the United States Grand Prix Full Article
ed Button just edges out Vettel in final practice By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Sat, 24 Nov 2012 15:09:00 GMT Jenson Button just beat Sebastian Vettel to the fastest time of the final practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix by 0.057s, while Vettel's championship contender Fernando Alonso finished down in eighth Full Article
ed HRT slammed for 'misleading information' by supplier By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:44:30 GMT One of HRT's suppliers has accused the team of providing "misleading information" and claims the team went in to liquidation in early November Full Article
ed F1 only needs 10 teams - Ecclestone By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:32:31 GMT Bernie Ecclestone believes Formula One would be better off with 10 teams as the grid looks set to be reduced to 11 in 2012 Full Article
ed Can Sudan’s military be convinced to support democracy? By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Tue, 25 Jun 2019 22:40:25 +0000 Full Article
ed Toward a Red Sea forum: The Gulf, the Horn of Africa, and architecture for a new regional order By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Sun, 03 Nov 2019 07:58:46 +0000 The Red Sea has fast become the subject of new geopolitical intrigue, as unprecedented engagement between Gulf states and the Horn of Africa reframes politics, economics, and security astride one of the world’s most heavily trafficked waterways. Friends and foes have converged in this increasingly crowded neighborhood as the Red Sea and its environs are… Full Article
ed Red Sea geopolitics: Six plotlines to watch By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 19 Dec 2019 07:52:43 +0000 The Red Sea has long represented a critical link in a network of global waterways stretching from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean to the Pacific—a strategic and economic thoroughfare one U.S. defense official dubbed the “Interstate-95 of the planet.” Prized by conquerors from Alexander to Napoleon, the Red Sea’s centrality to maritime trade and… Full Article
ed Why Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan should ditch a rushed, Washington-brokered Nile Treaty By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 23:29:27 +0000 The ambitious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been a point of contention among Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan in recent years. The GERD is now 70 percent complete and its reservoir expected to start being filled in the rainy season of 2020. The three countries, however, have not yet reached an agreement on the process… Full Article
ed Hamilton beats Red Bulls to fastest times By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:56:11 GMT Lewis Hamilton lead the way in the afternoon practice session at Interlagos Full Article
ed Lotus pair encouraged by upgrade By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:35:20 GMT Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli were both encouraged that the new rear wing was a step forward for Lotus at Interlagos Full Article
ed Vettel edges out Button in FP3 By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:13:37 GMT Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time of final practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix as the weather stayed dry ahead of qualifying Full Article
ed Webber leads Red Bull one-two in Brazil By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:54:01 GMT Mark Webber took his first win of the season at the Brazilian Grand Prix as team-mate Sebastian Vettel struggled to second with a race-long gearbox problem Full Article
ed Fernandes elated with prize money boost By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:20:10 GMT Team Lotus boss Tony Fernandes said he was almost in tears after securing tenth place in the constructors' championship on Sunday, a result that secures his team a significantly larger sum of F1's prize money Full Article
ed From 'chutzpah' to being branded 'cheats': A let-down Aussie cricket fan writes By www.thenewsminute.com Published On :: Mon, 26 Mar 2018 08:27:41 +0000 SportAn Australian team cheated and I will never forgive those involved for tainting, what was a way of life for me.Steve Smith Aditya CS Back in 1993, playing cricket for me meant hitting a plastic ball with a plastic bat. I was all of 4 then. Over the next three years, I played cricket with a rubber ball and a wooden bat while trying to emulate Sachin Tendulkar, much like most other Indian kids at the time. These were my first memories of cricket and Sachin was the only cricketer I knew. Then came the 1996 World Cup, the year I turned 7 years old and put up a poster of Sachin from Sportstar magazine in my room. This was also my last act as a fan of Indian cricket. During the 1996 World Cup, all I could understand was that Sri Lanka had gone on to win the World Cup and it was a big deal. But the thing that stood out from the tournament was watching these chaps in yellow kits play. Guys who played differently. I enjoyed watching them play in spite of not knowing why. I experienced disappointment as a cricket fan for the first time when Damien Fleming dropped Asanka Gurusinha off Mark Waugh's bowling in the finals and the second time when Paul Reiffel dropped Aravinda DeSilva in the same game. The World Cup was lost but since then I always wanted to watch the Aussies play. Cricket for me was not just about Sachin or playing with my friends anymore. It was about the guys in yellow who stood out for some reason for a 7-year-old kid from Chennai. Before I knew it, I had become an Aussie fan. Eventually, I realised why I had become one. These guys were tough competitors. They never gave up. They were quicker and stronger than most other teams. They produced some of the best pacers the game has ever seen and pace bowling is still my favourite facet of this lovely sport. Their leg spinner was a legend in the making. Over the next three years I had a Shane Warne poster, an autographed photo of Warnie, a picture of the Waugh brothers and one of Ian Healy, alongside my poster of Sachin. By the time the 1999 World Cup started, I knew that the Aussies were a special team. They played a different brand of cricket. Brash, competitive, energetic, taking charge of the game, converting ones to twos, taking blinding catches, converting half chances and most importantly they did it all with aggression! I started playing sport like them, only to become an outcast in South India where humility is a characteristic one is expected to possess even in a boxing bout. The times when I served an ace in a game of tennis and followed it up with a smirk or engaged opponents in banter on the basketball court, I knew it was only adding to my 'bad boy' image. But I didn't care much like my heroes who played cricket for Australia. Despite being the bad guys, they were winning by stamping their authority on the sport. Though I wasn't much of a sporting success, I believed their approach was one that lets you take charge of things. Hook the bouncers, take them on, dive to take a catch, go for the direct hits and trust your teammates to back up your throw. And when you have the cherry in your hand, hit them with bouncers, say things that would put them off and get them out. Once the game is over, invite the opposition for a beer to your team's dressing room. This was the 'Aussie way'. The 'in your face' approach was working for them. Between 1997 and 2007, some of the most exciting cricketers to have played for Australia emerged. Steve Waugh, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Andrew Symonds to name a few. These 10 years were also my formative years (from the age of 8 to 18) - a period during which I copped a lot of criticism because I was an Aussie fan. Be it at school, playgrounds or anywhere I went, I would always gloat when Australia won a game and rub it in the faces of those (pretty much everyone around me) who were cheering for India. After games, some Indian fans would go on to condemn the very players they had put on a pedestal before the game and in some parts of the country, fans would even resort to vandalism. But I stood by my team (the Aussies) through thick and thin because every Aussie fan was certain that their team would bounce back soon after a defeat. While India was bleeding blue I was bleeding yellow. I had been labelled an anti-national much before it became mainstream. I would root for Leander Paes at the Chennai Open as he, like the Aussies, was possessed with a never-say-die spirit. People who could not differentiate between sport and patriotism were asking me to go to Australia. I never really gave two hoots and continued being an Aussie fan, come what may! Even when I heard people from earlier generations talk about cricketing greats from yesteryears, the stories about Lillie (Dennis Lillee) and Thommo (Jeff Thomson) always had something about them that was missing in the narrative about the great Windies or that of Gavaskar standing up to defend a bouncer and make the ball fall in front of his feet. It was the chutzpah that was missing! It took me 11 years to understand why these guys in yellow stood out, back in 1996. Good old chutzpah! During their decade of dominance from 1997 to 2007, they lost an Ashes series in 2005, a couple of series’ against India and weren't dominating the T20 format but there was no doubt that they were the best team of the decade. They won three consecutive World Cups during this time. From 2007 onwards however, I had my fair share of disappointments. Teams had proved that the Aussies were no longer invincible and could be beaten. They were not the same formidable force anymore. But I was still an Aussie fan. I did not give up on my favourite cricket team. In 2011, India beat Australia in the World Cup quarter-finals. That was perhaps one of the worst days of my life. Friends from school, college, my neighbourhood, colleagues vented out years of pent up frustration of having to listen to me sledge them every time Australia beat India. It was my turn to cop some and I did it just the way the Aussies would. I answered every phone call and replied to every text saying 'wait till 2015'. I did not shy away from it. Even though 2011-2013 saw an up and down patch, I still did not give up supporting the Kangaroos. Then came Mitchell Johnson in 2013 and along with Michael Clarke's batting prowess, I was back to my obnoxious best. And in the 2015 World Cup semi-finals, Australia beat India and went on to win the tournament and it felt like normalcy had been restored. There were many controversies the Australians found themselves mired in. There were allegations that they sledged, they were bullies, they don't walk (well no batsman ever did except Gilchrist) and I would defend them tooth and nail because I did not see anything wrong with bouncing a batsman or getting in his face and claiming a wicket. It was fine, they played tough and it worked for them. In 2003, Warne failed a dope test and I was sure that it was not to gain an unfair advantage. Ponting claimed a catch that hit the ground in 2007 and still I believed that they were not trying to cheat. Australians wouldn't cheat. They will bounce you, sledge you, bully you, stare and glare at umpires but wouldn't cheat. The belief was so strong that when Indian cricket was recovering from a match fixing scandal in 2001, the likes of Sachin, Dravid, Kumble and Sourav said what Indian cricket needed the most at that time was a series against Australia to restore the faith of Indian cricket fans. They needed to play a side that respected the sport and would give every game their all. A side that you know wouldn't think of losing at any cost. And most of all a side that loved the game of cricket. And boy, what a series that was! Indian cricket fans believed in their team once again. Yes they belonged to the other camp but I was happy for them. This is what I loved about the way Aussies played cricket. More than two decades of Australian cricket has been a part of my life and remains an influence on me, the way I looked at things, the way I faced situations head-on, the “never-say-die” attitude that was instilled in me during my formative years. But today I feel let down. I have nothing to say. I still can't believe what has happened. It still hasn't sunk in. An Australian team tampering with the ball. They cheated and they planned to do it. I feel sick in my stomach. I am swamped with thoughts of how the Aussie greats would be feeling. The guys who were my childhood heroes. Gilly, Warnie, Brett Lee, Steve Waugh. Guys I idolised. I wanted to live my life the way they played cricket. It's more than just being a fan or guzzling a few beers after winning an Ashes series. The way the Aussies played cricket, established a way of life for me. Brash? Yes. Obnoxious? Maybe. Arrogant? Perhaps. Tough? Definitely. Cheat? Never! Today Smith and his team have sinned. This is not something an Aussie side can ever do. Smith described his first reckless on-field mistake as a ’brain fade’ in Bengaluru last year and I felt uneasy then but still chose to believe, it was an error while using a relatively new provision in the game. But today it's carved in stone. An Australian team cheated and I will never forgive those involved for tainting, what was a way of life for me. For taking away from me my favourite retort to those who asked me, "Aren't you being a bit too aggressive/harsh/arrogant/abrasive?" by saying, "Perhaps I am, but that's also how the Aussies play their cricket.” Because from this day on, using that retort could also mean I have been cheating. Full Article
ed What growing up with a sports-obsessed mother taught me about life and learning By www.thenewsminute.com Published On :: Wed, 27 Jun 2018 06:42:15 +0000 BlogWhile Amma is passionate about sports, Appa just cannot understand what the hype is all about. But she has allies in my sister and me.SS VenkateswaranAmma looking at the Football World Cup schedule pasted on the door.It was June 9, 1990. Cameroon had done the unthinkable. They had defeated World Cup champions Argentina, led by the great Diego Maradona. Two images remain engraved in my memory forever. One that was playing on the television - Claudio Caniggia brought down by Benjamin Massing, which also meant the end of my footballing hero Maradona’s career. Another was playing at home the tension between Amma and Appa. Appa believed that sports were another form of entertainment (now that I think of it he was so right!!). He ardently believed that it makes us unproductive. He simply could not understand the 'adrenaline rush' that is associated with sports. And, on the other hand, Amma loved sports and learned to appreciate games like cricket, football and tennis by observing and listening to the commentary. She loved Sunil Gavaskar, Maradona and Martina Navratilova. Appa, whose sleep was broken by the commotion, was surprised to see his son crying, but was aghast to see his otherwise stoic wife heartbroken for an alien sport and for a faraway country, Argentina. I will never forget his reaction all my life. Amma, Meenakshi, born in Coimbatore, was born in a middle-class Tamil family. She was a promising student; however, economic conditions and the general apathy towards girl children’s education means she did not study beyond Class 10. But that did not stop her from learning. Binaca Geetmala and Ameen Sayani were her windows to Bollywood. After her marriage, radio commentary became her medium to fall in love with cricket. The Football World Cup and Wimbledon television telecast helped her fall in love with more 'alien' sports like tennis and football. The fact that her husband was not attracted to sports meant that she learned about the game by meticulously watching the proceedings and listening to the commentary closely. She would follow it up by reading about it in the newspaper or a sports magazine. She often tells me how she struggled to understand the idea of a deuce and advantage in tennis as she was not aware of the existence of a word ‘deuce’. It took her a great bit of persistent observation to decipher this unique format in tennis to break a tie. Amma at the Centre Court in Wimbledon. At times her battle was lonely as not many in the family had similar likings as her. It was not until my sister and I grew up that she found someone to share her passion for sports with. It is with extreme doggedness that she seeks to learn new things. Years later we went to see Wimbledon; we saw a game at the Centre Court. She was as excited as a child when we got tickets for the London Olympics. I had promised her a trip to Europe and asked her to select the places of her choice. She chose Switzerland (her love for Bollywood, I guess), Paris and then she asked me if we could watch a football match at Camp Nou. She wanted to see her favourite Lionel Messi play. Amma and the author at the London Olympics. This year, I am home in Coimbatore for the Football World Cup. Amma has meticulously updated her knowledge about the teams (Panama and Iceland playing their first World Cup) and had stuck the schedule of the tournament on the door. I ask her who should win. Amma says, "I want Messi to win, a player of his calibre needs a cup to sign off. A bit like Tendulkar needed a cup before he retired." How could I argue with her? Nothing has changed - her spirit, her keenness to learn and her strong opinion. I remember she always made coffee for me during the late-night games. I told her to take a nap for I can wake her up and make coffee for her; after all, I can do this bit for the lady who taught me to observe, learn, and keep learning. She is still a child, and I am holding on to the one in me. SS Venkateswaran returned to India after an 8-year stint in the UK. Before moving to Bengaluru, he will watch the Football World Cup 2018 with his Amma in Coimbatore. Full Article
ed I travelled to Meghalaya as a woman and understood what male privilege feels like By www.thenewsminute.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Jul 2018 11:32:57 +0000 BlogNo matter how early we set out or how dark it was by the time we got back to our base, we had this overwhelming feeling of safety.Antara TelangAntara TelangAs a woman, walking down a street in most of India means certain things. Chances are, no matter what you’re wearing, what time of the day it is, or where you are, you’re going to get stared at, commented on, sung at, touched, photographed, or a beautiful combination of all of the above. Being a woman who likes to backpack across different places in the country, I’ve seen that this has been a universal experience – though perhaps in varying degrees of intensity – no matter where I’ve travelled, whether it’s been in Maharashtra, Delhi, Punjab, Kerala, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, or Assam. But, a couple of months ago, on a trip to Meghalaya, I was filled with a sense of wonder. Sure, the views were jaw-dropping levels of gorgeous, and I was filling my tummy with delicious pork and beef specialties that I’d never get in my home city of Mumbai, but the best part was truly the feeling of walking around and feeling “like a man”. Nah, I didn’t ingest an exotic substance that made me gain a couple of inches (I meant of height, what were you thinking?) or grow a moustache. My voice didn’t get a whole lot deeper and I didn’t develop a sudden disdain for my flowery night shorts. It’s just that I was given a teensy, temporary insight into male privilege. Image courtesy: Aamna Khan I was travelling with a woman friend, Aamna Khan, and given that the two of us were on a budget, we often had to walk or wait for public transport from place to place. It didn’t help that it got pitch dark by six every evening and that public transport was usually restricted to a share taxi of some sort. But no matter how early we set out or how dark it was by the time we got back to our base, we had this overwhelming feeling of safety. It wasn’t just that we weren’t getting felt up (or worse); we felt it in the smallest things. Though we looked very much like tourists with our backpacks and cameras, nobody forced conversation with us. When they did speak to us, everyone was exactly the right level of friendly – curious about where we came from and where we’d be travelling without being overly specific, without questions of how much money we were spending or whether our families were okay with us travelling alone (which are real questions we’d both been asked multiple times while travelling in other places). Image courtesy: Batista The kids who stared at us were only excited about waving at us and yelling out “hellooooo!” from their school buses. Women weren’t judgmental about what we wore or how loudly we spoke. Men smiled at us and wished us luck on our travels. They didn’t stare at us hoping to develop X-ray vision to see through our clothes the way a lot of men in the rest of our country do. When squeezed next to us in share cabs – despite the fact that there were usually five other people in the back seat of an Alto – they took care to ensure that we were comfortable. They avoided ‘innocuous’ brushes of their hands against our bodies, and some of them even asked us if we minded that they were playing Khasi music in the car. We stood out like sore thumbs (for one, we were nowhere close to as well-dressed or attractive as the local women), but nobody took photos of us without our consent. Image courtesy: Antara Telang We even spent one night at a campsite run by five men in the middle of nowhere, where we were the only two women, without the slightest discomfort (excluding the bugs that we’d inevitably find in the folds of our clothes). Because I am a disabled woman, I am used to even greater scrutiny and questions than nondisabled women are, but even that didn’t really make much of a difference to people in Meghalaya. If you’re a man reading this, you’re probably thinking, “What’s the big deal?” But like I mentioned earlier, living each day like this for nine whole days at a stretch without exception was a shocker for my friend and me. Every evening when we’d come back, we’d look at each other with incredulity that yet another day had passed without lecherous vultures swooping down on us in one way or another. While one cannot deny the privilege my friend and I carry – of being well-dressed, English speaking, upper caste, urban women – the fact remains that we have never felt so safe from daily gender violence as we did on that trip to Meghalaya. I think a large part of this can be attributed to Meghalaya’s largely matrilineal culture. Though not a matriarchal society, women enjoy a far better position there than in most other parts of India, and indeed the world. It is common to see businesses completely run by women, and for women to be roaming freely on the streets. Whatever the root cause may be, I’ve never felt that way in my adult life, no matter which part of India or the world I’ve travelled in. And it’s for that reason (okay, yes, maybe the pork curry is another major reason) that I’m sure I’ll visit again. (Views expressed are author's own) Full Article
ed Abhijit Iyer-Mitra's arrested for 'derogatory' remarks: Many condemn Odisha govt's move By www.thenewsminute.com Published On :: Thu, 25 Oct 2018 07:22:37 +0000 ArrestAbhijit Iyer-Mitra was arrested for his alleged derogatory remarks against the Sun Temple and Odisha culture. TNM StaffSecurity analyst and columnist Abhijit Iyer-Mitra was arrested on Tuesday for his alleged derogatory remarks against the Sun Temple and Odisha culture. The Commissionerate Police arrested Abhijit after hours of interrogation at an undisclosed location in Bhubaneswar. Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty said Abhijit was arrested in connection with a criminal case registered against him at Saheed Nagar Police Station on September 20. He has been booked under IP63C Sections 294, 295A, 153A, 500, 506 and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act. He also appeared before a House Committee of Odisha Assembly on Tuesday and tendered an unconditional apology for his derogatory remarks on legislators. The House panel, headed by leader of opposition Narasingh Mishra, asked Abhijit to re-appear on November 2 and submit an affidavit. "Abhijit Iyer-Mitra admitted to the charges levelled against him and offered an unconditional apology for his 'stupidity'. He has been directed to depose before the Committee and submit an affidavit in this regard," said Mishra. "After examining his affidavit, the panel will decide whether to accept his apology or not. Accordingly, the Committee will then recommend to the House to take action against him, if necessary," he said. Abhijit was questioned about the alleged breach of privilege. Many have condemned his arrest, terming it "a zone where freedom is in danger, and an "Orwellian nightmare". Dear Prime Minister @narendramodi, quite admirable that you are active on social media. So I am sure you are aware that in India one can get arrested, like my friend @Iyervval, for a tweet on the origin of Rasagola. That's the democracy & freedom we Indians enjoy under your govt. https://t.co/Hg9kd3pAAe — Aarti Tikoo Singh (@AartiTikoo) October 24, 2018 We're slipping into a zone where #freedom is in danger. It's outrageous that Abhijit Iyer-Mitra @Iyervval has been arrested by #Odisha Police on risible charges and denied bail. Please read and circulate my protest and appeal. Fight for your, his and everybody's liberty. #India pic.twitter.com/gbuHebzI8g — Kanchan Gupta (@KanchanGupta) October 24, 2018 Absurd, vindictive, to jail @iyervval for 14 days over a rosogolla-origin tweet. He's a shock-jock, but trawling through his year-old tweets to fuel specious outrage charges is an illustration of how much is wrong with India's FoE laws.https://t.co/TQZTh05PDW — Nilanjana Roy (@nilanjanaroy) October 24, 2018 .@Iyervval has been arrested by Odisha over a tweet about rasgolas. Read that again. Yes. Does this country have a reset button?https://t.co/wfBXqi5JgH — Kabir Taneja (@KabirTaneja) October 24, 2018 #AbhijitIyerMitra (@Iyervval) got arrested in Odisha for a conversation he had a year ago on SM about the origin of Rasogola! Yes, it's 2018 and you read it right, Rasagola. This is beyond bizarre!!https://t.co/ZGzeuI2fEy — Viju Cherian (@vijucherian) October 24, 2018 This is absurd, we are descending into some Orwellian nightmare. The man is known for his viciousness on social media but he can’t be targeted like this. https://t.co/nAkJqnwSpY — Rammanohar Reddy (@ramreddy) October 23, 2018 We are a banana republic. So much for India being a secular democracy . Shame ! #istandwithabhijit https://t.co/yhN95j5T4K — Naveen Suresh (@NavSuresh) October 24, 2018 This nonsense with @Iyervval has got to stop. His comments are often bigoted and silly and he knows it but mouthing off shouldn't be cause for arrest. Fighting over the origins of rasagola? How about over the success or otherwise of #MakeInIndia instead?https://t.co/EP4kxnYxmE — Jabin T Jacob 鄭嘉賓 (@jabinjacobt) October 25, 2018 He had earlier been summoned to appear before the panel on October 11, which he had skipped. He was summoned again to appear on October 23. Odisha Assembly Speaker Pradip Amat had on September 20 constituted a House Committee to probe the journalist's alleged derogatory remarks against the state and its lawmakers. Abhijit had on September 16 posted a video on Twitter criticising the Konark temple. Later, he went on to make the alleged derogatory remarks against Odisha and its culture. Two FIRs were registered against him at Konark and Saheed Nagar police stations for his remarks. Last month, the Odisha Police arrested the columnist in New Delhi for his anti-Odisha comments. However, he was given conditional bail by a local court in Delhi. Later, the Supreme Court rejected his bail plea saying his comments 'incited religious sentiments'. With IANS inputs Full Article
ed Columbia University Professor Scott Barrett Compares Global Responses to COVID-19 and Climate Change in Special Edition of "Environmental Insights" By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 27, 2020 Mar 27, 2020Columbia University Professor Scott Barrett assessed the massive global efforts underway to address COVID-19 and the potential impacts of the pandemic on our lives in the future in a special episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program,” a podcast produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program. Listen to the interview here. Full Article
ed Harvard Business School Professor Rebecca Henderson Outlines Ways Organizations are Changing in Response to the Coronavirus Pandemic and Climate Change in New Edition of "Environmental Insights" By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Apr 8, 2020 Apr 8, 2020Rebecca Henderson, the John and Natty McArthur University Professor at Harvard University, shared her perspectives on how large organizations are changing in response to the coronavirus pandemic and climate change in the newest episode of "Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program," a podcast produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program. Listen to the interview here. Listen to the interview here. Full Article
ed The United States Is Getting Infected With Dictatorship By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Apr 13, 2020 Apr 13, 2020The coronavirus pandemic has provided an opening for Donald Trump to attack transparency, voting rights, and accountability. Full Article
ed The Global Pandemic Has Spawned New Forms of Activism — and They're Flourishing By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Apr 20, 2020 Apr 20, 2020The authors have identified nearly 100 distinct methods of nonviolent action that include physical, virtual and hybrid actions. Full Article
ed Why Bernie Sanders Will Win in 2020, No Matter Who Gets Elected By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Apr 28, 2020 Apr 28, 2020Stephen Walt writes that even though Bernie Sanders is out of the presidential race, the time has come for many of the policies that he promoted: Universal Healthcare; Democratic Socialism; Income Redistribution; and Foreign Policy. Full Article
ed Trump Turned the Death Count Into a Story About Himself By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: May 7, 2020 May 7, 2020Official figures exclude thousands who have died during the pandemic. To draw the right lessons, the United States needs an accurate tally of the victims. Full Article
ed Destroying trust in the media, science, and government has left America vulnerable to disaster By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 15:34:28 +0000 For America to minimize the damage from the current pandemic, the media must inform, science must innovate, and our government must administer like never before. Yet decades of politically-motivated attacks discrediting all three institutions, taken to a new level by President Trump, leave the American public in a vulnerable position. Trump has consistently vilified the… Full Article
ed How instability and high turnover on the Trump staff hindered the response to COVID-19 By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 07 May 2020 18:04:06 +0000 On Jan. 14, 2017, the Obama White House hosted 30 incoming staff members of the Trump team for a role-playing scenario. A readout of the event said, “The exercise provided a high-level perspective on a series of challenges that the next administration may face and introduced the key authorities, policies, capabilities, and structures that are… Full Article
ed Lebanon has formed a controversial new government in a polarised, charged atmosphere, and protesters are not going to be easily pacified by its promises, explains Rami Khoury. By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Jan 22, 2020 Jan 22, 2020The fourth consecutive month of Lebanon's unprecedented political and economic crisis kicked off this week with three dramatic developments that will interplay in the coming months to define the country's direction for years to come: Escalating protests on the streets, heightened security measures by an increasingly militarising state, and now, a new cabinet of controversial so-called "independent technocrats" led by Prime Minister-designate Hassan Diab. Seeking to increase pressure on the political elite to act responsibly amid inaction vis-a-vis the slow collapse of the economy, the protesters had launched the fourth month of their protest movement, which had begun on 17 October last year, with a 'Week of Anger', stepping up their tactics and targeting banks and government institutions. Full Article
ed Armed Rebel Groups Lobby in D.C., Just Like Governments. How Does That Influence U.S. Policy? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Feb 6, 2020 Feb 6, 2020Armed rebel groups push for funding and recognition, and often get it. Full Article
ed Red Bull 'just quick everywhere' - Vettel By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:01:39 GMT Sebastian Vettel played down suggestions Red Bull has opened a substantial gap on its rivals after securing its ninth pole position of the season Full Article
ed 'Disappointed' Schumacher 'couldn't get lap together' By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 14:34:07 GMT Michael Schumacher admitted to being disappointed after being outqualified by team-mate Nico Rosberg and finishing back in tenth place on the grid Full Article
ed Liuzzi penalised five grid positions for blocking By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:53:28 GMT Tonio Liuzzi has been slapped with a five-place grid penalty for impeding Nico Hulkenberg, meaning the Force India driver will start the British Grand Prix from 20th Full Article
ed Webber remains angry with Red Bull decision By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:09:56 GMT Mark Webber was clearly still far from happy with his team at the end of a weekend which will end with major concerns over the relationship between him and Sebastian Vettel Full Article
ed Vettel disappointed to miss out on battle with Webber By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:09:42 GMT Sebastian Vettel said it was a "shame" he couldn't fight his Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber at the British Grand Prix, after he suffered a puncture coming out of the first corner Full Article
ed Mercedes has come good - Rosberg By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 15:31:16 GMT Nico Rosberg believes his podium at the British Grand Prix was proof the team had bounced back from its disastrous weekend two weeks ago in Valencia Full Article
ed Button relieved race worked out By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Mon, 12 Jul 2010 09:21:20 GMT Jenson Button said his fourth-place finish was as good as he could have hoped for after a challenging weekend at the British Grand Prix Full Article
ed Annoyed Sutil has a dig at Vettel By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:34:38 GMT Adrian Sutil was left fuming at Sebastian Vettel after the pair made contact during an overtaking manoeuvre towards the end of the British Grand Prix Full Article
ed Red Bull keen to clear the air with Webber By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:22:49 GMT Christian Horner has promised to have sit-down talks with Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel after the relationship within the Red Bull team soured over the British Grand Prix weekend Full Article
ed FIA advised Ferrari to let Kubica pass By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:05:17 GMT Formula One's race director Charlie Whiting has revealed that he told Ferrari three times to let Robert Kubica back through after Fernando Alonso illegally overtook him at the British Grand Prix Full Article
ed Why is the United States So Bad at Foreign Policy? By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Jan 13, 2020 Jan 13, 2020Stephen Walt writes that the United States' unusual historical experience, geographic isolation, large domestic market, and general ignorance have weakened its ability to make viable foreign-policy strategies. Full Article
ed The Low-Yield Nuclear Warhead: A Dangerous Weapon Based on Bad Strategic Thinking By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Jan 28, 2020 Jan 28, 2020In the unintuitive world of nuclear weapons strategy, it’s often difficult to identify which decisions can serve to decrease the risk of a devastating nuclear conflict and which might instead increase it. Such complexity stems from the very foundation of the field: Nuclear weapons are widely seen as bombs built never to be used. Historically, granular—even seemingly mundane—decisions about force structure, research efforts, or communicated strategy have confounded planners, sometimes causing the opposite of the intended effect. Full Article
ed The Need for Creative and Effective Nuclear Security Vulnerability Assessment and Testing By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Feb 10, 2020 Feb 10, 2020Realistic, creative vulnerability assessment and testing are critical to finding and fixing nuclear security weaknesses and avoiding over-confidence. Both vulnerability assessment and realistic testing are needed to ensure that nuclear security systems are providing the level of protection required. Systems must be challenged by experts thinking like adversaries, trying to find ways to overcome them. Effective vulnerability assessment and realistic testing are more difficult in the case of insider threats, and special attention is needed. Organizations need to find ways to give people the mission and the incentives to find nuclear security weaknesses and suggest ways they might be fixed. With the right approaches and incentives in place, effective vulnerability assessment and testing can be a key part of achieving and sustaining high levels of nuclear security. Full Article
ed So Do Morals Matter in U.S. Foreign Policy? I Asked the Expert. By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Apr 24, 2020 Apr 24, 2020In his new book, Do Morals Matter? Presidents and Foreign Policy from FDR to Trump, Joseph S. Nye developed a scorecard to determine how U.S. presidents since 1945 factored questions of ethics and morality into their foreign policy. In an interview, Henry Farrell asked him a few questions to get to the heart of his findings. Full Article
ed Button considered 2016 Olympics entry By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Sun, 08 Mar 2015 11:16:11 GMT Jenson Button says he considered trying to compete for Great Britain at the 2016 Olympic Games in the triathlon Full Article
ed Mercedes dominates opening practice session By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Fri, 13 Mar 2015 11:24:56 GMT Mercedes started the 2015 season as they finished 2014, holding a significant advantage over the rest of the field during the first practice session for the Australian Grand Prix Full Article
ed McLaren needs a 'bucket load' of pace - Button By en.espnf1.com Published On :: Fri, 13 Mar 2015 10:47:39 GMT Jenson Button says McLaren needs a "bucket load" of both pace and reliability to get anywhere close to being competitive at the Australian Grand Prix this weekend Full Article
