On January 1st, the United Kingdom began the implementation of the Investigatory Powers Act, widely considered the most comprehensive—and intrusive—surveillance law in the Western world. The Act authorizes government access to bulk datasets such as travel logs, financial transactions, biometrics, the interception of digital communications data, the hacking of devices, and requires the retention of […]
The revelations about offshore accounts contained in the so-called Panama Papers are sensational, but they are unlikely to put an end to these tax havens favored by the world’s rich and powerful. Read Here – BloombergView
Apple and the FBI are also aware that their domestic fight may have serious international repercussions. The outcome of their dispute will create an important precedent for foreign law enforcement agencies that seek data from Apple and other technology firms such as Facebook and Google. Read Here – Foreign Affairs
Once again, a blogger in Bangladesh has been murdered…These violent incidents are indeed what they are: fundamentalist attacks on free expression. But there is a deeper story, going back to the unfinished arguments over the war of independence in 1971. Is Bangladesh secular or religious? Is it Muslim or Bengali? These questions have become linked […]
A Dutch detective and Berlin police spent months searching for art commissioned by Hitler that went missing after German reunification. Officials finally recovered the dubious works in raids last week — here’s how they did it. Read Here – Der Spiegel
The modern loosening of ties between the citizen and the state, apart from a number of beneficial consequences, also altered the nature of citizenship, depriving it of some of its psychological value without diminishing its practical worth. Read Here – WorldAffairsJournal
People smugglers find business tougher as the Australian government’s crackdown begins to have an impact. Read Here – The Diplomat
Much of Indian politics today isn’t much more than the cult of the family. And while individuals come and go, families go on forever. Read Here – Bloomberg
Once again, Silvio Berlusconi has pushed Italy’s government into crisis. Maybe, just maybe, that’s a good thing. Read Here – Businessweek
The political tug of war has already dominated Italy‘s summer silly season. Berlusconi has stated almost every day that he is innocent and will not give up. Airplane banners calling for “freedom for Silvio” have flown above Italian beaches. If Berlusconi has to step down, his most loyal followers see it as an end to […]
looking beyond borders 