Publications Review 19.07.2013

In this issue you will find: China's Military Programme,  Ethics in Public Sector, Edward Snowden, Facebook Zeus malware, Afganistan, Israeli-Iranian Relations.

Latest issue of New Dehli-based monthly magazine Defence and Security Alert (DSA) is dedicated to China and it military programme. Titled “An Assertive China: Cooperation, Competition or Conflict?” the issue covers various topics from recent Chinese intrusion in Ladakh to Sino-Indian relations and India’s  and China’s submarine fleets.

Firoz Abdul Hamid has recently published in her column "Ethics In Business" fist part of an interview with Chief Secretary To The Government Of Malaysia Tan Sri Dr. Ali Hamsa. In this interview Dr. Ali Hamsa talks on the role of ethics in public sector both locally (in Malaysia) and globally.

In another interview conducted by F.A. Hamid, Professor Manfred Kets De Vries, a clinical professor of leadership development, also the Chair of Leadership Development and Organisational Change at INSEAD, France shares his opinion on narcissism among business and political leaders.

In his column at AND Magazine Jeff Stein argues that Edward Snowden has put himself in the position when all the cards are in the hands of Vladimir Putin, who is likely to be willing to exchange him for Victor Bout, a Russian arms dealer who is currently in a U.S. prison. J. Stein also draws an analogy between E. Snowden’s case and the fate of Kim Philby, the famous British spy who defected to the Soviet Union and argues that if Snowden is granted asylum in Russia, Moscow can become a gilded cage for him.

Pierluigi Paganini in his recent article in Security Affairs describes Facebook Zeus (aka ZeuS/ZBOT) malware that is exploiting the popular social network to target user’s bank accounts. According to Paganini, the majority of the victims of Facebook Zeus malware is located in the USA and UK, other cases are registered all over the world including India, Russia and South Africa.

We also recommend following blog entries:

• Julian Lindley-French Operation Irresolute Support (Lindley-French's Blog Blast)
• Gulshan Sachdeva TAPI: Time for the Big Push (The Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program Joint Center)
• Melkulangara Bhadrakumar Israel cries ‘wolf’, Iran shrugs off (Indian Punchline)