News + Media

Sarah Williams

News Release

February 19, 2019

Urban transportation resource center for Latin American and Caribbean cities

Dan Pomeroy | International Policy Lab

The Resource Center, which will be run through a collaboration between World Resources Institute Mexico (WRI Mexico), Massachusetts Institute for Technology’s Civic Data Design Lab, and Columbia University’s Earth Institute, will support the development of open digital urban transport data for and with Latin American and Caribbean cities.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a press briefing in New Delhi on Feb. 18, 2019. (Money Sharma/AFP/Getty Images)

In the News

February 19, 2019

Tensions are rising between India and Pakistan. But Washington doesn’t seem that bothered.

Emily TamkinThe Washington Post

“The response — calling on Pakistan to crack down on military organizations, the Bolton call released by both sides, the joint statement calling to crack down on terrorism — that’s all good, but we’ve done that before,” Narang said. “It’s the standard response, but, to me, it’s boilerplate.”

Geoffrey Berman, the United States attorney for the Southern District of New York, discussing the charges last year against nine Iranians accused of hacking into the systems of hundreds of companies and academic institutions.CreditCreditZach Gibson/Bloomberg

In the News

February 18, 2019

Chinese and Iranian hackers renew their attacks on US companies

Nicole PerlrothThe New York Times

“If you tell the Iranians you’re going to walk out on the agreement and do everything you can to undermine their government,” said Joel Brenner, a former counterintelligence official, “you can’t be surprised if they attack our government networks.”

Indian mourners take part in a candle-lit vigil following the car bombing © AFP

In the News

February 17, 2019

India weighs military options against Pakistan as Kashmir tensions rise

Amy Kazmin Financial Times

“He is basically promising a pretty significant retaliatory strike,” said Vipin Narang, professor of political science at the MIT. “All the signs are that they are considering some sort of stand-off strike from across the LOC into Pakistani targets. The risk is that Modi miscalculates how far he can go without provoking a significant Pakistani response.”

  It's like chess, with nuclear weapons.  Photographer: Nicky J. Sims/Getty Images for Kaspersky Lab

Analysis + Opinion

February 16, 2019

Winning the nuclear game against North Korea

Tobin HarshawBloomberg

Vipin Narang thinks many moves ahead in the international chess of modern deterrence. While not a game theorist himself, Vipin Narang’s beautiful mind is pushing forward on how traditional nuclear deterrence strategy can be modernized for the new era of great-power conflict.

In the News

February 15, 2019

Billions dead: That's what could happen if India and Pakistan wage a nuclear war

Zachary KeckThe National Interest

The reason why India didn’t respond to force, according to Narang, is that—despite its alleged Cold Start doctrine—Indian leaders were unsure exactly where Pakistan’s nuclear threshold stood. That is, even if Indian leaders believed they were launching a limited attack, they couldn’t be sure that Pakistani leaders wouldn’t view it as expansive enough to justify using nuclear weapons.

Analysis + Opinion

February 13, 2019

US–South Korea military negotiations could cost the alliance

Se Young JangEast Asia Forum

Inter-Korean rapprochement, ushered in by the series of North–South summits and working-level meetings that took place in 2018, is changing the security environment on the Korean Peninsula. While reconciliation between North and South Korea develops, the latter’s relationship with the United States is running into difficulty. Seoul and Washington failed to renegotiate a defence cost-sharing agreement in 2018, which then expired on 31 December.

SenseVideo pedestrian and vehicle recognition system at the company's showroom in Beijing on June 15, 2018.Gilles Sabrie / Bloomberg via Getty Images file

In the News

February 12, 2019

Trump's artificial intelligence order lacks funding but not a target — China

David IngramNBC News

“Money talks when it comes to government priorities, and new money actually drives priorities.” said R. David Edelman, a former special assistant to President Barack Obama for technology policy.

 China’s President Xi Jinping (back L) and US President Donald Trump (back 2nd L) attend a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017.  AFP/Getty Images

Analysis + Opinion

February 12, 2019

US-China relationship guidelines

Asia SocietyAsia Society

A new report published by Asia Society’s Center on US-China Relations and UC San Diego’s 21st Century China Center offers recommendations for American policymakers. Among its authors is Taylor Fravel.

 The first H-bomb explosion at Eniwetok Atoll in the Pacific Three Lions/Getty Images

In the News

February 11, 2019

Elizabeth Warren wants to ban the US from using nuclear weapons first

Kelsey PiperVox

But some worry that passing the bill won’t lead to the real changes — and, as a result, could actually cause harm. “A declaration, without any attendant changes to the US’s ability to actually use nuclear weapons promptly, absent changes to the actual posture, alert levels, etc. — your adversaries won’t believe it,” Vipin Narang argued.

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