The Morning Brief - Lignet
How the Fast Market for 'Zero Day' Exploits Puts Us All in
Danger
As worldwide fears about cyber-security threats skyrocket, governments
and large organizations have started to pay huge sums of money for “Zero
Day” exploits, in the process deliberately leaving open gaps in computer
security. A “Zero Day” exploit is a previously unknown flaw in computer
software, dubbed Zero Day because computer security experts have had
“zero days” to fix the flaw. There is no defense against Zero Day
attacks.
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Why Iran is Sure to Elect a President Loyal to Khamenei
Iranians are heading to the polls on June 14 to choose a successor to
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from among eight candidates approved by
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Several hard-line candidates
loyal to Khamenei, some with blood on their hands, are considered
front-runners. It’s likely that one of them will win.
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Syria Crisis Escalates as Rebels Take UN Post on Israeli Border
Situation Report: The brief seizure yesterday by Syrian rebels of
a UN border post in the Golan Heights created new security headaches for
Israel and could draw it into the Syrian civil war. The incident also
raises questions about whether the peacekeeping mission that has been
deployed along the Syria-Israel border for the past 40 years can
continue to function in light of the war.
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Talks to Open Kaesong Won't Impact Nuclear Negotiations
North Korea’s announcement that it is willing to discuss economic and
humanitarian projects with South Korea is a sign of Pyongyang’s desire
to gain access to hard currency, but does not represent a fundamental
thaw in relations. It is also unlikely to change the outcome of any
potential forthcoming nuclear talks.
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Can a New Prime Minister Make a Difference in Pakistan?
Sworn in Wednesday as prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif has
wasted no time in describing his grand plans to confront the nation’s
seemingly endless political, social and security problems. But the deep
divides in Pakistan’s government and society will be difficult, if not
impossible, to bridge.
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G8 Summit Will Test Limits of Counterterrorism Cooperation
The upcoming G8 summit will present an opportunity for world leaders to
recommit to multilateral efforts to combat terrorism, one of a limited
number of issues with a real common interest. Despite incentives for
cooperation, however, there will likely be more promise than performance
as underlying distrust limits the type of timely information-sharing
required to stop terrorist attacks.
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Ethnic Tensions Running High in London as Summer Starts
Britain is reeling in the wake of the brutal murder of a British soldier
on a London street and yesterday’s suspicious fire that destroyed a
Muslim community center, also in London. Police and security officials
are proceeding with an investigation under the assumption that the
incidents are linked.
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'Pussy Riot' Saga Highlights Putin's Growing Insecurity
The persecution of the female members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot is
emblematic of an alarming trend of increasing social repression in
Russia. Vladimir Putin’s complex of power transcends judicial,
political, economic and religious spheres, and the vigorous persecution
of the members of the band highlights his insecurity about his own
future and the current political situation. It is clear, given his
efforts to crack down on civil society organizations and dissidents,
that Putin is determined to snuff out any opposition before it
materializes.
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New Pentagon Report Shows China Preparing for War
A new U.S. Department of Defense study warns that China has steadily
built up its military capabilities to pursue objectives beyond its
borders, including a large and worrisome presence near Taiwan, and calls
for a U.S.-China military-to-military relationship that builds trust and
manages potential friction. But critics point out that the report
appears to tamp down the level of threat posed by China, and question
whether a closer relationship is the answer.
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Egypt: Court Ruling Undermines Morsi; Adds to Political Tension
Egypt’s top court ruled this week that both the legislature and a
constitution-writing panel were formed illegally. The decision was
hailed as a victory both by Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi’s Muslim
Brotherhood supporters as well as his liberal and secular opponents, but
it is likely to further undermine Morsi's authority and raise tensions
between the judiciary and Egyptian Islamists.
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Bahrain: Big Plans for Industrial City Hit Political Realities
Bahrain, the tiny island nation in the Persian Gulf, has announced
long-term business and industrial plans that could transform it
economically. Those plans reflect the long-delayed acceptance by the
ruling elite of recommendations by various advisers that future economic
growth should not be tied to a reliance on oil.
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Protest in Iran Shows Deep Popular Discontent With the Regime
A large anti-regime protest today at the funeral of a high-profile
dissident Iranian cleric surprised the government and demonstrated the
frustrations of the country’s heavily repressed opposition. Although
Iranian police did not intervene to stop the demonstration, the regime
is likely to respond to it by stepping up security measures to prevent
further demonstrations in the run-up to the presidential election on
June 14.
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Why China's Iraqi Oil Gain is Not America's Pain
News this week that China imports more than half of the oil that Iraq
produces caused an outcry in the United States. Shouldn’t the nation
that has spent its blood and treasure enforcing peace and building roads
and schools in Iraq have first dibs on the oil? Maybe. But the United
States is not really hurt by the fact that China is Iraq’s biggest oil
customer, and in fact, may be better off because of it.
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Australia: How Perth is Fast Becoming a Big Oil Boomtown
Large oil and gas reserves have put Perth, Australia, on the global
energy map while its strategic location on the Indian Ocean could turn
the state capital into a hub for Asia’s tech industry. Foreign investors
and major oil companies love Western Australia’s business-friendly local
governments, predictable laws, can-do attitude and quality workforce.
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In Africa, Technology Companies See Opportunity
Technology companies are increasingly excited about opportunities in
Africa and are focusing on the continent as the next great technology
frontier. Major corporations such as Google, Microsoft and Samsung are
positioning to take advantage of the fast-growing economy and the
population’s willingness to embrace technology. However, political and
economic realities are likely to restrain any major technology explosion
in the near term.
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Turkey: Why the Mass Protests Won't Bring Down Erdogan
Situation Report: After five days of protests across Turkey, the
government has attempted to calm the unrest with words of apology for
the crack-down by police. They aren’t likely to have much effect, but
fortunately for Turkey’s ruling class, the protesters are too
politically fragmented and the opposition party too weak to mount a
serious challenge to the main target of the anger – Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan.
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