United States
Former journalist and writer, currently working on a MSc in Cybersecurity Governance at Leiden University in the Netherlands.
Below is a (non-exhaustive!) list of my writing and radio work; please get in touch for more info.
Twitter: @amulyats
Cybersecurity / Technology
Not clicking on that suspicious link is a great start when it comes to combating cyber threats. Cybersecurity experts joining the new COVID-19 CTI League can do more.
For more than a dozen years, the US military has carried out hundreds of airstrikes in Somalia. The target: the militant group al-Shabab, linked to al-Qaeda.
WIRED senior writer Andy Greenberg has a new book out. He tells The World's host Marco Werman about following the trail of the cyberattacks to a mysterious, Russian state-sponsored hacking group.
A mysterious group is dumping the tools and identities of the prolific Iranian state hacking group APT34, or OilRig, online. Host Marco Werman speaks with WIRED reporter Andy Greenberg.
Bucking the trend, the US doesn't plan to pull back drone strikes and operations in Somalia. The World's Amulya Shankar reports on how the fight against Al-Shabab is playing out.
Court documents identify 10 possible members of the North Korean dissident group Cheollima Civil Defense. Spanish authorities allege that 5 of them fled to the US. Host Marco Werman speaks with The World's Amulya Shankar about the incident.
The European Union's framework for regulating tech is taking shape faster than policy US. Margrethe Vestager is the European Commissioner for Competition and speaks with host Marco Werman about their goals and recent fines/punishments.
The Department of Homeland Security released more details about the attacks in 2016 and 2017. Host Marco Werman talks to Robert Lee, CEO of the cybersecurity firm Dragos about what we've learned.
On Oct. 4, 2017, nine soldiers were killed in a convoy leaving the village of Tongo Tongo in Niger. Four of those soldiers were American. The tragedy shocked Americans and Nigeriens alike.
Attempts by hackers to break into the energy sector in the US and abroad have made headlines in recent months. According to a report by the cybersecurity firm Symantec, hackers have now successfully infiltrated power grid controls in the US and Turkey.
There's a running joke in the cybersecurity industry that squirrels pose a greater threat to the power grid than hackers. But that's changing.
People are fascinated by cryptocurrency. It's not hard to see the appeal - you could make millions. And that's what Venezuela seems to be counting on as it launches the petro, the world's first government-backed cryptocurrency.
Take George Orwell's "1984." Now sprinkle in that episode of "Black Mirror" where characters live in a world in which ratings dominate their lives. That's one way to think about the Chinese government's plan for a new Social Credit System.
New security measures have gone into effect for all flights traveling to the US. Airlines will be interviewing passengers at gates all over the world to comply with new government requirements from the TSA.
Google is the latest tech company that's found evidence of Russian-bought ads on its platforms. Facebook and Twitter have also faced scrutiny.
It probably comes as no surprise that even soldiers are attached to their cellphones. But smartphones are vulnerable to hacking - and that's an avenue Russia is looking to exploit.
Several big players in the tech industry have signed a letter urging President Donald Trump to continue DACA. But Trump has moved ahead, and now Silicon Valley is considering its next steps.
The city of Mosul has been retaken by Iraqi forces, and victory has been declared over ISIS. But some estimates say it could take a decade before Mosul is cleared of the mines and explosives ISIS fighters left behind.
Germans tend to be suspicious of state surveillance, and that's been reflected in politics since World War II. But in 2016, a man drove a truck into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, an attack that shocked the country.
The war in Syria has lots of people worried about the country's future. But some are also worried about preserving Syria's past. Take the ancient city of Palmyra. ISIS militants destroyed parts of it and rigged many of the sites with explosives before being driven out.
The US "startup visa" has been delayed before it could go into the effect - possibly permanently - and the technology industry isn't happy. President Barack Obama approved the International Entrepreneur Rule last year during the final weeks of his administration.
People in West African countries speak hundreds of languages - more than 520 are spoken in Nigeria alone. A lingua franca is a necessity for day-to-day life. That's where Pidgin comes in.
Chances are you'll be alerted to an emergency through a phone notification. Social media can make that news more personal by showing you eyewitness accounts, or even telling you if your friends are safe. But there are cons, too.
More than a thousand miles of harsh, mountainous terrain separates Pakistan and Afghanistan. The border is notoriously porous and difficult to enforce, as invading armies have learned - and it's been a source of contention for decades.
Other topics
The US immigration system is situated within the Department of Justice, a law enforcement agency. That's always been a problem, but under the Trump administration, a large number of immigration judges are resigning or retiring early.
The Chinese government has been trying to slash birth rates of the ethnic Uighur population with measures like forced birth control, abortions, and sterilization. Host Marco Werman speaks with University of Michigan professor Alexandra Stern.
Haacaaluu Hundeessaa was a powerful political voice for the Oromo ethnic group. His death is just the latest in nearly a year of troubling developments in Ethiopia, and has become a rallying cry for the opposition to speak out against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that immigrants denied asylum under streamlined proceedings cannot contest those decisions in court. The case involved a Sri Lankan farmer who said he feared persecution.
The United States and Russia have about 91% of the world's nuclear warheads. And the arms control pact - the New START Treaty - between the two nations expires next year.
Khatia Dekanoidze, the former chief of the National Police of Ukraine, has worked on police reform for decades, and now continues her efforts in Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova. These are a few lessons she's learned.
Scottish virologist June Almeida was a pioneer of virus imaging. But she also played a pivotal role to identify the first strand of human coronavirus, a precursor to COVID-19.
Chile is one of several countries trying to plan ahead for a return to normalcy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Its health ministry has pushed for the use of "immunity passports" so that parts of the population can return to work.
Wajahat Ali is a writer and lawyer whose Islamic faith was tested last year when he learned his 3-year-old daughter had liver cancer. He tells The World's host Marco Werman what his family's journey taught them maintaining faith through great challenges.
As people across the globe enter self-isolation, what's happening to people who were already in lockdown before the coronavirus pandemic? Without many resources, medical and otherwise, prisoners are at high risk for contracting the coronavirus.
Humanitarian organizations around the world are geared toward helping pople. But now, these organizations are facing their own challenges amid the COVID-19 pandemic, like planning for possible supply chain shortages and having to quickly review staff travel.
A whistleblower report released on Thursday said President Donald Trump not only abused his office in attempting to solicit Ukraine's interference in the 2020 US election, but that the White House tried to "lock down" evidence about it.
The UN Security Council refused to pass a resolution condemning sexual violence in war until language referring to sexual and reproductive health was taken out.
An anti-litter group has finally solved a 35-year-old mystery. The World's Amulya Shankar explains.
Host Marco Werman and The World's Amulya Shankar reflect on some of the ways the Mueller investigation was portrayed by comedians and late night hosts.
Graphic memos sent by CIA Director Gina Haspel describing the torture of a suspected terrorist in 2002 have been declassified. Questions about her role in so-called "enhanced interrogation" rose after she was nominated as CIA director.
Abdo Elfgeeh, a naturalized US citizen, hoped his Yemeni wife and four children would be allowed to join him in the United States. And soon. Now, after the US Supreme Court's Tuesday decision in favor of President Donald Trump's travel ban, he's about given up.
The Casa Padre shelter for child migrants is the largest of its kind in the US. But the children still aren't free to leave, and have a difficult time making their case, especially if they were separated from their parents.
About 700,000 Rohingya refugees to date have fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar. Many of the refugees crossed the border into Bangladesh, living in difficult conditions at massive camps.
After weeks of travel across Mexico by bus, freight train and foot, more than 150 migrants from Central America await their turn to apply for asylum at the Southern US border. Just how does the process work?
A 16-year-old Palestinian girl is looking at the possibility of a very long prison sentence in an Israeli jail. But what sets Ahed Tamimi apart from many of her peers is that people around the world might recognize her face.
President Donald Trump reportedly lashed out at immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and African countries with a profane outburst during a meeting with lawmakers. A UN spokesman later condemned the "shameful" remarks.
It's been 60 years since the Tibetan uprising in Lhasa prompted the Dalai Lama to flee his palace. Tibetans and activists gathered to remember the day and celebrate keeping their hopes alive.
It's been more than 250 days since it last rained in southern California. Approximately 8,000 firefighters continue to battle massive wildfires. But it's not just people and infrastructure that are in danger - fires also threaten indigenous cultural sites.
When the topic of stronger gun control resurfaces in the US, often in the wake of a mass shooting, pro-gun activists and politicians frequently cite Israel as a counterexample. How accurate is that example?
The suspect in the New York City terrorist attack reportedly shouted the Arabic phrase meaning "God is greatest" after driving his truck down a bike path on Tuesday, killing eight people.
Shortly after the vehicle attack in New York on Tuesday, President Donald Trump took to Twitter to react: "The terrorist came into our country through what is called the 'Diversity Visa Lottery Program,' a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based."
Eight people were killed and 11 injured when a man drove a truck into a bicycle path in New York City yesterday. Five Argentines were among those who died.
It should have been a triumphant moment for the Houston Astros. First baseman Yuli Gurriel, continuing a great season, had just hit a home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game three of the World Series.
The #MeToo movement has sparked conversations around the globe, including in European Parliament. Several women spoke up during a debate Wednesday about sexual harassment in the European Union.
Weeks after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, nearly 80 percent of the island remains without power. Both Texas and Florida recently activated agreements with other utilities to help residents get power back.
More than 80 wildfires have raged across northern California this year, killing 42 people and causing nearly $1 billion in damage. Squad 61 from American Samoa spent about three months fighting wildfires in California recently.
A Maltese journalist once described as a "one-woman WikiLeaks" was killed in a car bomb this week. Daphne Caruana Galizia was perhaps the most famous journalist in Malta, known for her fearless reporting on crime and corruption in the government.
Three weeks after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, we've seen images of the destruction and heard stories about the lack of electricity and basic supplies like food and water in some areas. But the main way we measure - and understand - the scope of any disaster is through the death toll.
At a meeting of military leaders this week, President Donald Trump said that people around him were witnessing the "calm before the storm." This week, Trump is expected to announce that he will not certify the Iran nuclear deal again.
Following a tragedy like the Sunday night mass shooting in Las Vegas, the national conversation inevitably turns to guns. But there's rarely any serious policy debate.
It's been a week since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, damaging homes and roads and destroying the island's power grid. The official count puts the number of people killed at 16, but hundreds of people are still missing, and families are desperate to hear news of their whereabouts.
Angela Merkel has won her fourth term as chancellor of Germany, as expected. But things are likely to be different this time around. Germany continues to grapple with a refugee crisis, and the nationalist sentiment that's come to the forefront in recent months.
It's been more than a month since members of a Rohingya militant group attacked police outposts in northern Myanmar, killing 12 people. The attack led to a massive Myanmar military crackdown on the Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is one of the most powerful women in the world. For 12 years, she has been a role model to many women and is expected to win a fourth term during the national elections on Sept. 24.
Stranger than fiction? In the 2014 comedy "The Interview," Seth Rogen and James Franco play journalists recruited by the CIA to assassinate Kim Jong-un instead of interviewing him.
Mexico is still reeling from the worst earthquake in a century. The 8.1 magnitude earthquake last week killed nearly 100 people, and left many more homeless in the southern part of the country, which was hardest hit.
Aung San Suu Kyi has been celebrated around the world and received the Nobel Peace Prize for her long struggle for democracy in Myanmar. When her party gained power in 2015, there was a sense that Suu Kyi's leadership would move the country forward.
What's it like learning about Sept. 11 exclusively from a history book? Host Marco Werman speaks with The World's Amulya Shankar, and her sister Chaitra, who was born after 9/11.
Lawmakers are back on Capitol Hill this week, which means that the investigations into possible Russian hacking of the 2016 election and alleged Trump campaign ties to Russia are entering the next phase.
Mumbai, home to more than 20 million people, is the latest to be hit by floods that have ravaged South Asia this monsoon season, affecting millions across India, Nepal and Bangladesh and killing more than 1,200 people.
Following a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, President Donald Trump's assertion that "both sides" were to blame for the resulting violence drew outrage and condemnation.
Americans are debating whether Confederate monuments should appear in public places. In South Africa, statues celebrating British imperialists and architects of apartheid have also faced calls for removal. A University of Cape Town student explains why that's so important.
Trump policy advisor Stephen Miller used the phrase while defending the president's new immigration proposal, which would prioritize high-skilled immigrants who already speak English.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has ambitious plans to streamline and restructure the State Department. And the first thing on the chopping block could be the war crimes office.
The new "Dunkirk" movie may be a hit, but there's controversy in Britain and India that the Indian troops have been whitewashed out of the movie. The World fact-checks the film and discusses why it's important to move beyond Western perceptions of World War II.
It all started with a sticky note. When the Washington Post published an article back in May about President Donald Trump's body guard, they failed to notice that one of the photos included a sticky note with the personal phone number of the US secretary of defense.
Canada turns 150 tomorrow, and the government is spending half a billion dollars to throw huge birthday parties all around the country. But not everyone's thrilled. Indigenous people have clashed with police while protesting what they call a celebration of colonialism.
The special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election is interviewing three senior intelligence officials to determine whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice.
British Prime Minister Theresa May took the blame for the Conservatives' disastrous performance in last week's election when she faced her party's angry MPs on Monday, seeking to ward off any challenge to her leadership.
Bars opened early to accommodate watchers and Twitter exploded with commentary as thousands of Americans tuned in to watch former FBI Director James Comey testify before the Senate on Thursday.
Efforts to rescue up to 2,000 civilians trapped by fighting between government troops and Islamist militants in a southern Philippine city failed over the weekend. Authorities and witnesses said a proposed ceasefire ended in a hail of gunshots and explosions.
In the city of Mosul, the fight between Iraqi forces and ISIS fighters unfolds block by block - and bulldozers are leading the charge. Mosul is critical to both sides and, although ISIS retains control over only a few neighborhoods in the western part of city, its fighters are entrenched, digging trenches and planting bombs along the streets.
Two good Samaritans were fatally stabbed in Portland on May 26 while trying to help two young women being harassed by a white supremacist. Police say Jeremy Joseph Christian began shouting at the two women - one of whom was wearing a hijab - using "hate speech or biased language."
The suspect in the Manchester bombing, Salman Abedi, wasn't unknown to UK counterterrorism officials. But members of his community expressed concern. That kind of behavior is exactly what the "Countering Violent Extremism" program wants to encourage in the US.
Candidate Donald Trump called NATO "obsolete," demanded allies step up their defense spending, and threatened to back out of the alliance. He's meeting with NATO leaders as president for the first time in Brussels on Thursday, and some member countries are still bracing for another unexpected pivot.
Saudi Arabia plans to invest a huge sum of money in a company founded by an adviser to US President Donald Trump. Blackstone Group said over the weekend that Saudi Arabia had signed a nonbinding agreement committing $20 billion to upgrade existing infrastructure in the United States.
The US intelligence community, still reeling from the firing of FBI Director James Comey last week, is now worried that a disclosure by President Donald Trump could put the US relationship with other intelligence agencies at risk.
A proposal to send thousands of more troops to Afghanistan is expected to cross President Donald Trump's desk this week. Several senior officials say it's necessary to fight the Taliban and accelerate training and support missions for Afghan forces.
Thousands of workers, government officials and aviation enthusiasts gathered to cheer as China's C919 passenger plane touched down at Shanghai's international airport Friday after its maiden trip to the sky. State media broadcasts heralded it as the start of a new era.