In The News

US to Suspend New Foreign-Scholar Visas: Nature

Nidhi Subbaraman and Alexandra Witze June 24, 2020
The US president issued a proclamation expanding limits for foreign workers, including a suspension on new H-1B visas for highly skilled foreign scholars and employees for tech firms. The block will not extend to current visa holders, but that does not ease their uncertainty. “The Trump administration characterized the decision as a plan to stave off the economic impact of the coronavirus...

Right to Education: Dawn

Marvi Soomro May 12, 2020
Around the world, governments close schools to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and encourage teachers and parents to support ongoing studies. From primary school to university, lockdowns expose inequities in available technologies, parent capabilities and motivation, quiet spaces, books and other resources. “Major barriers like the digital divide and the weakness of education systems threaten to...

COVID-19 Hits Food Industry: BBC

April 14, 2020
Economic shutdowns worldwide aim to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, yet disrupt food industry supply chains. The challenges include both shortages and waste as market demand shifts from large institutions, resorts, hotels and restaurants to households. Many businesses cannot quickly redirect or repackage supplies for household use, and producers discard perishable goods with a short shelf life. “...

The Flu, COVID-19 and the Economy

March 27, 2020
The United States leads the world in confirmed cases of COVID-19, passing even China, with almost four times the population and where the disease emerged in November. Some government and business leaders resist advice from public health experts on lockdowns and slowed economic activity. There is an argument that a pause on food supplies, utilities and other essential services poses a health...

Work-From-Home Becomes New Normal: Korea Times

Anna J. Park March 20, 2020
With countries encouraging isolation and shelter-in-place and communities put into lockdown, companies encourage employees who can to work from home. “A recent report by Hana Financial Investment pointed out that so-called ‘telecommuting,’ or working from home, has been increasing since the 2000s with the rapid development of information technology, and it was to grow in the near future, even...

Brands Accused of Using Forced Chinese Labor: AFP

March 2, 2020
Human rights advocates have long criticized China for detaining about 1 million Uighurs for reeducation. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute reports that China has transferred about 80,000 Uighurs to factories around the country behind 80 global brands including Apple, BMW, Gap, Huawei, Nike, Mercedes-Benz, Samsung and Sony. “Companies using forced Uighur labour in their supply chains could...

Global Retirement Ages Creep Higher: CNBC

Lorie Konish February 15, 2020
Life expectancy is higher worldwide, and governments and individuals respond by hiking the retirement age. “Fueled by changes in lifestyles, working practices, diet and medical advances, people living today can expect to live up to 30 to 40 years longer when compared with people at the beginning of the 20th century,” notes the Aegon Retirement Readiness Survey. A majority of US workers plan to...