In The News

Politico: Macron’s Moment to Make the Planet Great Again

Sara Stefanini and Nicholas Vincour December 12, 2017
France’s President Emmanuel Macron is emerging as a global leader on climate change, spaking out and rallying on research and policies. An article in Politico describes him as the “world’s liberal foil to Donald Trump,” after the United States withdrew from the Paris climate agreement. The One Planet Summit in Paris marks the second anniversary and drew government leaders, philanthropists and...

The Wall Street Journal: US Tax Overhaul Raises Alarms Among Foreign Executives

Robert Wall, Nina Trentmann and Natalia Drozdiak December 1, 2017
US proposals to cut taxes for corporations and wealthy individuals are troubling executives of foreign firms. The United States is the world’s largest market for many companies and tax changes can affect global profits, explains a team of writers for the Wall Street Journal. Reduced taxes could mean reduced government revenues and increased uncertainty that slow consumer spending. Some...

BBC: India Net Neutrality Rules Could Be World's Strongest

Prasanto K Roy November 30, 2017
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India issued recommendations in strong support for net neutrality, prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal internet access for all. The recommendations are unlike efforts in the United States to reverse net neutrality rules and allow internet providers to set limits and impose differential pricing for access. Reversing the US protections will mean the...

Wired: FCC Plans to Gut Net Neutrality, Allow Internet “Fast Lanes”

Klint Finley November 22, 2017
The US Federal Communications Commission has published its plans to reverse net neutrality rules that ban blocking or slowing certain internet content. Proponents describe the action as “fast lanes” and ending government “micromanaging.” In truth, corporations and anyone willing to pay will have unhindered internet service, while small startups and organizations could struggle for notice or even...

NPR: Trump Puts a Pause to Lifting Ban on Importing Elephant Trophies

Laurel Wamsley November 20, 2017
The US Fish and Wildlife Service had announced that it would lift a ban imposed on importing sport-hunted elephant parts from Zimbabwe and Zambia, and then President Donald Trump stepped in to block the decision until he reviewed the figures on conservation. In a Twitter message, Trump noted that he would be“hard pressed to change my mind that this horror show in any way helps conservation of...

The Washington Post: What the Royal Purge Means for Saudi Arabia and Oil

Steven Mufson November 6, 2017
Global investors study a series of events in Saudi Arabia and how those may disrupt global oil prices. The crown prince announced a modernization drive, Vision 2030, with plans to create a new city. He also launched an anti-corruption drive, quickly followed by arrests of princes and ministers who might be seen as potential rivals. Saudi Arabia is in the process of selling a small portion of...

The Japan Times: Abe Emerges Stronger With Win; Nation Still Divided Over Constitutional Revision

Reiji Yoshida October 23, 2017
Despite a low turnout by voters who had to contend with a typhoon, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s coalition has won a supermajority in Japan’s Lower House of Parliament after Sunday’s election. Reporters in Japan expect a continued push for constitutional changes that would dispense with severe limits on the country’s self-defense. A national referendum for considering such changes requires two-...