In The News

The Week: US-Saudi Alliance Must End

Ryan Cooper October 11, 2018
An old proverb suggests people are known by the company they keep, and that applies to countries, too. “There is no better demonstration of the moral and political rot at the heart of the American government than its increasingly poisonous alliance with Saudi Arabia,” writes Ryan Cooper for the Week. “Saudi Arabia is no friend of democracy, liberty, or even common decency.” Oil wealth combined...

South China Morning Post: Concern Over Chinese Leaders of Global Bodies

Sarah Zheng October 9, 2018
Interpol is the world’s largest international police organization of 192 member countries that cooperate on solving and fighting crimes, and so the sudden disappearance of Interpol’s president activated immediate global attention. The detention of Meng Hongwei during a trip to China, followed by a bribery accusation with little explanation and his resignation, has shaken confidence in Chinese...

Reuters: World Court and US Sanctions on Iran

Stephanie van den Berg October 4, 2018
The International Court of Justice ordered the United States to ensure that its sanctions on Iran do not affect humanitarian aid or civil aviation safety, reports Stephanie van den Berg for Reuters. The United Sates rejects the court decision, plans to terminate the 1955 Treaty of Amity with Iran and suggests that Iran’s real complaint is US withdrawal from the international agreement on ending...

Reuters: An Imperfect UN Still the World’s Best Hope

Peter Apps September 27, 2018
The United Nations has a track record of preventing wars, pointing out atrocities and human rights violations, encouraging dialogue and setting goals. Reform would be useful – including an adjustment in the frustrating veto power of the Security Council’s five permanent members – but the world should be grateful. “The assembly gives smaller nations and groupings a voice, and its resolutions can...

Time: Financial Crisis Undermined Global Order

Ian Bremmer September 21, 2018
Crises give countries an incentive to adjust, and the 2008 financial crisis – following on the heels of the costly war in Iraq – eroded confidence in US leadership and capitalism. Likewise, Europe struggled with the euro crisis and a stream of migrants fleeing unrest and conflict in the Middle East. “Today, the global balance of power is no longer clear,” argues Ian Bremmer for Time. China...

ReliefWeb: Building Climate Resilience for Food Security

September 12, 2018
One out of every nine of the world’s people is going hungry, one out of every eight adults is obese, and the health of hundreds of millions is at risk. “Hunger has been on the rise over the past three years, returning to levels from a decade ago,” reports the 2018 report on Food Security and Nutrition in the World. “This reversal in progress sends a clear warning that more must be done and...

News & Observer: Sea-Level Rise Is Here

Orrin H. Pilkey September 12, 2018
Climate change and sea-level rise are underway, yet the US government led by conservatives and supporters of fossil-fuel energies have chosen to ignore the growing body evidence. As a candidate, Donald Trump called global climate change is a hoax. As president, he “followed up on his non-belief in a warming planet by not supporting the Paris Climate Accords, thus forfeiting our global...