In The News

The Diplomat: US Allies in the Age of Trump

Robert Dujarric November 3, 2017
Barack Obama had emphasized a “pivot to Asia," but the Trump administration promotes "America First" policies. US allies in the region will listen closely during Donald Trump’s 12-day trip to Asia for any signals on priorities. His policies, especially termination of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and baiting of Kim Jong Un in North Korea, do not align with the allies’ interests,...

Financial Times: Poisoning of Global Trade

Edward Luce November 2, 2017
Mexico and Canada are trying to save the North American Free Trade Agreement, which has delivered trade, efficiency and jobs to three nations. The Trump administration views the trade agreement as unfair. Edward Luce, writing for the Financial Times, describes three demands that suggest the United States is not serious about negotiating an improved agreement: imposing a “sunset” clause every five...

Asia Sentinel: Indonesia for Sale

November 1, 2017
Palm oil is the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet, reports the World Wildlife Fund, and the agriculture product is in found in a variety of common packaged foods and household products. Wealthy investors have burned large swaths of rainforest in Indonesia to produce palm oil for export. The Asia Sentinel is running a six-part series investigating the politics, land rights,...

BBC: The US and Iranian Battle Over Pistachio Trade

Zoe Thomas October 31, 2017
Tensions run high between Iran and the United States. The Trump administration, criticizing the terms, claims that Iran is not in compliance over the nuclear deal and decertified what is known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Other signatories – China, Russia, France, Germany and the United Kingdom – do not agree and remain in the agreement with Iran. The tensions affect trade, and Iran...

ANI: Singapore Passport Is World’s "Most Powerful"

ANI October 25, 2017
Traveling without delays or complications has value, and Arton Capitol has assigned Singapore’s passport its top ranking for visa-free travel to 173 nations. “This is the first time an Asian country has been announced as having the most powerful passport, according to the Passport Index,” reports ANI. Historically, European nations have often filled the top ranks of most powerful passports. This...

Economist: Scrapping Iran Deal Could Embolden Hardliners

October 21, 2017
While US military forces have worked alongside Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, to counter the Islamic State in Iraq, political moves out of Washington may unravel any conciliatory efforts between the two countries. As Donald Trump works to undo many of former US President Barack Obama’s foreign and domestic policies, he simultaneously emboldens Iranian hardliners, argues the Economist...

The Telegraph: Does the Lack of Gun Controls Put You Off Visiting the US?

Hugh Morris October 3, 2017
Europeans assess the risks of travel to the United States after a shooter orchestrated a siege on a crowded concert in Las Vegas, killing 59 people and injuring more than 500. The Telegraph reports that Las Vegas is the sixth most popular US destination, welcoming more than 3 million foreign visitors each year. Tourism accounts for more than 40 percent of the area’s labor force. “In short, in the...