In The News

Eurasianet: Uzbekistan and Sufi Revival

December 13, 2018
Religious monuments and celebrations attract visitors from afar. Governments of Uzbekistan once limited religious practices, but have since lightened restrictions. The history and culture of the Ferghana Valley are now a draw for tourists intrigued by the famed Silk Road of centuries ago. “Bukhara is a place of particular significance because it was there that the founder of a major Sufi order,...

Chronicle of Higher Education: MIT-Saudi Partnerships

Steven Johnson December 12, 2018
Organizations of all types are reviewing partnerships with Saudi Arabia since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology was among the first universities to review ties, including $25 million for MIT research from Saudi Aramco. Gifts from Saudi donors account for about 40 percent of overall spending in recent years,...

Wired: Quiet War Over Who Makes Online Money

Paris Martineau December 7, 2018
At first glance, giant social media firms like Facebook, PayPal and Tumblr appear to be trying to block hate speech pornography from their websites. But the trend is not simple and suggests an ugly culture war is underway. After Reddit banned forums for incels, the men who identify as involuntary celibates are retaliating. The group distributes content policies of internet firms including social...

DW: Global Migrant Numbers Up 20 Percent

December 6, 2018
The number of migrants worldwide is growing, especially those of working age, reports the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs. The report details how migrants aged 15 and older make up 4.2 percent of the global population and migrant workers make up 4.7 percent of all workers. About 68 percent of migrant workers work in high-income countries, down from 75 percent in 2013. Almost 60...

Mail & Guardian: Western Museums and African Artifacts

Christine Mungai December 5, 2018
Economists and art historians are taking inventory of artwork and cultural artifacts removed from their lands decades or even centuries ago. The British Museum is returning an unknown number of artifacts, and France is returning 25 pieces to Benin. “The decision was made after French President Emmanuel Macron reviewed a report by Senegalese economist Felwine Sarr and French art historian...

Caixin: Jack Ma Mania

Noelle Mateer and Charlotte Yang November 18, 2018
Societies admire their greatest innovators who emerge after a series of failures. The Chinese revere Jack Ma, the founder of the e-commerce site Alibaba, for both his charisma and billionaire status. Despite early failures – including many school exams, an application as Kentucky Fried Chicken manager and inability early on to secure venture capital – he did not give up. “The fandom surrounding...

Time: French Regulators “Embed,” Monitor Facebook

Casey Quackenbush November 16, 2018
Governments and critics scrutinize Facebook for fake news, hate speech, and foreign advertising that raises questions about democracy and election results and even targets some groups with violence. France’s Emmanuel Macron has called for global regulation to ensure truthful posts and takes steps on regulation. “Starting in January, Facebook will welcome a small team of civil servants from Macron...