In The News

The Guardian: "They Treated Her Like a Dog"– Tragedy of a Six-Year-Old Killed at Croatian Border

Emma Graham-Harrison December 28, 2017
The death of six-year-old Madina Hussiny has shed light on an enduring sociopolitical problem along Europe’s borders – the precarious status of asylum seekers and refugees. Emma Graham-Harrison observes for the Guardian, “The tragedy of the Hussiny family, who tried to reach Croatia after spending nearly a year in Serbia hoping for legal passage into Hungary, was the latest in a string of deaths...

Korea Herald: Why Arabic Is So Popular Among South Korean Students?

Bak Se-hwan December 25, 2017
Students intent on entering the best colleges make strategic choices on every detail, and that was behind Arabic becoming the most popular second-choice foreign language for Korean students taking the Suneung, a college entrance exam. English and a second foreign language are among the test subjects. “More than seven out of 10 Suneung test-takers chose Arabic as a second foreign language this...

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 Guardian: United by Blood: Afghan Artists Come Together for Iran Exhibition

Saeed Kamali Dehghan November 16, 2017
An exhibition in Tehran showcasing Afghani artwork has shed light on a deep-seated problem in the country: the marginalization of Afghani peoples. Saeed Kamali Dehghan, writing for the Guardian, describes Elyas Alavi’s performance piece: He “invites participants to give blood. Samples are taken by a professional nurse and splashed on the wall next to each other.” Alavi was inspired “after his...

Sports Illustrated: Tennis and Globalization

Jon Wertheim and Aryeh B. Bourkoff November 14, 2017
Tennis, while not the world’s most popular sport, has gained in global popularity largely because organizers and players have relied on globalization and technology to pursue top talent and expand interest. “Scan the top 25 players in the ATP rankings and, save Antarctica, you'll find representatives from every continent,” explain Jon Wertheim and Aryeh B. Bourkoff for Sports Illustrated. “...

CNN: "Kill Them All" – Russian-Linked Facebook Accounts Called for Violence

Curt Devine October 31, 2017
Representatives of social media companies are testifying to US Congress about Russian meddling in the US election through fake accounts and provocative posts on Facebook, Twitter and other platforms. Prior to the hearing, Facebook admitted that more than 100 million Americans may have viewed Russian-made posts. At least 25 messages from a small number of accounts called for violence against...

Financial Times: Inside China’s Secret “Magic Weapon” for Worldwide Influence

James Kynge, Lucy Hornby and Jamil Anderlini October 26, 2017
The United States once charmed the world with innovations and a confident culture – but stagnation, insecurity and a lack of civility have weakened what Harvard’s Joseph Nye identified in the 1980s as soft power. China’s Xi Jinping, in consolidating his own power, sees value in presenting a confident and caring face to the world. The headquarters for China’s soft-power strategy is in Beijing and...