In The News

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...

The Economist: Saudi Arabia Will Finally Allow Women to Drive

September 29, 2017
On September 26 Saudi Arabia announced an end to its longstanding ban on female drivers. As the lone country in the world “to have such a stricture … [the law has become] a symbol of the ultraconservative kingdom’s repression of women.” As the Economist observes, “For many Saudi women, the change is long overdue.” Saudi Arabia adheres to strict interpretations of sharia law and tribal customs....

Caixin: China’s Quest for “World Class” Universities

Chen Shaoyuan, Xu Zhuang, Kong Xiangfeng and Li Rongde September 27, 2017
The ideas, studies and research pursued at the world’s top-ranked universities stimulate innovation and economic growth. China has targeted 42 universities for increased funding to improve their global rankings – Peking and Tsinghua universities may not have far to go, ranked 27th and 30th, respectively, by World University Rankings. Another 96 universities have been ordered to improve their...

GlobalVoices: Puerto Rico, Trapped Between Colonialism and Hurricanes

Ana Portnoy September 26, 2017
Two hurricanes struck Puerto Rico and the island confronts a humanitarian crisis with flooding, ruined infrastructure, limited food and water supplies. The US president issued a disaster declarations and also pointed to the island’s debt woes. Challenges for Puerto Rico from hurricane damage, high levels of debt or unfunded pensions are compounded by colonialism, explains Ana Portney, writing for...

The Economist: Can Political Islam Make It in the Modern World?

September 21, 2017
In the aftermath of the Arab Spring, Islamist parties across the Middle East and North Africa have achieved mixed results. As the Economist notes, the legacy of the Muslim Brotherhood, which began as an anti-imperialist social and educational movement in Egypt under Hassan al-Banna in 1928, gave way to Islamist offshoots, each iteration borne out of its own historical particularities and social...

The Economist: Muslims in Egypt Are Trying to Preserve Its Jewish Heritage

September 17, 2017
Egypt’s Jewish community, about 80,000 before World War II, has been whittled down to 20 in recent years. The Economist describes an organization made up of Muslims and Jews, Drop of Milk, that is making a concerted effort to “preserve Egypt’s Jewish heritage.” The nation has a contentious past after four devastating wars with Israel, forced conversions and “Jews who worked alongside Egyptians...

The Guardian: Charities to Pick Up Bill for Sweeping Aid Cuts?

Kate Hodal September 14, 2017
Governments that reduce taxes and cut programs cannot expect charitable giving to replace funding for an array of health, education or foreign aid programs. The most vulnerable will suffer, with disease, conflict, pollution, illiteracy and poverty posing cross-border consequences. Charitable giving may have created an incentive for governments to pursue budget cuts in every area, then replacing...