In The News

US to Cut Ties with WHO: STAT

Andrew Joseph May 29, 2020
The US president announced that the country will halt funding and withdraw from the World Health Organization. The US is the agency’s largest funder, providing about 15 percent of the budget. “The move has alarmed health experts, who say the decision will undermine efforts to improve the health of people around the world,” writes Andrew Joseph for STAT. “It’s not immediately clear whether the...

Don't Confuse Schooling With Learning: Rappler

Juan Miguel Luz May 29, 2020
Leaders in the Philippines consider postponing all public and private school classes until a Covid-19 vaccine is available. Experts warn that a vaccine may not be ready until next year, and perhaps never. Educators maintain that putting a pause on learning would create another crisis. “Children must continue learning and if not in traditional schooling, then in some other way,” writes Juan Miguel...

Future of Global Power: Project Syndicate

Joschka Fischer May 26, 2020
The world wars of the 20th century weakened the British Empire and strengthened the United States; the Cold War weakened the Soviet Union while again strengthening the United States. Yet Covid-19 could upend US power as the world assesses pandemic responses. The Trump administration, managing the pandemic response ahead of the November election, blames China for Covid-19. US voters, polarized...

National Security Legislation for Hong Kong: SCMP

Gary Cheung May 22, 2020
China is moving on a national security resolution for Hong Kong, relying on the National People’s Congress rather than waiting for the territory’s Legislative Council to shape its own rules. The resolution would “ban all seditious activities aimed at toppling the central government and external interference in Hong Kong’s affairs” and “target terrorist acts in Hong Kong,” reports Gary Cheung for...

Shaky Coalition Government in Israel: NPR

Mark Katov May 18, 2020
Israel had three elections since April 2019 that produced no clear winner. To contain the Covid-19 pandemic, leading rivals Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz agreed to share power in a unit government, despite Gantz’s pledge not to join a government led by his rival. “Netanyahu begins his fifth consecutive term as prime minister one week before he goes on trial for corruption charges,” reports...

Brexit and “Rip the Band-Aid Off”: Asian Age

Latika Bourke May 18, 2020
The clock is ticking on the Brexit transition. Negotiations continue even as public attention distracted by the Covid-19 pandemic. With a wide gap in expectations from the EU and the UK, negotiations have made little progress on contentious issues including EU access to UK fishing grounds, UK adherence to EU regulations, and agreements on becoming carbon neutral by 2050. “The UK now wants what it...

China Endangers the Diaspora: Diplomat

Chauncey Jung May 16, 2020
Covid-19 pandemic costs are immense, as the world heads into recession and unemployment increases. The United States, which may spend as much as $5 trillion to tackle the many challenges, and other nations question China's lack of transparency in late 2019. In turn, China threatens to boycott Australian goods as that government calls for an investigation. The issue has entered political...