In The News

Reuters: Ecuador Cuts Assange's Internet Access - WikiLeaks

Mark Hosenball October 19, 2016
The Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry confirmed claims by WikiLeaks that the nation forced Julian Assange offline to prevent interference in the US election. The country has granted political asylum to the WikiLeaks founder in its London embassy since 2012, and asserts it will continue to do so to protect free speech. The episode reflects complicated relationships among Ecuador, Russia and the United...

Study: Borders in Europe Would Cost Up to $3.3 Billion a Year

Valentina Pop October 19, 2016
A study by the RAND Europe think tank shows that to restore borders across Europe would cost the continent more than $3 billion yearly, a number calculated using the cost of restoring physical borders, administrative costs, and losses from trade and travel. As Europe has drawn millions of refugees from Syria and other war-torn areas, some countries in the Schengen zone – the border-free area...

Warming Russia-Turkey Relations Send a Chill Through Ukraine

Fred Weir October 18, 2016
Despite rising tensions among Russia, Turkey and the West over civil war in Syria, agreements are emerging over sending natural gas from Russia to Europe. Proposed development of two new pipelines would allow Russia to pass Ukraine in sending gas to the rest of Europe, reports Fred Weir for the Christian Science Monitor: “With TurkStream, Turkey will stand to become the chief distributor for...

Angela Merkel Tells African Union It Must Do More to Stop Migration to Europe

Adam Withnall October 17, 2016
Germany will be at the helm of the G20 for 2017, and Chancellor Angela Merkel has signaled that Africa will be a primary area of focus: “But in return, she has asked that the African countries do more to stop the growing culture of young people leaving to seek a better life in Europe,” reports Adam Withnall for the Independent. In a tour to Mali, Niger and Ethiopia, Merkel implied that failed...

Thai King's Death Adds to Uncertainty About Obama's Faltering Asia Pivot

David Brunnstrom October 14, 2016
Monarchists maintain that the system's perks include continuity in governance and preparation of leaders. Uncertainty follows the death of Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej, especially for the US pivot to Asia, suggests David Brunnstrom for Reuters. In the article, Murray Hiebert describes regional political changes since 2011: "When the pivot started, you had Thailand engaged, a...

Death of Thai King Throws Country Into Turmoil

October 13, 2016
Thailand is among the world’s 30 largest economies, though political differences since 2001 have contributed to slowing growth. The Thai king has died, and the crown prince who has lived mostly outside the country with a lifestyle described as excessive is less popular. The constitutional monarchy made military coups easier, reports the Economist, and it’s “widely assumed that the succession...

Donald Trump and the Declining Prestige of US Democracy

Gideon Rachman October 11, 2016
The nomination of Donald Trump, that an erratic candidacy could go so far, reflects poorly on the United States and other democracies. Admittedly, the businessman is not a practiced politician. The troubled campaign, lacking in policy specifics, has been marked with lies and insults against any who criticize him. Comments during debates and public rallies for the world to see often carry an...