In The News

Arab Coalition Backs Netanyahu Opponent: Al Jazeera

September 23, 2019
For more than 25 years, Israel’s leading Arab political parties declined to endorse candidates for the prime minister post. This time they endorsed Benny Gantz, a move that could end the lock on power by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Gantz's centrist Blue and White party won the most seats in the September 17 election with 33 out of parliament's 120 seats, while Netanyahu's...

Dousing Sovereignty Wildfires: Project Syndicate

Jean Pisani-Ferry September 3, 2019
The world is more connected and informed on global events than ever before, and possibly more competitive over limited resources. Conflicts over sovereignty – the right for nations to do as they please, disregarding the interests of the world at large – could become more common. A quarrel between the presidents of France and Brazil over reflects a larger battle over national sovereignty: Emmanuel...

Compromise in Khartoum: Economist

August 22, 2019
Following a coup in Sudan and negotiations, the longtime leader is on trial for corruption. An economist leads the transitional government and elections are scheduled in 2022. Generals “signed the agreement only after coming under intense pressure from foreign powers,” reports the Economist, describing the new government made of five soldiers and six civilians. Many of the generals became wealthy...

Restrictions on Mainland Tourism to Taiwan: Caixin

Teng Jing Xuan August 1, 2019
Political tensions spill over to trade and other areas. China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism will allow Chinese mainland citizens to travel to Taiwan only with group tours. “Travelers from 47 Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have been allowed to apply for permits to visit Taiwan individually under a program that began in 2011,” reports Teng Jing Xuan for Caixin. “Once...

Six Foreign Policy Issues for Boris Johnson: BBC

James Landale July 24, 2019
Longtime Brexit proponent Boris Johnson is the UK’s next prime minister and he confronts a range of foreign policies besides Brexit. For the BBC News, James Landale offered a foreign policy to-do list: repair UK-US relations and replace the British ambassador described the Trump administration as dysfunctional; negotiate a trade agreement with the US while smoothing differences on China and Iran...

British Ambassador Resigns: The Independent

Kim Sengupta and Rob Merrick July 10, 2019
British Ambassador to the US Kim Darroch resigned soon after release of his candid assessments describing the US president and his administration as inept and insecure. The UK is in the midst of a prime minister race after Theresa May failed to secure parliamentary agreement on Brexit plans. The candidates: Jeremy Hunt supported Darroch and Boris Johnson declined to do so: “it is understood [...

Center-Right Regains Power in Greece: BBC

Mark Lowen July 8, 2019
Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the New Democracy party won a snap election in Greece, defeating Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. The ruling government lost support amid high youth unemployment and a struggling economy along with failure to deliver on promises to end austerity. Early results in an election gave New Democracy nearly 40 percent of the vote and Syriza just over 30 percent; far-right Golden...