In The News

World Health Assembly Excludes Taiwan: Taipei Times

Lee I-chia May 19, 2020
Taiwan demonstrated skill in tackling and controlling the spread of Covid-19 among its population of 23 million. Even so, the World Health Assembly, hesitant to antagonize China, excluded Taiwan from its virtual meeting. Taiwan sent a letter of protest to the World Health Organization Secretariat. “While the focus of this year’s WHA should be on the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwan’s performance in...

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...

Covid-19 Stimulus: South China Morning Post

Nicholas Spiro May 15, 2020
Central banks around the globe organize massive stimulus programs from central banks, but these are not without risk. By reducing interest rates and rapidly investing in a range of assets to prop up prices, central bankers hope to save jobs and prevent a long economic depression. Governments already holding heavy debt extend rescues to a range of businesses, including some that would have failed...

Covid-19 “Overreaction” a Success in Vietnam: BBC

Anna Jones May 15, 2020
After taking aggressive measures against Covid-19 in early January, Vietnam reported no new cases in more than a month. “Vietnam saw a small window to act early on and used it fully,” reports Anna Jones for BBC News. “But though cost-effective, its intrusive and labour intensive approach has its drawbacks and experts say it may be too late for most other countries to learn from its success.” The...

Global Food Crisis – Prices Soar, Crops Rot: WSJ

Yaroslav Trofimov and Lucy Craymer May 14, 2020
The Covid-19 pandemic combined with protectionist restrictions has disrupted food processing and transportation, resulting in waste at farms and shortages in stores. Perishable vegetables and products like milk are at high risk, while prices for wheat, rice and other staples climb. The Wall Street Journal article offers numerous examples of food-chain disruptions and worries. The world confronts...

Democracy Will Survive Pandemic: Atlantic

Tom McTague May 14, 2020
With the Covid-19 pandemic democratic and authoritarian governments alike shut down economies and cracked down on public activities. To protect public health, large majorities in democracies acquiesce on surveillance and other controls that were once unthinkable. “Immunity certificates, mass testing, government surveillance, and a volunteer army of contract-tracing officials are no longer the...

US Colleges’ International Enrollment: Boston Globe

Deirdre Fernandes May 14, 2020
US colleges anticipate a steep drop in enrollment of international students due to the Covid-19 pandemic, travel uncertainty, global recession and job losses, anti-immigrant sentiment and visa policies. About 90 percent of US colleges and universities anticipate a decline in international students and a significant drop in revenues, reports a Institute of International Education survey. “Many...