In The News

Al Jazeera: US Announces Syria Pullout

Andrew Wilks December 20, 2018
Syria’s civil war began in 2011 and soon attracted extremists and foreign powers including NATO members Turkey and the US as well as Russia and Iran who support the Assad regime in Syria. The US and Turkey have vehemently disagreed over the role of Syrian Democratic Forces, Kurdish fighters supported by the US and key to containing Islamic State terrorists. Turkey’s president regards the Kurdish...

DW: EU Reaches Agreement on Single-Use Plastic Ban

December 19, 2018
Plastic is made of oil and consists of large polymers that do not break down quickly, adding to waste management challenges. Most plastic waste ends up in the world’s oceans with microbeads and other forms of plastics finding their way into the food chain and seafood consumed by humans. China ended accepting imports of plastic waste for recycling this year, with global implications, forcing major...

Times of India: Orwellian Option

Nayan Chanda December 19, 2018
US-Sino trade tensions run high, especially since the arrest of a Huawei Technologies executive in Canada. Huawei reports it supplies equipment to 45 of the world’s 50 largest telecommunications companies, so the trade war could soon ensnare other nations like India. “Three of India’s top telephone carriers use Huawei equipment and the company has been invited to take part in the next generation...

NPR: Taliban Meets With US Officials

Colin Dwyer December 18, 2018
Afghan Taliban have met with US officials to discuss peace, but the group refuses to meet with representatives of the Afghan government. The focus of the meetings in the United Arab Emirates is to end the war underway since the 9/11 attacks and the 2001 US invasion that unseated the Taliban. The Afghan government has offered to recognize the Taliban as a political party and proposed ceasefires –...

Wall Street Journal: Malaysia Charges Goldman Sachs

Tom Wright December 18, 2018
The Malaysia Development Berhad, known as 1MDB, was set up by Malaysia’s former prime minister in 2009 to improve the country through strategic investing. Reports soon emerged of missing finance payments and funds diverted into personal accounts. “Goldman arranged $6.5 billion in bonds for 1MDB in 2012 and 2013, of which $2.7 billion was allegedly stolen,” reports Tom Wright for the Wall Street...

Asia Sentinel: Curbing Asia’s Corrupt Governments

December 17, 2018
Civil society organizations from nine ASEAN member states are trying to fast-tract the UN Convention Against Corruption: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Corruption wastes funding and weakens governments, and Transparency International reports that corruption is entrenched throughout Asia. Ending a culture of cheating and fraud...

Spiegel: Exit From Brexit?

Markus Becker December 14, 2018
Britain, facing a March deadline, struggles to reach agreement on ending its EU membership. Increasing awareness about membership benefits has triggered second thoughts, and some leaders urge a second referendum. Ending Brexit would not be helpful for Britain or the EU, argues Markus Becker for Spiegel Online. Another referendum would encourage ugly rhetoric, with Brexit supporters feeling...