In The News

Japan Expands Entry Ban: Japan Times

March 31, 2020
Many nations try travel bans to contain COVID-19, and travelers in hotspots could find themselves stranded at any point. Japan is expanding a travel ban to foreign nations who have recently traveled to the United States, China, South Korea and Europe. All Japanese and foreign nationals who have traveled outside the banned areas are expected to self-quarantine for 14 days and monitor symptoms....

Time to Make a Face Mask: New York Times

Farhad Manjoo March 31, 2020
Advice on face masks has evolved throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. East Asians have long worn such masks, protecting against flu viruses since 1918 and then SARS in 2003. But US health experts suggested the masks were unnecessary. “The world is running out of face masks for health care workers, which is one reason American officials, including the surgeon general, have warned members of the...

EU and COVID-19 Economic Crisis: Financial Times

Ben Hall, Martin Arnold and Sam Fleming March 30, 2020
The European Central Bank plans to expand asset purchases by €750 billion over the next nine months, aimed at preventing a profound depression. Such a plan boosted the bond market in Europe, leading to decreased finance costs of EU member governments. Even though the ECB’s monetary interventions can partly alleviate the downward pressure on the economy, deeply divided national leaders focus on...

Post-Pandemic World: Al Jazeera

Fahd Humayun March 30, 2020
Responses to crisis that resist fear, focusing on analysis and repair, will minimize damage. The liberal international order that emerged after World War II was “ gradually eroded by the combined forces of globalisation, poverty and the unresponsiveness of mainstream political parties to local discontent,” explains Fahd Humayun for Al Jazeera. Recent erosion of that order led to inequality,...

Global Financial System and the Abyss: Bloomberg

Molly Smith, Alex Harris and Matthew Boesler March 29, 2020
The United States, with more confirmed COVID-19 cases than other country in the world and a patchwork approach to testing and emergency closures, has not set a good example in slowing the disease's spread. On the other hand, the US Federal Reserve has led in preventing a global economic depression by applying massive, far-reaching and historic actions to ensure liquidity and stabilization....

Militant Threats in Africa: Wall Street Journal

Michael M. Phillips March 28, 2020
Africa is confronting increasing militant threats from extremists, including Al Qaeda, the Islamic State and Boko Haram. However, the United States has reduced its military presence in Africa by cutting 17 percent of personnel over the past two years – actions aligned with an adjustment of its worldwide troop commitment and the Trump administration’s strategy of reducing dispersed actions against...

The Flu, COVID-19 and the Economy

March 27, 2020
The United States leads the world in confirmed cases of COVID-19, passing even China, with almost four times the population and where the disease emerged in November. Some government and business leaders resist advice from public health experts on lockdowns and slowed economic activity. There is an argument that a pause on food supplies, utilities and other essential services poses a health...