In The News

Barry Eichengreen October 31, 2016
The International Monetary Fund contributes to stabilizing the monetary system, reducing imbalances and providing emergency assistance as needed. Yet many Asian nations resist borrowing from the IMF and a regional arrangement for Asia has yet to be activated, writes Barry Eichengreen for Caixin. He urges critics to be specific on needed reforms: “Do they require further changes in the composition...
Tom Perry and Laila Bassam October 31, 2016
A 29-month standoff ended after the Lebanese parliament elected former army commander Michel Aoun as president. He is a Maronite Christian with ties to Hezbollah. As part of the deal, Sunni leader Saad al-Hariri, will serve as prime minister – he is son of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri who was assassinated in 2005, a death blamed on Hezbollah and Syria. “Hariri's decision to endorse...
Alyssa Newcomb and Jo Ling Kent October 28, 2016
Hackers commandeered web cameras and possibly other devices to launch an attack on internet service management company Dyn. The company reports that it fended off multiple attacks in recent weeks. All types of gadgets for homes, cars and offices are linked to the internet to allow remote monitoring by users and updates from makers, and one security expert suggests that any device with an IP...
Peter Whoriskey October 28, 2016
Lithium batteries in smartphones and laptops include graphite. “The companies making those products promote the bright futuristic possibilities of the ‘clean’ technology,” reports Peter Whoriskey for the Washington Post. “But virtually all such batteries use graphite, and its cheap production in China, often under lax environmental controls, produces old-fashioned industrial pollution.” China...
Christiane Hoffmann, Peter Müller, Ralf Neukirch, Christoph Pauly, Christoph Reuter, Mathieu von Rohr and Christoph Schult October 27, 2016
Politically divided nations struggle to present a strong front on foreign policies. The United States supports sanctions against Russia for supporting Syria’s dictator, attacking civilians, delaying negotiations, as well as annexation of Crimea. Such sanctions are ineffective without solid European support. German Chancellor Angela Merkel governs with a coalition government, and German Foreign...
David Gilbert October 27, 2016
South Africa, Burundi and Gambia have announced intentions to pull out of the International Criminal Court. “South Africa has a long and difficult history with human rights and many fear that this move could be an enormous setback for the country,” reports David Gilbert. “Legal experts worry the move will leave South Africa without the necessary tools to prevent the most heinous crimes taking...
Nayan Chanda October 26, 2016
India has committed to reducing its carbon footprint from 2005 by at least 33 percent before 2030 through the Paris agreement to stem climate change. Innovations of emerging economies will contribute to combating climate change, and Nayan Chanda, founding editor of YaleGlobal Online, points to the battery-powered e-rickshaw in India: “the humble three-wheel vehicle that could help cities like...