In The News

Xinjiang Whistleblower: Washington Post

November 27, 2019
China has placed hundreds of thousands of Muslims in prison camps for reeducation. “China is eradicating the language, traditions and religion of Uighur, Kazakh and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang in China’s far northwest, corralling them into concentration camps and bombarding them with indoctrination by the Communist Party,” notes a Washington Post editorial. “The student guide was revealed by...

Global Pension Crisis: Financial Times

Josephine Cumbo and Robin Wigglesworth November 26, 2019
Since the financial crisis in 2008, many central banks have implemented easier monetary policies and other tools to stimulate economic growth. Due to those efforts, the interest rates have dropped in many countries, in turn reducing investment gains and swelling debt of pension funds. In some extreme cases, such as Sweden and Switzerland, the central bank policy rate falls below zero, or negative...

80 Percent of Teens Do Not Exercise Enough: WHO

November 26, 2019
Exercise is essential for good physical and mental health, both short and long term. But the World Health Organization reports that 81 percent of teenagers, aged 11 to 17, report not engaging in the recommended one hour of exercise, sports or other physical activity daily. “The health benefits of a physically active lifestyle during adolescence include improved cardiorespiratory and muscular...

Is Crisis of Capitalism a Crisis of Democracy? DW

Alexander Görlach November 26, 2019
Protests are breaking out worldwide: over corruption in Lebanon and Egypt, rising fuel prices and cuts in subsidies in Chile and Ecuador and France, sectarian power-sharing in Iraq and Lebanon, worries about housing prices and Chinese control in Hong Kong, separatist movement in Spain, and failure to enact climate-change regulations in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Austriaand New...

Restore Internet for Iran? Deutsche Welle

Fabian Schmidt November 25, 2019
Blocking most of the internet within Iran’s borders was the government's response to nationwide protests over a rise in fuel prices. The US ambassador to Germany suggests that the United States and European Union could restore internet access, and he called on tech and telecom companies to provide service. Limited communications could be available with the help of secret servers, explains...

Hong Kong Elections: South China Morning Post

Jeffie Lam, Sum Lok-kei and Ng Kang-chung November 25, 2019
More than 70 percent of Hong Kong’s registered voters turned out for district council elections, firmly rejecting unchecked control from China. “The tsunami of disaffection among voters was clear across the board, as pan-democrats rode the wave to win big in poor and rich neighbourhoods, in both protest-prone and non-protest-afflicted districts and, in downtown areas as well as the suburbs,”...

Africa and Sustainable Prosperity: Mail & Guardian

Joyce Msuya November 24, 2019
Sustainable economic growth in Africa requires a focus on environmental protection, maintaining clean water and fertile soil. “Six of the world’s fastest growing economies are African,” explains Joyce Msuya of the UN Environment Programme. “The continent is urbanising rapidly, and governments are working to provide the infrastructure, skills and policy to drive growth and development. But unless...