In The News

Russia Charms First Africa Summit: Financial Times

Henry Foy October 29, 2019
About $12.5 billion worth of deals were struck during the first ever Russia-Africa Summit, though many are memorandums of understanding that may not result in actual investments, writes Henry Foy for the Financial Times. Russia will export nuclear power plants, fighter jets and missile defense systems to African countries, an attempt to regain influence on the continent. Many of agreements focus...

Ukraine Testimony: National Review

Jim Geraghty October 29, 2019
US congressional committees gather evidence against the US president, focusing on a July 25 telephone call with Ukraine’s president. Testimony reveals that multiple officials expressed concerns to their superiors about the call after Trump suspended military aid to the country under siege by Russia, with some officials urging Ukrainian counterparts to investigate a political opponent. “Bill...

Ethical Minefield of Microchipping: Spiegel

Kristina Läsker October 28, 2019
Thousands of people in Sweden, Germany, the UK and the US have agreed to implant microchips embedded in glass tubes the size of a rice grain in their bodies. For travel conglomerate TUI staff volunteers in Stockholm, the chip allows them to open doors and other electronic locks and activate printers. Employees assume risks. TUI is based in Germany, where such a workplace plan is described as a “...

Invading Vietnam’s Waters: Times of India

Nayan Chanda October 28, 2019
China’s expansive claims over the South China Sea and ongoing aggression push Vietnam to consider filing a suit with the Hague for violating the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The international court has already ruled that China’s claims are overly expansive, but the country has not complied. In July, Chinese survey ships entered Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone and disrupted oil drilling...

Brexit Is a Cultural Revolution: Atlantic

Yascha Mounk October 27, 2019
Boris Johnson’s Brexit withdrawal agreement, similar to one proposed by former Prime Minister Theresa May, won approval in the House of Commons. Members of parliament who feared Britain would lose influence with May’s plan have higher expectations for a similar plan proposed by Boris Johnson. “The next weeks still hold a lot of uncertainty; from new elections to a no-deal Brexit, all options...

Listen to the Young: Times of India

Nayan Chanda October 26, 2019
Young people are worried about the future of their societies and the planet as a whole and are becoming activists, convincing peers and adults to listen. Greta Thunberg of Sweden, 16, has rallied millions of students around the globe urging immediate action on climate change, and Joshua Wong, 22, seeks support on protecting democracy for Hong Kong. “Both Thunberg and Wong need the adults to act...

Fernández's Rise in Argentina: Bloomberg

Patrick Gillespie and Jorgelina do Rosario October 25, 2019
Alberto Fernández’s began planning to run as Argentina’s president early in 2018 when current President Mauricio Macri was still popular and the economy showed signs of recovery. He set out to unite splintered Peronists who favor workers over business owners and reconcile with former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner as his deputy. Fernández had resigned from her cabinet after she tried to...