In The News

World Stares at Trump: Washington Post

Dana Milbank October 21, 2019
Whether on denying climate change is a problem or pulling US troops from Syria while giving Kurdish allies five days to avoid Turkish forces, Donald Trump rationalizes policies that the rest of the world find incomprehensible. The US president seems alone against the world, suggests Dana Milbank for the Washington Post. Trump blames the intelligence community, the news media, academia and...

Plastic Waste to Bricks in the Philippines: Xinhua

October 21, 2019
Plastic sachets are the plastic bags used to package and redistribute bulk supplies of all types of food and other small items. The Philippines, an economy that participates in such repackaging, uses about 60 billion plastic sachets each year, suggests the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives. Engineers in the Philippines have developed a process that shreds and mixes such plastic waste...

Educate Afghan Youth to Ensure Peace: NYT

Roya Mahboob October 20, 2019
International aid for Afghanistan funds programs that strengthen democracy, while improving health and education systems. The young country, with a median population of 25 and a population of 35 million, struggles with poverty, extremism, political divisions and large numbers of children going uneducated. The World Bank estimated the per capita income at $560. “Human rights groups continue to...

Timeline of Ukraine Scandal: Kyiv Post

Oleksiy Sorokin. October 19, 2019
Government officials withholding military aid to Ukraine for a political favor is at the heart of an impeachment inquiry underway since September 24. A telephone call and testimony to three committees of the House of Representatives indicate that Donald Trump directed his private attorney and government staff to re-investigate and disqualify numerous US investigations that have found Russia was...

Support Withheld on New Brexit Deal: Guardian

Andrew Sparrow October 19, 2019
The battle over Brexit continues within the United Kingdom as members of parliament voted on an amendment that requires the prime minister to seek a delay on breaking with the European Union. The Letwin amendment “withholds approval of the prime minister’s deal until the legislation to enact it – the EU withdrawal bill – is passed,” reports Andrew Sparrow in live reporting for the Guardian.The...

US, Turkey Reach “Ceasefire” on Syria: Vox

Jen Kirby October 18, 2019
After the US withdrew troops from Kurdish-held areas in northern Syria, Turkey moved in to take control. Supporters and opponents of the US president lashed out with criticism for abandoning Kurdish allies who fought the Islamic State. A week later the US hastily organized a ceasefire that gives Turkey control over northern Syria. The Kurdish people have five days to leave their homes. The ethnic...

Sea of Troubles: The New Republic

Ben Ehrenreich October 17, 2019
Conflict, a changing climate, famine and poverty destroy communities throughout the Middle East and Africa, driving thousands of people of all ages to risk crossing the Mediterranean to reach Europe’s safety. Authorities have documented more than 18,000 deaths in the Mediterranean since the start of 2014. Worries about unchecked immigration have boosted far-right populism, and Europe’s leaders...