In The News

Johnson Suspends UK Parliament: Financial Times

Sebastian Payne and Philip Georgiadis August 28, 2019
The UK prime minister is determined to meet the October 31 deadline for Brexit, hard or soft, and suspended parliament for time than usual to stop efforts by a sizable opposition hoping to block the nation’s withdrawal from the European Union. Parliament was set to return on September 3 and suspension extends that until October 14. Boris Johnson suggests the suspension allows focus on other...

Gambling Dilemma: Rappler

Bob Herrera-Lim August 28, 2019
The global gambling industry is worth about $500 billion, with online gaming on the rise. China has asked the Philippines to shut down its online gambling sites that target mainland Chinese players. The Philippines president is expected to support the POGOs – operations that hire Chinese speakers and target the mainland. “[T]he rise of the POGOs is also a lesson for the Philippine government and...

Hong Kong Protests Turn Violent: Reuters

Twinnie Siu August 27, 2019
After 11 weeks, mostly peaceful protests in Hong Kong have turned into violent with petrol bombs, destruction of surveillance cameras and injuries. Police responded with water cannons, teargas, gunfire and more than 80 arrests. The protests began in June over an extradition bill allowing Hong Kong people to be sent to China for trial. “But the demonstrations have evolved over 12 straight weeks...

Global Outrage Over Amazon Fires: AP

August 27, 2019
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro is crudely defiant in exchanges with world leaders about the fires destroying the Amazon. Brazil lacks resources to bring the fires under control after the populist administration imposed shortsighted policies, rejecting environmental protections and encouraging burning rainforest to expand farmland. The Group of Seven nations pledged $20 million to assist...

Tensions at G-7: Wall Street Journal

Rebecca Ballhaus, Noemie Bisserbe and Max Colchester August 26, 2019
G7 leaders tried to present a cooperative image despite tensions over issues like trade, climate change and Iran. The United States under Donald Trump is isolated in this forum. “G-7 leaders tried to squeeze concessions from Mr. Trump on Iran and other issues over closed-door meals, beyond the reach of White House advisers and TV cameras,” reports the Wall Street Journal. “But Mr. Trump responded...

Bolsonaro’s Amazon Disaster: Climate News Network

Jan Rocha August 26, 2019
With the start of Brazil’s dry season, thousands of fires burn out of control, destroying large swaths of the Amazon rainforest. Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro campaigned for the presidency on a pro-development, anti-environment platform. Farmers in one town planned a “day of fire,” eager to expand their farms. Brazil’s INPE showed a massive increase in deforestation over the past year, though Bolsonaro...

South Asia and Trump: Times of India

Nayan Chanda August 25, 2019
Donald Trump, intent on winning reelection as US president and avoiding corruption investigations, is doubling down on “America first” policies and transactional foreign policies. “America’s foreign partners will now more than ever be evaluated on whether they help or hurt his election outlook,” explains Nayan Chanda in his column for the Times of India. Chanda is the founding editor of...