The sunlight effect: More equitable spending on its way regardless of rulemaking (Marguerite Roza, Brookings)

Last week I listened in on the Department of Education’s contentious negotiated rulemaking session. The topic of debate was the “supplement-not-supplant” provision of the Title I program—a bedrock of the newly reauthorized Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) designed to help low-income students by funneling aid to school districts based on student demographics. At issue is whether federal regulations should require recipient districts to divvy up their funds so that their high-poverty schools get as many dollars per student as their schools with more affluent students.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/brown-center-chalkboard/posts/2016/04/27-sunlight-effect-equitable-spending-education-roza

Regional alignment, not competition: How Greater Milwaukee is remaking economic development (Amy Liu, Brookings)

Nearly every city and its surrounding counties compete on business location, motivated to maximize their individual tax bases. I have written, along with countless others, about how this prisoner’s dilemma for jurisdictions often results in little, if any, creation of new jobs or income in metro areas.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/the-avenue/posts/2016/04/27-milwaukee-economic-development-liu

Whatever some candidates tell you, the incomes of most Americans have been rising (Robert Shapiro, Brookings)

After a decade when most Americans saw their incomes decline, the latest Census Bureau income data contain very good news: A majority of U.S. households racked up healthy income gains in 2013 and 2014. The facts may not fit the narratives of Donald Trump, Ted Cruz, or Bernie Sanders, but they do help explain why President Obama’s job approval and favorability ratings have finally passed the 50 percent mark. They also show that Hispanic households made more income progress in 2013 and 2014 than any other group, which may be one reason for their growing support for Democrats. A third surprise: households headed by Americans without high school diplomas racked up their first meaningful income gains since the 1990s, thanks to the large job gains in 2013 and 2014 and the Obamacare cash subsidies beginning in those years.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/fixgov/posts/2016/04/27-americans-income-rising-shapiro

The geography, incidence, and underreporting of gun violence: New evidence using ShotSpotter data (Jillian B. Carr, Jennifer L. Doleac, Brookings)

Criminal activity is often selectively underreported – that is, underreported in a non-random manner. This can make it difficult to understand public safety problems and devise effective policy strategies to address them.

http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2016/04/27-the-geography-incidence-and-underreporting-of-gun-violence-doleac

Gun violence in major U.S. cities is massively underreported (Jennifer L. Doleac, Brookings)

Reducing gun violence is a top policy priority in the United States. However, it is hard to address the problem until we better understand the actual incidence of gun violence, which is difficult using existing data sources. If data aren’t telling the full story, it makes doing research and creating good public policy difficult – and can even lead us in the wrong direction.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/up-front/posts/2016/04/27-gun-violence-has-been-massively-underreported-until-now-doleac

The best of both worlds? (Kanchana Sthanumurthy, Gateway House)

India’s position on Israel and Palestine does not emerge out of a vacuum. Ever since the State of Israel was proposed, India has had many geopolitical and moral considerations to take into account before determining its stance.

http://www.gatewayhouse.in/the-best-of-both-worlds/

Russia: What to Expect From Putin (CFR)

Experts discuss Russia’s involvement in Ukraine and Syria, its relations with Europe and the United States, and what to expect from President Putin next.

http://www.cfr.org/russian-federation/russia-expect-putin/p37800

How to revive the stalled reconstruction of Gaza (Fraus Masri, Brookings)

Two years after Hamas and Israel agreed to a cessation of hostilities, reconstruction in Gaza has been painfully slow. This was the focus of a panel discussion at the Brookings Doha Center on April 19. As Senior Fellow and Director of Research Sultan Barakat explained, rebuilding has stalled in part because the distribution of aid money pledged by donor countries during the October 2014 Cairo Conference has slowed; according to the World Bank, donor countries had dispersed only 40 percent of the pledged money as of the end of March. At this rate, the pledged funds will not be dispersed until 2019, two years after the target date.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/markaz/posts/2016/04/27-gaza-reconstruction-masri

Disability insurance: The Way Forward (Henry J. Aaron, Brookings)

http://www.brookings.edu/research/speeches/2016/04/27-disability-insurance-the-way-forward-aaron

Australia’s French Submarine Decision: A Long-standing Security Relationship (Sam Bateman, RSIS)

Australia has chosen the French option for its new submarine acquisition project. While offering a range of strategic, political and technical advantages over the German and Japanese options, it confirms a long-standing security relationship between Australia and France.

http://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/idss/co16096/#.VyDRxtSLTIU

Nepal Earthquake One Year On: Building a More Effective Relief Effort (Maxim Shrestha, RSIS)

One year since the devastating Nepal earthquakes, the international relief effort holds lessons for future emergency response. While reconstruction efforts remain stifled, the immediate international relief operations experience offer some insights on how to deliver humanitarian assistance to mega disasters more effectively.

http://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/nts/co16095-nepal-earthquake-one-year-on-building-a-more-effective-relief-effort/#.VyDO9NSLTIU

Combatting Climate Change: Involving Indigenous Communities (Serina Rahman, RSIS)

Climate change combat is often in the hands of policy-makers, researchers and governments. However it is the marginalised and indigenous communities that feel the full force of climate change effects. To be effective the campaign needs to include the wisdom and traditional practices of these communities to better protect those who need it the most.

http://www.rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/nts/co16094-combatting-climate-change-involving-indigenous-communities/#.VyDN89SLTIU

Abe’s Plan for Japan Defense Exports Fizzles with Sub Loss (RSIS)

http://www.rsis.edu.sg/media-highlight/idss/abes-plan-for-japan-defense-exports-fizzles-with-sub-loss/#.VyDM7dSLTIU

China Criticised for Apparent Attempt to Divide ASEAN (RSIS)

http://www.rsis.edu.sg/media-highlight/rsis/china-criticised-for-apparent-attempt-to-divide-asean/#.VyDMEdSLTIU

Saudi Arabia Plans USD2 Trillion Sovereign Wealth Fund (RSIS)

http://www.rsis.edu.sg/media-highlight/rsis/saudi-arabia-plans-usd2-trillion-sovereign-wealth-fund/#.VyDLadSLTIU

Are global value chains the kickstart that AEC needs? (Daniel Wu, East Asia Forum)

ASEAN is on the lookout for ways to accelerate trade facilitation and eliminate trade barriers by 2025 under its new 10-year ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) roadmap. Extensive research has demonstrated the vital role of global value chains (GVCs) in enhancing economic integration and liberalising trade.

http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2016/04/27/are-global-value-chains-the-kickstart-that-aec-needs/

Indian Ocean Region Strategic Net Assessment: The South Asia Subregion (Anthony H. Cordesman, CSIS)

The South Asia subregion presents a moderate overall risk within the strategic context of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Two key issues take precedent: 1) the standing risk of armed conflict between the nuclear-armed forces of India and Pakistan, and 2) India’s potential to emerge as a dominant regional sea-air power, as well as a rival of China’s in both military and economic terms, in light of Chinese military and economic expansion into the region.

http://csis.org/publication/indian-ocean-region-strategic-net-assessment-south-asia-subregion

Transitioning from Gavi Support in Lower-Middle-Income Countries (Katherine Bliss, Katherine Peck, CSIS)

Since 2000, the U.S. government has been a strong partner of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, providing more than US$730 million through the end of September 2015 to support the introduction of new and underutilized vaccines in the world’s poorest countries. Lower-income countries receiving Gavi assistance have long been required to cofinance a portion of each vaccine dose procured with Gavi funds, with the expectation that as the countries reach lower-middle-income country status (LMIC), they will eventually transition away from Gavi support. To date, at least 24 of the original 73 Gavi-eligible countries have started to transition, with 16 expected to complete the process by the end of 2018.

The long history of U.S. support for global maternal and child health programs, its emphasis on assisting countries in strengthening their immunization programs, and considerable U.S. investments in Gavi over the past 15 years all underscore why the United States has an interest in ensuring LMIC transitions from Gavi support proceed smoothly and sustainably. Yet in many LMICs, the United States is scaling back its bilateral engagement on health. Examining the factors shaping the way countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are experiencing the Gavi transition process provides a helpful lens through which to examine options for U.S. engagement to support the sustainability of immunization programs in LMICs.

http://csis.org/publication/transitioning-gavi-support-lower-middle-income-countries

At Senate budget hearing, a sharp take on the stalled progress (David Wessel, Brookings)

Senate Budget Committee hearings on fixing the budget process are not noteworthy for their drama or tension. Wednesday’s hearing, however, may be an exception.

http://www.brookings.edu/research/opinions/2016/04/27-at-senate-budget-hearing-a-sharp-take-on-stalled-progress-wessel

How Long Riyadh Is Going to Continue Escalating Tension with Tehran? (Hassan Ahmadian, Iran Review)

Saudi Arabia has managed to include priorities of its regional policies in the final statements of the latest meetings of the (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council [(P)GCC], the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. This is by itself a diplomatic win. However, in a period of transition and confrontation, diplomacy is just a small portion of the big picture. In fact, Saudis, by giving priority to escalating tension with Iran, have set aside regional diplomacy as an option. Riyadh has even used multilateral diplomacy within the aforesaid institutions in line with its own policy to foment tension with Tehran. The “Salman Doctrine” is the name given to this development by Saudi strategists. The question, however, is what are the characteristics of this new approach and what will be its benefits and costs for Saudi Arabia, in particular, and for the entire Middle East region, in general?

http://www.iranreview.org/content/Documents/How-Long-Riyadh-Is-Going-to-Continue-Escalating-Tension-with-Tehran-.htm

Multilateral Goals of the Latest GCC Meeting (Sajad Mohseni, Iran Review)

The (Persian) Gulf Cooperation Council [(P)GCC], as one of the most important tools available to its member states, has been trying to boost its influence and effectiveness during recent years. As a result, one of the most important goals pursued in the latest summit meeting of the (P)GCC in Riyadh was to boost coordination among regional policies of member states, while inviting non-member states to the meeting. In line with this policy, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman called on all member states of the council in his opening keynote speech to develop their relations with the United States. Holding of the (P)GCC meeting on Thursday, April 21, 2016, and inviting the US President Barack Obama to take part in the meeting, proves its special importance at this juncture of time for the member states of the (P)GCC and it seems that both sides, that is, the United States and the (P)GCC members, especially Saudi Arabia, believed that the way is paved for taking bilateral political advantage of this meeting. The title of the conference, which incorporated both the Persian Gulf states and the United States, was, per se, a sign of its members’ willingness to enter the United States into all regional developments in a comprehensive manner and take advantage of it to boost their own military and political power.

http://www.iranreview.org/content/Documents/Multilateral-Goals-of-the-Latest-GCC-Meeting.htm

Iran’s Foreign Minister Interview with the New Yorker (Iran Review)

Three months after Iran dismantled large parts of its nuclear program, in compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action—the international nuclear deal—the country’s Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, declared last week in New York that the United States is falling seriously short of its commitments. Iran’s Central Bank chief, Valiollah Seif, delivered a similar message during his first meeting with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, on April 14th, and he told the Council on Foreign Relations, “Nothing has happened.”

Secretary of State John Kerry addressed some of these concerns on Friday. Standing next to Zarif, during their second meeting in four days, Kerry said that the nuclear deal opened “opportunities for foreign banks to do business with Iran,” and that Washington would not stand in their way. The Obama Administration also announced that it was buying thirty-two metric tons of heavy water from Iran, for almost nine million dollars. Iran had already exported the matériel as part of the nuclear agreement, but it had been stuck on ships off Oman. It will be stored at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and later resold for industrial and research use, the State Department said.

In an interview last week, Zarif discussed various sticking points in relations between Washington and Tehran. The interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

http://www.iranreview.org/content/Documents/Iran-s-Foreign-Minister-Interview-with-the-New-Yorker.htm

Yemen. Operazione anti-Al Qaeda, manovre e negoziati (Eleonora Ardemagni, AffarInternazionali)

Il conflitto in Yemen attraversa un tornante decisivo. Insorti huthi e Arabia Saudita avviano contatti informali, corroborando la ripresa dei negoziati intra-yemeniti dell’Onu in Kuwait: sul campo, nessuna fazione riesce a prevalere militarmente.

http://www.affarinternazionali.it/articolo.asp?ID=3429

Iran, hostess velate e memorie coloniali (Anna Vanzan, AffarInternazionali)

Il riavvio delle relazioni diplomatiche e, soprattutto, economiche, tra i Paesi occidentali e la Repubblica islamica d’Iran ha comportato la riapertura da parte di molte compagnie delle rotte aeree verso Teheran e altre città iraniane.

http://www.affarinternazionali.it/articolo.asp?ID=3428

Putin crea Guardia Nazionale, si rafforza (Giovanna De Maio, AffarInternazionali)

La Guardia nazionale è un corpo speciale di polizia che risponde direttamente al presidente. Come ogni zar che si rispetti, anche il presidente russo Vladimir Putin ha creato la sua druzhina (squadra) sollevando critiche ma soprattutto sospetti.

http://www.affarinternazionali.it/articolo.asp?ID=3427

Di origine balcanica reclutatori jihadisti italiani (Mario Arpino, AffarInternazionali)

Non è la prima volta che, forse perché nato e vissuto in tempi difficili sul confine nordorientale e perché ho dovuto il più occasioni interessarmi di ciò che succede oltre Adriatico, cerco di fermare su quest’area l’attenzione dei lettori.

http://www.affarinternazionali.it/articolo.asp?ID=3426

What US elections should look like in a real democracy (Susan Abulhawa, Al Jazeera)

The United States presidential primaries are unfolding an impossibly grim choice for citizens voting in the November general elections. On one hand is Donald Trump, an egomaniac racist with an insatiable appetite for power, a fifth-grade vocabulary, and little or no experience in political or intellectual life.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/04/elections-real-democracy-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-160427061656358.html

Israeli Arabs more optimistic about two-state solution than Arabs living in the Palestinian territories (Angelina E. Theodorou, Jacob Poushter, Pew Research Center)

The idea that an independent Palestinian state can peacefully coexist with Israel has been the cornerstone of many Arab-Israeli peace initiatives in recent years. But while significant shares of Israeli Arabs and Jews are optimistic about the prospect of a two-state solution, the Arabs currently in the Palestinian territories are less so.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/27/israeli-arabs-more-optimistic-about-two-state-solution-than-arabs-living-in-the-palestinian-territories/

A closer look at Jehovah’s Witnesses living in the U.S. (Michael Lipka, Pew Research Center)

The death of superstar musician Prince has prompted many reflections on his life – including his religious faith. Prince, who was raised as a Seventh-day Adventist, became a Jehovah’s Witness as an adult and attended services in his home state of Minnesota.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/26/a-closer-look-at-jehovahs-witnesses-living-in-the-u-s/

Millennials overtake Baby Boomers as America’s largest generation (Richard Fry, Pew Research Center)

Millennials have surpassed Baby Boomers as the nation’s largest living generation, according to population estimates released this month by the U.S. Census Bureau. Millennials, whom we define as those ages 18-34 in 2015, now number 75.4 million, surpassing the 74.9 million Baby Boomers (ages 51-69). And Generation X (ages 35-50 in 2015) is projected to pass the Boomers in population by 2028.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/04/25/millennials-overtake-baby-boomers/

A Wider Ideological Gap Between More and Less Educated Adults (Pew Research Center)

Two years ago, Pew Research Center found that Republicans and Democrats were more divided along ideological lines than at any point in the previous two decades. But growing ideological distance is not confined to partisanship. There are also growing ideological divisions along educational and generational lines.

http://www.people-press.org/2016/04/26/a-wider-ideological-gap-between-more-and-less-educated-adults/

Nuclear proliferation: IAEA convention can minimise threat (Beenish Altaf, South Asia Monitor)

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog, said that more than 100 countries will have to meet higher standards on the protection of nuclear facilities and materials from now onwards. For doing so, of course one has to bind themselves with certain sets of obligations that can assume the shape of treaties and international bindings which are either legally enforceable or are self-imposed. For that matter, along with many others, the most recent and blazing one of these strictures is the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) that yet has to enter into force absolutely.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16550

The Chinese factor in Indo-Pak relations (Harsha Kakar, South Asia Monitor)

The last fortnight saw India-China engagements at fairly high levels. The foreign minister interacted with her Chinese counterpart on the sidelines of the Russia-India-China summit. The defence minister was in China for five days and interacted at various levels with both the military and civilian hierarchy. The NSA interacted with his counterpart in Beijing as part of the nineteenth round of the Special Representative talks. A common agenda point in all three meetings was the issue of the Chinese veto on the UN attempt to ban the JeM leader as an international terrorist. The action by China was seen as a rebuke to the growing Indo-Chinese relationship. India was compelled to retaliate by granting a visa to the World Uyghur Congress leader who China dubs a terrorist.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16600

A pessimistic outlook - India's export conundrum (S.L. Rao, South Asia Monitor)

Almost 60 years ago, Manmohan Singh's thesis in Oxford was on India's export pessimism. The Indian mindset has not changed. Before the British took over India's governance, India was with China a major economy in the world, and a powerful export-oriented one. British colonial rule systematically destroyed India's export capability in order to give a free rein to British manufacturers.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=eco&nid=16606

This reform must begin within (Syeda S. Hameed, South Asia Monitor)

Once again the issue of triple talaq and polygamy has surfaced with Shayara Bano, a 35-year-old woman from Uttarakhand, recently filing a public interest litigation (PIL) before the Supreme Court. Women’s groups, Muslim and non-Muslim, are meeting to discuss the strategy to support the Supreme Court’s intervention in getting Muslim women their rights under the Constitution. Other Muslim organisations, ulemas and maulanas through their legal counsels have argued that the court’s intervention would be tantamount to violation of their constitutional rights. They state that Islamic law is divine and should not be interfered with. Battle lines have thus been drawn. Underpinning this is the force of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, which has a declared agenda of bringing in the uniform civil code as one of its major election promises.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=cult&nid=16597

A drought of action (Jean Dreze, South Asia Monitor)

Droughts in India used to be times of frantic relief activity. Large-scale public works were organised, often employing more than 1,00,000 workers in a single district. Food distribution was arranged for destitute persons who were unable to work. Arrangements were also made for debt relief, cattle camps, water supply and more. The drought relief system was best developed in the western States of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan, but the basic framework was much the same elsewhere even if its implementation often fell short.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=development&nid=16598

Afghanistan's barred Vice President (South Asia Monitor)

Afghan Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum has had to cancel his upcoming trip to the U.S. because the State Department threatened to refuse him a visa.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16601

Pakistan. Sharif's summer of discontent (South Asia Monitor)

It is quite evident that Nawaz Sharif is not willing to give in to the opposition pressure. He has already addressed the nation twice since the Panama Papers leak. To many, it is reminiscent of his embattled days in the twilight of his first term in office in 1993. The parallel may not be fully relevant here, but what is common is the desperate situation in which the prime minister has landed himself.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16602

Not cricket in Nepal (South Asia Monitor)

The International Cricket Council (ICC), headquartered in Dubai, suspended on Monday the membership of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) criticizing the government interference in Nepali cricket. In its decision, the ICC board meeting said that the decision to suspend CAN will remain effective “until such time as CAN becomes free from government interference and is properly structured to begin exploiting the tremendous cricket talent and opportunities that exist in Nepal”. In its media release, the ICC has said that the ongoing court case involving CAN and the ad hoc committee established by the National Sports Council (NSC), has led to a vacuum in cricket leadership in Nepal. The board suspended the membership of CAN for breach of Article 2.9 of the ICC’s Articles of Association, which prohibits government interference and requires free and fair elections. The world governing cricket body has also suspended financial assistance to CAN until the leadership row is settled legally. CAN was receiving millions of dollars annually for the promotion of cricket in Nepal. With the suspension of such a huge amount of money Nepal’s cricket is likely to suffer.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16603

Law and disorder in Bangladesh (South Asia Monitor)

Two days after Rezaul Karim Siddique, a professor, was hacked to death in Bangladesh and within weeks of social activist Nazimuddin Samad being murdered, machete-wielding attackers have claimed two more lives: Xulhaz Mannan, a leading gay rights activist and editor of the country’s first LGBT magazine, Roopbaan, and his colleague Tanay Mojumdar. They join a lengthening list of so-called secular and atheist bloggers and activists killed brutally. The Bangladesh government insists that the Islamic State (IS) doesn’t exist in the country, even though the IS has claimed responsibility for some of the killings.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16599

Sri Lankan government pledges to create safe environment for women and girls (South Asia Monitor)

The Sri Lankan government plans to activate a stable legal mechanism towards the creation of a safe environment, free from violence for women and girls in Sri Lanka and the government will name a special ministerial subcommittee to ensure the efficient working of such a legal framework, the Prime Minister's office said in a statement Monday.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16604

Modi’s diplomatic flip-flops (By K C Singh, South Asia Monitor)

Mr Isa would take the affront to China too far.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16605

3 ways the Internet of Things could help fight climate change (Alessandro Panerai, WEF)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is booming: the number of connected devices is expected to exceed the 60 billion threshold in 2016 and the IoT market is projected to generate $14.4 trillion in increased revenues and lower costs by 2022.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/3-ways-the-iot-could-help-fight-climate-change

How to de-clutter your career (Paolo Gallo, WEF)

Devotion to a cause is the cornerstone of a successful career. But if we’re going to keep that commitment burning, we need to have the conviction that with enough willpower, we can get better at what we do, and overcome the inevitable setbacks.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/how-to-de-clutter-your-career

How data can help improve the state of the world (Daniel Gomez Gaviria, Margareta Drzeniek Hanouz, WEF)

In a recent article, Harvard University's Ricardo Hausmann raised some interesting points about the value of benchmarking exercises and how best to use them. We would like to explore some of the points raised in the piece and argue that, despite the limitations and challenges, both in terms of new data and new theories, benchmarking, and in particular competitiveness and inclusive growth benchmarking, are important tools to contribute to improving the state of the world.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/how-data-can-help-improve-the-state-of-the-world

15 must-read gender stories of the week (Saadia Zahidi, WEF)

A weekly digest of stories about how the gender gap plays out around the world – in business, health, education and politics.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/15-must-read-gender-stories-of-the-week-Apr27

The problem with measuring a 2016 economy using 1940s methods (Diane Coyle, WEF)

Britain’s tallest mountain is Ben Nevis in Scotland. Recently, it became one metre taller, standing now at 1 345m rather than 1 344m above sea level. Of course, the mountain did not actually grow. Rather, the team of Ordnance Survey experts who re-measured it for the first time since 1949 were able to do so more accurately because of improvements in technology, and specifically through the use of GPS.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/the-problem-with-measuring-a-2016-economy-using-1940s-methods

Too poor for a patent? A new scheme gives inventors a helping hand (Corey Salsberg, WEF)

On World Health Day, we celebrate health. On Earth Day, we celebrate the Earth. And on International Talk Like A Pirate Day, we celebrate – well, you get the picture.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/too-poor-for-a-patent-a-new-scheme-gives-inventors-a-helping-hand

4 trends that will define the future of US foreign policy (Stéphanie Thomson, WEF)

“When America sneezes, the world catches a cold.” The expression might be a bit of a cliché, but it’s still accurate: what happens in the US affects other countries. Which is why whether you live in London or Luanda, US foreign policy matters.

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/04/4-trends-that-will-define-the-future-of-us-foreign-policy

The Kingdom and the Power (Christopher R. Hill, Project-Syndicate)

US President Barack Obama supposedly “cleared the air” with Saudi King Salman before the latest meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital. Given how strained the bilateral relationship is – a situation long in the making – that was probably the best outcome that could reasonably be expected. But it is not enough.

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/us-saudi-arabia-strained-relationship-by-christopher-r-hill-2016-04

Managing Debt in an Overleveraged World (Michael Spence, Project-Syndicate)

What ever happened to deleveraging? In the years since the 2008 global financial crisis, austerity and balance-sheet repair have been the watchwords of the global economy. And yet today, more than ever, debt is fueling concern about growth prospects worldwide.

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/debt-management-overleveraged-global-economy-by-michael-spence-2016-04

Saudi Vision 2030: Propaganda or truth? (Abdulrahman al-Rashed, Al Arabiya)

Some of those commenting on the extensive media coverage of Saudi Vision 2030, and of the promises and activities pertaining to it, describe it as the biggest promotional propaganda in the region’s history.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/04/27/Saudi-Vision-2030-Propaganda-or-truth-.html

Obama roars in the Brexit den (Yossi Mekelberg, Al Arabiya)

Referendum fever is engulfing the British political system. In less than two months British citizens will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to answer a simple question: Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/04/27/Obama-roars-in-the-Brexit-den.html

On Arab press freedom, Tunisia shows the way (Diana Moukalled, Al Arabiya)

Those following the situation of the Arab press cannot but lament it. Those able to practice real journalism can now be described as courageous.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/04/27/On-Arab-press-freedom-Tunisia-shows-the-way-.html

The Egyptian state and its youth: Who is afraid of whom? (Mohammed Nosseir, Al Arabiya)

Power certainly strengthens entities and, consequently, people. Illegitimate strength, however, is not sustainable. This is what Egyptians should have learnt in the course of their genuine attempt to revolt against the autocratic regime on January 25, 2011. Once they had come together, the accumulation of tiny, weak cells (individual citizens) was able to break the power of the state, built over decades.

https://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/04/27/The-Egyptian-state-and-its-youth-Who-is-afraid-of-whom-.html

When schools and students become spoils of war (Mausi Segun, Zama Coursen-Neff, Al Jazeera)

Two years have passed since Boko Haram abducted 276 schoolgirls in Chibok, Nigeria, and 219 of the girls remain missing. The anniversary, and that of the kidnapping of another 300 schoolchildren from another town, marks a grim roll call for education in the country's northeast: more than 910 schools destroyed, 1,500 forced to close, at least 611 teachers deliberately killed, 19,000 forced to flee. Close to a million school-age children have fled the violence and now have little or no access to schooling.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/04/schools-students-spoils-war-160425123045539.html

Yemenis have not lost hope (Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, Al Jazeera)

I was heading to the Yemeni peace talks in Kuwait last week when I received a message from a young lady that read: "Please don't come back without peace."

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/04/yemenis-lost-hope-160426072602639.html

The search for common ground in Yemen (Sultan Barakat, Al Jazeera)

After a year of the Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen, parties to the conflict have been meeting in Kuwait this week, in the latest effort to resolve the conflict. Despite sporadic violations, a fragile truce brokered by United Nations envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed that went into effect on April 10 seems to be holding.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/04/search-common-ground-yemen-160418053332967.html

The New Saudi Arabia (Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, Arab News)

Saudi Arabia is on a new trajectory of growth. The new vision outlines the future of the country. This week, the Kingdom revealed its post-oil plans and introduced a clear road map for its future. That road map prepares for change in a new Saudi Arabia in line with modern times. It has the potential for not only economic achievements but also political, social and military ones.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/916051

Saudi Arabia’s future vision (Ala Alghamdi, Arab News)

In today’s globalized world, we cannot rely on the political concepts of the past. It is necessary to mold national policies according to the changing geopolitical scenario. We should remember that it is not necessary that policies that might have worked in the past will continue to remain effective in future as well. Challenges have to be met looking forward, not backward.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/915991

Undermining Syrian opposition (Osama Al Sharif, Arab News)

It is not surprising that the Geneva peace talks on Syria are on the brink of collapse following the opposition’s suspension of its participation and the regime’s refusal to discuss a transitional ruling authority with full powers.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/915986

Where there’s a Will (Mahir Ali, Arab News)

If all the world’s a stage, it could coherently be argued that William Shakespeare’s stature at its center owes a great deal to the cultural imperialism inculcated by the British empire.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/915981

On the playing fields of Eton (Neil Berry, Arab News)

The outgoing mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is incensed that US President Barack Obama has advised British people to vote to “remain” in the referendum on UK membership of the European Union on June 23.

http://www.arabnews.com/columns/news/915976

The weak leg of the tripod: the Japan–South Korea relationship (Ashleigh Sharp, ASPI The Strategist)

Intra-Asian defence diplomacy is surging. After laying dormant for decades—thanks to the San Francisco hub-and-spokes system of alliances and regional multilateral dialogueswhich seldom advance actual security cooperation—defence exchanges and strategic relationships are enjoying a new lease of life among Asia–Pacific nations. Indeed, the region has more defence engagement today than at any other time in its history.

http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-weak-leg-of-the-tripod-the-japan-south-korea-relationship/

Cyber wrap (Zoe Hawkins, ASPI The Strategist)

The major cyber story of the week is the long-awaited release of Australia’s Cyber Security Strategy, the first document of its kind since 2009. The Strategy outlines $230 million of funding for enhanced cyber security efforts over four years, with a focus on five key themes. Specifically, significant investment will be funnelled into improving the cyber capabilities of the AFP, Crime Commission, Australian Signals Directorate and Australia’s Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT Australia).

http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/cyber-wrap-117/

A ‘Trumpian’ world? Australia’s defence, regional security and nuclear proliferation (Malcolm Davis, ASPI The Strategist)

In analysis of US Grand Strategy under a future President Trump, Rod Lyon warns about a reversal of the US rebalance to Asia, noting ‘turbulent waters lie ahead’, and echoing concerns aired by Kim Beazley and Peter Jennings.

http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/a-trumpian-world-australias-defence-regional-security-and-nuclear-proliferation/

How contraception can boost social mobility (Adam Thomas, Quentin Karpilow, Brookings)

Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended. This is a problem. Women who have unintended pregnancies are at greater risk of suffering from mental health problems and physical abuse. Children whose births were unintended are more likely to experience adverse developmental and behavioral outcomes. Almost all abortions are also the result of unintended pregnancies.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/social-mobility-memos/posts/2016/04/26-how-contraception-can-boost-social-mobility-thomas-karpilow

Coal economy workers need help—and a carbon tax could provide it (Adele Morris, Brookings)

Both as a result of market forces—especially low natural gas prices—and because of our search for clean energy sources, America’s coal workers and their communities are hurting. Coal consumption is declining, both at home and abroad, creating ripple effects across coal-reliant economies that begin with job losses and spill over to cause a host of economic and fiscal problems.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/planetpolicy/posts/2016/04/26-coal-economy-workers-need-help-and-a-carbon-tax-could-provide-it-morris

Hamster in a wheel: Will the U.N. special session on drugs actually change anything? (Arturo Sarukhan, Brookings)

At a first glimpse, recent events would suggest that there is a coming armistice in the ill-advisedly named "war on drugs." In the United States, more than half of Americans polled support the legalization of cannabis; four states and the District of Columbia have already done so, and 24 others authorize the use of medicinal marijuana. Several European countries have also experimented with decriminalization, regulation, or legalization of illicit drugs. And in Latin America, one of the main battlefronts of drug prohibition, winds of change are blowing. Marijuana has been legalized in Uruguay, and countries like Colombia and Mexico are engaged in widespread and meaningful debates on how to address their drug-related challenges.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/order-from-chaos/posts/2016/04/26-un-special-session-on-drugs-sarukhan

No, value-added taxes are not bad for small business (William G. Gale, Brookings)

Value-added taxes (VATs) have been attracting growing attention in the United States. GOP presidential hopeful Ted Cruz has proposed a VAT as part of a sweeping tax reform plan. The idea has also been backed by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), and others.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/up-front/posts/2016/04/26-value-added-taxes-are-not-bad-for-small-business-gale

Is there a path to peace in Yemen? (Sultan Barakat, Brookings)

After a year of the Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen, parties to the conflict have been meeting in Kuwait this week, in the latest effort to resolve the conflict. Despite sporadic violations, a fragile truce brokered by United Nations envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed that went into effect on April 10 seems to be holding.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/markaz/posts/2016/04/26-conflict-resolution-yemen-barakat

China’s pains over Zimbabwe’s indigenization plan (Yun Sun, Brookings)

Zimbabwe clamped down with the enforcement of its controversial indigenization law—requiring foreign companies with assets of more than $500,000 to transfer or sell a 51 percent stake to indigenous Zimbabweans this month. The deadline of April 1 had been set earlier in March in accordance with the controversial 2008 indigenization law requiring foreign companies to submit plans for such indigenization or face the risk of closure. Zimbabwe is serious: According to the minister of youth and indigenization and economic empowerment, Patrick Zhuwao, the government is determined to implement the policy because it was elected in 2013 through “promised indigenization and empowerment.” As Zimbabwe’s largest source of foreign investment, Chinese investors are inevitably impacted. While China has generally tried to dispel the image of the indigenization being targeted at China, it has clearly voiced its displeasure, especially in the case of the diamond mining industry. Furthermore, dissatisfaction is rampant among many in China, who question the solidity and future of the special friendship between the two countries.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/africa-in-focus/posts/2016/04/26-china-pains-over-zimbabwe-indigenization-plan-sun

What to look for in Trump’s foreign policy speech (Thomas Wright, Brookings)

Donald Trump will deliver a major foreign policy address at the National Press Club on Wednesday at an event sponsored by Center for the National Interest. This is a crucially important speech for Trump so let’s look closely at why he is giving it, why he will say what he will say, and how to interpret it.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/order-from-chaos/posts/2016/04/26-trump-foreign-policy-speech-wright

Encryption debate proves technology is not magic (Jack Karsten, Darrell M. West, Brookings)

For centuries, science fiction writers have thrilled audiences with their visions of the future. Now technology companies deliver their own vision through new products and services. Technology is often promoted as a sudden arrival from the future, rather than an accumulation of research and development over time. No effort is made to explain how a new gadget works, the physical and digital mechanisms behind its functions. Without this explanation, consumers and policymakers are apt to view technology simply as magic with limitless capabilities. In reality, innovations build incrementally on what has come before—they do not perform miracles. Ignorance of how technology develops and functions will lead to poor policy decisions.

http://www.brookings.edu/blogs/techtank/posts/2016/04/26-encryption-technology-is-not-magic

Book. The $13 Trillion Question. Managing the U.S. Government’s Debt (David Wessel, Brookings)

Everyone talks about the size of the U.S. national debt: now at $13 trillion and climbing, but few talk about how the U.S. Treasury does the borrowing—even though it is one of the world’s largest borrowers. Everyone from bond traders to the home-buying public is affected by the Treasury’s decisions about whether to borrow short or long term and what types of bonds to sell to investors.

http://www.brookings.edu/research/books/2015/the-13-trillion-dollar-question

Brunei must diversify its spluttering economy (Paul Pryce, UPH Analytics, East Asia Forum)

The small Southeast Asian state of Brunei Darussalam has long enjoyed considerable affluence, thanks in large part to its exports of crude oil and liquefied natural gas to resource-hungry neighbours like Japan and India. According to 2010 data, GDP per capita was US$51,600 and Bruneians enjoy the total absence of sales taxes or personal income tax.

http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2016/04/27/brunei-must-diversify-its-spluttering-economy/

When the TPP and One Belt, One Road meet (Patrick Mendis, Harvard University, Dániel Balázs,Tongji University, East Asia Forum)

After years of talks, negotiators concluded an agreement on the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in October 2015. Since China is excluded from the TPP, one would expect antagonism rather than symbiosis between the Washington-advocated trade package and Beijing’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) strategy. But closer scrutiny suggests that the TPP and OBOR may be converging by design and destiny.

http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2016/04/26/when-the-tpp-and-one-belt-one-road-meet/

Japan and Australia ramp up defence engagement in the South China Sea (Tomohiko Satake, NIDS, East Asia Forum)

Amid the increasing tensions in the South China Sea the United States has called for its regional allies to more actively support its freedom of navigation (FON) operations. But despite their political support for the operations, it seems that neither Tokyo nor Canberra are willing to put their support into direct action.

http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2016/04/26/japan-and-australia-ramp-up-defence-engagement-in-the-south-china-sea/

What’s Wrong with Normal? (Chris Patten, Project-Syndicate)

In Britain these days, one can’t avoid hearing and seeing more and more about the wretched campaign to spit in the face of the world (and of reality) and quit the European Union. Visiting the United States, as I recently did, provides some relief. But it comes at a price: wall-to-wall coverage of the presidential primaries.

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/political-moderates-should-come-to-fore-by-chris-patten-2016-04

America’s Trade Deficit Begins at Home (Stephen S. Roach, Project-Syndicate)

Thanks to fear mongering on the US presidential campaign trail, the trade debate and its impact on American workers is being distorted at both ends of the political spectrum. From China-bashing on the right to the backlash against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) on the left, politicians of both parties have mischaracterized foreign trade as America’s greatest economic threat.

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/us-trade-deficit-low-domestic-saving-by-stephen-s--roach-2016-04

Why Are Central Banks on Trial Again? (Howard Davies, Project-Syndicate)

Central banks have been on a roller-coaster ride in the last decade, from heroes to zeroes and back again. Is another downswing in their fortunes and reputations now starting?

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/are-central-banks-too-powerful-by-howard-davies-2016-04

France’s Next President (Dominique Moisi, Project-Syndicate)

In a little more than a year, the French will vote to elect their new president. It is, of course, far too early to make any predictions. If “one week is a long time in politics,” as former British Prime Minister Harold Wilson is reported to have said, then a year is an eternity. And yet, given the high stakes of the outcome for France and Europe, a first assessment should be attempted.

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/france-next-president-by-dominique-moisi-2016-04

Roman Europe? (Anatole Kaletsky, Project-Syndicate)

As the European Union begins to disintegrate, who can provide the leadership to save it? German Chancellor Angela Merkel is widely credited with finally answering Henry Kissinger’s famous question about the Western alliance: “What is the phone number for Europe?” But if Europe’s phone number has a German dialing code, it goes through to an automated answer: “Nein zu Allem.”

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/italy-not-germany-leads-europe-by-anatole-kaletsky-2016-04

The Governor General’s Files: Kashmir is not Balochistan (South Asia Monitor)

Pakistan has been using force to crush insurgency in Balochistan.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16581

Will politics challenge economic orthodoxies (Meghna Desai, South Asia Monitor)

The global economy is in a dormant but dangerous state. Not much is happening. The Eurozone continues to be stagnant despite aggressive money creation by the ECB. The US economy is poised while the Fed considers whether it is going to tighten in terms of wages and employment before it can raise rates. Oil has fallen back to its earlier levels of around $40 since the Opec and friends foundered at the meeting to restrict output. The politics of the sectarian rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia scuppered the prospect of output restriction which could have taken the price up to $50.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=eco&nid=16569

India. Judging the government (South Asia Monitor)

Given how the judiciary is always held responsible for the huge delays in courts, it is not surprising that Chief Justice of India (CJI) TS Thakur should have got as emotional as he did at the joint conference of chief ministers and chief justices of high courts in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and law minister DV Sadananda Gowda. As he pointed out, while the Law Commission had, way back in 1987, recommended that India have 50 judges per million people, we have a mere 15 today—that’s a shortage of nearly 45,000 judges or two-and-a-half times the number of judges India has at the moment. The current government, however, is not solely to blame for this since the 170 recommendations for fresh appointments that the CJI said were stuck at its level don’t even scratch the surface, vital as it is that they be cleared at the earliest. There is also the issue of the role of the executive in appointments that needs to be discussed since, after the Second and Third Judges cases in the 1990s, this role has been reduced dramatically—sadly, the Supreme Court struck down the National Judicial Appointment Commission which sought to redress the imbalance which had shifted entirely in favour of the judiciary.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=govd&nid=16567

Kabul's season of uncertainty (Rakesh Sood, South Asia Monitor)

The massive bomb blast in the heart of Kabul last week, which claimed about 70 lives and left nearly 350 people injured, marked the beginning of the 2016 fighting season — not that there had been much of a let-up in violence during the winter months. Since the Taliban had announced the launch of ‘Operation Omari’ a week earlier, a major attack was expected; yet the Kabul attack for which the Taliban claimed responsibility has shaken the weak National Unity Government (NUG) of President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16568

Pakistan. Pondering over Panama (Niaz Murtaza, South Asia Monitor)

The response to the Panama leaks has been expectedly monotonous, mainly covering legal or moral issues. But ancient Sufis wisely said that kids view things narrowly; to grasp a complex issue, adults must view it from seven distinct lenses without any view undermining the other.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16574

The conspiracy of silence in Nepal (South Asia Monitor)

Some eight months afterward too, petroleum products, including liquefied petroleum gas, popularly called cooking gas, are still scarce. People have to queue up for hours to get a full cylinder of gas and just a few litres of petrol, when the dealers open their shops, and most of the time they remain closed. But even after all this hassle, there is no guarantee of getting the commodity, and many aspirants have to return empty-handed. As for the cooking gas, the common man has to get their empty cylinder deposited with the local gas dealer and pay the full amount of Rs.1, 400, the official price for a cylinder of gas, or if they have very good relations with the dealer, get a special coupon to get the gas when the full cylinders arrive at the depot concerned. Normally, after depositing the cylinders, the common consumer has to wait for two to three months to get the gas.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16573

Transforming rural health in Bangladesh (Abul Kalam Azad, South Asia Monitor)

In Dhaka, effective use of digital information and communication technologies is poised now to change the way rural health workers work and to offer them an increased level of efficiency. In Bangladesh, a pilot program has begun transforming the rural health workers’ jobs and the accuracy of the data they gather.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16572

Sri Lanka's NPC opens Pandora's box (South Asia Monitor)

The Northern Provincial Council led by Chief Minister C.V.Wigneswaran has again opened a Pandora’s Box by adopting a resolution in the form of a set of proposals to be submitted to the Government to be incorporated in the proposed new Constitution. This resolution has been adopted in the Council against the backdrop of two similar controversial resolution – “Sri Lanka’s genocide against Tamils” and “The resolution on the need for an international mechanism” - passed by the same Council last year. The essence of the current resolution is to constitute two linguistic States – one for the predominantly Sinhala speaking areas and the other for the predominantly Tamil speaking areas in the North and the East.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16575

New Delhi's blunder on Isa (South Asia Monitor)

Last week, when news broke that India had granted ethnic Uyghur dissident Dolkun Isa a visa to attend a conference in Dharamsala, New Delhi’s policy community all but rang temple bells in celebration. Finally, enthusiasts trilled, the muscular China diplomacy Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised was in play — handing long-overdue payback to China for blocking Delhi’s efforts to have Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar sanctioned by the UN. The euphoria crumbled on Monday, when the external affairs ministry announced it had cancelled Isa’s visa, in response to irate Chinese protests. Delhi’s official position is that Isa, who holds a German passport, applied for and obtained a tourist visa online, which was not valid for visitors wanting to attend conferences. There was no intention to send any diplomatic message to Beijing by granting a visa to Isa, the MEA said — and thus, no question of back-peddling by revoking it.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=n&nid=16570

Dharamsala conference: A message to China and Pakistan (Amulya Ganguli, South Asia Monitor)

By deciding to host a conference of Chinese dissidents in Dharamshala, India has shown some spine in its dealings with Beijing after many years of playing the nice guy. However, by first granting and then withdrawing the visa for the Uyghur nationalist Dolkun Isa, whom China brands a “terrorist”, presumably because of the Interpol red corner notice against him, New Delhi has shown that it is yet to firm up its China policy.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=sl&nid=16564

Kashmir on the edge: Peace is far from sight (Gaurav Dixit, South Asia Monitor)

Four persons were killed and nine others were injured as personnel from the Rashtriya Rifles and Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police allegedly opened fired on the protesters in the Handwara town of Kupwara district in the state of Jammu and Kashmir last week. The protestors had attacked an Army bunker at Handwara Chowk and pelted stones on the army camps. The protests had erupted as rumors of allegation of molestation of a girl by an army man got fanned through the volatile district.

http://southasiamonitor.org/detail.php?type=sl&nid=16566

What Does the Rise of State Capitalism Mean for the World? (Joshua Kurlantzick, CFR)

In just the past year, major scandals have erupted at several of the world’s most influential state-owned companies, with repercussions going far beyond the boardrooms. In Brazil, graft scandals centered on state-owned petroleum company Petrobras have triggered waves of arrests and played a role in the ongoing impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff. Meanwhile, in Malaysia investigations continue into allegations of massive irregularities in state fund 1MDB, allegations that have shaken the government of Prime Minister Najib tun Razak and reportedly triggered investigations into 1MDB in Singapore, Switzerland, the United States, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, and Malaysia.

http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2016/04/25/what-does-the-rise-of-state-capitalism-mean-for-the-world/

Are Drones More Precise Than Manned Aircraft? (Micah Zenko, Amelia M. Wolf, CFR)

In our latest piece at ForeignPolicy.com, we evaluate the Obama administration’s long-standing claim that drone strikes are more “precise” and cause fewer civilian fatalities than airstrikes by manned aircraft. We approach this challenge recognizing the limits of understanding who is being targeted and killed by all U.S. aerial operations. In addition, we admit that there are no wholly reliable or independently verifiable data sources, either from the U.S. government or research NGOs.

http://blogs.cfr.org/zenko/2016/04/25/are-drone-more-precise-than-manned-aircraft/

This Land Is Your Land, This Land Is Saudi Land (Steven A. Cook , CFR)

Today is Sinai Liberation Day. On April 25, 1982, the then-governor of the South Sinai governorate, Fouad Aziz Ghali, hoisted the Egyptian flag over Sharm el-Sheikh, in view of two islands called Tiran and Sanafir. The same day, former President Hosni Mubarak gave a speech before the People’s Assembly and laid wreaths at Egypt’s Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the graves of Gamal Abdel Nasser and Anwar al-Sadat. These solemn events marked the official end of Israel’s occupation of the Sinai (with the exception of a place called Taba that remained under Israeli control until 1989).

http://blogs.cfr.org/cook/2016/04/25/this-land-is-your-land-this-land-is-saudi-land/

Beijing’s Squeeze Play on Taiwan (Elizabeth C. Economy, CFR)

In late April, I spent several days in Taiwan as part of a Council on Foreign Relations delegation. We met with a wide range of officials from the major political parties, including President Ma Ying-jeou, President-elect Tsai Ing-wen, President of the Legislative Yuan Su Jia-Chyuan, and Kuo Chang-huang, a first-term legislator. It is a period of political transition from eight years of Kuomintang (KMT) leadership under President Ma to a government led by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with Tsai at the helm. And waiting in the wings is the brand new New Power Party (NPP), which was born out of the 2014 Sunflower Movement, and earned itself five seats in the most recent Legislative Yuan elections.

http://blogs.cfr.org/asia/2016/04/25/beijings-squeeze-play-on-taiwan/

If American Jews and Israel Are Drifting Apart, What's the Reason? (Elliott Abrams, CFR)

Everyone knows that American Jews and Israel are drifting apart—and everyone is confident of the reasons why. Israel, it is said, has become increasingly nationalistic and right-wing; “the occupation” violates liberal values; and the American Jewish “establishment,” with its old familiar defense organizations and their old familiar apologetics, has lost touch with young American Jews who are put off by outdated Zionist slogans and hoary appeals for communal solidarity. In brief, the fundamental problem resides in the nature of the Israeli polity and the policies of the Israeli government, which together account for the growing misfit between Israelis and their American Jewish cousins.

http://www.cfr.org/society-and-culture/if-american-jews-israel-drifting-apart-reason/p37803

Yanis Varoufakis on the Future of Greece and the Eurozone (CFR)

Yanis Varoufakis discusses the Greek economy, austerity measures in the European Union, and challenges facing the Eurozone.

http://www.cfr.org/eurozone/yanis-varoufakis-future-greece-eurozone/p37791