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Global Energy Forum

Jul 2, 2020

Evaluating House Democrats’ new climate change report

By Global Energy Center

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, an economic downturn, and a renewed movement for racial justice, the report sets out a vision to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 with recommendations on issues from infrastructure to incentivizing new technologies and creating jobs in the clean energy sector. The report also addresses pollution and environmental justice, the nexus between climate and public health, and conservation.

Climate Change & Climate Action United States and Canada

The future is here

Jul 2, 2020

Tokyo cases increase, WHO warns on Eastern Mediterranean; US cases rise at record pace

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus cases increased in Tokyo at the quickest pace in two months, while the World Health Organization warned of the outbreak continuing to affect an area from Morocco to Pakistan. Masks were in the news as US President Donald J. Trump said he now favors them, as infections in the United States rose at the highest daily rate so far.

Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Jul 2, 2020

Hezbollah takes control of Lebanon’s judiciary in assault on rule of law

By Michael D. Barbero

Lebanon is a nation in crisis. Just as Hezbollah is the main cause of the current economic crisis, Hezbollah, through its FPM allies, is also the impetus for the assault on the rule of law. The Hezbollahization of Lebanon must be reversed. Reforming one broken sector in Lebanon without restoring the rule of law—the most foundational pillar of Lebanese society—will play into Hezbollah’s hands, continue the misery of the Lebanese people, and ensure Lebanon’s inevitable failure.

Civil Society Corruption

IranSource

Jul 2, 2020

How to fix the “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran

By Colonel Udi Evental

The Trump administration’s strategy suffers from internal tensions and inherent contradictions that have undermined its effectiveness from the beginning.

Iran Middle East

UkraineAlert

Jul 1, 2020

Ukraine’s central bank chief resigns leaving Zelenskyy’s reform credentials in tatters

By Anders Åslund

Ukraine’s reform agenda suffered a serious blow on July 1 when Yakiv Smolii, the highly respected governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), resigned due to what he called “systematic political pressure.”

Financial Regulation Macroeconomics

GeoTech Cues

Jul 1, 2020

We can increase public participation in data and avoid surveillance states: Here is how

By David Bray

The world needs a collective effort to gather and share data to steer society and nations back to full operations, and to provide early indicators and warnings of future pandemics. Current methods for accessing data owned by public and private institutions and private citizens today are not able to guide COVID-19 recovery. The new data access frameworks in this initiative can succeed while strengthening societal welfare, prosperity, and peace around the world.

Civil Society Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Jul 1, 2020

Protocol expert Capricia Marshall offers advice on the “power of diplomacy”

By Larry Luxner

"Protocol creates a detailed road map, large or small, for our global leaders," Marshall said. "It’s those micro-moves that create a major impact on every engagement.”

Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 1, 2020

India’s China app ban heightens need for multilateral discussion on digital privacy and security

By Justin Sherman

Even with other the political and economic factors at play, the decision may be a small sign of some shared ground between India and the United States when it comes to data policy.

China Digital Policy

TURKEYSource

Jul 1, 2020

Global value chain disruptions: Challenges and opportunities

By Necmettin Kaymaz

As one of its immediate impacts, the pandemic disrupted global supply chains and suppressed economic activities across the world, rekindling discussions about deglobalization. While these discussions do have some merits, declaring the end of globalization would be too naïve—there are still opportunities in competitive countries, like Turkey, for maintaining the globalized economy.

Economy & Business International Markets

SouthAsiaSource

Jul 1, 2020

What I dream of for Afghanistan

By Horia Mosadiq

I was very young when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan forty years ago. It was the first time that I heard the sounds of helicopters overhead and gunshots in the streets, sounds that were completely alien to me and the city I had grown up in. Since then, not a day has passed where I […]

Afghanistan Human Rights