Content

Interview

Jul 2, 2020

#DFRLabCoffeeBreak with European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová

Vice-President for Values and Transparency for the European Commission Věra Jourová speaks with DFRLab Senior Fellow, Jakub Kalensky about the Commission’s latest Joint Communication.

Digital Policy Disinformation

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

Smart Partnerships Series

Jul 1, 2020

Can AI and emerging tech boost African development?

By Julian Mueller-Kaler

The final roundtable of the Smart Partnerships Series focused on the African continent and how AI as well as other emerging technologies can be harnessed there for good.

Africa Americas

In the News

Jun 29, 2020

Busch in The Hill: Withdrawing from the WTO would punish the US, not China

By Marc L. Busch

Marc Busch writes that US “unilateralism” against China is giving rise to a very different approach to trade policy more harmful to US commerce than supportive of foreign policy objectives.

China Economy & Business

Event Recap

Jun 27, 2020

Event recap: Governing North American trade during a pandemic: Knowns and unknowns for USMCA implementation

By Alfredo Graffe

On June 25, 2020, the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center in partnership with the Monterrey Chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico (AmCham Monterrey) held a public conversation on the implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement (USMCA), that will come into force on July 1. The event featured H.E. Graciela Márquez Colín, […]

Americas Economy & Business

EnergySource

Jun 25, 2020

The European Commission’s hydrogen industrial strategy and COVID-19

By Mary-Rose de Valladares

As COVID-19 enveloped Europe and the Americas, Ursula van der Leyen declared clean hydrogen energy “a pillar” of the European Union (EU)’s new industrial strategy. While COVID-19 will likely have significant effects on hydrogen’s success in Europe, it has nevertheless become a top EC energy priority.

Coronavirus Energy & Environment

Past events

Jun 25, 2020

Event recap: H.E. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah discusses peace talks in Afghanistan with USIP

By Atlantic Council

On June 24, 2020, the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) hosted an online conversation with former Afghan Chief Executive Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. His recent appointment as Afghanistan’s High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) Chairman resolves a longstanding dispute over the 2019 presidential election results and paves the way for the upcoming intra-Afghan negotiations, which will be overseen by the HCNR.

Afghanistan Democratic Transitions

Event Recap

Jun 25, 2020

Can technology help build a shock-resistant planet?

By Henry Westerman

On June 17, 2020, Columbia University’s Earth Institute gathered a panel to discuss ideas for building a shock-resistant planet as part of the Sustain What series.

Digital Policy Resilience & Society

EnergySource

Jun 24, 2020

Rapid response: The SABIC-Aramco merger

By Private: Jean-François Seznec

Saudi Aramco’s acquisition of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) finalized on June 16, 2020, provides a window into the Saudi strategy to become a world-scale chemicals producer. However, the structure of the deal also offers an interesting look into the Saudi financial position amid low oil prices and a global pandemic.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

EnergySource

Jun 24, 2020

Automaker electric vehicle plans ‘progressing at a rapid pace’ despite pandemic, economic downturn

By Julia Pyper

The global electric vehicle (EV) market is going through a rough patch amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The pandemic led to economy-wide lockdowns and supply chain disruptions across the automotive industry. Coupled with a historic decline in oil prices that brought down gasoline prices, these factors are likely to put a significant dent in EV sales in the near term. But automakers are not turning away from the EV market despite recent setbacks. To signal their intent, several major auto industry executives have taken steps to underscore their commitment to vehicle electrification coming out of the pandemic slump.

Climate Change & Climate Action Coronavirus