Aug 12, 2018

Floods to farmer suicides: for Pakistan and India, real threat is the weather | This Week In Asia | South China Morning Post

Floods to farmer suicides: for Pakistan and India, real threat is the weather | This Week In Asia | South China Morning Post: Prime Minister-elect Imran Khan’s plan to plant 10 billion trees is a recognition of the scale of the disaster facing his country – and particularly its poor – if nothing is done to reverse the effects of extreme weather

Tens of thousands flee as flooding swamps Philippine capital | South China Morning Post

Tens of thousands flee as flooding swamps Philippine capital | South China Morning Post: Experts say a tropical storm and another weather disturbance are enhancing the southwest monsoon, bringing widespread rain

Lombok faces slow and painful rebuilding process after deadly earthquakes decimate tourism industry | South China Morning Post

Lombok faces slow and painful rebuilding process after deadly earthquakes decimate tourism industry | South China Morning Post: Indonesia’s tourism sector has been robust in the face of major crises before, including natural disasters like the 2004 tsunami and terror attacks such as the 2002 Bali bombings

Over 100 Officers and Soldiers Killed in Crucial Afghan City in 3 Days - The New York Times

Over 100 Officers and Soldiers Killed in Crucial Afghan City in 3 Days - The New York Times: Most of the 18 districts in Ghazni Province appear to be under Taliban control, with the exception of three districts with large populations of the Hazara ethnic minority.

China Seeks Influence in Europe, One Business Deal at a Time - The New York Times

China Seeks Influence in Europe, One Business Deal at a Time - The New York Times: A mysterious Chinese company went on a buying binge in the Czech Republic following Xi Jinping’s call for greater sway in the region. What was the cost?

Time will reveal July storm’s impact on Chesapeake Bay | MarylandReporter.com

Time will reveal July storm’s impact on Chesapeake Bay | MarylandReporter.com: The persistent storms that pounded the mid-Atlantic region in late July could have lingering impacts on the Chesapeake Bay, though it will take weeks, if not months, of monitoring for scientists to fully assess the potential damage.

The Failure of Egypt’s Revolution - The New York Times

The Failure of Egypt’s Revolution - The New York Times: David D. Kirkpatrick’s “Into the Hands of the Soldiers” describes the heady days when democracy seemed a possibility in Egypt.

Talking to a Man Named Mr. Cotton About Slavery and Confederate Monuments - The New York Times

Talking to a Man Named Mr. Cotton About Slavery and Confederate Monuments - The New York Times: In this week’s Race/Related newsletter: A writer explores the nation’s divide over its Civil War past. He finds that some Confederate monuments cannot be moved.

‘Beautiful’ and ‘Lovely’: Trump Tweets Reflect Fixation on Women’s Appearances - The New York Times

‘Beautiful’ and ‘Lovely’: Trump Tweets Reflect Fixation on Women’s Appearances - The New York Times: The president’s comments on Lisa Page and Nellie Ohr made clear his disdain for the two women, who have connections to the Russia inquiry.

The Iraqi Spy Who Infiltrated ISIS - The New York Times

The Iraqi Spy Who Infiltrated ISIS - The New York Times: The story of the mole who posed as a jihadist in the Islamic State, and the most important antiterrorism agency that most people have never heard of.

A surprising grass-roots upheaval is shaking Maryland’s Democrats - The Washington Post

A surprising grass-roots upheaval is shaking Maryland’s Democrats - The Washington Post: Progressives’ victories in 3 primaries highlight nationwide effort to revive party at state and local levels.

Aug 11, 2018

VS Naipaul, British author, dies aged 85 | Books | The Guardian

VS Naipaul, British author, dies aged 85 | Books | The Guardian: Nobel and Booker prize-winning writer died surrounded by loved ones in his London home, family confirms

Wang Gungwu, the scholar who helped the West understand China and the new Asia | This Week In Asia | South China Morning Post

Wang Gungwu, the scholar who helped the West understand China and the new Asia | This Week In Asia | South China Morning Post: As one of the world’s foremost experts on the Chinese diaspora, Wang Gungwu provoked debate with his views on a resurgent China and democracy in Hong Kong

Burying ‘One Child’ Limits, China Pushes Women to Have More Babies - The New York Times

Burying ‘One Child’ Limits, China Pushes Women to Have More Babies - The New York Times: Worried that an aging population imperils the economy, Beijing is scrambling to stimulate a baby boom after decades of harsh restrictions on births.

The Flourishing Business of Fake YouTube Views - The New York Times

The Flourishing Business of Fake YouTube Views - The New York Times: Plays can be bought for pennies and delivered in bulk, inflating videos’ popularity and creating an environment ripe for manipulation.

Rashida Tlaib Is the Left's Way Forward - POLITICO Magazine

Rashida Tlaib Is the Left's Way Forward - POLITICO Magazine: She wasn’t the flashiest candidate in Tuesday’s primaries, but her steady, unapologetic progressivism is the left’s future.

Aug 10, 2018

Talking Indonesia: local leadership – Indonesia at Melbourne

Talking Indonesia: local leadership – Indonesia at Melbourne: The 2018 regional elections saw convincing wins for several young reform-minded local leaders. In Talking Indonesia this week, Dr Dirk Tomsa speaks to one of these leaders, Dr Bima Arya Sugiarto, about…

Aceh’s obsession with sex: why the province has its priorities wrong – Indonesia at Melbourne

Aceh’s obsession with sex: why the province has its priorities wrong – Indonesia at Melbourne: When Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf was arrested for corruption last month, members of the public began asking if his hand would be cut off. But as Dr Dina Afrianty explains,…

Life as a Spy in Communist Romania

Life as a Spy in Communist Romania: After the collapse of communism in 1989, Katherine Verdery was given a copy of the once-secret records about her activities. The documentation covered 2,781 pages. She used them for her book, which is called “My Life as a Spy.”

A turning point for Terengganu? | Bridget Welsh

A turning point for Terengganu? | Bridget Welsh

‘New’ or ‘old’ Sabah in New Malaysia? | Bridget Welsh

‘New’ or ‘old’ Sabah in New Malaysia? | Bridget Welsh

Cautions from Sungai Kandis | Bridget Welsh

Cautions from Sungai Kandis | Bridget Welsh

North Korea slams UN chief Antonio Guterres over call for nuclear disarming | South China Morning Post

North Korea slams UN chief Antonio Guterres over call for nuclear disarming | South China Morning Post: Secretary General is accused of being ‘reckless’ and toeing the US line

Opinion | Is India Creating Its Own Rohingya? - The New York Times

Opinion | Is India Creating Its Own Rohingya? - The New York Times: Echoes of the majoritarian rhetoric preceding the ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya can be heard in India as four million, mostly Bengali-origin Muslims, have been effectively turned stateless.

Meet Iceland’s Whaling Magnate. He Makes No Apologies. - The New York Times

Meet Iceland’s Whaling Magnate. He Makes No Apologies. - The New York Times: Kristjan Loftsson’s company is the last one in the world still hunting fin whales. His credo: “If it’s sustainable, you hunt.”

The key Trump revelations in Omarosa Manigault Newman's new book | US news | The Guardian

The key Trump revelations in Omarosa Manigault Newman's new book | US news | The Guardian: The ex-White House adviser’s forthcoming memoir says Trump insisted upon being sworn in to the presidency with his own book

Who is Omarosa, the former Trump aide turned leading detractor? | US news | The Guardian

Who is Omarosa, the former Trump aide turned leading detractor? | US news | The Guardian: Omarosa Manigault Newman, who attacks the president in a brutal memoir, rose to prominence on The Apprentice and reportedly fell out with John Kelly

More than half a million Venezuelans fled to Ecuador this year, UN says | World news | The Guardian

More than half a million Venezuelans fled to Ecuador this year, UN says | World news | The Guardian: Quito declared a state of emergency after 30,000 migrants escaping violence and a collapsing economy came the first week of August

Are ethnic borders being drawn for a 'Greater Serbia'? | Bosnia | Al Jazeera

Are ethnic borders being drawn for a 'Greater Serbia'? | Bosnia | Al Jazeera: As US, EU policy shifts in region, a renewed push for Kosovo's partition and secession of Bosnia’s Serb entity follows.

Chinese Muslims protest against planned mosque demolition | News | Al Jazeera

Chinese Muslims protest against planned mosque demolition | News | Al Jazeera: Rare demonstration by Hui minority group comes amid broad government crackdown on religious practice.