This week, Saudi Arabia held its first ever Girls Council meeting… without any women; the United States charged two Russians for cyber attacks; Malaysia and Australia have agreed to share intelligence on ISIL militants in Southeast Asia; and more.
Julia de Boer
The Obama administration did not give away the internet, but rather relinquished a vestige of U.S. control over a domain that had long since expanded beyond the mastery of any one entity, writes Kal Raustiala.
Visiting Fellow Lina Lee is helping to develop the SeouLA Forum on March 31 in her new role at the Pacific Council.
Missile Defense Agency
This week, China retaliates against South Korea over the ROK’s THAAD missile defense deployment plans; Northern Ireland holds an election following the collapse of its power sharing agreement; Australia and Indonesia restore full military ties; and more.
The Consul General Advisory Board of the Pacific Council works to strengthen our ties with the diplomatic community in California.
Tinou Bao
This week, Turkey’s military lifted its ban on women’s headscarves; Russia launched an official tracker of “fake news”; China has nearly finished structures designed to hold long-range missiles on artificial islands in the South China Sea; and more.
In a Los Angeles Times op-ed addressed to Britons, Pacific Council member Justin Hughes advises them to vote their conscience in the upcoming "Brexit" referendum, rather than letting politicians scare them one way or the other.
U.S. Defense Department
This week, U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis issued an ultimatum to NATO members to increase their defense spending by the end of the year; Kim Jong-un’s older half-brother was assassinated in Malaysia; Russia launched a cruise missile in an apparent violation of a Cold War-era treaty; and more.
Paul Arne Wagner
This week, massive protests continued in Romania following a government decree to decriminalize corruption; North Korea continues to build out its missile program; the former prime minister of Somalia wins the country’s presidential election; and more.
Victor Grigas
Silicon Valley wants to develop solutions to save the world, but tech giants underestimate the complexity of many human rights issues, write Keith Hiatt, Michael Kleinman, and Mark Latonero.
