Thomas Goltz receives honorary doctorate in Baku
ADA University in Baku conferred an honorary doctorate on the former ICWA fellow for his research and publications on Azerbaijan and the wider Caspian region.
Washington Post: Karina Piser on France and #MeToo
A backlash against French author Gabriel Matzneff, who wrote about his sexual encounters with children, suggests that France is finally reckoning with its attitude toward sexual liberation.
TLS: Gregory Feifer on spies and exiles
Two new books examine the role of political exile in the Soviet and now post-Soviet consciousness.
NYT Book Review: Gregory Feifer on three new Russia books
Three revealing, highly readable books examine the deep, dangerous effects of the Kremlin's bottomless corruption and cynicism, at home and abroad.
Monocle Radio: Hannah Armstrong on Burkina Faso and France
With Burkina Faso's increasing problems with attacks by jihadist groups, a weak government and underfunded security forces, Andrew Mueller of Monocle Radio asks whether France's military should be involved.
The American Interest: Matt Chitwood on China’s slow trains
Tagging along with three migrant workers from Yunnan province , newly returned ICWA fellow Matthew Chitwood (China, 2017-2019) joins chunyun, or the spring migration of the country's workforce.
NYT: Shannon Sims on Ecuador’s mountain thrills
The mountains surrounding Baños de Agua Santa test the nerves of adventure tourists.
New York Magazine: Andrew Rice on Michael Avenatti
After a year caught in a downward spiral, the disgraced lawyer Michael Avenatti—who achieved fame representing the porn star Stormy Daniels—spent the past two weeks in solitary confinement, in a cell once occupied by the Mexican drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman.
Daily Beast: Neri Zilber on Trump’s Mideast peace plan
Despite the approval voiced in Washington, the US administration's Israeli-Palestinian peace deal will most likely only raise tensions.
Forbes: Willy Foote on mobile-based solutions for smallholder farmers
The social entrepreneur Anushka Ratnayake has managed to lower prices for servicing smallholder farmers in remote areas through the innovative use of SMS and mobile phone technology.