By Phyllis Brown NANJING, China — Imagine starting your day with women in red vests prodding at your garbage, eager to know what kind of trash you generate. Such has been the reality for Shanghai’s 24 million residents since the city launched a new trash-sorting law in July 2019. Residents must now sort household trash…
Domestic News
A foodie’s guide to Bologna
By Rashi Seth BOLOGNA, Italy – Unbeknownst to the culinary tourists that flock to Florence and Venice, Bologna is one of Italy’s best-kept gastronomic secrets. La citta grossa, the fat city, is home to some of the world’s most beloved food — tortelli, lasagna, pancetta stuffed tortellini, tagliatelle al ragu and mortadella. While people outside…
Bipartisanship that matters: Gelato’s growing divide
By Michael Hall November 10, 2019 BOLOGNA, Italy -- A slim forearm disappears into a space-age silver canister, its repeated circling drawing the eyes of those hoping to see what hides behind the counter’s shadows. The foreplay to eating gelato climaxes with the jaw-dropping arrival of a flex spatula’s destined companion: a lush, velvety dollop…
Continue reading ➞ Bipartisanship that matters: Gelato’s growing divide
SAIS Explainer Series: Impeachment
The new SAIS Observer Explainer Series aims to help SAIS students understand the most complex issues of the day. No politics — just the facts. November 12, 2019 By: Ryan Grace On September 24, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. The impetus for this move was a…
Political Activism and Social Media: Friends or Foes?
By: Mohit Mann November 28, 2019 At the annual summit for the Obama Foundation this year, former President Barack Obama addressed issues regarding civic engagement in the United States. Not long after Obama's comments were made, some predominant news outlets focused their attention on his statements concerning the relationship between political activism and social media.…
Continue reading ➞ Political Activism and Social Media: Friends or Foes?
SAIS Explainer Series: Russian Interference in US Elections
The new SAIS Observer Explainer Series aims to help SAIS students understand the most complex issues of the day. No politics — just the facts. October 31, 2019 By Alex Kessler WASHINGTON, D.C. — On October 30, several high-profile veterans of the U.S. intelligence community gathered at the National Press Club to discuss their assessment…
Continue reading ➞ SAIS Explainer Series: Russian Interference in US Elections
Tencent holdings: The Chinese technology conglomerate at the center of global pop culture controversy
October 30, 2019 By Alex Cowen NANJING, China — The NBA regular season started on October 23 in China. If you had purchased the Tencent Sports NBA package with the intention of watching the New Orleans Pelicans take on the defending champion Toronto Raptors, you would have been disappointed. Not because Kawhi Leonard left Toronto…
Facial recognition: Infringing upon privacy or protecting students?
By Natalie Craig October 23, 2019 Facial recognition gates at the main entrance to Nanjing University’s campus. Photo Credits: Natalie Craig NANJING, China — Nanjing University (NJU), a top institution in China that participates in a partnership with the Hopkins-Nanjing Center (HNC), has become one of many Chinese universities to introduce entry-exit facial recognition technology…
Continue reading ➞ Facial recognition: Infringing upon privacy or protecting students?
America’s economy is dematerializing
October 22, 2019 By Gerhard Ottehenning WASHINGTON, D.C. — 30 years ago, a full page Radio Shack advertisement listed 15 items with a total value of $3,054.82 — or roughly $5,750 today. Of the 15, only two haven’t been replaced by smartphones (unfortunately there’s no app for Tiny Dual-Superhet Radar Detectors). Integrating all of these…
Public policy and biotechnology
By Leif Olson October 2019 Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, better known as its acronym CRISPR, is a new biotechnology at the cutting edge of a revolution in genetics. . The technique allows geneticists to cut out specific parts of the genome within living cells. The technology originated from a natural process in which…