
The World Bank reinvents itself – and puts poverty reduction at risk
Jun 17, 2017 16:37 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy
The World Banks relationship with US president Donald Trump has raised concerns about its political neutrality in recent weeks, but a larger and potentially much more important shift in how the Bank operates is underway....
It's all too easy to switch off from bad news – and it's dangerous too
Jun 17, 2017 16:32 pm UTC| Insights & Views
The full horror of the Grenfell Tower fire in west London is still to emerge. Like millions of others, I watched live as TV breakfast reports showed the blaze in its intensity and eyewitnesses told of their devastating...

How the spectre of Yugoslavia looms over EU's handling of the refugee crisis
Jun 17, 2017 16:31 pm UTC| Insights & Views
With peak season approaching for refugees making treacherous crossings to Europe, dont be surprised if we are told again that this is unprecedented. That would certainly be in keeping with what news organisations,...
Once at the vanguard of national policy, California plays defense under Trump
Jun 17, 2017 16:28 pm UTC| Insights & Views
Xavier Becerra, Californias combative attorney general, has become the Golden States face of resistance to the Trump administrations domestic initiatives, the blunt voice rejecting the presidents attempts to roll back the...
India's wells are running dry, fast
Jun 17, 2017 16:23 pm UTC| Insights & Views Nature
Over the past three years, the monsoon the rainy season that runs from June through September, depending on the region has been weak or delayed across much of India, causing widespread water shortages. With the onset...
Wind farms are hardly the bird slayers they're made out to be. Here's why
Jun 17, 2017 16:20 pm UTC| Insights & Views Technology
People who oppose wind farms often claim wind turbine blades kill large numbers of birds, often referring to them as bird choppers. And claims of dangers to iconic or rare birds, especially raptors, have attracted a lot of...
Can we predict political uprisings?
Jun 17, 2017 15:17 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics Economy
Forecasting political unrest is a challenging task, especially in this era of post-truth and opinion polls. Several studies by economists such as Paul Collier and Anke Hoeffler in 1998 and 2002 describe how economic...