SOAS in the Media: April 2025
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Explore the highlights of SOAS experts in the media discussing key issues and topics this month.
For more updates, follow our SOAS press account on BlueSky (@soaspress.bsky.social).
Latest news
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The impacts of the US’s foreign aid cuts and trade tariffs
- Professor Ha Joon Chang comments with The Financial Times on the trade tariffs set against smaller nations across the world by the US.
- Director of the SOAS China Institute Professor Steve Tsang spoke to Sky News, The Wall Street Journal and L’Express on the impacts and opportunity for China posed by the US’s foreign trade tariffs.
- Researcher George Magnus spoke to The Guardian on the global shockwaves of the US’s trade tariffs.
- Professor Michael Jennings featured on the BBC World Service programme, The Inquiry – to discuss the consequences of the pause in funding to the USAID, the US’s main foreign aid agency.
The political happenings in Turkey
- Dr Ziya Meral featured on BBC Radio 4’s The Briefing Room, and shared insight with Al Jazeera and Times Higher Education on the current political happenings in Turkey.
Diplomacy of Israel
- Dr Nick Westcott featured on LBC News on the UK’s views of Israeli diplomacy.
Looking back on Rwanda’s history
- Professor Phil Clark spoke to DW following on from the 30 years since the genocide in Rwanda.
Digging deeper into climate crises
- Professor Daniela Gabor spoke on Information DK’s Slow Conversations podcast to explore the potential economic solutions to the climate crisis.
China’s innovations and relations on the global stage
- Dr Yuka Kobayashi featured on the State of Asia podcast to discuss China’s innovation on the world stage.
- Professor Dan Plesch shared comment with South China Morning Post on the reclaim and restoration of an abandoned WWII airfield in the Pacific Islands by the US, and what it means for relations with China.
Relations between Iran and the US
- Arts & Humanities Lead Librarian Burzine Waghmar interviewed on Mirror Now of the upcoming Muscat talks between Iran and the US.
The history and legacy of Malian music
- Professor Lucy Durán wrote for The Conversation on the life and legacy of Malian musician, Amadou Bagayoko.
The White Lotus and stereotypes of South East Asia
- Professor Rachel Harrison wrote for The Guardian on how the hit TV series ‘The White Lotus’ missed the mark in representing Thai culture.
