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Dear Friends,
Welcome to this week's WorldBoston Recommends email, highlighting high-quality programming for the upcoming week, special opportunities, and event recordings, whether our own, from other World Affairs Councils, or other excellent venues.
We hope these recommendations help you stay internationally engaged, wherever you may be.
Best regards,
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Mary P. Yntema
President & CEO
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Monday, October 20th
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
Developments in geopolitics—sanctions, tariffs, the rise of China, the erosion of global institutions and norms, the evolution of big trading blocs—have major implications for the international financial system. To examine this, a panel discussion will be held with Gian Maria Milesi-Ferretti, Senior Fellow of Economic Studies at The Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, Nathan Converse, Principal Economist of the Global Financial Flows Section for the Federal Reserve Board, Isabel Vansteenkiste, Principal Counsellor to the President and Coordinator of the Counsel to the Executive Board for the European Central Bank, Anusha Chari, Former Brookings Expert, Maurice Obstfeld, C. Fred Bergsten Senior Fellow for the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The discussion will be moderated by David Wessel, Director of The Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy.
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Monday, October 20th
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
As the nuclear threat heats up, we sit down with Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, former Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security. As the under secretary of state for arms control and international security from 2021 to 2024, Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins oversaw three bureaus: Arms Control, Deterrence and Stability; International Security and Nonproliferation (ISN); and Political-Military Affairs. In May 2023, Secretary of State Antony Blinken named Jenkins, the first African American to serve as an under secretary of state, as the department’s lead on implementation of AUKUS, the trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
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Tuesday, October 21st
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM ET
The White House recently released a 20-point plan for bringing peace to Gaza, announced by President Trump as he stood beside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Beyond the immediate release of Israeli hostages and a phased withdrawal of Israeli military from Gaza, the plan lays out the United States’ post-war vision from the region, with significant global oversight. While Hamas and Israel agreed to the first phase of the plan on October 8th, many questions remain about the broader plan and its implementation. This panel discussion will seek to evaluate the plan, including its reception by Egypt and Jordan, which both neighbor Palestine and Israel, its potential effects on Palestinian sovereignty and the quest for statehood, and what it would take to make a deal last. Marwan Muasher, vice president for studies at Carnegie and former Jordanian foreign minister, Zaha Hassan, senior fellow and human rights lawyer, Fred Wehrey, senior fellow, and Amr Hamzawy, Middle East Program director and senior fellow, will share their perspectives on the future of Gaza, both if the plan moves forward and if it does not.
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Wednesday, October 22nd
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM ET
Amid the Trump Administration’s efforts to re-industrialize the United States and seek trade concessions; secure the country’s borders against illegal migration and drug trafficking; and demand that its neighbors, particularly Canada, play a greater role in continental defense – all through the use of tariffs; Canada and Mexico are each approaching the Administration bilaterally to try to resolve the trade and non-trade irritants and clear the deck ahead of the USMCA review, due in July 2026. While this presents great challenges for both Mexico and Canada, it is an opportunity not only to solve these problems but to expand cooperation. If a grand trilateral bargain could be struck, the North American economic bloc would emerge strengthened amidst an increasingly fragmented and competitive global economy and rising geopolitical tensions. To discuss this is Christopher Hernandez-Roy, Deputy Director and Senior Fellow of the Americas Program, Tim Sargeant, Director for Domestic Affairs at the MacDonald-Laurier Institute, Karen Antebi, Director and International Practice Chair at the Prime Policy Group, and Philip Luck, Director of the Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business.
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Thursday, October 23rd
9:00 AM – 9:45 AM ET
China is in the midst of the most significant nuclear expansion and modernization in the country’s history. It is fielding a growing number of more advanced nuclear-capable delivery systems and may be considering changes to how it postures those systems. This
shift in China’s nuclear forces has come against the backdrop of a deterioration in U.S.-China relations, raising concerns about the possibility of a crisis or conflict that could escalate to the nuclear level. This presentation draws on open source intelligence, security studies theory, and the history of China's strategic weapons programs to analyze the trajectory of China’s nuclear forces, the drivers potentially shaping that trajectory, and implications for U.S.-China relations. This event will feature a presentations by Dr. David C. Logan, Assistant Professor of Security Studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
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Thursday, October 23rd
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM ET
In recent months, U.S.-Pakistan relations have staged a notable comeback. From the headline-making White House luncheon between President Trump and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with the U.S. president on the sidelines of UNGA, the optics of warmth and renewed contact have caught the interest of regional observers. Join the Asia Society Policy Institute for a timely webinar unpacking what lies behind the optics, what’s at stake, and the future trajectory of U.S.-Pakistan ties. The virtual discussion, moderated by Farwa Aamer, Director of South Asia Initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute, will feature Senator Mushahid Hussain, Pakistan’s fr. Federal Minister of Information and Media Development, Elizabeth Threlkeld, Senior Fellow and Director of the South Asia Program at the Stimson Center, and Uzair Younus, Chief Product Officer of TAG AI at The Asia Group and host of the podcast Pakistonomy.
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Thursday, October 23rd
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
The Arctic is rapidly moving to the center of global politics. Melting ice is opening new shipping lanes and granting access to vast, untapped natural resources. Russia has expanded its military footprint along its Arctic coastline and deepened regional cooperation with Beijing, while the United States and its allies are bolstering their strategic presence through joint drills and upgrades to security infrastructure. Greenland, with its valuable minerals and strategic location between North America and Europe, has also drawn renewed international interest. As the Arctic transforms, will it become a domain of cooperation or competition? And what will the consequences be for trade, energy security, and environmental sustainability? This discussion will feature Pavel Devyatkin, Senior Associate and Leadership Group member at The Arctic Institute, and Jennifer Spence, Director of the Arctic Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. This conversation will provide key insights into the strategic, economic, and geopolitical stakes of the emerging Arctic order.
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Named for the proverbial “green room” where people wait before going on stage, the new Green Room Scholars initiative is part of WorldBoston's growing NextGen programming, an essential element of our effort to fulfill and expand our mission of “fostering international engagement and global cooperation.”
For each regular WorldBoston event, the selected Green Room Scholar will help greet and orient the speaker, serving as part of the WorldBoston event team.
What benefits do Green Room Scholars receive?
- Networking
- Participation in a well-tuned, professional event team
- Blogging with byline
- Recognition in WorldBoston social media
- Connecting with one of WorldBoston's outstanding speakers, who are leading scholars and practitioners in global affairs
Who is eligible to be a Green Room Scholar?
Students at universities that are currently sponsoring WorldBoston!
For further information contact Director of Global Engagement Programs and Operations Harrison Zeiberg at hzeiberg@worldboston.org
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ENGLISH FOR HERITAGE LANGUAGE SPEAKERS
Native speakers of critical languages are in high demand in the U.S. government. EHLS trains advanced English speakers to be effective communicators and strong candidates for federal jobs. All EHLS participants receive a full scholarship from the Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO) that includes tuition and a living stipend. As part of the scholarship obligation, participants agree to fulfill the EHLS service requirement, which requires you to work for the federal government in a position with national security responsibilities for one year after you complete the program. The 2026 EHLS Program is open to native speakers of: Chinese Mandarin, Arabic, Russian, Persian Farsi, Korean, Ukrainian, Kazakh, Turkish, and Hausa.
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INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL AID PLATFORM
The Boston Network for International Development created a Mutual Aid platform to support individuals in Greater Boston / New England who have been directly impacted by the foreign aid pause and USAID shutdown. This peer-to-peer resource connects community members who need assistance with those who can offer help in areas such as career mentorship, job search support, networking, housing, and more.
How It Works:
If you need assistance, submit a request and your request will be shared (without personal contact details) on a public listing (see list of requests).
If you can offer assistance, submit an offer and your information will be listed publicly for those seeking help (see list of offers).
If you see a specific request you can help with, submit a response and your offer will be forwarded to the requestor.
This platform is a community-driven mutual aid network. BNID does not verify, vet, or endorse any requests, offers, or responses. All interactions are voluntary and at participants’ own risk.
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Join WorldBoston’s Dinner Diplomacy program! Engage with international professionals of visiting delegations for a meal at your home. We often have opportunities to get involved! Hosting in an informal setting allows you to meet distinguished visitors from all over the world and learn more about their country, culture, and professional expertise. Dinner Diplomacy can take various forms, from brunch to afternoon tea to a sit-down dinner with small groups. Reach out to Sarah Sibley, Vice President of Citizen Diplomacy (ssibley@worldboston.org) to learn more about upcoming opportunities!
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The Alumni Resource Center (ARC) is an online career development hub for U.S. citizen ExchangeAlumni. ARC provides ExchangeAlumni with courses, trainings, and other resources to develop professional skills and abilities, market themselves, and explore careers in and outside of public service. The Alumni Resource Center is offering a new online course, Seize the Advantage: Understanding Non-Competitive Eligibility. This course will explore non-competitive eligibility and how you can leverage this unique opportunity to apply for federal jobs. You must be a U.S. citizen ExchangeAlumni and a member of the Alumni Resource Center.
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Writing Opportunities
Are you interested in writing about international affairs? Below are opportunities for you to submit your pieces to publications nationwide!
- WorldBoston's #BostonPhotoFriday: We want to see your pictures of Boston! As part of our #BostonPhotoFriday series, we would like to feature our community's photos on our social media. For more information, please email Harrison Zeiberg, Manager of Global Engagement and Operations.
- The Journal of Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs: This quarterly journal is accepting submissions of features and essays, as well as online exclusive submissions to appear on their website on a rolling basis. Submit your piece here.
- Realist Review Article Submission: This policy publication is accepting submissions from anyone interested in writing a commentary or analysis piece that expresses a perspective on policies or developments in international affairs and diplomacy. Submit your work here.
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