Bailout in Greece

After a deal, only more challenges (New York Times): “This is the Europeanization of the Greek debt. Everyone prefers to have Europe as their counterparty rather than Greece.” Perry Mehrling, visiting professor, School of Law, and a senior fellow at the Center for Finance, Law, & Policy.

Rupert Murdoch & News Corp.

News Corp. announces new code of ethics. Will it make a difference? (Christian Science Monitor): “It will be interesting to see what kind of enforcement measures Murdoch and his staff are talking about, and how exactly they intend to put them into action.” Elizabeth Mehren, Professor of Journalism, College of Communication

Rupert Murdoch testifies before Parliament (WGBH-TV “Greater Boston“): “The culture was get the story at all costs and that seemed to have just permeated to every level. It’s really unfathomable that the top editor wouldn’t have had at some point asked the question of how are you getting this.” Tom Fiedler, Dean of the College of Communication

News Corp. board should be replaced (Bloomberg Television): “There’s no question the Murdochs are key people because nothing is going to happen without their approval but beyond that I think the independent directors hold the key.” James Post, Professor of Management, School of Management

Murdoch struggles for control as scandal grows (Bloomberg): “The shell of invulnerability that Rupert Murdoch had around him has cracked. His credibility and the company’s credibility are hemorrhaging.” James Post, Professor of Management, School of Management

Murdoch scandal coming to U.S.? (WBZ-TV): “The scandal could potentially place at risk Murdoch’s ownership of TV stations in 18 U.S. cities, including Boston.” Tobe Berkovitz, Associate Professor of Advertising, College of Communication

Japan women win World Cup

Japan’s character seen in women’s World Cup victory (CNN.com): “The women’s performance illustrated some key qualities of Japanese society: hard work and resilience. It wasn’t only skills that got them close…It’s the effort that counts. The women were jubilant that they’d gotten that far. They believe in will, showing when we put our minds to something, we can do it.” Merry White, Professor of Anthropology, College of Arts & Sciences

Possible MA Senate run by Elizabeth Warren

Senate run not off the table for Warren (Washington Post): “Warren’s name recognition might not carry to her home state. You guys in Washington know her very well. But I’m wondering whether or not the rank-and-file vote…is going to be aware of who she is.” Fred Bayles, Associate Professor of Journalism, College of Communication

Elizabeth Warren may be ‘wild card’ in senate race (Boston Herald): “Politics is about getting even. That would be something to see.” Tom Whalen, Associate Professor of Social Science, College of General Studies

“This event will have a profound effect. Japan is no stranger to calamities and disaster has special, if not unique, meaning there. People have been waiting for The Big One, another Tokyo earthquake, since 1923 when Tokyo was flattened.

“The Kobe earthquake in 1995 had a profound effect because of lack of government preparedness and the immediate civilian response of students and workers. Now the army is immediately there.

“And we mustn’t forget Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The mantra is ‘we are a narrow island country with little or no natural resources.’ There is a sense of national vulnerability, fragility. Moms make padded earthquake helmets for school kids and homes and all have earthquake emergency kits.”

Contact Merry White, 617-353-7711, corky@bu.edu

Colleen Dalton, Assistant professor in the Department of Earth Sciences; Investigates the structure of the Earth’s interior using seismic waves generated by earthquakes

Contact 617-358-5433, dalton@bu.edu

Thomas Berger, Associate professor of International Relations; Expert on Japanese politics and foreign policy

Contact 617-353-5351, tuberger@bu.edu

William Grimes, Chair of the Department of International Relations; Expert on Japanese politics and foreign policy; Helped to found BU Center for the Study of Asia

Contact 617-353-9420, wgrimes@bu.edu

 Merry White, Professor of Anthropology; Expert on Japanese culture and can offer perspective on the unique meaning of ‘disaster’ in Japan.

Contact corky@bu.edu, or call Dick Taffe in Public Relations at 617-353-4626