A new United Nations study reports that “821 million people globally were undernourished in 2017—about one person in every nine. And nearly 151 million under-fives—22% of the global total—have their growth stunted by poor nutrition” (BBC, September 11, 2018). Experts say increasing weather extremes, increasing global conflicts and increasing violence are all to...
In the mid-1800s, the expansion of the British Empire spread the knowledge of many Bible-based laws to peoples in British colonies around the globe. One such law made homosexual relations illegal, labeling them as “unnatural acts.” The former British colony of India recently overturned this law that had been in place for nearly 200 years.
Two Politico journalists recently wrote the following compelling statement: “Get ready for an even more German Europe” (August 25, 2018). The article refers to the possibility that Germany may drop its bid for the presidency of the European Central Bank and instead pursue the presidency of the European Commission—a post Germany has not held since 1967.
Over five days, beginning on September 11, Russia, China and Mongolia will hold their largest “war games” exercise since the Cold War (BBC, August 28, 2018). “The scale of Vostok-2018 is equivalent to the forces deployed in one of the big World War Two battles” and will involve over 300,000 troops, 36,000 tanks, 1,000 aircraft, all of Russia’s airborne units and...
For thousands of years, human beings have understood the healing power of contact with nature. Health spas and country retreats have long been used to experience the restorative power of “fresh air.” However, recent research is beginning to document the benefits of this ancient practice.
Pope Francis is known around the globe as an emissary for peace and an advocate for embattled people everywhere. However, the pope has now become the focus of accusations related to the ongoing sex abuse scandals that appear to reach the highest levels of the church (New York Times, August 28, 2018).
According to data from Public Health England, “Ten times as many children are severely obese now as was the case thirty years ago” (The Telegraph, July 24, 2018). “In just ten years, the percentage of 11-year-olds with extreme weight problems has risen by more than a fifth”—that is more than 20 percent!
American President Donald Trump is facing criticism again as he plans for a fall meeting of the group of six Persian Gulf states, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, plus Egypt and Jordan, hoping to forge what some have called an “Arab NATO” (Deutsche Welle, July 29, 2018). The purpose of this group would be a military alliance to counter Iran and other...
A controversial bill that stalled in the California legislature earlier this year has now passed the state Senate and could become law (Desert Sun, August 16, 2018). The bill would effectively prevent those seeking help to resist homosexual tendencies from obtaining professional help.
After years of a destabilizing relationship following their two-year war from 1998 to 2000, the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea recently met and began what many are describing as a “warm friendship” (CSIS, July 25, 2018). This new friendship brings a thaw in relations and the resumption of air flights between the two nations. It also opens up the potential for...
