Less than a year after Typhoon Haiyan (the strongest storm ever to hit land) struck the Philippines and killed more than 6,300 people, another powerful storm, Typhoon Rammasun (a Thai word for god of thunder), packing 100 mph winds pounded the Philippines this week. The typhoon toppled trees, destroyed thousands of homes, displaced nearly half a million people...
Germany’s fourth World Cup championship has rekindled long-suppressed feelings of pride and patriotism in a nation that has felt constrained by its militaristic past. However, the victory could be one more critical factor in the transformation of a nation that is at a crossroads in its history.
“Germany may be America’s most important European ally, but the relationship between the two countries is on the rocks” following the discovery of a CIA spy in Berlin. This is just one more nail in the coffin of German-American relations following the Snowden leaks (CNN, July 11, 2014). “The New York Times soberly noted that German-American relations have...
Contrary to the comments of some U.S. leaders, most Americans profess to be Christians and they believe that the Bible is “the inspired word of God” (Gallup, June 4, 2014). A recent Gallup poll indicated that about 75 percent of Americans claimed to be Christians and viewed the Bible as “the actual word of God...
It is not easy being Jordan today—“Struggling for calm in a region of chaos… Sandwiched in between Iraq and Syria, Jordan’s destiny seems to be one of a constant struggle for survival” (CNN, June 18, 2014). King Abdullah’s “voice of moderation” in a region of strife-torn nations is also crying out for international assistance to manage 1.3 million Syrian...
“In he bounded, the right side of 40, all grins and references to selfies and ancient philosophers, brash and self-confident. Yes, it was Italian PM Matteo Renzi’s first appearance in the European Parliament. Speaking without notes, he told his audience that Europe is moving at half the speed of the rest of the world, that its single-minded focus on financial...
The media, government agencies and even religious groups are attempting to normalize the “transgender” phenomenon. Last month, “a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services review board ruled that Medicare can pay for the ‘reassignment’ surgery sought by the transgendered” (Wall Street Journal, June 12, 2014). In a recent article, Dr.
Since the end of WWII, Japan’s constitution has limited its military action to self-defense. However, “Japan’s cabinet has approved a landmark change in security policy, paving the way for its military to fight overseas… a reinterpretation of the law will now allow ‘collective self-defense’—using force to defend allies under attack” (BBC, July 1, 2014). The...
The Islamic militant group ISIS that recently took over cities in northern Iraq has “declared an Islamic ‘caliphate’ [state] in an area straddling Iraq and Syria” (The Guardian, June 30, 2014). One jihadist commented in a high tech video made to promote ISIS, “This is not the first border we will break, we will break other borders” (ibid.). “Later the fighter...
“The Ebola outbreak ravaging West Africa is ‘totally out of control,’ according to a senior official for Doctors Without Borders, who says the medical group is stretched to the limit in responding” (Associated Press, June 20, 2014). Ebola, which causes its victims to bleed to death internally, is spread from person to person and has no cure or vaccine.
