Memorials are some of the “foundation stones” upon which the concept of society is built. Memorial Day in the United States has been officially observed since 1868. With the “COVID years” a receding memory and with an acrimonious election year behind us, many Americans are as eager as ever for the opportunity that national holidays provide—whatever the plans may be. Memorial Day, however, as is often noted, is not just a day for barbecues and beaches.

For decades, Latin America and the Caribbean have been under the protection and leadership of the United States. However, that is changing as America turns inward to focus on its own domestic issues. This has created a power vacuum that China seeks to fill, gaining new support, power, and influence in the Western Hemisphere (Barbados Today, May 17, 2025).

Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, is wasting no time advancing Germany. Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump demanded that European nations increase their defense spending to 5 percent of their GDP (Deutsche Welle, May 18, 2025). Germany’s new foreign minister accepted the challenge on behalf of his nation, meaning that Germany will increase defense spending from about €90 billion to more than €160 billion.

A December 2024 TechCrunch article titled “What are AI ‘world models,’ and why do they matter?” addresses a technology poised to significantly advance artificial intelligence. These “world model” systems aim to train AI by simulating real-world actions and their consequences, enabling machines to predict outcomes with increasing accuracy. Will these efforts create technological “prophets” able to foretell the future?