In The News

Trudeau’s Challenge: Global Climate Strategy

Terence Corcoran October 21, 2015
National leaders must respond quickly to global events and challenges. A priority for Canada is the UN climate conference that opens November 30 in Paris, suggests the Financial Post. G20 and Asia Pacific Economic Summit meetings follow in November. Voters handed a decisive win to the Liberal Party. Justin Trudeau will be sworn in as prime minister; the party holds five times the number of...

You've Got Fail: High School Students Claim Hack on CIA Director's AOL Account

Sam Thielman October 20, 2015
Internet users can be swift and harsh with online judgments. US authorities are investigating claims that the CIA director’s email account was hacked with details on 20 employees released. One hacker claims to be a US high school student – “not Muslim” and “motivated by opposition to US foreign policy and support for Palestine.” Violence has spiked in Israel this month: Random, sudden knife and...

Fears Grow Over Increased Antibiotic Resistance

October 16, 2015
Many antibiotics kill bacteria indiscriminately, including those causing disease and those that aid with digestion or immunity. Overuse of the drugs in health care and farm animals has increased antibiotic resistance and could contribute to thousands of deaths each year among patients having colorectal surgery, chemotherapy or hip replacements. Researchers have found that “as many as half of all...

A Global Test of American Power

Gideon Rachman October 14, 2015
The United States can still wield great global influence in terms of political and military power. Many nations and US citizens, too, expect the United States to police the globe by guaranteeing borders, reassuring allies, guaranteeing freedom of navigation for trade. But use of such power is costly. Military power also does not guarantee territorial control or winning over populations as shown...

This Is How Rising Seas Will Reshape the Face of the United States

Chris Mooney October 14, 2015
Governments are slow in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and stemming climate change, so researchers study which areas might fall victim to intense flooding, rising seas, desertification and loss of traditional plant species. The world probably can’t avoid 1.6 meters of long-term sea-level rise. Locations where half the US population now lives could be under threat if no action is taken. Entire...

The Trans-Pacific Free-Trade Charade

Joseph E. Stiglitz and Adam S. Hersh October 8, 2015
The Trans-Pacific Partnership is more about “managed trade” than “free trade,” argue economists Joseph Stiglitz and Adam Hersh. The agreement requires approval from legislators of 12 nations. Stiglitz and Hersh argue that industry protections in the agreement may curtail innovation in many areas: “Under these investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) systems, foreign investors gain new rights to...

US, Japan and 10 Countries Strike Pacific Trade Deal

Shawn Donnan and Demetri Sevastopulo October 6, 2015
Twelve nations reached agreement on a huge free-trade deal, the Trans-Pacific Partnership which covers labor conditions, environment protections, investor-state dispute settlement mechanisms, intellectual property and packaging laws. The partnership is expected to cover 40 percent of world trade and is described as a success for US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for...