In The News

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...

Climate Change Is a Threat to Global Security That Demands a Global Response

Neil Morisetti October 16, 2015
The NATO Parliamentary Assembly approved a resolution calling on member nations to lead at the UN climate negotiations in December and secure a deal on controlling fossil fuel emissions. NATO officials recognize that volatile weather, food and water shortages, and economic disruptions destabilize communities and exacerbate conflict. “NATO itself was also urged to improve strategic awareness of...

Nepal's Constitutional Crisis Involves Giant Neighbors

Harsh V. Pant October 15, 2015
Nepal is undergoing a transition, putting forth a constitution after a decade of conflict, political upheavals and protests along with a devastating earthquake from which it has yet to recover. But the constitution, described as discriminating against ethnic groups that account for almost half the population, could pose more challenges. The country of 28 million people is nestled between two...

The German Lynchmob: Islamophobe Movement Returns With a Vengeance

Maik Baumgärtner, Maximilian Popp, Jörg Schindler and Wolf Wiedmann-Schmidt October 15, 2015
Germany’s decision to open its borders to thousands of refugees from Syria has reinvigorated the political party of Pegida, also known as “Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the Occident.” Some supporters insist that they are not Nazis, but oppose a system that fails to embrace a strong and unchanging culture; others call the refugees “invaders” and are ready to blockade streets,...

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...

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...

Narrow Court Ruling May Offer Room for Diplomacy on South China Sea Claims

Ashley Townshend October 13, 2015
The announcement is expected any day from the Arbitral Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague on whether it has jurisdiction to rule on the Philippines’ case against China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea. In the ensuing hearing, a narrow ruling against China’s “nine-dashed line” is the most likely outcome, suggests Ashley Townshend, a research fellow in the...