Global Challenges

Under the Dome, a documentary released on 28 February 2015, has the potential to become a turning point in China’s long march against the ever-worsening environmental crisis. When Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring in 1962, it brought environmental concerns home...

After tense ties during the Rajapaksa administration, newly elected Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena’s decision to visit India on his first overseas trip signifies a renewal in the India–Sri Lanka relationship. After tense ties during the Rajapaksa administration, newly elected...

The world is changing. The weather is becoming more volatile, with the number of extreme weather events on the rise. Climate change represents the new normal: the Earth is already showing the impacts of our actions, which will continue to...

The third cease fire in Ukraine had a rocky start, but today the German foreign minister noted that tensions have calmed.  The top NATO military commander, US Air Force General Breedlove agreed earlier today that there has been a "definite...

The European Union is making a push to raise its profile in two trouble spots in the South Caucasus, Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Brussels insists its forays in the region are nothing more than routine diplomacy. But some observers believe the...

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Such milestones offer an opportunity to reflect on the progress made and the steps needed to ensure that such tragic events are never repeated. This year marks...

German Chancellor Merkel visited the Vatican over the weekend.  Consistent with the diplomatic practice, they exchanged gifts.  The Chancellor gave to the Pope a Bach CD and a donation for refugee children.  Pope Francis gave Merkel a medal with a...

On a normal Friday, Kara-Suu’s Al-Sarahsiy Mosque is packed with thousands of worshipers from across southern Kyrgyzstan. They come to this town of 20,000 to listen to the sermons of Rashot Kamalov, the mosque’s charismatic imam. Kamalov is respected for...

As banks slowly approach the age of digitalization they already seem to be facing tough challenges that are related to their own systems’ security.  Banks have been victims to many cyber crimes but so far the crimes had been related...

Anti-prostitution campaigners have made grand statements about the effectiveness of Sweden’s hugely influential approach to prostitution. However, researchers say the claims are grossly exaggerated and the law has put sex workers in greater danger. Anti-prostitution campaigners have made grand statements...

The turmoil of 2014 was a timely reminder to businesses that they need to be prepared and have contingency plans for global conflict. The crisis in Ukraine brought Russia and the West to the brink of military confrontation; relations between...

The US dollar's upside momentum, sparked by the strong January jobs report, and anxiety over the brinksmanship politics in Europe over Greece (and Ukraine), faded last week.  The weaker than expected US retail sales and some optimism over another ceasefire...

A ceasefire in Ukraine appears to have been reached, and despite some confusion late yesterday, no compromise has been struck over the new Greek government's demand that it is recognized that the previous agreements are not working. However, that may...

The Euro group meeting today and the heads of state meeting tomorrow cannot resolve the standoff with Greece. The logic of each side demands negotiating until the very last minute as the only way to ensure achieving the most.  Of...

The discussion about Greece and its future in the monetary union, or like Greenspan opined, the lack thereof, has focused on economic issues to the near-exclusion of all else.  This is myopic.  There are important geostrategic interests at stake.Historians continue...