Israel’s Military Intelligence chief testified today before the Knesset, stating that proliferation of the S-300 air defense system could send the Israeli Defense Force’s capabilities “back to their status in the 1970s Suez years,” the Jerusalem Post reports. For the past few years, media and official sources have reported intensified efforts by Iran and Syria […]
With over two-thirds of the world’s hungry found in Asia, the Asia Society and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) formed a task force to examine food security issues in Asia and develop public policy approaches for overcoming hunger. The initial findings of the task force were released last month in a report titled, “Never […]
The United States has found itself in the hot-seat, as human-rights group cast scorn and dismay at the Administration following memorandum issued by President Obama. The memorandum, related to the 2007-2008 Child Soldiers Prevention Act (which Obama co-sponsored while serving in the Senate), essentially gives a free pass to four countries to continue receiving U.S. […]
Studies examine costs, prospects of ending malaria Scientists say that malaria can be eliminated, but only if governments invest in long-term policies that ensure that the mosquito-borne disease does not return to areas where it was eradicated through short-term measures. Currently the malaria map indicates that malaria is endemic to 99 countries, with 32 of […]
The debate about whether or not the United Nations (UN) is biased against Israel is on. It began when Ben Moscovitch of the FPA Israel blog wrote that the UN is biased against Israel. I wrote a post arguing the opposite. And Ben wrote a second post, in which he focused on two things: the […]
An ambitious new Food Security Bill is being drafted in India by the National Advisory Council (NAC). According to NDTV and The Hindu, about 79,000 crore rupees (just under $17 billion) per year would be spent under the bill to guarantee 75 percent of the Indian population with foodgrains at subsidized prices. This is up […]
Six million Pakistanis relying on international food aid after being displaced by summer monsoons are facing the additional danger of running out of food aid. According to a report by the BBC, the United Nations coordinator for humanitarian aid in Pakistan, Martin Mogwanja, recently warned of malnutrition already setting in, and only growing by December, […]
Secretary Clinton is in Asia attending a summit and reassuring allies on the issue of disputed territory that has galvanized the region. The premiers of China and Japan met at an Asian regional summit in a bid to defuse a territorial dispute on Saturday, while the United States urged Asia’s two big economies to cool […]
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) predicts that by 2050, as many as one-third of Americans may suffer from Type-2 diabetes. Businessweek recently reported that, “An aging population, an increase in minority groups at higher risk for diabetes, and the fact that diabetes patients are living longer are among the reasons for the steep projected […]
On October 23, 2010, over 2,000 registered walkers took part in the DC Stop Modern Slavery Walk taking the National Mall by storm. The walk culminated with speakers, live music, and an information fair. The event was the largest of its kind in the history of the Nation’s Capital to raise public awareness about modern […]
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently concluded a 3-day state visit to Japan. The visit appears to have spurred existing talks regarding civil nuclear cooperation, and has resulted in the agreement to establish a ministerial-level economic dialogue between the two nations. While improving the bilateral relationship between India and Japan should prove mutually beneficial in […]
Did you know that Americans were involved in the Chile mine rescue? I may have been tangentially aware that American engineers and know-how were involved, but amid the 24/7 news coverage of the final days of the rescue, it’s not something that I focused on. In fact, looking back, I’m really surprised I didn’t focus […]
I recently finished this book (and stole the photo from Amazon!), which was…interesting. Here’s the blurb from Publisher’s Weekly: Ah, to be young, Western and ambitious in a war zone. It’s the early 1990s, and Cain and Postlewait are two American U.N. employees sent to Cambodia to help the country rebuild itself after two decades […]
Welcome to our newest feature that has (almost) nothing to do with politics, but a lot to do with sampling new and exciting music from around globe. This week, the podcast features the electronic beats of Colombian cumbia and its various interpretations in Nueva York and Los Angeles. Enjoy the weekend! Track Listings: Chico Systema […]
Iran and the West will resume nuclear talks in November somewhere in Europe. According to a letter Iranians sent to the EU, Saeed Jalili, Iran’s nuclear negotiator, desires to “resume the talks based on his letter of 6 July.” In this letter, he outlined three conditions for talks. The West should declare their stance on […]