The Beginning of the End
NEED TO KNOW The Beginning of the End After nine months of speculation following last year’s Brexit referendum, the UK has announced it will […]
Home, Bubbling, Home
NEED TO KNOW Home, Bubbling, Home After much debate in Berlin in recent years, concerns about the skyrocketing cost of housing in […]
Mutti Goes to Washington
NEED TO KNOW Mutti Goes to Washington German Chancellor Angela Merkel flies to Washington Friday to meet with US President Donald Trump […]
Broken Promises, New Hopes
NEED TO KNOW Broken Promises, New Hopes Troubled Somalia enjoyed a rare moment of exuberance last month when thousands poured into the […]
The Dutchman
NEED TO KNOW The Dutchman Add Geert Wilders to the list of anti-European Union, anti-Islamic, convention-demolishing far-right politicians at the height of […]
Of Victories and Uncertainties
NEED TO KNOW Of Victories and Uncertainties Pollsters and economists were quick to argue that the crackdown on cash Indian Prime Minister […]
A Funeral, A Festival
NEED TO KNOW A Funeral, A Festival The crowds in Seoul on Sunday symbolized South Korea’s two minds on the impeachment of […]
Of Nukes and Wild Hogs
NEED TO KNOW Of Nukes and Wild Hogs Japanese foodies love wild boar meat. Unfortunately, they can’t dine on the hundreds of […]
A State of Limbo
NEED TO KNOW A State of Limbo The elections were due to take place in November. But the electoral commission said it […]
Back in the Game
NEED TO KNOW Back in the Game After a few weeks of relative calm – following the contentious Navy SEAL raid that some […]
On the Altar of Brexit
NEED TO KNOW On the Altar of Brexit Talks to salvage Northern Ireland’s local government quickly deteriorated Monday as the Irish-nationalist party […]
Guns Versus Butter
NEED TO KNOW Guns Versus Butter Howls of derision greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping’s decision to shoot for 6.5 percent economic growth this […]
A Disarmament, A Peace
NEED TO KNOW A Disarmament, A Peace After more than 50 years of war, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) began […]
The Weighted Scale
NEED TO KNOW The Weighted Scale In the ever-destabilizing Middle East, Iran has enjoyed a particularly good run of successful military and […]
Eternal Stagnation
NEED TO KNOW Eternal Stagnation Greece’s perennial sovereign debt crisis and the chaos surrounding Brexit frequently overshadow Italy’s woes. But it might […]
Waiting for Godot
NEED TO KNOW Waiting for Godot As the Geneva Conference for Human Rights and Dignity kicked off last week, many hoped the […]
Keep Your Friends Close
NEED TO KNOW Keep Your Friends Close The recent “very painful” death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s half-brother has sent geopolitical […]
The Trouble with Monks
NEED TO KNOW The Trouble with Monks The idyllic Thai island that Leonardo DiCaprio made famous in the 2000 film “The Beach” […]
A Deepening Chasm
NEED TO KNOW A Deepening Chasm Hefty American sanctions against Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami last week came out of the […]
Third Time’s the Charm
NEED TO KNOW Third Time’s the Charm The ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine brokered at the G20 Security Conference in Munich last […]
Playing Catch Up
NEED TO KNOW Playing Catch Up Australia has garnered headlines recently, but not for the happy-go-lucky stories usually associated with the island […]
Once More unto the Breach
NEED TO KNOW Once More unto the Breach Near misses from sniper fire. Terrorists on suicide missions in bomb-filled, runaway cars. Narrow, […]
Legacy, Ideology and Votes
NEED TO KNOW Legacy, Ideology and Votes The first round of Ecuador’s presidential election on Sunday isn’t really about the candidates running […]
No Gaps
NEED TO KNOW No Gaps Right-wing Israelis celebrated after US President Donald Trump sloughed off the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict […]