Moscow’s Jewish Museum and Tolerance Center is like no other Jewish Museum. First, there’s its size: according to its organizers, it’s the largest Jewish history museum in the world. Then, there are the exhibits. A Russian news site called it “Jewish Disneyland.” One exhibit in the massive, state-of-the-art institution virtually displays Jewish historical clothing on the […]

We reported earlier that America may be preparing to intervene in Mali. In recent months, however, the Nigerian army has been the Great White Hope, so to speak, of those looking for a regional solution to the establishment of a jihadi regime there. The regional bloc known as Ecowas (Economic Community of West African States) had […]

Argentina’s President Kirchner has really done it this time: A massive blackout in the capital has prompted 300,000 protesters to take to the streets not only throughout Argentina but also outside Argentinean embassies around the world.The demonstrations are the largest so far in the Kirchner era (including Nestor Kirchner’s term). The protesters are comparing the current political […]

It’s no longer much of a secret that America is facing a serious pensions crisis, but the severity of that crisis depends on where you live. In much of the South and the breadbasket, they’re a minor concern. In more densely populated states like New York, California, and Illinois, they’re driving state governments to the […]

A diplomatic argument has erupted between Germany and Russia over a German politician’s criticism of President Putin and his crackdown on Russian civil society. Russia protested, but Chancellor Angela Merkel’s own spokesman retaliated, saying the Kremlin’s position “astonished us.”Berlin’s relationship with the Kremlin has “for decades oscillated between realpolitik and values,” says the Economist. But Russia […]

Greece is still driving Europeans bananas. For the umpteenth time, international talks about a Greek rescue package have come to an impasse, this time regarding a dispute between Brussels and the IMF over the size of the package and how the burden should be divided. Northern European lending countries like Germany have already ruled out taking […]

In the past two days alone, six Tibetans have set themselves on fire in protest of Chinese oppression, adding to an already alarming death toll. The AP reports: A total of 69 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since February 2009, of which 54 have died, according to the government in exile, which has been based […]

China’s response to the Obama administration’s pivot to Asia is now enshrined in Communist party documents as official policy, the FT reports: Hu Jintao, China’s outgoing president, has called for China to become a “maritime power” in language that will fuel concerns among its neighbours and in the US over how it deals with a […]

As we’ve said in the past, The U.S. and Iran are already involved in a very real, if covert, war. But Iran is also waging secret wars with other countries, most notably with Israel. We’ve covered many of these clandestine battles individually as they have come to light, but it’s worth taking a step back to […]

It sure looks like the US has some more leading from behind in Africa ahead of it. Reuters reports that plans are solidifying for what Theodore Roosevelt might have called a “splendid little war” in Mali: “International forces will not do the ground fighting, that role will belong to the Malian army,” a military officer […]