News

After years of a destabilizing relationship following their two-year war from 1998 to 2000, the leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea recently met and began what many are describing as a “warm friendship” (CSIS, July 25, 2018). This new friendship brings a thaw in relations and the resumption of air flights between the two nations. It also opens up the potential for Ethiopia, a land-locked nation of 70 million people, to use Eritrea’s strategic Red Sea ports.

High temperatures, strong winds and months of dry weather are creating severe conditions in various parts of the world. Over 400 fires are burning in western Canada, and more than 100 fires are burning in the United States (Vancouver Sun, August 8, 2018; Reuters, August 11, 2018).

Israel’s new nation-state law has angered many across the globe and especially the Arab community. The new law clearly states that Israel is “the nation-state of the Jewish people” (New York Times, July 19, 2018). Opponents have claimed that the new law discriminates against Palestinians and other ethnic groups living in Israel and limits the concept of democracy in the country.

The United States' economy has rebounded and is firing on all cylinders. The country is at full employment and labor shortages loom in many industries. Retail sales are strong and interest rates remain quite low. Inflation, always a concern, is modest and does not seem threatening at this juncture. The Federal tax cuts introduced in 2018 are beginning to be felt with increased wages, business expansion, and healthy returns for stockholders.

These facts and figures dominate the daily news as people pursue their various livelihoods or enterprises.

Is there life anywhere else besides planet Earth? Is it just a matter of time until it is discovered? Will the billions of dollars spent searching for this extraterrestrial life pay off?