News

Reversing a decades-old policy not to sell arms to “crisis regions” of the world, Germany sold 270 of its most advanced Leopard tanks to Saudi Arabia in 2011 (Der Spiegel, October 14, 2011). This action caught many off guard, even some within the German government. 

Because of other calamities and disasters making news headlines lately, not as much attention has been given recently to a different problem. This is the problem of drought increasing around the world. Although occasional monsoons, snowstorms and typhoons continue to make headlines, rainfall shortages and worsening drought conditions—from Asia to Australia to the Americas—are affecting once rich agricultural land around the world.

“The Ukraine crisis has dramatically worsened relations between NATO and Russia. With cooperation on nuclear security now suspended and the lack of a ‘red telephone,’ experts at the Munich Security Conference warn any escalation in tensions could grow deadly” (Der Spiegel, February 13, 2015).