Foreign Policy Public Health Blog

The world according to Google: 5 crazy predictions from Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen's new book

Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen, the 31-year-old director of Google Ideas, make some pretty bold predictions in their new book, The New Digital Age , to be published by Knopf on April 23. The future they envision is full of technological...

Published Thu, Apr 18 2013 11:50 AM by FP Passport

The epic Bahrain protest videos emerging ahead of the Grand Prix

The Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix is scheduled for this Sunday, April 21. But if the country's protest movement has its way, the race won't take place at all. For months, opponents of Bahrain's monarchy have pressed for the race to be canceled...

Published Thu, Apr 18 2013 11:30 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Human Rights, Middle East, Democracy

Watch Pervez Musharraf flee a Pakistani courtroom

Pervez Musharraf's bizarre return to Pakistan from self-imposed exile, which has already been marked by the former president being disqualified from upcoming elections and live-tweeting his bail hearing (and exercise routine), just got even more bizarre...

Published Thu, Apr 18 2013 7:00 AM by FP Passport

Morning Brief: Assad frames Syrian uprising as Western plot

Assad frames Syrian uprising as Western plot Top news: In an interview broadcast on television Wednesday, embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad rejected the idea of negotiations and described what he said was a Western plot to recolonize his country...

Published Thu, Apr 18 2013 5:38 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Morning Brief

An alternative soundtrack for Maggie Thatcher's funeral

In death as in life, Margaret Thatcher inspires endless controversy. The former prime minister was buried today at St. Paul's Cathedral, and even the hymns chosen for the service have sparked debate -- never mind the lavish trappings of the ceremony...

Published Wed, Apr 17 2013 2:50 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Europe, Britain, Fun Stuff

Could the U.S. be the world's most populous country in 2100?

The United States, currently the world's third-most populous country behind China and India, could have the largest population in the world by 2100, according to new projections by Joseph Chamie, the former director of the United Nations Population...

Published Wed, Apr 17 2013 1:00 PM by FP Passport

The Texan who stole the show at Margaret Thatcher's funeral

After being carried through the streets of London in a flag-draped coffin aboard a gun carriage, former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was laid to rest this morning in St. Paul's Cathedral. But the big story of the day wasn't Maggie...

Published Wed, Apr 17 2013 11:40 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Europe, Britain, Politics, Media, Religion

What the Chinese exchange student killed in Boston thought of the United States

While the Chinese Consulate in New York has, at the request of family members, withheld personal details about the Chinese graduate student at Boston University who was killed in Monday's bombings, the New York Times is reporting that "a classmate...

Published Wed, Apr 17 2013 10:30 AM by FP Passport

Am I sleeping with my cousin? There's an app for that

In a country with a population of just 325,281 , it turns out it's not very hard to accidentally hook up with a close relative. "Everyone has heard of (or experienced) it when someone goes all in with someone and then later runs into that person...

Published Wed, Apr 17 2013 9:40 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Europe, Science & Technology, Fun Stuff, Cool

Morning Brief: Boston Marathon investigation focuses on pressure cooker bomb

Boston Marathon investigation focuses on pressure cooker bomb Top news: Police investigating the bombing at the Boston Marathon on Monday said that explosives housed in a pressure cooker had likely been used in the attack that killed three and wounded...

Published Wed, Apr 17 2013 5:48 AM by FP Passport

Filed under: Morning Brief

Russia is no longer worried about U.S. missile defense systems

If Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin is to be believed, Russia has stopped worrying about U.S. missile defense systems in Eastern Europe. In a speech delivered Tuesday at the Russian embassy in London, Rogozin claimed that the American missile...

Published Tue, Apr 16 2013 4:50 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Europe, North America, Russia, North Korea, Obama Administration, U.S. Foreign Policy, Nukes, International Relations, Iran, National Security

How influential was that Reinhart-Rogoff paper, exactly?

The world of anti-austerians is abuzz (and maybe somewhat gleeful ?) this afternoon about news that a paper by Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff -- the paper for those policymakers looking for serious academic work to back up their proposals for debt...

Published Tue, Apr 16 2013 3:00 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Europe, Politics, Economics, Finance

Is it too soon for a book on Mohamed Morsy's accomplishments?

People have a tendency to get carried away when hyping a new leader -- particularly one who represents significant change. Still, reports on Tuesday that the Muslim Brotherhood will be publishing a book on Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy's achievements...

Published Tue, Apr 16 2013 2:40 PM by FP Passport

Filed under: Culture, Egypt, Arab World

How long does it take terrorist groups to claim responsibility?

One reason many are speculating that the Boston Marathon bombing was the work of a " home-grown " or "lone-wolf " terrorist is the absence of a foreign terrorist group claiming responsibility for yesterday's tragedy. But how long...

Published Tue, Apr 16 2013 2:00 PM by FP Passport

Map: Epicenter of quake misses Iran's nuclear sites

Amid conflicting reports about the number of deaths caused by a massive 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Iran on Tuesday, a map of the country's nuclear-related facilities shows that the sensitive structures are not located near the epicenter...

Published Tue, Apr 16 2013 9:00 AM by FP Passport