Emerging Risks

COVID and overdose deaths have sharply cut U.S. life expectancy, with Indigenous peoples experiencing the biggest decline

In a nuclear war, hundreds to thousands of detonations would occur within minutes of each other, resulting in tens to hundreds of millions of people dead or injured in a few days. But a few years after a nuclear war, global climatic changes caused by the many nuclear explosions could be responsible for the death of more than half of the human population on Earth.

The U.S. and China are entering into a dangerous period where Beijing might temped to change the international order in Asia by force.

Senior U.S. military officials have worried in recent months that a Chinese military invasion of Taiwan could be just a few years away.

Given that an Israeli strike to prevent a nuclear Iran is probable, Israel and other states should prepare for a strong Iranian retaliation.

In functional terms, the U.S. has come to be one big plutocracy in 2022 – a “government by the wealthy.” What does that mean?

Can the U.S. military handle two wars at once?

Research at Boston University that involved testing a lab-made hybrid version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is garnering heated headlines alleging the scientists involved could have unleashed a new pathogen.

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China has decided to seize Taiwan on a “much faster timeline” than previously thought, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today, shortly after China’s leader reiterated his intent to take the island by force if necessary.

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When Xi Jinping came to power a decade ago, China had just overtaken Japan to become the world's second largest economy.

He has unleashed an array of military, economic and political campaigns to brace the country for the possibility of confrontation archived 14 Oct 2022 14:19:18 UTC

“Here’s what former CIA Director Panetta says are the odds for a nuclear war in Ukraine.”

The realities underlying the menacing vocabulary are a grey area – it is far from certain that Putin would be prepared to use nuclear weapons

Plus, Fed fears doing ‘too little’ on inflation and Saudi Arabia defends oil cuts

Just what we need, another dangerous street drug. It's called xylazine aka Tranq and is approved only as an animal sedative. But it's increasingly being used along with fentanyl, making both more dangerous. And there is no antidote. Our drug policy continues to result in more dangerous drugs on the street - something we should have (but did not) learn long ago. And a short DCLFH for all you masochists out there.

A new podcast about China’s leader

No comprehensive settlement is possible for the moment, but the US must start laying the groundwork for crisis diplomacy The second lesson is Putin’s reaction to humiliating setbacks. Far from backing down, he will double down with little regard for the strategic consequences of his actions.

The U.S. government purchased an anti-radiation drug, while radiation emergency information posters line PATH trains in New Jersey and New York.

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China insists that its growing military and diplomatic clout pose no threat. The rest of the world, and particularly America, is not so sure, says Edward Carr archived 27 Jan 2021 20:40:44 UTC

It is clear that hard choices loom archived 11 Oct 2022 06:13:04 UTC

Pressured by opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, and concerned over Hezbollah attacking, Prime Minister Yair Lapid announced Israel will not negotiate its maritime border with Lebanon under threats.

Cabinet reportedly gives Lapid, Gantz, Bennett power to deal with rising tensions; northern council urges tourists to visit despite fears wobbling border pact could spark conflict