The east coast of India is bracing for the cyclone, Phailin, which is both very large and incredibly powerful. In US terms, the cyclone is easily a Category 5 hurricane, and the cyclone spreads over 1,000 miles from India to Myanmar. Mass evacuations have been ordered, but the expected damage will be considerable.
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons has been awarded this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. The selection was due in large part to the critical role the OPCW is playing in the chemical disarmament of Syria. The announcement doubtless disappointed those who wished to see Malala Yousafzai win the prize, but the selection is probably directed toward reinforcing the OPCW’s position in Syria. The Nobel Committee likely assumed that the prize would lend great legitimacy to the effort to disarm chemical weapons.
The current stalemate between the Republicans and the Democrats offers a fascinating opportunity to think about the balance of power. It is, after all, a power struggle between the two parties, and the standoff is an example of how two states find themselves on the brink of war. The Atlantic, has a great article on how the negotiations are playing out, and how important it is to find an outcome that does not eliminate an essential actor. Or, perhaps, why a power struggle can force a major actor to redefine its interests.
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