Short Reads (Page 382)

short readsNov 20, 2013

American-Israeli friction on Iran is evident in public opinion

Three-quarters of Israelis have a very unfavorable view of Iran, while only 42% of Americans share such strong negative sentiments.
short readsNov 20, 2013

Experts rank the top 10 global trends

A new report from the World Economic Forum ranks the 10 most important global trends, based on a poll of 1,592 leaders from academia, business, government, and non-profits. Here are some data points that compare and contrast the public’s views around the world with the trends identified by the experts. 1. Rising societal tensions in the Middle […]
short readsNov 19, 2013

Beirut bombings follow fears of Syrian war fallout

A pair of suicide bombings today struck near the Iranian Embassy in Lebanon, the latest violence in a country where concerns have run high about Iran’s influence and the spillover of violence from the civil war in Syria.
short readsNov 19, 2013

New Google ad highlights complicated India-Pakistan relationship

The feel-good ad may be surprising to Western viewers, who are likely familiar with the two nations’ antagonistic relationship.
short readsNov 19, 2013

In Cheney sisters’ feud, Republicans side with Liz

Former Vice President Dick Cheney waded into a public dispute between his daughters on Monday, highlighting the debate in the Republican party over same-sex marriage. The dispute began when daughter Liz Cheney, who is running for a Wyoming Senate seat, said she would not change her position on same-sex marriage despite her sister Mary’s marriage […]
short readsNov 19, 2013

Gettysburg Address: Americans still find the Civil War relevant to today’s politics

Today is the 150th anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, his speech about a war that more than half of Americans say is still relevant to modern day U.S. politics.
short readsNov 18, 2013

Dow soars, but only about half of Americans will benefit

About half of all Americans own stocks, either directly or indirectly.
short readsNov 15, 2013

Chart of the Week: Inflation and unemployment through the decades

A look at 80+ years of economic history shows a complicated relationship between inflation and unemployment.
short readsNov 15, 2013

Texting while driving may be common, but it’s illegal in most states

Number of states that ban texting while driving.
short readsNov 15, 2013

The global consensus: Inequality is a major problem

One of the most striking findings from a recent Pew Research Center survey of general publics across the globe was the degree to which people see the gap between rich and poor as a major challenge. In 31 of 39 nations, half or more of those polled said inequality is a very big problem in their country.