UN peacekeeping at new highs after post-Cold War surge and decline
The number of UN peacekeeping forces around the world has peaked in recent months after falling off in the late 1990s, following a period of trial and error for UN interventions.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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Americans feel the tensions between privacy and security concerns
Much of the focus has been on government surveillance, though there are also significant concerns about how businesses use data.
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Global opinion varies widely on use of torture against suspected terrorists
The view that torture may be justified is most common in sub-Saharan Africa, where a median of 55% hold this view; it is least common in Latin America (a median of 25%). In the U.S., 58% say torture can be justified as part of efforts to prevent terrorist attacks.
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Refugee crises, climate change are top risks in next 10 years, experts say
Large-scale refugee flows and lack of progress in slowing global warming are the top risks that the world faces in the coming decade, according to a survey by the World Economic Forum of executives and experts.
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Before Obama’s last State of the Union, a look back at his early hopes
On the occasion of President Obama’s last State of the Union address, a look back at his first congressional address – his priorities, those of the public at the time and what’s happened in the years since.
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Views of Government’s Handling of Terrorism Fall to Post-9/11 Low
Survey Report Following the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., the public’s concerns about terrorism have surged and positive ratings of the government’s handling of terrorism have plummeted. But other attitudes relating to terrorism and security, as well as perceptions of whether Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence, have […]
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In Africa, Pope Francis will find religious vibrancy and violence
The three countries on the pope’s itinerary — Uganda, Kenya and the Central African Republic — all have sizable Catholic populations. But they also have seen violent clashes in recent years.
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In nations with significant Muslim populations, much disdain for ISIS
Most people in the countries we surveyed – including 11 countries with significant Muslim populations – had negative views of the Islamic State extremist group as of spring.
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Mixed Views of Initial U.S. Response to Europe’s Migrant Crisis
Survey Report The public has mixed reactions to the U.S. response to the influx of hundreds of thousands of migrants arriving in Europe in recent weeks. By a narrow 51%-45% margin, more approve than disapprove of the U.S. decision to increase the number of refugees it accepts to help deal with this situation. When asked […]
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What Americans, Europeans think of immigrants
Pope Francis has urged European Catholics to take in some of the thousands of migrants streaming in from Syria and other countries amid the world’s largest refugee crisis on record, and in his address to Congress today he urged leaders to welcome and respect immigrants coming to the U.S. But just how closely public opinion aligns with the pope’s […]
