INTRODUCTION Harvard political scientist Huntington has developed a grand overview of war in recent history with projections for its future which pivot on conflict between civilizations instead of over ideologies or economics: World politics is entering a new phase, and intellectuals have not hesitated to proliferate visions of what it will be--the end of history, the return of traditional rivalries between nation states, and the decline of the nation state from the conflicting pulls of tribalism and globalism, among others. Each of these visions catches aspects of the emerging reality. Yet they all miss a crucial, indeed a central, aspect…

With Congress focused on reforming the tax code and replacing Obamacare—plus keeping the government open—there’s little oxygen for other policy issues. But one big issue is sure to get some attention because it expires at the end of December: the government’s surveillance authority. Government surveillance has been this big issue for 11 years, and much of the current debate boils down to one obscure-sounding but crucial corner of the law. The controversial program is called Section 702, after the section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that allows the government to collect the communications of Americans under certain circumstances. Lawmakers are…

Background Little information is available about the geo-economic variations in demographics, management, and outcomes of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We aimed to characterise the effect of these geo-economic variations in patients enrolled in the Large Observational Study to Understand the Global Impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Failure (LUNG SAFE). Methods LUNG SAFE was done during 4 consecutive weeks in winter, 2014, in a convenience sample of 459 intensive-care units in 50 countries across six continents. Inclusion criteria were admission to a participating intensive-care unit (including transfers) within the enrolment window and receipt of invasive or non-invasive ventilation.…

During times of deep trial, despair, and sadness, Muslims seek comfort and guidance in the words of Allah in the Quran. Allah reminds us that all people will be tried and tested in life, and calls upon Muslims to bear these trials with "patient perseverance and prayer." Indeed, Allah reminds us that many people before us have suffered and had their faith tested; so too will we be tried and tested in this life. There are dozens upon dozens of verses that remind Muslims to be patient and trust in Allah during these times of trial. Among them: "Seek Allah's help with patient perseverance and…

Eid -ul -Fitr is a unique festival. It has no connection with any historical event nor is it related to the changes of seasons or cycles of agriculture. It is not a festival related in any way to worldly affairs. Its significance is purely spiritual. It is the day when the Muslims thank Allah for having given them the will, the strength and the endurance to observe fast and obey His commandment during the holy month of Ramadhan. This day, in Muslim world, brings rejoicing and happiness. The rejoicing is not, however, at the departure of the month of Ramadhan;…