Andrew Nachemson

Donald Trump border wall proposal sparks controversy, but barriers are popular worldwide

Donald Trump isn't the world's only fan of walls. Three strands of razor wire currently delineate the boundary between Hungary and Serbia, but by the end of this month, Hungarian officials plan to have erected a 109-mile-long, 13-foot-tall fence to stem a rising tide of illegal immigrants.

August 18, 2015

Iran’s Green Movement reform activists see hope in nuclear deal

The hard-liners are making the most noise in Iran's domestic debate over the nuclear deal, but many of the country's sidelined reformist politicians and human rights activists are quietly greeting the pact with relief and support.

July 28, 2015

VW noses ahead of Toyota, GM in global sales race for first time

The Beetle is boss as Volkswagen bested Toyota and General Motors in international sales for the first six months of 2015, according to new figures released Tuesday.

July 28, 2015

Alzheimer’s costs in U.S. will consume 25 percent of Medicare

Alzheimer's advocates are warning that Medicare and the national health system will be swamped by costs and patient loads in the coming years if no action is taken to prepare for a projected huge increase in the caseload as baby boomers enter their senior years.

July 22, 2015

Obama’s Ethiopia visit legitimizes authoritarian government, critical expatriates say

President Obama is poised to become the first sitting president to visit Ethiopia when he travels to Africa later this week, but the milestone is not a source of pride for Aklog Birara.

July 21, 2015

Alzheimer’s to affect 28 million boomers, eat up Medicare funds

More than 28 million baby boomers will develop Alzheimer's in their lifetimes, experts predicted in a new analysis. The report, released by the Alzheimer's Association at its international conference being held this week in Washington, also projects that combating the disease will eventually consume 25 percent of all Medicare spending as the huge baby boomer generation ages.

July 20, 2015

Iran nuclear deal condemned by Israel, Saudi Arabia; other world leaders relieved

Israel and Saudi Arabia wasted no time blasting the nuclear accord with Iran, while many of the world's leaders -- and some of Iran's immediate neighbors -- expressed relief that a deal had been reached.

July 14, 2015

D.C. streetcar desire cools amid missteps, costs

There's at least one thing on which opponents and supporters of a key D.C. public transportation project agree: Missteps are cooling desire for a streetcar system on H Street in Northeast.

July 5, 2015

July 4, 1865: First Independence Day after Civil War subdued as nation healed

It was a Fourth of July unlike any other in the nation's history. Independence Day 1865 -- exactly 150 years ago -- was an uneasy mix of joy, relief, resentment and unhealed wounds as Americans sought reasons for celebration after a war that nearly tore apart the country.

July 2, 2015

Cuba embargo remains hurdle in U.S.-Cuba thaw

The embassies may be reopening, but the embargo will take a lot longer to come down.

July 1, 2015

Republican Party looks to young lawmaker in bid to improve standing with millennials

Republicans this week turned to their youngest-ever representative, Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, to try to improve the party's chances of capturing more of the ever-elusive millennial generation's vote.

June 24, 2015

Fitbit steps out on Wall Street with first stock sale

Fitbit, inspirer of uncounted billions of steps, took a giant leap of its own Thursday with an initial public offering which saw investors snap up shares at a much higher valuation than anticipated.

June 18, 2015

Climate change annual conference provides skeptics a ‘safe zone’ to air views, grievances

At least for a brief time in a small place, there was an overwhelming consensus among the gathered scholars, climatologists, policymakers and elected officials about man-made climate change -- that it's a colossal fraud.

June 17, 2015

Central African Republic: Terrorist ‘economy’ bankrolls bloodshed in African nation

Armed insurgent groups fighting in Central African Republic have set up a virtual parallel economy — complete with for-profit businesses and an elaborate system of taxes — to finance a campaign of terror, sexual violence and other activities, according to a new report released Wednesday.

June 17, 2015

China seen as launching plan to revamp global economic order

China's leaders have embarked on a conscious strategy to reshape the economy of Asia and the world to their advantage, according to two top scholars at the Council on Foreign Relations, who warned Tuesday the restructuring could occur at the expense of U.S. economic interests if American policymakers fail to develop a comprehensive response.

June 16, 2015

Bernie Sanders: Socialists sharply divided as Sanders makes run

They finally have one of their own running for president, but America's small band of socialists are not exactly united in backing Sen. Bernie Sanders' underdog campaign for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.

June 11, 2015

South Korea’s Park scrubs U.S. visit over MERS outbreak

The MERS outbreak in South Korea has forced President Park Geun-hye to postpone a planned visit to the United States next week.

June 10, 2015

‘Pong’ and ‘Pac-Man’ head inaugural class for video game Hall of Fame

A gallant mustachioed Italian plumber in blue overalls and an omnivorous little yellow ball locked down their status as cultural icons as "Super Mario Bros." and "Pac-Man" were named Thursday to the inaugural class of the World Video Game Hall of Fame.

June 4, 2015

White House slammed for slew of Inspector Generals vacancies

With an invited White House official a no-show, lawmakers teed off on the Obama administration at a Senate hearing over what critics say is an unprecedented number of vacancies in the federal government's watchdog corps.

June 3, 2015