Jonathan Soch

U.S. military hopes violent video games can serve as teaching tool

They've long been condemned for excessive violence and gore, but video games could also provide some teachable moments for gamers as they are blowing stuff up and killing bad guys.

April 19, 2015

Business groups hail breakthough on Trade Promotion Authority renewal

American business groups were quick to hail the congressional deal on new legislation Thursday that renews President Obama's authority to negotiate major new trade deals with Europe and Asia.

April 16, 2015

Haider Al-Abadi, Iraq PM: Religious tensions could undermine region

Iraq's prime minister has said that ending sectarian violence in the region is crucial to defeating the Islamic State militants in his country, warning that a military campaign will not be enough to secure long-term victory.

April 16, 2015

Anti-Semitism on rise: Study finds 2014 was worst year for attacks since 2009

Last year was one of the worst in a decade for violent anti-Semitic incidents, according to an annual study released Wednesday that tracked reported instances of threats and violence against Jews all around the world.

April 15, 2015

Tax deadline day approaches for U.S., but tax bite being felt around the world

American taxpayers struggling to locate the W-2s and calculate their Schedule As as Wednesday's annual tax deadline approaches can at least take comfort in this: They're not alone in the world when it comes to figuring how to do their taxes.

April 14, 2015

Muhammadu Buhari vows to take on Boko Haram, corruption in Nigeria

Victorious Nigerian President-elect Muhammadu Buhari praised his defeated rival Goodluck Jonathan for overseeing smooth elections and said his victory over the incumbent president in Sunday's vote signaled a new era of democracy and reconciliation for Africa's most populous country.

April 1, 2015

Muhammadu Buhari, the challenger, scored decisive victory in Nigerian vote

Muhammadu Buhari, who briefly ruled Nigerian in a military coup in the 1980s, will again become the leader of Africa's biggest nation, this time through the ballot box. The former general with a political base in the country's largely Muslim north scored an unexpectedly decisive victory over incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan as the final tallies from the weekend vote were released Tuesday.

March 31, 2015

Ashraf Ghani, Obama to discuss U.S. troops in Afghanistan

He will get a much warmer welcome than the man he replaced, but Afghan President Ashraf Ghani will likely have the same priorities as did predecessor Hamid Karzai when he begins his first trip as president to Washington next week — seeking hard promises of support from the Obama administration as Kabul battles the Taliban insurgency and struggles to rebuild its economy.

March 19, 2015

Lawmakers warn of links between Cuba, Iran, Venezuela

Venezuela's ties with Cuba and Iran raise even more red flags for the future of its relations with the United States, lawmakers told Obama administration officials Tuesday in the first Capitol Hill hearing since the recent sharp deterioration in relations between Washington and Caracas.

March 17, 2015

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German foreign minister, hits GOP letter to Iran on nuke talks

Germany's top diplomat Thursday criticized the "open letter" signed by 47 U.S. Republican senators to Iran regarding nuclear talks, warning it could undermine Tehran's confidence that a deal will be honored.

March 12, 2015

Pyongyang-Moscow love: Russia, North Korea step up warming ties

Linked by a mutual animosity for the United States these days, Russia and North Korea on Wednesday announced plans to accelerate warming bilateral ties with an official "Year of Friendship," Russian officials announced in Moscow.

March 11, 2015

Government reveals plan to boost organic food sector

The Obama administration on Tuesday said it will make available some $66.5 million in funding to help the nation's organic and specialty crop farmers.

March 10, 2015

‘Spirited Republic’ at the National Archives showcases role of alcohol in America

Ever since the first European settlers came to America, they have enjoyed a good alcoholic drink. But despite its place in American culture, alcohol has often been contentious. While some enjoy it, others feared the harm alcohol would do society.

March 8, 2015

Snow harries drivers, thrills sledders across D.C. region

Extreme weather can bring out the best and worst in people, and Thursday's snowstorm across the D.C. region was no exception.

March 5, 2015

Uber’s growth built on flexibility, study finds

Uber is starting to drive itself. The surging app-based taxi-alternative business recently conducted the first systematic analysis of its drivers and found that flexible work hours is one of the main reasons the company attracts such a diverse range of drivers.

March 4, 2015

Obama’s recession efforts didn’t help middle class, poor — report

More than seven out of ten Americans believe that government policies introduced since the recession have done little or nothing to help the middle class or the poor finds a new poll from the Pew Research center.

March 4, 2015

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf: Ebola battle far from over

Liberia's President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf wants Americans to know she's grateful for the help so far but her country's battle with the deadly Ebola epidemic is far from over.

February 26, 2015

Craft beer brewers gear up for battle on Capitol Hill

Having taken on Milwaukee and St. Louis, the nation's craft beer brewers are setting their sights on Washington.

February 25, 2015

Forest Trends recasts preservation debate, emphasizes economic benefits of conservation

Michael Jenkins believes there's more than one way to hug a tree. The president of the Washington-based nonprofit Forest Trends is trying to recast the long-running debate between developers and environmentalists over how to preserve and profit from the world's forests.

February 22, 2015

Expedia books $1.3B deal to buy travel rival Orbitz

In the continuing battle to dominate the Web's lucrative travel-booking business, Expedia announced Thursday it is buying rival travel site Orbitz for approximately $1.33 billion, seeking a greater share of an extremely competitive market.

February 12, 2015