American films, except ‘Sound of Freedom,’ still hold sway in France

American films, except ‘Sound of Freedom,’ still hold sway in France

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, August 21, 2023 PARIS — Barbie has charmed Paris. The pink hued doll figure come alive in its blockbuster movie rendition has captured the hearts and imagination of the French film viewers during the second post-Covid Summer. Next, after the syrupy saccharine adventures of Barbie comes the cerebral […]

Coup in geostrategic Niger confronts France — and U.S. — with Russia’s expanding footprint

Coup in geostrategic Niger confronts France — and U.S. — with Russia’s expanding footprint

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, August 13, 2023 PARIS — The recent military coup d’etat in Niger, a vast and arid land on the southern tier of the Sahara, underscores the widening political crisis in Africa’s Sahel region, where instability, dire poverty and Islamic jihadi terrorism, have stalked the land. Thus, when Gen. […]

Paris Olympics countdown begins with expected complications, security and rights concerns

Paris Olympics countdown begins with expected complications, security and rights concerns

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, August 7, 2023 PARIS — The one-year countdown for the opening of the Paris Summer Olympics has begun. The return of the Olympics to France is largely met with eager anticipation for this international sporting extravaganza, but is equally tempered by the usual security concerns, political controversies, and […]

Russia accused of playing ‘Hunger Games’ with global grain supplies

Russia accused of playing ‘Hunger Games’ with global grain supplies

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, July 28, 2023 The Russians are acting more and more like Soviets. Their brutal war in Ukraine underscores the point that Moscow’s military ambitions have counter-humanitarian consequences. And now the Kremlin’s shutdown of the UN-brokered Black Sea Grain initiative signals that Vladimir Putin is willing to block food […]

North Korea conducts 20th missile launch this year on eve of 70th anniversary of truce

North Korea conducts 20th missile launch this year on eve of 70th anniversary of truce

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, July 18, 2023 North Korea’s unannounced launch of another ballistic missile has nearly become a ho-hum event given the rash but predictable actions of Pyongyang’s rulers. After all we have seen this bellicose stunt many times before and thus have become dangerously numb and nearly indifferent to its […]

U.S. under Team Biden rejoins UNESCO; Pay at the door

U.S. under Team Biden rejoins UNESCO; Pay at the door

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, July 9, 2023 UNESCO is one of those United Nations agencies that most people feel pretty comfortable with. The group’s designated World Heritage Sites form a growing global roster of iconic natural, cultural and historic locations ranging from the Grand Canyon and Independence Hall in the USA to […]

Warming India-U.S. ties and ‘Quad’ emerge as ‘force for good’ vs China in the Indo-Pacific

Warming India-U.S. ties and ‘Quad’ emerge as ‘force for good’ vs China in the Indo-Pacific

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, June 30, 2023 The State Visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington illustrated both style and substance of the evolving relationship between the world’s two largest democracies. President Joe Biden described the India/American relationship as, “A partnership that is among the most consequential in the world, […]

Migration crisis: 108 million worldwide and in U.S. ‘human trafficking rings operating with near impunity’

Migration crisis: 108 million worldwide and in U.S. ‘human trafficking rings operating with near impunity’

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, June 23, 2023 As chaos and conflict seem to be the tragic trend in many parts of the world, a sad parallel follows: Large numbers of people are fleeing and being displaced by the violence. The numbers are stunningly high and climbing according to the UN High Commissioner […]

New UN Security Council lineup includes pro-U.S. South Korea and Slovenia

New UN Security Council lineup includes pro-U.S. South Korea and Slovenia

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, June 17, 2023 In one of the more predictable rites of Spring at the United Nations, the General Assembly has elected, or actually selected, five new non-permanent members to serve on the powerful fifteen member Security Council. While this year’s contest lacked the drama, debate and deliberation of […]

Syrian Christians bore the brunt of Arab Spring; 7 of 10 Syrians need humanitarian aid

Syrian Christians bore the brunt of Arab Spring; 7 of 10 Syrians need humanitarian aid

Special to WorldTribune.com By John J. Metzler, June 8, 2023 The world seems to have forgotten about Syria. You could excuse this after a dozen years of bloody conflict, humanitarian catastrophes and a jarring earthquake in February. Equally there’s a global crisis overload from the Middle East to Eastern Europe and looming in East Asia. […]