“War is the health of the state. It automatically sets in motion throughout society those irresistible forces for uniformity, for passionate cooperation with the government in coercing into obedience the minority groups and individuals, which lack the larger herd sense.” — Randolph Bourne (1886-1918) One hundred years ago, two events three days apart set the 20th century’s trajectory. On …

  Twin suicide bombings struck two Coptic churches in the northern cities of Tanta and Alexandria in Egypt killing 44 people during Palm Sunday services. Hours later IS group claimed responsibility for the attacks on the Mar Girgis church in the Nile Delta city of Tanta and St. Mark’s cathedral in Alexandria. At least 27 people were reported killed in …

  Xiang Junbo, the man on whose watch China’s insurance industry flourished, is now himself under investigation. As Bloomberg News reported over the weekend, China’s anti-graft agency is probing the nation’s top insurance official as the government steps up a bid to rein in financial risks. But with so many firms still hungry for returns and diversification, that shouldn’t slow …