Marcelo Castellanos was 15 years old when he first came up with an idea about how to help the impoverished communities on El Salvador’s Pacific coast, where he was spending all his free time surfing. El Salvador was already recognized for having some of the best “point breaks” in the world, to use a surfing term. The young Mr. Castellanos emailed an international surfing organization and asked if he could start a local chapter.

Sat, 18 Aug 2018 07:00:01 -0400

Danny Heitman’s review in the July 9 & 16 issue of Ted Kooser’s new book of poetry, “Kindest Regards,” was uplifting to read. Recommended: Could you pass a US citizenship test? How about a piece on the two interpreters who were in the room with President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un when they met in June?

Sat, 18 Aug 2018 06:00:02 -0400

When Pakistan installs Imran Khan as its new prime minister Saturday, the cricket star-turned-populist politician will be wearing an old sherwani, or traditional coat-length garment. As part of his bid to demonstrate frugality and a new path for Pakistan’s leadership, Mr. Khan plans to forego the crisp new sherwani traditionally crafted for the ceremonial swearing-in by one of Islamabad’s go-to tailors to the political elite. The gesture seems to fit a politician who ran on a slogan of “New Pakistan,” and attracted the support of down-on-politics millennials and a besieged middle class by promising an end to the country’s rife corruption, nepotism, and political-party patronage.

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 16:39:48 -0400

This might sound like a familiar storyline in the United States. While streets in Canada are much less violent and its debate about guns much less virulent than in the US, many see an American “creep,” both in the prevalence of guns and the polarization around them. As the government weighs tighter restrictions, some are calling into question the comfort Canada has long taken in its relative peace compared with the US.

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 13:44:08 -0400