By Jon Queally, staff writer | ( Commondreams.org ) | – – Former New York City mayor indicates willingness to spend “at least $1 billion”… especially if Sanders bumps Clinton. Is the real establishment getting worried? As news broke Saturday afternoon that billionaire former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg is “seriously” considering the idea […]
Archives for January 2016
The Surprising Reasons Oil Prices Keep Falling
By Marcelle Arak and Sheila Tschinkel | (The Conversation) | – – Global stock markets have been in a tailspin this week. And the sinking price of oil received at least some of the blame. Just this week, the cost of a barrel of crude reached a 12-year-low of US$27, down from more than $100 […]
71 UK doctors call on World Medical Association to Expel Israel over Torture
Ma’an News Agency | – – ‘BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — A group of British doctors is pushing for the World Medical Association (WMA) to expel the Israeli Medical Association (IMA), the IMA’s chairman said on Wednesday during a meeting of the Knesset Science and Technology committee. In a discussion dealing with the academic boycott of Israel, […]
How Bad Is The Violence In Iraq?
AJ+ | (Video News Report) | – – “A UN report on the violence in Iraq from January 2014 to October 2015 makes for sober reading. 19,000 civilians were killed, 36,000 injured and 3,500 are being held hostage by ISIS. ” AJ+: “How Bad Is The Violence In Iraq?”
Turkey-Russia Tensions Spike as Russia moves into Northern Syria
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Russian air strikes in Syria are coming closer and closer to the Turkish border in Latakia in the northwest, and there are rumors that Russia is looking at establishing an airbase at Qamishli in the largely Kurdish northeast of Syria. Turkey risks having Russia as a […]
Flint’s water crisis is a blatant example of environmental injustice
Robert D. Bullard | (The Conversation) | – – Many observers see race and class as factors in Flint, Michigan’s drinking water crisis. Earlier this week Flint’s mayor, Karen Weaver, said, “It’s a minority community. It’s a poor community. And our voices were not heard.” We asked Robert D. Bullard, Dean of the School of […]
Airbnb profits from Israeli theft of Palestinian Land with Squatter Listings
AJ+ | (Video News Report) | – – “Palestinians are angry at Airbnb. The website advertises dozens of homes located in illegal Israeli settlements.” Israeli Settler Homes On Airbnb Opinion:"Airbnb takes a commission on property rentals, and so is profiting from Israel's colonisation of Palestine" https://t.co/uEo1Xs6ULG — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 14, 2016 ACT […]
Iranian Pres. Rouhani slams Hard Liners: Ban on Liberal Candidates makes Parliamentary Vote Pointless
By Golnaz Esfandiari | ( RFE/RL) | – – Iran’s president has criticized the mass disqualification of candidates in next month’s parliamentary elections, suggesting the decision could make the vote pointless. The comments by Hassan Rohani signaled continuing tensions between the president, who has presented himself as a moderate, and powerful hard-liners who control key […]
Iraq: Facebook Group debunks hate-provoking Urban Legends on Social Media
Mustafa Habib | (Niqash.org) | – – An extremist ‘hero’ with a mortar in his shoulder. A secret plot bringing the Iraqi Kurdish and the Islamic State together. Iraqi social media can prove it all. Or can it? After the recent execution of a leading Shiite Muslim cleric with pro-democracy views, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, in […]