By Luke Johnson | (RFE/RL) WASHINGTON — Should U.S. President Barack Obama and Western powers reach a nuclear deal with Iran, they could face a new hurdle: a Republican Congress. Republicans are eyeing various Iran-related measures, including legislation to impose fresh sanctions should talks fail and to require congressional review of any deal. The Obama […]
Guns: Americans more likely to be Shot by Toddler than by Terrorist
By Ann Jones | (Tomdispatch.com) Americans who live abroad — more than six million of us worldwide (not counting those who work for the U.S. government) — often face hard questions about our country from people we live among. Europeans, Asians, and Africans ask us to explain everything that baffles them about the increasingly odd […]
Muslim Hero Lassana Bathily Saved Jewish Hostages in Paris
WotchitGeneralNews | — “At a kosher supermarket in Paris, a quick-thinking Muslim employee hides several Jewish shoppers in the basement before sneaking out to brief police on the hostage-taker upstairs. In the town of Dammartin-en-Goele, a poker-faced businessman fools a pair of gunmen into believing they’re alone in the building before being allowed to leave […]
Indian State size of Texas *requires* Solar Panels on Bldgs. by 2015
Times of India | — “The Haryana government has decided to usher in the New Year with one of the biggest pushes for solar power in the country. The state [pop. 25 mn.] has made it mandatory for all buildings on plot size of 500 square yards or more to install rooftop solar power systems […]
Brother of Slain Muslim Policeman: Assassins “Pretend Muslims,” Terrorists
BBC | — “The brother of the Paris policeman [Ahmed Merabet] killed by the Charlie Hebdo shooter urged people not to avenge his death with further violence and reiterated that Islam was not about “terrorism or madness”. He added: “My brother was Muslim and he was killed by people who pretend to be Muslims. They […]
Saudis torture jailed Liberal Blogger w/ 1000 lashes for… Blogging
Human Rights Watch | (Beirut) — More Lashes Pending for Creating Liberal Website, Insulting Religious Authorities King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia should overturn the lashing and prison term for a blogger imprisoned for his views and immediately grant him a pardon. Saudi authorities lashed Raif Badawi 50 times on January 9, 2015, in front of […]
French Far Right Poised to Exploit Paris Attacks for Political Gain
By Thomas Scotto | (The Conversation) On the streets of France there is a strong public response to the murders of 12 people at the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. But we do not yet know the medium to long-term consequences the attack will have on the nation’s public mood. We conducted a representative […]
How France’s Jewish Community is affected by Paris Antisemitic Terrorist Attacks
CCTV | (Ron Kampeas Interview) — “CCTV America’s Elaine Reyes interviewed Washington bureau chief for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency Ron Kampeas.” CCTV: “Ron Kampeas discusses how France’s Jewish community is affected by Paris terror attacks ”
How is the Press in the Muslim World covering the Paris Attacks?
By Joanna Paraszczuk | (RFE/RL) — Media in the Muslim world have published a wide variety of reactions to the deadly attack on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. In Iran, the morning papers offered very diverse coverage of the event. Although overall coverage was low-key compared to Western media, some […]