By Jim Lobe WASHINGTON, Dec 18 2014 (IPS) – In perhaps his boldest foreign-policy move during his presidency, Barack Obama Wednesday announced that he intends to establish full diplomatic relations with Cuba. While the president noted that he lacked the authority to lift the 54-year-old trade embargo against Havana, he issued directives that will permit […]
If Jeb Bush Is In, Who Will Win Wall Street’s Money?
Bloomberg Business | — “Bloomberg’s Stephanie Ruhle and John Heilemann talk cash and 2016 prospects. Bloomberg Politics leads Bloomberg’s political coverage across all platforms: Web, mobile, television, digital video, radio, live events and more. “With All Due Respect” is hosted by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann airs at 5p ET/PT on Bloomberg Television and BloombergPolitics.com. […]
Europe Must follow Through on votes in Favor of Palestine Recognition
By John V Whitbeck European parliamentary resolutions urging their governments to recognise the State of Palestine must be followed by actual recognitions of the State of Palestine The European Parliament, after a late compromise in pursuit of consensus, has now passed, by a vote of 498 to 88 with 111 abstentions, a resolution stating that […]
No more Turning the Cheek: Assyrian Christians form Militia in Syria to fight al-Qaeda
Middle East Eye | — “The Syriac Military Council (MFS) was established in January 2013 to protect the marginalised Assyrian Christian communities in Syria. They have fought to defend themselves from the Islamic State, Al-Nusra Front and Ahrar al-Sham and frequently work in tandem with the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG). As sectarian violence swamps […]
Even Other Terrorists Denounce Taliban School Attacks In Pakistan
Cenk Uygur (The Young Turks) | — “”In one of the worst terrorist attacks in Pakistan’s history, militants belonging to the Pakistani Taliban on Tuesday launched a brazen attack on a military-run school in the city of Peshawar. Officials said the eight-hour siege left at least 141 people dead, most of them students. Tehrik-e-Taliban claimed […]
‘The Struggle for Pakistan’ (Ayesha Jalal)
By Joseph Richard Preville and Julie Poucher Harbin (ISLAMiCommentary) Column » ‘By the Book’ with Joseph Preville| — Pakistan is a nation with a strong will to survive. It has endured political upheavals, ethnic discord, military dictatorships, and the challenges of religious extremism. In her new book, The Struggle for Pakistan: A Muslim Homeland and […]
China’s Pivot toward Europe may Cut USA out of Deal
By Pepe Escobar | (Tomdispatch.com) — November 18, 2014: it’s a day that should live forever in history. On that day, in the city of Yiwu in China’s Zhejiang province, 300 kilometers south of Shanghai, the first train carrying 82 containers of export goods weighing more than 1,000 tons left a massive warehouse complex heading […]
Child Survivors Describe Horrors of Peshawar School Massacre
By RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal | — [Written by Michael Scollon, based on reporting from Peshawar by RFE/RL Radio Mashaal correspondent Zaland Yousufzai (RFE/RL) ] Islamist militants have killed more than 140 people at a military-run school in Peshawar, most of them children, in a devastating assault Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif called a “national tragedy unleashed […]
Now that’s Cold: Sydney Siege selfies provoke outrage at ‘Terror Tourists’
RT | — “While Sydney cafe siege continues, some people have decided to use the opportunity…to take some selfies. Pictures have emerged on social networks, with what are said to be tourists taking photos of themselves with police cordons or the cafe itself behind.” RT: “Sydney siege selfies: Outrage at ‘terror tourists’ smiling & snapping […]