By Golnaz Esfandiari (RFL/RE) | — Raana and Hamed have been living together for four years. They eat together. They both contribute to the household and share a savings account. They fight “like husbands and wives in a registered marriage.” They even wear wedding rings and introduce themselves as a married couple. But they’re not. […]
Police Accountability more important than Bodycams
By Maria McFarland Sánchez-Moreno, Human Rights Watch Yesterday’s grand jury decision in the Eric Garner case in New York City – the second in just over two weeks in which a grand jury in the United States failed to indict a white police officer in the killing of an unarmed African American – has raised […]
Iraq Fail: Shiite Gov’t asks Sunni tribe to fight ISIL, but Sentences Politician from Tribe to Death
By Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) While members of the Sunni Muslim al-Bu Ulwan tribe were fighting extremists in the Anbar province, alongside the mostly Shiite Muslim military, judges in Baghdad sentenced a politician from the tribe to death. The tribe says it feels like Baghdad has stabbed it in the back. Other Anbar […]
Will the next Israeli Gov’t be even more Far Right & Colonial?
By Mitchell Plitnick (IPS) | — The Israeli government is headed for yet another round of elections. Although the official election date for the next Knesset is November 7, 2017, no one ever expected this government to last that long. The voting will likely take place in March of 2015. What do the new elections […]
Massive Oil spill from major pipeline threatens Israel nature reserve
AFP | — “A major pipeline leak has caused oil to gush into the Arava desert in southern Israel, threatening a protected nature reserve, officials said Thursday.” AFP: “Oil spill from major pipeline threatens Israel nature reserve”
Threatened by ISIL/Daesh, Kurds Maneuver between Baghdad and Ankara
Iraqi Kurds Seek Greater Balance between Ankara and Baghdad By Mohammed A. Salih ERBIL, Dec 4 2014 (IPS) – After a period of frostiness, Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and Turkey seem intent on mending ties, as each of the parties show signs of needing the other. But the Kurds appear more cautious this time […]
Watchdog Says World Internet Freedom In Decline
By RFE/RL | — A U.S.-based rights watchdog says Internet freedom around the world has deteriorated for the fourth consecutive year, with the steepest declines in Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey. In its “Freedom On The Net 2014” report, released on December 4, Freedom House says that Iran, Syria, and China are the world’s worst abusers […]
Chokehold Victim Eric Garner’s Mother: “Justice System Failed Us”
AJ+ | — “Dec. 3, 2014, New York City: The widow of Eric Garner, the unarmed black man who died after an NYPD officer killed him by chokehold, says she doesn’t accept the officer’s prayers and condolences. She was speaking at a news conference along with Eric Garner’s mother and Rev. Al Sharpton hours after […]
Could Years more of Syrian Civil War be Avoided by Comprehensive Talks with Iran?
By James L. Gelvin, University of California, Los Angeles The most serious attempt to bring the Syrian regime and representatives of the opposition together around a negotiating table together took place at the 2014 Geneva II peace talks. The talks were based on the Geneva Communiqué which had been signed in 2012 at a meeting […]
© 2025 All Rights Reserved