Economy

Cenk Uygur | (The Young Turks) | – ‘”The Obama administration’s proposed curbs on coal-burning power plants could prevent thousands of deaths each year from heart attack and respiratory disease, scientists said Monday in the first peer-reviewed study to examine the measure’s health impacts. Many parts of the country could see immediate improvements in air […]

Arab World

Egypt: Mubarak, Sons, given 3-year Wrist Slap for Massive Corruption

contributors

Reuters | — “Hosni Mubarak and his two sons are sentenced to three years in jail without parole in the retrial of a corruption case. Nathan Frandino reports.” Reuters: “Egyptian court sentences Mubarak, sons to 3 years in jail”

Banking

The Wall Street Connection: The Clintons and their Banker Friends

contributors

By Nomi Prins | (Tomdispatch.com) | – The past, especially the political past, doesn’t just provide clues to the present. In the realm of the presidency and Wall Street, it provides an ongoing pathway for political-financial relationships and policies that remain a threat to the American economy going forward. When Hillary Clinton video-announced her bid for the […]

Banking

‘Too Big to Exist’: Sanders Introduces Bill to Break Up Big Banks

contributors

by Nadia Prupis, staff writer | (Commondreams.org) | – If passed, bill would give Treasury Secretary a year to break up institutions bailed out in financial crisis. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is running for president in 2016, will introduce a bill to Congress that would break up “too big to fail” institutions. (Photo: Brookings Institution/flickr/cc) […]

Human Rights

Video Shows Ethiopian-Israeli Soldier Beaten By Police – Violent Clashes In Tel Aviv

contributors

AJ+ | — “Clashes on the streets of Tel Aviv. Thousands of Israelis of Ethiopian origin have taken to the streets after a video appeared online. It appeared to show an Ethiopian-Israeli soldier being beaten by two Israeli police officers.” A+: “Video Shows Ethiopian-Israeli Soldier Beaten By Police – Clashes In Tel Aviv”

Banking

Warren Buffett betting big on Wind Energy in Nebraska, & other Planet-Saving News

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – Wind power is on a roll in the US despite a fickle Congress and the machinations of Big Coal and Big Gas to keep all the subsidies for themselves. And one of the world’s most successful investors, Warren Buffett, has noticed. As of the end of the first […]

China

The China-Pakistan trade corridor and its implications for regional security

contributors

By Brian M. Downing | (Informed Comment) | – China and Pakistan announced, with considerable fanfare in Islamabad, a $46 billion dollar investment program to build a transportation corridor from the western Pakistani port of Gwadar to Xinjiang region in northwestern China. In time, the route will link with Chinese railways bringing Afghanistan’s wealth to […]

Africa

Global Connections: World History as Social History – a New Synthesis

Juan Cole

I and colleagues have just brought out a world history. Because of the fine and exciting writing of my co-authors, it is more than just a textbook. My readers often ask me about history books – here’s one I can recommend. By John Coatsworth, Juan Cole, Michael Hanagan, Peter C. Perdue, Charles Tilly, and Louise […]

Acidification of Oceans

Anger Translation: Why Obama was Ranting against GOP Climate Policy at Press Dinner

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) – The Comedy Central show, Key and Peele, made famous a bit by Keegan-Michael Key on Obama called the “Luther, the anger translator,” which plays on the president’s laid back approach to controversial issues. But at the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner, Obama outdid “Luther” in ranting against climate […]