Trade

By Charles Recknagel | ( RFE/ RL) Many of the punishing UN, U.S., and EU financial and energy sanctions imposed on Iran in recent years to pressure Tehran to curb its nuclear activities are to be suspended or lifted in the wake of the deal struck in Vienna on July 14. But many other sanctions, […]

Economy

It’s the Economy, Stupid!: Tunisia’s fight against Terrorism requires a jobs program for its Youth

contributors

By Alexander Martin | (The Conversation) | – – To anyone who has followed Tunisia’s journey since it became a democracy, the horrific events in Sousse were shocking, but not surprising. This is a country still struggling to keep itself safe and address its internal destabilising forces. The 100 days since the Bardo museum attacks […]

BDS Occupied Territories

Is Congress Using Trade Rules to Blacklist Critics of Israel?

contributors

By Rachel Ida Buff | (Foreign Policy in Focus) | – – Legislation to fast track new trade pacts specifically targets supporters of the BDS movement against the Israeli occupation. In 1952, Abner Green — leader of a civil rights group called the American Committee for the Protection of the Foreign Born — served six […]

Acidification of Oceans

5 Radical Takeaways from the Pope’s Letter on Climate

contributors

By Janet Redman | (Foreign Policy in Focus) | – – Francis recognizes that there’s no way to stop climate change without confronting the way the world does business. That’s huge. Pope Francis just released an “encyclical,” a letter meant to serve as a guide to understanding our personal relationship to some of the most […]

Democratic Party

Why Pelosi, Hillary and House Democrats turned on Obama over Asian free trade

contributors

By Harley Shaiken | (The Conversation) | – – Over the last several days, President Barack Obama pulled out all the stops to pass Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) – aka fast track – which would restrict Congress to an up-or-down vote without amendments on trade deals for the next three years. On Thursday night, the […]

Barack Obama

House Deals Major Blow to Obama’s Secret Asian Trade Agenda

contributors

By Maira Sutton | (Electronic Frontier Foundation) | – – The Senate’s Fast Track bill package failed in the House today, following a landslide vote to reject a piece of the legislation that was necessary to send the bill to the President for approval. The White House has been working alongside powerful corporate lobbyists and […]

censorship

TPP and Fast Track Harm Web Creativity and Users’ Rights: Tech Companies to Congress

contributors

By Maira Sutton | (Electronic Frontier Foundation) | – In a In a joint letter to Congress released this week, more than 250 technology companies and user rights organizations say that the extreme level of secrecy surrounding trade negotiations have led to provisions in agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that threaten digital innovation, free […]

Barack Obama

Was that a White House- Gulf Arab Summit or an Arms Bazaar?

contributors

By Thalif Deen | (Inter Press Service) | – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry chats with Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal of Saudi Arabia on Mar. 5, 2015, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, before the two and their counterparts attended a meeting of the regional Gulf Cooperation Council. Credit: U.S. State Department/public domain UNITED NATIONS, May […]

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 […]