Corruption

Niqash.org | Sulaymaniyah | – – “Authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan suspect that displaced people are selling their kidneys to feed their families. Problem is, they don’t know how to stop it because there’s nothing illegal about donating a kidney.” The flood of internally displaced people into the semi-autonomous northern region of Iraqi Kurdistan is not […]

Authoritarianism

Democracy in retreat in Half the 193 UN Member States

contributors

By Thalif Deen | – – UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – Democracy is on the retreat and authoritarianism is on the rise in more than 96 of the U.N.’s 193 member states, according to a new report released here. The two regions of “highest concern” for defenders of civic space are Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle […]

Arab Spring

Wikileaks Docs Reveal Saudi intrigues against Bahrain’s Arab Spring

contributors

By Faten Bushehri | (Global Voices) | – – The Saudi Cables, released by WikiLeaks, includes a treasure trove of information in secret exchanges between Saudi diplomats on restive Bahrain Saudi Arabia's meddling in Bahrain's internal affairs has been revealed in top secret documents released by whistle blowing site WikiLeaks from June 20. WikiLeaks published […]

censorship

PM Netanyahu wants a Free Press, just not in Israel

contributors

By Ari Heistein | (Informed Comment) | – – Continuing his assault on transparency and independent voices in the media, Prime Minister Netanyahu denied investigative journalist Raviv Drucker’s Freedom of Information Law request last week regarding the frequent telephone calls between the Prime Minister and Amos Regev, the editor-in-chief of Israel’s biggest daily Israel Hayom. […]

Acidification of Oceans

Climate Denial as a Corporate Criminal Conspiracy

contributors

By Naomi Oreskes | (Tomdispatch.com) | – – Recently, the Washington Post reported new data showing something most of us already sense: that increased polarization on Capitol Hill is due to the way the Republican Party has lurched to the right. The authors of the study use Senator John McCain to illustrate the point. McCain’s political odyssey is, […]

Corruption

Turkish Voters worried about Integrity of Elections, Deterioration of Democracy

contributors

By Deniz Erkmen | (Informed Comment) | — As Turkey approaches a pivotal parliamentary election on June 7, there is growing doubt about just how “free and fair” this election is going to be. A recent survey conducted by academics Ali Çarkoğlu and S. Erdem Aytaç shows that among the public, trust in the […]

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 […]

Climate Change

As state Sinks, GOP forbids Fla. State Enviro workers from saying “Climate Change”

contributors

RT America| – “The agency responsible for setting and enforcing conservation guidelines for the state of Florida, the Department of Environmental Protection, reportedly issued directives banning other state workers from using terms related to climate change or global warming in reports. RT’s Nicholas O’Donovan has more from the RT studio in Miami.” RT America: “State […]