International Politics and Economy

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – So Gregoire Moutaux, 25, was arrested last month by Ukraine. The French national had a large cache of deadly weapons. Ukraine Intelligence chief Vasyl Hrytsak said, “The Frenchman spoke negatively of the activities of his government on mass migration of foreigners to France, the spread of […]

Corruption

Trump University Was Textbook case of Fraud (TYT)

contributors

Cenk Uygur | (The Young Turks Video) | – – “Donald Trump is in a lot of trouble since a judge unsealed the documents of the Trump University case. This has the potential to seriously hurt his campaign. Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks, breaks it down. .. “The Trump University scam was a […]

Corruption

Corruption: Israeli Police recommends prosecuting wife of PM Netanyahu

contributors

Israel Broadcast Authority news | (Video Report) | – – “Israel Police submits file to Jerusalem district attorney: enough evidence for Prime Minister’s wife to be indicted for graft. IBA News: “Police recommends prosecuting Sara Netanyahu”

Democracy

Kurdish lawmakers Depart Baghdad: “Straighten up or We Won’t Be Back”

contributors

By Histyar Qader | Erbil | (Niqash.org) | – – After protestors invaded Baghdad’s Green Zone, Iraqi Kurdish politicians fled home. Despite the fact that their absence could paralyse Parliament, they say they won’t be back until certain conditions are met. After the first set of demonstrations during which protestors made it inside Baghdad’s highly […]

Democracy

Iran’s Pres. Rouhani may have parliamentary backing, but can he remake Iran?

contributors

By Nader Habibi | (The Conversation) | – – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his policies are set to get a boost this week after voters elected a parliament that favors reform. While Rouhani’s reformists didn’t win a majority of seats, it appears likely that the “moderate” independents also elected will side with his faction, […]

Bernie Sanders

Fruits of Perseverence: Dem Platform Committee to Feel the Bern

contributors

TeleSur | – – The Democratic Party will allow Sanders to have a prominent say in writing its platform this year. The Democratic Party said on Monday it will give U.S. presidential contender Bernie Sanders a prominent say in writing its platform this year, a gesture that could ease tensions between Sanders’ camp and party […]

Dissent

Baghdad on Lockdown not from fear of ISIL but of poor Protesters

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Baghdad was a ghost town on Saturday,, as security forces fanned out, blocking key roads into the Green Zone, the area downtown, closed off by blast walls, that houses parliament and foreign embassies. On Friday, over a hundred protesters were wounded and at least 2 died […]

Bill of Rights

Snowden on Torture Report: “When the CIA destroys s.th., it’s never a Mistake”

contributors

TeleSur | — After the CIA inspector general admitted it destroyed a 6,700 page report on torture, the famed whistleblower said the CIA does not destroy by “accident.” Edward Snowden commented this week on the CIA inspector general office’s “mistaken” destruction of its only copy of a top secret torture report: ““When the CIA destroys […]

Authoritarianism

What Next for Turkey After President’s Power Play?

contributors

By Efe Kerem Sozer | (GlobalVoices.org) | – – Ahmet Davutoglu was disliked by many in Turkey. [Even after] he step[pped] down as Turkey's Prime Minister amid an apparent confrontation with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he will fail to distance himself from the grave human cost of the government military operation in Eastern Turkey and […]