A top Israeli army official denied statements made by members of the Israeli military that soldiers had committed war crimes in the offensive on the Gaza Strip. Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi discounted allegations raised in February that Israeli soldiers had violated the laws of war regarding actions against the civilian population […]
One of the most vocal rising powers – Russia – shone on the world stage this past week. President Dmitry Medvedev made his way to the G20 Summit in London via Berlin. He met with several world leaders, agreeing on economics with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, forging a stronger bilateral relationship with Chinese President Hu […]
The Los Angeles Times captures some of the excitement around the stimulus package and the opportunity for it to create jobs. In the bleak economy, such enthusiasm (in addition to federal funding) can help create opportunities. But the sustainability of the of the government largess is questionable unless it can create a market through incentives […]
SOUTH AFRICA: A need to redefine “orphan Child-headed households certainly exist in South Africa, but the commonly held wisdom, reinforced by the media, that extended families cannot absorb any more orphans, and the number of child-headed households has been rising steeply in recent years due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, has never been backed up by […]
Capitalism vs. Capitalism By MICHEL ALBERT (4Walls 8Windows, 1993) Very relevant to restructuring of the Global financial architecture and regulatory framework debate that will be driving the discussions at the upcoming G-20 Summit. I first read this back in the early 90’s but it has seen a revival in the context of current global economic crisis. It examines the two prevailing […]
The world’s eyes now turn from London to Strasbourg, France and Baden-Baden and Kehl, Germany, the homes of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s celebratory 60th anniversary summit. The leaders are set to discuss Afghanistan, chart NATO’s future course, welcome France into the integrated military command, add two new members (now 28 countries in total) and […]
President Obama is attending the NATO 60th anniversary summit this weekend and will be renewing ties while urging our skeptical European partners to support an increased role in fighting al-Qaeda in in Afghanistan. The BBC News reports: President Barack Obama has urged better use of NATO resources in Afghanistan, saying al-Qaeda is a greater threat […]
1,500. In their first meeting on Wednesday, President Barack Obama and President Dmitry Medvedev committed to negotiating a new arms control treaty. The United States and Russia hold the majority of the world’s nuclear weapons and further cuts in their strategic arsenals would improve US-Russia relations and advance nuclear nonproliferation. A new treaty would replace […]
“Ah! what would the world be to us If the children were no more? We should dread the desert behind us Worse than the dark before.” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) U.S. poet. Children hold the world in their hands, but what kind of world do they hold? The world, in which children are given for […]
California’s State Assembly has drafted new legislation in response to the investigation of salmonella contamination of pistachio nuts from Setton Farms of Terra Bella, CA. The draft bill aims to improve food inspections, testing and reporting of contaminated food. An article in the Los Angeles Times makes two important points: First, that the reaction of […]
I can imagine the scene in London right now, walking along the boardwalk, crossing the Millennium Bridge and facing the ominous Tate Modern in all its red brick glory. The Thames, below, running swiftly over all the waste tossed into its murky waters, decades of filth floating to the top – exposed. Across its bank, a young […]
Shortly after the Tato Nano was launched in India, the New York Times published an article detailing how China is vying to be the world’s leader in electric cars. “Chinese leaders have adopted a plan aimed at turning the country into one of the leading producers of hybrid and all-electric vehicles within three years, and […]
During his trip to London, President Obama gave Queen Elizabeth II an iPod loaded with video and photos of her 2007 trip to the United States. While some may continue to question President Obama’s gift-giving abilities, at least it’s better than DVDs. Photo from Apple.
It was April Fools’ Day, and so I naturally assumed that the good people at BBC were having a bit of fun when I read the headline “Guantanamo ‘fun’—Miss Universe”. As the BBC reported on the adventures of Miss Universe Dayana Mendoza, co-national of the always colorful and U.S.-bashing Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez: Ms Mendoza […]
In a country like China that is already so restrictive of press freedoms, it’s surprising that the grip of control could be tightened any further. Yet, according to a new press release from the non-governmental organization Freedom House, that’s exactly what is happening. Freedom House says it is “dismayed by new Chinese Internet restrictions,” which […]