While the Big Three U.S. automakers plead for massive public bail-outs, European carmakers have followed hot on their heels, asking governments for large soft loans to help keep their businesses afloat as credit markets tighten. The requests have led to a similar debate to that raging in Washington over whether the car industry deserves support […]
Henry Waxman did it. Waxman beats Dingell to chair energy committee is the story from Reuters. In a secret ballot vote of 137 to 122, the Democratic Caucus in the US House of Representatives voted to install a smart, tough, progressive to the chair of the most significant committee (in the House) by far for […]
The cursed children of Bhopal The effects of a 1984 accident at an insecticide factory in Bhopal, India, that pumped tons of toxic chemicals into the air still linger today, where children exhibit a range of side effects — from stunted development to severe diabetes to deafness. A court ruled that a claim seeking damages […]
After receiving the cabinet's approval this past weekend, the Iraqi parliament is expected to pass the long-debated security pact sometime over the next few days. Disagreement has centered on the concept of security vs. sovereignty, i.e. should security, which would be helped with an extended US military presence in Iraq, take precedence over an ‘unoccupied’ […]
As we bid 2008 goodbye, we want to get your thoughts on which woman was the most influential or inspirational in world politics this year. She could be someone whom you admire or despise. She doesn't have to be a professional politician. We're looking for women whose ideas, words, deeds and heels have left a […]
Ilan Goldenberg's analysis here. Goldenberg suggests the attack on Obama shows Al Qaeda's recruitment efforts are threatened by Obama's ability to rebrand America's image, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. Our own Josh Hammer has a similar analysis here. As always, when we discuss Al Qaeda, whether it's an attack on AQ-affiliated targets in […]
The European media have reacted cautiously, even skeptically, to reports that President-elect Barack Obama is considering offering the job of Secretary of State to Hillary Clinton, his bitter rival for the Presidential nomination in the lengthy Democratic primaries. As the reports below suggest, many European commentators believe that it would be a mistake for Obama […]
In a recently released video message Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri challenged President-Elect Obama's election promise to send more troops to Afghanistan, saying, “Be aware that the dogs of Afghanistan have found the flesh of your soldiers to be delicious, so send thousands after thousands to them,” and using other language that can only […]
The Clintons are in the headlines again – and for two of my absolute favorite topics: transparency and public diplomacy. I’m giddy with excitement at all the ways you can slice the conversation – marriage, careers, national security, politics, philanthropy, international development, republicans/democrats, and can she do it? I won't drag you through the internal conversations I’ve been […]
House Panel Backs Waxman Over Dingell As Energy Chair is the story from ABC News. This news is not just big. It’s “yooge” as Bernie Sanders would say. Dingell may have finally created more discontent than the Democrats could support. It also may be that Waxman has been perceived as the right man for the […]
In a recently released audio tape, al Qaeda second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri lashes out at President-Elect Obama both for his policies, and quite oddly, the color of his skin. This is an unusual departure for al Qaeda leadership, many of whom have attempted to create a pan-ethnic and global Muslim identity distinct from race and ethnicity. […]
David Little , a Professor of Religion at Harvard Divinity School , published an article titled "Religion, Conflict, and Peace." This blog has included so far a lot of news analysis about conflicts and wars that apparently have their foundations in religious extremism. For this reason, I have found Professor Little's analysis of religion and […]
Many of the world have been suddenly been drawn together regardless of what side of the abortion issue they stand on. What has united activists from all sides? The sudden brake of the story of Arzigul Tursun, a Uyghur woman living near Ghulja in East Turkestan (also known as Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in the […]
What turns the "I will be's" of childhood into, the "I could be's"? Poverty, gender inequality, war, and disease all take the "will be" out of many children's future, but the true dark shadow that continues to plague millions of children every year is lack of access to adequate education. Education is the key to […]
This video from President-Elect Barack Obama talking to the attendees at the Governors' Global Climate Summit is unequivocal. (See my post from November 13 below on the summit.) Obama reaffirms his support for a vigorous cap-and-trade regime and for truly robust federal support for renewables. [kml_flashembed movie=”http://www.youtube.com/v/hvG2XptIEJk” width=”425″ height=”350″ wmode=”transparent” /] Read more about this […]