U.S. and the World

Yemeni Journalist Jailed for Exposing U.S. Killing of Civilians Finally Released from Prison

Originally sentenced to five years in prison, Shaye was pardoned in 2011 by then-President Ali Abdullah Saleh. But Shaye remained imprisoned after Obama reportedly “expressed his concern over the release” of the reporter during a February 2011 phone call with Saleh. The pardon was revoked. In May, Yemen’s new president, Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, reversed the decision, issuing an order to release Shaye. read more

Russian Capitalists Celebrate Global Warming by Building $20-Billion Natural Gas Plant in Arctic

Gas produced from the Yamal LNG plant would be shipped to Asia along northern sea lanes that only began opening up four years ago as warmer ocean temperatures thawed and thinned the ice sheets. Global warming may be causing worrisome environmental changes, according to scientists and others, but for oil and gas entrepreneurs focused on the Arctic sea, such changes can mean newfound profits. read more

Secret Pakistan Report Documents High Civilian Death Toll from U.S. Drone Strikes

At least 147 of the dead were civilians, including 94 children. The figures run contrary to what the U.S. government has said about the strikes. Officials in the Obama administration have insisted that no more than 50 to 60 ‘non-combatants’ have been killed in the Central Intelligence Agency missions during nine years of bombings. read more

Endangered Great Barrier Reef Hit with Unarmed U.S. Bombs during Exercise with Australia

Naval commanders insisted the unexploded weapons—which weighed a total of 1.8 tons and included two unarmed laser-guided bombs and two inert practice bombs—were not a danger to the reef’s fragile ecosystem. But members of environmental organizations and the Australian government demanded answers about the incident, and for the U.S. to remove the bombs. read more

Lining up to Profit from End of Cuba Trade Sanctions

Local politicians see many opportunities with Cuba. The local airport could expand direct flights to Havana, while the city’s port wants cruise ships to base their Cuban voyages out of Tampa. The port could also serve as major commercial shipping center for expanded trade with Cuba. If the plan works, Tampa’s gain could be Miami’s loss. read more

Memorial to WWII “Comfort Women” Draws International Fire

Others have said that the women, estimated to be upwards of 200,000, worked in Japanese brothels because it was steady employment, their pimps back home compelled them, their families thought they would be safer during the war or their families sold them to the enemy. Those are not reasons heard from the Korean, Filipino and Chinese women who are still alive to tell the story. read more

Meat Industry Fights New Regulations Requiring Country-of-Origin Labeling and Forbidding Mixing of Meat from Different Countries

Adopted in May, the new regulations mandate labeling for steaks, ribs and other cuts of meat to detail where animals were born, raised and slaughtered. Previously, labels only required the notation of countries of origin for meat. Now, labels must specify such things as “Born in Canada, raised and slaughtered in the United States.” read more

The $1.5-Billion Word: “Coup”

If President Barack Obama declares the Egyptian military did indeed seize power, his administration would be forced under federal law to suspend all assistance to the Middle Eastern country. That aid totals about $1.5 billion, nearly all of which ($1.3 billion) is military support. read more

Dozens Presumed Dead as Maine-Bound Oil Train Explodes

It is still not known how many people were killed, how many buildings were destroyed and whether the town’s water supply has been contaminated by the more than 26,000 gallons of light crude oil that spilled into the Claudiere River, which feeds into the St. Lawrence River. read more

Wal-Mart and Gap Refuse to Sign Agreement Protecting Workers in Bangladesh

Following the deadliest accident in the history of the global garment industry, more than 70 retailers and clothing brands have pledged to improve safety conditions in Bangladesh’s textile factories. But two leading U.S. companies—Walmart and Gap—have refused to sign the agreement that was prompted by the April 24 tragedy that killed 1,127 garment workers inside Bangladesh’s Rana Plaza, which collapsed. read more

Guantánamo Hunger Strikers Ask for End of Force Feeding during Ramadan

The complaint charges that, as part of the force-feeding procedure, the government is forcibly dosing detainees with a drug that can cause serious neurological disorders, including tardive dyskinesia, which are involuntary movements similar to those in Parkinson’s disease. The drug, metoclopramide, popularly known as Reglan, is supposed to speed up digestion and reduce nausea caused by force-feeding. According to the FDA, Reglan can also cause depression, suicidal thoughts and suicide. read more

Jennifer Lopez Honors One of World’s Worst Dictators

Lopez, who serenaded Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with a rendition of “Happy Birthday,” appeared at the event that was hosted by the China National Petroleum Corporation, which is trying to improve its involvement with Turkmenistan’s natural gas industry, Turkmenistan being China’s largest foreign supplier of natural gas. read more

U.S. Airman Got the Boot for Pointing Out that his Boots Were Made in China

Adachi said that his reason for insisting on the U.S.-made boots, and standing by the 1933 law, is a good one. “How many American workers are unemployed because military clothing is being produced in foreign countries?" he wrote in a letter to the Air Force Times. “I did not feel comfortable ‘going to war' wearing boots made in China. This is about patriotism. read more

In Spite of Obama Transparency Pledge, U.S. Silent on Yemen Drone Strike that Killed Child

On June 9, a missile attack destroyed an SUV in the northern province of al Jawf, killing at least six people. The target of the drone strike was Saleh Hassan Huraydan, who was considered an al-Qaeda chief. But among those killed was Huraydan’s young brother, Abdulaziz, who was 10 years old. read more

Americans Get Away with Murder and Torture in Iraq

Judge Gerald Bruce Lee dismissed their claims, ruling that CACI cannot be sued for its role in torturing them because corporations are immune from civil claims for wrongs committed outside the U.S. Baher Azmy, CCR’s legal director, said that the “ruling effectively created lawless spaces where even U.S.-based entities can commit torture and war crimes with impunity.” read more

Cleared for Release, but Still at Guantánamo, Prisoner Committed Suicide

Latif wrote to his attorney that he was “happy to express from this darkness and draw a true picture of the condition in which I exist. I am moving towards a dark cave and a dark life in the shadow of a dark prison. This is a prison that does not know humanity, and does not know anything except the language of power, oppression and humiliation for whoever enters it. It does not differentiate between a criminal and the innocent.” read more