U.S. and the World
Rampant “Ocean Grabbing” by Major Powers Threatens Food Security for Developing Nations, Says UN Report
A new United Nations report criticizes the U.S., China, Russia, Japan, and European Union members for aggressive industrial fishing that threatens the food security of developing countries. Emerging nations are cautioned about “shady access agreements” that have allowed bigger countries to take advantage of their ocean resources. read more
Furor Erupts in Poland Over Claims of Explosives in 2010 Presidential Plane Crash Wreckage; Key Witness Found Hanged
A Polish newspaper reported that traces of explosives were found in wreckage of the plane carrying President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others that crashed in 2010 in Russia. A public uproar condemned the Polish government, which had called the crash accidental. The newspaper issued a retraction, calling its report inconclusive. read more
Supreme Court Rejects Appeal in Case That Would Have Granted Personhood to Embryos
Antiabortionists seeking to grant embryos new legal status in order to challenge the legality of Roe v. Wade have lost their attempt to get the U.S. Supreme Court involved. The justices rejected without comment an appeal from abortion opponents in Oklahoma who proposed a constitutional amendment to grant the unborn “personhood.” read more
Do Some of Your Tax Payments Go to Your Boss Rather than State Government?
In many states across the country, companies receive their employees’ personal income tax payments, either directly or indirectly, because of tax-break programs designed to encourage job creation or job retention. More than 2,700 companies in 16 states are collecting nearly $700 million each year in tax payments. read more
As Hurricane Sandy Hits East Coast, Romney and Ryan Reiterate Their Aim to Privatize FEMA
While the East Coast was battered by Hurricane Sandy, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan’s preference for privatizing FEMA became the focus of attention. The Romney/Ryan ticket seeks to dismantle FEMA, publicly demanding that the federal government only disburse disaster relief funding if Congress offset it with budget cuts elsewhere. read more
After 40 Years, Dead Zone Off Coastal Louisiana Still Endangers Fisheries and Livelihoods
Billions of dollars have been spent over decades to reduce harmful runoff into the Gulf of Mexico, where fish and other species die off each year. But the longstanding efforts have failed to slow down the problem. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls it the costliest and most damaging environmental problem facing the country. read more
U.S. Border Agents Accused of Violating Constitution by Forbidding Photo-Taking at Ports of Entry
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for violating the constitutional rights of Americans who try to use cameras near ports of entry. In different instances, CBP officers prevented two Americans from taking photos at border crossings, thus denying their free-speech rights. read more
Saudi Royal Family Accused of Destroying Historical Sites in Holy Cities
Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities of Islam, have undergone dramatic modern developments at the expense of historical buildings and places, which has provoked anger at the Saudi royal family. In Medina, three of the world’s oldest mosques are slated for demolition so Saudi officials can expand the Masjid an-Nabawi mosque. read more
Cost-Saving Shutdown of Youth Detention Centers in Tennessee Leads to Instant Rise in Violence in Remaining Centers
State officials in Tennessee in July decided to close two detention centers housing minors in order to reduce the Department of Children’s Services’ budget. It has cost dearly in terms of violence. read more
As a Brand, United States Drops to 8th Place
The United States is labeled as “An Iconic Brand in Decline” and is ranked eighth in the world based on the Country Brand Index (CBI) in a survey taken by FutureBrand. read more
Supreme Court to Consider Outlawing Resale of Foreign-Made Products
David Segal, executive director of Demand Progress, writes that “This vastly under-reported case has tremendous implications for millions of Americans and could undermine our ability to use sites like eBay and Craigslist—or even hold old-fashioned garage sales." read more
Great Britain Said to Refuse Use of its Bases for U.S. Attack on Iran
According to The Guardian, American diplomats have asked the British government for permission to use military bases in Cyprus and to fly from U.S. bases on Ascension Island in the Atlantic Ocean and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, both of which are British territories. But London has repeatedly denied the requests, citing a legal opinion that concluded Iran does not represent a “clear and present threat”.
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Texas Attorney General Threatens to Arrest Election Observers
Texas is among the states where OSCE plans to send observers. But Attorney General Greg Abbott vehemently objects to the idea, and has threatened to arrest and prosecute them if they appear within 100 feet of polling places.
Despite the fuss and Abbott’s threats, the fact is that OSCE observers have monitored U.S. elections regularly since 2002 without incident. read more
Obama Plans to Expand Assassination List
According to the Post’s Greg Miller, the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command has set up a “targeting center” just 15 minutes from the White House, and the National Counterterrorism Center, formerly a data collection center not directly involved in operations, has been transformed into a “targeting hub.” read more
Scientists Convicted of Failing to Predict Deadly Earthquake in Italy; Others Resign in Protest
Journalist Giustino Parisse, who lost his two sons and his father in the earthquake, wrote in the newspaper Il Centro that he does not “feel able to take my anger out on those men. I have shaken hands with some of them over the last few months, including during the trial, and I did not find them to be stained with blood. read more
International Observers to Monitor U.S. Election for Voter Suppression
The OSCE’s pre-election report noted that “Some 4.1 million citizens that are residents of US territories are not eligible to vote, while some 600,000 citizens of the District of Columbia are only eligible to vote in the presidential election. A further 5.9 million citizens are estimated to be disenfranchised due to a criminal conviction.” read more