By Laurence Alison, University of Liverpool During the War on Terror, the CIA’s operations subjected hundreds of suspected terrorists to harsh interrogation techniques, which were often criticised as constituting torture. Now, the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on the operation has made it clearer than ever that the CIA used many forms of “enhanced interrogation” to […]
McCain on Torture: A Stain on our National Honor, Produces Misleading Info
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) | — Candidate for the best American speech of this decade: “As the Senate Intelligence Committee’s CIA torture report roiled Capitol Hill Tuesday, Sen. John McCain framed the argument as one of moral clarity, all the while bumping up against his party leaders. “I rise in support of the release, the […]
In Record, Scientists double Solar Panel Efficiency to 40%
Via UNSW Newsroom | — UNSW’s solar researchers have converted over 40% of the sunlight hitting a solar system into electricity, the highest efficiency ever reported. The world-beating efficiency was achieved in outdoor tests in Sydney, before being independently confirmed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at their outdoor test facility in the United […]
Iran eager to take leading role against extremism (Iraq, Syria FMs in Tehran)
By Maysam Bizar | (Your Middle East) — As the US-led campaign against the extremist ISIL militants in Iraq and Syria goes on, Iran, which has not taken part in the coalition, is gearing up for the Rouhani-proposed international conference ‘World Against Violence and Extremism’ (WAVE) on December 9-10 in Tehran. Maysam Bizar reports. Referring […]
Silent Mosul: Surprising Reasons Daesh/ ISIL cut Cellphone Services
By Nawzat Shamdeen | Mosul | (Niqash.org) Mobile phones are no use in Mosul any more. The extremist group controlling Mosul in northern Iraq has decided to shut down most mobile telecommunications inside the city. Rumours are flying as to why. Have they done it because they can no longer profit from the phone companies […]
Climate Change: The last Time California had a Drought this bad Charlemagne Ruled Europe
By Nadia Prupis | (Commondreams.org) Scientists warn that prolonged, historic droughts may recur in the future The California drought is the worst its been in 1,200 years—and it’s not getting better, a study has discovered. The last three years of drought in California were the worst that the state has experienced in 1,200 years, a […]
Israeli Forces arrest 8-year-old Palestinian in East Jerusalem (They arrest 2 Children a day on Average)
JERUSALEM (Ma’an) — Israeli special forces last Wednesday detained an eight-year-old Palestinian in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem, a local information center said. Majdi Abbasi of the Wadi Hilweh Information Center said in a statement that Obeida Ayesh, eight, was arrested in the Ein al-Lawza area of the neighborhood. Obeida’s mother was allowed to […]
Russell Brand v. Press Lord Rupert Murdoch: Who won?
AJ+ | — “The British twitterati is in a tizzy over a brawl between Russell Brand and Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun. The “manarchist” comedian has been accused of hypocrisy for championing housing rights and decrying tax-evading gentrifiers all while paying rent to a tax-dodging landlord. Find out who’s winning here.” AJ+: “Russell Brand Vs. Murdoch’s […]
Nowhere to Run: Broken Homes and Broken Lives in Gaza
By Jen Marlowe | (Tomdispatch.com) Rubble. That’s been the one constant for the Awajah family for as long as I’ve known them. Four months ago, their home was demolished by the Israeli military — and it wasn’t the first time that Kamal, Wafaa, and their children had been through this. For the last six years, […]