The Ruins of Democracy
The original idea of ruling on behalf of The People and by their will has evolved through time, and piles of values and mechanisms have been stuffed into its edifice. However, the stuffing has been
Category: Politics
French and Russian Military Frigates Had a “Professional Interaction” in the Black Sea
The Russian frigate Essen has intercepted the French warship Auvergne in the Black Sea on December 14, 2021. The recording of their radio communication has been published by the French Army on its Twitter account.
63% Of Workers Who File an EEOC Discrimination Complaint Lose Their Jobs
We found that at least 63% of workers who filed a complaint eventually lost their job. And about 40% of workers reporting experiencing employer retaliation, such as verbal abuse or being passed over for work opportunities like training or promotion, for filing a claim. At 46%, employer retaliation was most common for sex discrimination cases.
If a Satellite Falls on Your House, Space Law Protects You
According to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and 1972 Liability Convention – both adopted by the United Nations – this would be a government-to-government issue. The treaties declare that states are internationally responsible and liable for any damage caused by a spacecraft
German Chancellor Candidate Vows to Increase Military Spending
Armin Laschet, the conservative German candidate running for chancellor, said that Germany must increase its military spending. In 2021, it has increased again by 3.2% to US$63.8 Billion; but it’s still below NATO’s target of 2% of GDP. To meet that target, Germany’s military spending has to increase to at least US$66 Billion.
Boris Johnson Infuriated By Macron’s Northern Ireland Remark
During the 2021 G7 summit in Cornwall, Boris Johnson was infuriated by the French president’s remark about Northern Ireland.
Human Artifacts on Moon Officially Protected by New US Law
On Dec. 31 2020, the One Small Step to Protect Human Heritage in Space Act became law. It requires companies that are working with NASA to agree to be bound by otherwise unenforceable guidelines intended to protect American landing sites on the Moon.
Why Can’t the IRS Just Send Americans a Refund or a Bill?
The IRS tax system is 10 times more expensive than 36 other countries with robust economies. But those costs vanish in a return-free system, as would the 2.6 billion hours Americans spend on tax preparation each year.
Ukraine: Rapid Escalation of Conflict in 2014 Has Lessons for Today
Kyiv has accused Moscow of aggravating the security situation in Ukraine’s south-east. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has claimed that all Russian troop deployments have been defensive and do not pose a threat to anyone.
The US Is Worried About Its Critical Minerals Supply Chains
The amounts of lithium, cobalt, graphene, indium and other critical minerals needed for low-carbon technologies alone are expected to increase anywhere from 100% to 1,000% by 2050.
An Australian Space Command Could Be a Force for Good — or a Cause for War
Unlike the US Space Force, which is a separate branch of the military in addition to the army, navy and air force, Australia’s space command will oversee space activities across the Australian Defence Force.
Twitter Stock Plunges After Trump Account Suspension
The decision to suspend the account of President Trump is bringing unexpected troubles for Twitter. On Monday January 11, 2021, Twitter Stock (NYSE: TWTR) continued its sharp decline, trading at $48.53 in the afternoon.
What Is a Tariff? An Economist Explains
An optimal tariff maximizes the difference between the terms of trade gain and the efficiency loss and hence is essentially a “beggar-thy-neighbor” trade policy.
How Reagan’s notions of a ‘good society’ resonate with Trump supporters today
Reagan linked American exceptionalism, particularly its role as a “shining city on a hill” to neoliberal ideas including a limited government, tax cuts and reduced social services. At its heart, neoliberalism views every aspect of civic, social and cultural life in terms of the market economy.
U.S. Department of Justice Sues Yale University for Race Discrimination
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Yale University for the alleged discrimination against White and Asian applicants. The lawsuit was filed on Thursday October 9, 2020 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. It accuses Yale University of illegally considering the race of the candidates in its admission decisions.
Open, Honest and Effective: What Makes Jacinda Ardern an Authentic Leader
The qualities that have made Jacinda Ardern New Zealand’s most popular prime minister in a century were on display as she took an earthquake in her stride during a live television interview.
Police Solve Just 2% of All Major Crimes
When considering approaches to police reform, it’s important to remember that Americans still don’t report about half of major crimes.
By Filing for Bankruptcy, the Boy Scouts May Compensate More Survivors of Sexual Abuse
The Boy Scouts of America has filed for bankruptcy to figure out how to fairly compensate thousands of survivors of alleged sexual abuse who accuse the Scouts of neglecting to protect them.
U.S. Mortgage Rates Go Down Under 3%, the Lowest in the Past 50 Years
Mortgage rates in the United States went down below 3%, which is the lowest level in history, leading to an increase in home buying demand. According to the data released by Freddie Mac on Thursday July 16 2020, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 2.98%. A year ago, its rate was 3.81%.
France Returns the Skulls of Algerian Freedom Fighters to Algeria, 170 Years Later
The Algerian skulls belong to freedom fighters who had resisted to the French colonial forces in 1830. They were exhibited in Paris as a racial specimen.
Radiation Increase in Scandinavia Probably Linked to Russian Nuclear Accident
The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland has found small amounts of radioactive isotopes of cobalt, caesium and ruthenium in Helsinki.
Coronavirus: Why We Should Be Sceptical About the Benevolence of Billionaires
The Gates Foundation is the largest funder of the WHO after the U.S. It shapes the global health agenda in a way that has been described as a “cartel”.
U.S. Green Card Lottery DV-2021 Results Available Online
The results of the Electronic Diversity Visa Lottery for the year 2021 (DV-2021) will be available online starting at noon (EDT) on Saturday June 6, 2020. The results are related to the registration period that opened on October 2, 2019 and closed on November 5, 2019. Initially scheduled for May 5, 2020, the DV-2021 announcement was delayed due to the Covid-19 crisis.
Hertz Stock Surges Spectacularly, Two Weeks After Bankruptcy
Two weeks after filing for bankruptcy in May 22, 2020, the 102 year-old Hertz saw its stock surging to spectacular figures. Why?
The Us Owes $23.5 Trillion but Can Still Afford a Big Coronavirus Stimulus Package
The U.S. government is adding US$2 trillion Covid-19 response stimulus package to its existing US$23.5 trillion debt. How is that possible?