Our World

By Lorenzo

A variety of stories, both good and bad, about this wonderful world we are trying to share with one another and with all other forms of life.

Gaza
Tens of thousands rally in Gaza to mark Hamas anniversary
Associated Press
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Tens of thousands of Palestinians have gathered in Gaza City for a rally marking the 31st anniversary of the militant Hamas group's establishment. Hamas fighters in military
Opinion (UK)
Failed by both its major parties, betrayed Britain lurches towards the abyss
The Guardian - Andrew Rawnsley
The Tories savage struggles over the Maastricht treaty in the 1990s looks like an epoch of peace and goodwill in comparison The seesaw is smashed. The pendulum is stuck. The tides are frozen. All the images
U.S. Politics
Messianic Jewish Lobbying Group Builds Support for U.S.-Funded Ethnic Cleansing Plan in Palestine
The Intercept - Lee Fang
A pro-Israel activist group is quietly pushing lawmakers on Capitol Hill and key officials in the White House to embrace a plan that would entail …
Save the Children
This photo should open your eyes to American sins in Yemen [Editorial]
houstonchronicle.com - By The Editorial Board
If the gruesome bone-saw murder of Jamal Khashoggi opened America’s eyes to Saudi cruelty, the tiny bones of Amal Hussain should make us face our own. …
World News
Netanyahu's son Yair implies all Muslims should leave Israel
jpost.com - Yvette J. Deane
After after a backlash toward his post, he later wrote, "Why are people who have been calling to evacuate the settlers and establish a Palestinian …
Environment
'Maddening' Climate Talks End in a Weak Agreement That Won't Avert Catastrophe
Gizmodo - Catie Keck
The world’s governments have reached a new agreement at just-concluded international climate talks. The result could advance the fight to mitigate …
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin is declaring war on rap music
New York Post - By Dean Balsamini and Sofya Dudnik
Vlad’s got 99 problems — and rap is one. Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin, facing poverty, protests and allegations of attacking U.S. elections, …
Opinion
Under New Management — Russia Now Runs OPEC
Bloomberg - Julian Lee
If anyone doubted that OPEC is now little more than a zombie organization, the last 10 days have proved it. The group has shown itself incapable of …
World News
Traumatized Elephants Stop to Listen as Soon as Man Starts Playing for Them
theepochtimes.com - Tiffany Meier
At a rehabilitation center for elephants in Thailand, classically-trained pianist Paul Barton brings a musical touch to help soothe the traumatized …
Middle East
Israeli army razes home of prominent Palestinian activist
AlJazeera - Al Jazeera
At least 56 Palestinians have been injured in the protests against the demolition. The Israeli army has demolished a residential building owned by a prominent Palestinian activist, whose six sons have
Technology
Canada’s winters inspired a startup to warm homes with cryptomining heat waste
Digital Trends - Simon Cohen
Some argue cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are the future of legal tender, but in the present, they’re creating as many problems as they solve. The …
Conservative Party
I'm beginning to think Brexit won't happen. This will destroy democracy as we know it
The Telegraph - By Daniel Hannan
It’s over. If Brexit happens at all – and for the first time I’m beginning to think it won’t – it will be on terms that keep the worst aspects of EU membership. Britain will be humbled in the eyes of world,
Los Angeles
Ann Coulter says Jews, like rest of Democratic base, ‘hate white men’
timesofisrael.com - By TOI staff
Far-right pundit Ann Coulter has sparked outrage after speaking disparagingly of a number of Democratic voting blocs, including Jews, saying they are …
Technology
Huawei Hemorrhages Allies in Europe on Growing Security Concerns
Bloomberg - Stefan Nicola, Thomas Seal, Helene Fouquet, Marie Mawad
The U.S. has been pushing governments for months to block Huawei Technologies Co. from telecom networks. That strategy is now taking hold in Europe, …
Opinion
The Bubble’s Losing Air. Get Ready for a Crisis
Bloomberg - Satyajit Das
The “everything bubble” is deflating. The fact that it’s happening relatively slowly shouldn’t blind us to the real threat: The world is dangerously …
Opinion (UK)
Don't blame democracy's decline on ignorance. The problem lies deeper
The Guardian - Cas Mudde
Democracies can as easily die in the spotlight as in darkness Democracy is in crisis and, for some, ignorance is to blame. Take the slogan of one major American newspaper: “Democracy dies in darkness.”
World Economic Forum
Politics is failing to protect the Amazon. It's time for finance to step up instead
weforum.org - Beatrice Crona
Global investors issued a stark warning to politicians at COP24, the 2018 United Nations climate summit in Poland. Companies with a combined …
Hubble Telescope
NASA's Hubble telescope discovered an 'evaporating' planet, study says
USA TODAY - Brett Molina
Astronomers using NASA's Hubble telescope found an exoplanet that's evaporating, possibly holding clues into the discovery of rocky "super-Earths." Researchers at the University of Geneva Switzerland the
World News
American Student Stabbed to Death While Studying in the Netherlands
TIME - By George Steer
A 21-year-old American studying abroad in the Netherlands has allegedly been stabbed to death by her suite-mate, authorities said Friday. Sarah …
Turmeric
Report Finds Potential Link Between Turmeric Supplements & Serious Liver Disease
The Inquisitr - Lea van der Merwe
Much like other things stocked in the local grocery store that have recently been branded “super foods,” turmeric has been moving on up in the …
World News
Here's Why Russian Bombers Are in Venezuela. And Why the U.S. Is So Angry About It
TIME - By Michael Zennie
When two of Russia’s most modern, nuclear-capable bombers landed in Venezuela earlier this week, American officials quickly took note. U.S. Secretary …
Yellow Vests Movement
French populists from the ‘50s can teach us a lot about the 'yellow vests’ roiling Paris today
alternet.org - Charles Hankla, The Conversation
The populist protests roiling France remind me of a similar anti-tax revolt that occurred in Paris nearly 65 years ago.The populist protests roiling …
News
The Arctic is unraveling as climate change intensifies
Axios - Andrew Freedman
Rapid climate change is transforming the Arctic, from the bottom of the sea floor to the top of windswept glaciers. Sea ice is disappearing, …
Forests
Sweden's forests have doubled in size over the last 100 years
weforum.org - Alex Gray
Sweden is a land of trees. More than 70% of its landscape is covered by forest and in less Than 100 years, Sweden’s forest assets have doubled. Yet …
Liberal View
The American Coalition Resisting Trump at the Climate Talks In Poland
VICE - Stephen Leahy
While White House representatives promote coal and other fossil fuels at COP 24 talks in Poland, “We Are Still In,” a coalition that includes more than 3,600 representatives from all 50 states, remains
Yellow Vests Movement
French ‘yellow vest’ protesters demand something no Western leader grasps | Trudy Rubin
philly.com - Trudy Rubin | @trudyrubin | trubin@phillynews.com
The scenes from France have been stunning: tens of thousands of ordinary, mostly rural, citizens wearing fluorescent yellow road safety vests and …
Liberal View
'Whoever You Are, Wherever You Are, We Need You': 15-Year-Old Greta Thunberg Calls for Global Climate Strike
commondreams.org
"Whoever you are, wherever you are, we need you now to stand outside your parliament or local government office to let them know that we demand …
Glaciers
Report shows melting at North and South Poles is worse than previously thought
alternet.org - Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams
NASA researchers have observed ice retreat in East Antarctica — a region they believed was stable.As the Trump administration tries to undermine the …
News
Scientists may have discovered a new species of early human
CNET - by Jennifer Bisset
Analysis of "Little Foot", a 3.6 million-year-old skeleton, suggests we may have a new ancient ancestor.