Is democracy a divider or a unifier at the UN General Assembly?
By Annika Silva-Leander The UN General Assembly convened 190 world leaders and delegated officials last week in New York in a context of global polycrises: the war in Ukraine, high debt burdens and economic fragility of developing countries resulting from the lingering effects of the pandemic and the climate emergency. International
Police “Torture warehouse” exposed in Louisiana lawsuits
By Emma Arceneaux Police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, have been operating a secret torture warehouse, according to multiple lawsuits filed against the Baton Rouge Police Department. The City of Baton Rouge, the Parish of East Baton Rouge, Police Chief Murphy Paul and multiple officers are also defendants in the lawsuits. The warehouse,
Use of facial recognition technology in schools banned by New York state
By Staff Writer Following a report that found that the risks to student privacy and civil rights outweigh potential security benefits, Education Commissioner Betty Rosa ordered banning use of facial recognition technology in New York state schools. The order was issued on 27 September. This order, however, leaves decisions on digital
Hitler would be proud: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz delivers anti-Russian tirade at the United Nations
By Johannes Stern Wednesday’s warmongering anti-Russian diatribe at the United Nations by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has made clear that German imperialism, guilty of the most horrific crimes in human history, is again on the warpath. Hitler and his gang of mass murderers are dead, but their political legacy lives on
Fed pauses rate increases but indicates more to come
By Nick Beams The US Federal Reserve decided not to lift interest rates at its meeting yesterday, in line with market expectations. However, it signalled it could raise them again in at least one of its two scheduled meetings remaining for this year. After instituting a steep climb in rates, from near
Impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Paxton ends in acquittal
By Andy Hartmann On Saturday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted on 16 impeachment counts by the Texas State Senate. The remaining four counts were dismissed by a vote of the Senate. Each article was voted on separately. All but two of the Republicans in the Senate, who control 19 of the 31
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife paid by Billionaire in advance of Citizens United decision
By Jacob Crosse On Sunday, September 10, Politico reported extensive and damning revelations on the longstanding connections between Virginia Thomas, the wife of arch-reactionary Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, billionaire Nazi artifact collector Harlan Crow, and Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society. Their relationship, which included Crow’s funneling of hundreds of thousands of dollars
Democratic rights targeted by South Korean government
By Ben McGrath In recent weeks, the administration of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has stepped up its anti-democratic attacks on government critics. In language reminiscent of the country’s past dictatorships, Yoon has denounced opposition to the government as the result of “communist totalitarianism” influence and “anti-state forces.” The Yoon administration and
Federal judge orders Texas to remove floating barrier in Rio Grande, appellate court stays order
By Trévon Austin Nearly three months after Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a fascistic acolyte of former president Donald Trump, deployed a 1,000-foot-long barrier of buoys accompanied by traps of razor wire in the Rio Grande, a federal judge in Austin ordered the state t6xo remove the obstruction and stop building
Report to G20 summit glosses over problems in global financial system
By Nick Beams Sometimes it is hard to know whether statements issued by financial authorities are aimed at fooling themselves, the organisations to which they are being delivered or whether, they consider it best not to say too much in public documents lest this “frightens the horses.” This is the case regarding