By Nancy Dillon, New York Daily News (TNS) Bill Cosby was denied parole in his sex assault case this month in part because of his failure to complete a prison program for sex offenders, the Pennsylvania Parole Board said. The comedian isn’t eligible for release until Sept. 25 at the earliest, but the board starts interviewing candidates three to five months in advance and spoke … [Read more...] about Bill Cosby denied parole after failing to complete ‘sex offender’ therapy program
Biden’s budget: Why investing in innovation is crucial to reach US climate goals
Electric vehicles and renewable energy will only get the country so far. AP Photos/Evan Vucci David M. Hart, George Mason University President Joe Biden’s first detailed federal budget is slated to be released on May 28, and it will include substantial increases in spending to fight climate change. An overview sent to Congress included US$10 … [Read more...] about Biden’s budget: Why investing in innovation is crucial to reach US climate goals
Roman Protasevich: dissident Belarus journalist whose defiance enraged Europe’s last dictator
Embed from Getty Images Jennifer Mathers, Aberystwyth University Roman Protasevich doesn’t look like much of a threat to Europe’s last dictator. A fresh-faced 26-year-old, he has never been elected to public office nor has he stood as a candidate. What this blogger and co-recipient of the European parliament’s Sakharov prize for freedom of thought has done, however, is … [Read more...] about Roman Protasevich: dissident Belarus journalist whose defiance enraged Europe’s last dictator
Trudy Rubin: Punish Belarus leader for Ryanair hijacking before air piracy becomes dictators’ new tool
Imagine you are flying over Europe in a European air carrier on your way home from a Greek vacation in the post-coronavirus era. Suddenly, your plane does a 180-degree turn and lands in Minsk, Belarus. You see from your window that it is being “escorted” by a MiG-29 fighter jet. You are held for seven hours at the Minsk airport, while an exiled Belarusian dissident and his … [Read more...] about Trudy Rubin: Punish Belarus leader for Ryanair hijacking before air piracy becomes dictators’ new tool
Bezos blitz: Amazon to buy MGM studios, bolstering streaming ambitions
Washington (AFP) - Amazon has agreed to buy the storied MGM studios for $8.45 billion, the companies said Wednesday, giving the US tech giant a vast library to further its ambitions in streaming. The deal bolsters Amazon Prime Video, which competes with Netflix and others in the fast-evolving market, with some 4,000 films -- including the James Bond franchise -- and 17,000 … [Read more...] about Bezos blitz: Amazon to buy MGM studios, bolstering streaming ambitions
Manhattan DA convenes grand jury to weigh criminal charges against Trump, report says
NEW YORK — Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr. has convened a grand jury that is expected to consider whether to charge Donald Trump and his business executives with crimes as part of a long-running investigation into alleged financial fraud at the former president’s namesake company, according to a report Tuesday. The grand jury was impaneled recently and is expected to … [Read more...] about Manhattan DA convenes grand jury to weigh criminal charges against Trump, report says
Kevin McCarthy’s Statement on GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Holocaust Comments
It took the spineless House Republican Leader, Kevin McCarthy, five days to muster a modicum of courage to speak out on GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s disgusting comparison of wearing COVID masks to the Holocaust atrocities (below). But shame on him to, even then, include a slanderous and false swipe at the Speaker of the House and the “Democrat … [Read more...] about Kevin McCarthy’s Statement on GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Holocaust Comments
A year since George Floyd’s murder, Americans reflect on his legacy
By Jeff Mason and Susan Cornwell WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans on Tuesday will mark the first anniversary of the murder of George Floyd beneath a white Minneapolis police officer's knee, which catalyzed the largest U.S. protest movement in decades over police brutality against Black people. In Washington, President Joe Biden will meet privately with members of Floyd's family … [Read more...] about A year since George Floyd’s murder, Americans reflect on his legacy
Cicada sushi, anyone? US chef serves up sustainable ‘Brood X’ delicacy
Washington (AFP) - After 17 years underground, swarms of cicadas are emerging across the eastern United States -- and for one Washington chef, the rare bug invasion was his cue for a cookout, with a side of food ethics. Bun Lai, an advocate for the sustainable food movement, invited locals for an insect hunt in a city park followed by a taste of his fried cicada sushi. "In a … [Read more...] about Cicada sushi, anyone? US chef serves up sustainable ‘Brood X’ delicacy
53% of Republicans view Trump as true U.S. president – Reuters/Ipsos poll
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A majority of Republicans still believe Donald Trump won the 2020 U.S. presidential election and blame his loss to Joe Biden on illegal voting, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll. The May 17-19 national poll found that 53% of Republicans believe Trump, their party's nominee, is the “true president” now, compared to 3% of Democrats and 25% of … [Read more...] about 53% of Republicans view Trump as true U.S. president – Reuters/Ipsos poll
Scion of a dynasty, Assad rules over shattered Syria
BEIRUT (Reuters) - President Bashar al-Assad, once seen as a reformer but viewed by his many foes as a tyrant after a decade of war and repression, looks set to extend his family's dynastic rule of Syria further with an election on Wednesday. Branded "an animal" by the United States for gassing his people and a "great fighter" by Iran for resisting Washington and Israel, Assad, … [Read more...] about Scion of a dynasty, Assad rules over shattered Syria
The New Dividing Line (Cartoon)
KREMLIN CRUZ (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Texas Senator Ted Cruz did not serve in the military. But he says when he was younger, he thought about it real hard. Today, why golly gee willikers, he kinda wishes he had served. Of course, Ted only wishes he had served for the political bonus points serving would have given him. In Ted’s feeble little mind where the thoughts are all about Ted, he believes saying he thought … [Read more...] about KREMLIN CRUZ (Cartoon, Column and Video)
Belarus forces airliner to land and arrests opponent, sparking U.S. and European outrage
By Andrey Ostroukh and Andrius Sytas MOSCOW (Reuters) -Belarusian authorities scrambled a fighter jet and flagged what turned out to be a false bomb alert to force a Ryanair plane to land on Sunday and then detained an opposition-minded journalist who was on board, drawing condemnation from Europe and the United States. In what was described by some EU leaders as a hijacking, … [Read more...] about Belarus forces airliner to land and arrests opponent, sparking U.S. and European outrage
Political Shock Jock Paul Announces He Won’t Get Vaccinated
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has announced that even though he had covid, he will not be getting a vaccine. Surprise! NOT surprise! Paul has become a "shock jock" among politicians. He seemingly prides himself on standing out from the crowd and getting lots of media. His hectoring of Dr. Anthony Fauci which usually has him making a variety of charges and (ahem) fact-challenged … [Read more...] about Political Shock Jock Paul Announces He Won’t Get Vaccinated
‘The Underground Railroad’ attempts to upend viewers’ notions of what it meant to be enslaved
Making the series changed Barry Jenkins’ views on how his ancestors should be described and depicted. Atsushi Nishijima/Amazon Studios William Nash, Middlebury Speaking on NPR’s Fresh Air, Barry Jenkins, the director of “The Underground Railroad,” noted that “before making this show … I would have said I’m the descendant of enslaved Africans.” “I … [Read more...] about ‘The Underground Railroad’ attempts to upend viewers’ notions of what it meant to be enslaved
CNN Axes Rick Santorum After Racist Comments About Native Americans and Non-Apology Apology
Former Senator Rick Santorum has been fired from CNN as a conservative commentator after his racist comments about Native Americans--and blew his chance at an on-the-air apology. Apparently Santorum didn't realize that CNN bigwigs were watching his weak non-apology apology and he became the walking dead until he was fired. CNN has faced a dilemma in getting conservative … [Read more...] about CNN Axes Rick Santorum After Racist Comments About Native Americans and Non-Apology Apology
Video of Black man’s death in US varies sharply from police account
Washington (AFP) - Initial claims by Louisiana authorities that a Black man stopped after a high-speed chase had died of crash-related injuries were undercut this week by newly released video showing police Tasing, dragging, choking and beating the man. The latest controversy over a police-involved death began on May 10, 2019 when police in northern Louisiana tried to stop a … [Read more...] about Video of Black man’s death in US varies sharply from police account
The New Pro-Maskers (Mike Peters Guest Cartoon)
Mike Peters is recognized as one of our nation’s most prominent cartoon artists for his outstanding work as both a political and comic strip cartoonist. His favorite expression “WHAT A HOOT” certainly sums up his outlook on his life and work which are inexorably entwined. Mike’s warm, easygoing and zany demeanor is evidence that his personality matches his creative talents. As … [Read more...] about The New Pro-Maskers (Mike Peters Guest Cartoon)
Republicans reject Biden infrastructure bill despite reduced cost
Washington (AFP) - Republican lawmakers have rejected a new White House infrastructure proposal that lowers the overall price tag in a bid to gain the opposition party's support, potentially raising the likelihood President Joe Biden's Democrats pass the measure on their own. The White House on Friday had proposed reducing the cost of the $2.3 trillion American Jobs Plan to … [Read more...] about Republicans reject Biden infrastructure bill despite reduced cost