Search focused on Liberal Politics

17+ min ago (1612+ words) From Ukraine to Myanmar to Burkina Faso, Al Jazeera examines martial law or military government, and the impact on civilians. One year ago, on December 3, 2024, South Korea was thrust into a political crisis after then-President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, citing rising unrest and an alleged threat to national security. Troops were deployed, Yoon ordered the detention of opposition lawmakers, and key state institutions, including the National Assembly, were placed under military command. Press freedoms were also curtailed, though journalists continued reporting in defiance of the restrictions, and citizens mobilised to demand an end to the decree. The move sparked widespread demonstrations and, within just six hours, the parliament was surrounded by protesters and police as lawmakers voted against the decree, forcing Yoon to withdraw it. Within days, the Supreme Court declared the brief martial law unconstitutional. Weeks later,…...

39+ min ago (35+ words) Children, photojournalist among Palestinians killed by Israeli forces across Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Rights group denounce violence spike: Reports say 2025 is the deadliest year for Palestinians By Edna Mohamed and Virginia Pietromarchi...

47+ min ago (298+ words) President Donald Trump praised Matt Van Epps" electoral victory late Tuesday as Republicans held on to a deep-red Tennessee House seat and fended off progressive state lawmaker Aftyn Behn, whom the president fumed "hates Christianity" during the race. Van Epps, a former Army helicopter pilot, secured Tennessee"s 7th District with barely 54% of the vote, defeating Behn in a district Trump carried by 22 points just last year. The win increases Republicans" House majority to 220 seats, though that number shrinks again when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) leaves in January. Trump immediately seized on the result, hailing the victory as "another great night for the Republican Party!!!": Van Epps reciprocated the praise in his victory speech: "President Trump was all-in with us. That made the difference. In Congress, I"ll be all-in with him." Meanwhile, Democrats are hardly discouraged by the narrow…...

54+ min ago (490+ words) Publisher of beloved children's character Franklin the Turtle also disavowed the Trump administration's use of artwork. Pop singer Sabrina Carpenter and the publisher of the beloved children's character Franklin the Turtle have disavowed US President Donald Trump's administration's use of their music and imagery to support its agenda. Responding on social media to the use of her song Juno, from her 2024 album Short n' Sweet, in a video montage depicting US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids, Carpenter said, "This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda." In the caption for the clip, the White House quoted Carpenter's lyrics, "Have you ever tried this one? Bye-bye." White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson retorted in a statement: "Here's a Short "n Sweet message for Sabrina Carpenter: we won't apologise for deporting…...

1+ hour ago (127+ words) Marco Rubio and Donald Trump Today's Office Hours discussion question is particularly difficult to answer. After more than 10 months of this catastrophic Trump regime, who has emerged as the worst person in it, other than Trump himself? There are so many candidates for this distinction that's it been hard to narrow down the finalists, but I've done the best I can to identify the most dangerous. All have caused extensive damage. This isn't to excuse Trump, of course. He appointed them and continues to support them. His rantings and ravings have encouraged them. Which of them in your view is the worst of the worst? Hence, today's Office Hours question: Who in the Trump regime is the worst of the worst?...

1+ hour, 7+ min ago (584+ words) Peter Thiel speaking at an event in Scottsdale, Arizona. It's called Palantir Technologies, a Silicon Valley tech company that may put your most basic freedoms at risk. Palantir gets its name from a device used in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, in which a "palantir" is a seeing stone " something like a crystal ball " that can be used to spy on people and distort the truth. During the War of the Ring, a palantir falls under the control of the evil Sauron, who uses it to manipulate and deceive. Palantir " co-founded by far-right billionaire Peter Thiel and its current CEO Alex Karp " bears a striking similarity. It sells AI-based data platforms that let their clients, including governments, militaries, and law enforcement agencies, quickly process and analyze massive amounts of your personal data. Whether it's social media profiles, bank account…...

1+ hour, 42+ min ago (1574+ words) Elected officials are quick to support public lands ranchers who are accused of breaking rules. As a result, federal agencies pull punches when enforcing regulations. After repeated calls, texts and letters, the Forest Service sent the ranchers a "notice of noncompliance," according to documents obtained via public records requests. The agency asserted that the ranchers had engaged in "a willful and intentional violation" of their permit and warned that future violations could lead to its revocation. The ranchers were hardly the largest or most politically influential among those who graze livestock on public lands. But they soon had help from well-placed people as they pushed back, hoping to get the warning rescinded based on their belief that they had been treated unfairly. "The Forest Service needs to work with us and understand that grazing on the Forest is not black…...

2+ hour, 3+ min ago (156+ words) In DRC's perilous mines, Eagle walks a tightrope, protecting workers' welfare to supply international demand for cobalt. In DRC's perilous mines, Eagle Mujinga walks a tightrope, protecting workers' welfare to supply international demand for cobalt. Eagle Mujinga manages workers at Shabara cobalt mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). As the world's biggest producer of cobalt, the DRC is a part of the chain that fuels electric vehicles and renewable energy worldwide. Miners in the DRC face dangerous working conditions and earn, on average, a few dollars per day to supply the multibillion-dollar industry. Eagle is caught in the middle when unrest grows among miners who accuse foreign buyers of underweighing and undervaluing the cobalt they extract. Once a miner himself, can Mujinga navigate demands from the miners while maintaining relations with foreign buyers? Cobalt Miners is a…...

2+ hour, 4+ min ago (994+ words) Republican Van Epps manages to defeat his Democratic challenger by a narrow margin. Backed by United States President Donald Trump, Republican Matt Van Epps won Tuesday's special US House election in Tennessee, defeating Democratic state Representative Aftyn Behn. Van Epps will fill the seat vacated by former Representative Mark Green, who resigned in July. A Democratic upset would have further narrowed the Republicans' 219-213 House majority. Here is what to know: With about 96 percent of votes counted, Van Epps had 53.9 percent, while Behn had 45 percent, according to the AP. "This race was bigger than just one campaign," Van Epps said in a statement. "It represented a defining moment for'Tennessee'and for the direction of the country." He also said cost-of-living concerns would be among his top priorities " a reflection of the broader focus on those issues in races this year, including the…...

2+ hour, 10+ min ago (489+ words) " The First Sunday of Advent, when the Candle of Hope is lit in faith communities and churches. " The parol-making with artist couple facilitators, Bert Monterona and Mylene Maranoc, at St. Mary the Virgin South Hill Church in Vancouver, BC. " The rally at the GL Metrotown Skytrain Station against corruption in the Philippines. The First Sunday of Advent The Reverend Expedito Farinas, aka Apo Expie, in his twelfth year as St. Mary the Virgin South" Hill Church's pastor, led the lighting of the Candle of Hope with the children and adult congregants. This church has been a witness to the congregants' experience of a sense of community beyond age, color, culture, education, race, or social status. Reverend Expie's church remains open to many migrant communities, especially Filipinos who find comfort in The Reverend's homilies that speak to their struggles and strengths....