Switzerland: Democracy at Its Best

The Direct democracy that prevails in Switzerland differs from the representative democracy of the US or India, where people delegate power to the elected representatives. But the Swiss political system has both the elements of direct democracy and parliament and so it is referred to as the semi-direct democracy. Government of the people, by the people […]

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Riots Breaking Out Around the World

London is reeling from three nights of rioting that’s poured hundreds of people into the streets, leaving several local neighborhoods in shambles. One man is dead, dozens injured and arrested. The protests have now spread to other cities, with violence reported in parts of Birmingham, Liverpool and Bristol. Great Britain and other parts of the world […]

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Italian MPs Write Letter Against Palestinian Authority Unilateral Move at UN

Over 150 Italian MPs from all the political parties have signed a document calling on the international community to oppose the Palestinian Authority’s bid for a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian State at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The document calls for a rapid resumption of negotiations between the Israeli and the Palestinian […]

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Tymoshenko Arrest Hurts Ukraine, Benefits Russia

On August 5, Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister and heroine of Ukraine’s 2004 pro-western Orange Revolution, was arrested during her trial. Tymoshenko was in court defending herself against charges of overstepping her authority and allegedly making an illegal gas price deal with Russia in 2009. The presiding judge, Rodion Kireyev, accused her of systematically […]

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Netanyahu: Israel-Balkans Ties Flourish

While some western European countries do not understand why Israel has failed to make peace with the Palestinian Authority, those living in the Balkans “get it,” Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said last week, speaking at the beginning of a visit to Romania and Bulgaria. “They have lived under tyranny, so they are more skeptical, they […]

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Debunking 6 Myths About Anders Breivik

1. Anders Behring Breivik was a Fundamentalist Christian Breivik described himself as not a religious person and mentions praying only once. His plans leading up to the attacks involved multiple visits to prostitutes. In one section of his manifesto he clarifies what he means by Christian. Q: Do I have to believe in God or […]

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Five Reasons To Ban the Burqa

(Front Page) Belgium and France have banned the Burqa and the new Dutch government is considering doing the same. Critics have charged that the ban is religiously intolerant, some even claim that it’s intolerant of women, but the truth is that the Burqa is dangerous to women. Both those who wear it—and those who don’t. […]

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