PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to [email protected].
Western Economist Fingers Russia as “Panama Papers” Source (Gerry)
The hackers who released the huge cache of files known as the Panama Papers in April 2016 remain unknown. The revelations of corruption in the 11.5 million documents embarrassed government leaders across the world, including former British prime minister David Cameron. Now a Brookings Institution scholar suggests that Vladimir Putin might have been behind the hack — as part of a political blackmail scheme.
Trump Won’t Have Easy Time Undoing Climate Policy (Russ)
Ironically, it is the vaunted free market that is now propelling away from coal to renewables.
India’s Top Court Prohibits Identity Politics (Dan)
The country’s top four justices voted that elections based on appealing to caste or religious based constituents could be declared “null and void”. In a country starkly divided by the caste system, particularly regarding the Muslim minority, the ruling is sure to affect politics in a major way.
With a Trump Presidency, Leading Republican Very Worried (Milicent)
Former Head of EPA Christine Todd Whitman told BBC Radio she is very worried about her grandchildren because Trump denies climate change science. She said, “To walk away from something where you have 97% of scientists saying this is occurring and people have an impact on it … it’s gotten to the point where we’ve got to try to slow it down if we’re going to survive it.”
Infographic Reveals Only 10 Companies Own Most of the World’s Food Brands (Trevin)
This chart by Oxfam International shows how tentacles of the “Big 10” food and beverage corporations touch even the most unlikely of products.
Baltic Nations Receive US Support (Dan)
With Russia as a neighbor, the Baltic countries feel they have reason to worry. These NATO-aligned countries are thus receiving US aid in the form of Special Operations forces. Special Operations forces have been Obama’s choice of warriors in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Speak Truth To Power
We are 100% reader funded. Your tax-deductible contribution enables our next investigation. Make an impact now.
Our Comment Policy
Keep it civilized, keep it relevant, keep it clear, keep it short. Please do not post links or promotional material. We reserve the right to edit and to delete comments where necessary.
