USA and Canada

Photo: Vladimir Putin & Donald Trump in Helsinki, 16 July 2018. Credit: President of the Russian Federation. CC BY 4.0

Exploring Whether Trump or Putin Is a Dictator

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power*

LUND, Sweden (IDN) – Who comes closest to being a dictator? Is it President Vladimir Putin or President Donald Trump?

Until Trump came on the scene as America’s number one, Putin took the prize for autocracy. No longer. Who uses his power to stir up violent, anti-democratic, movements? Who incites racism?

Who cares barely a fig for poor ill people? Who cossets the rich? Who threatens the world’s existence most – the one who spends more on increasing armaments than the other has altogether?

: Jonathan Power; THE WORLD; USA and Canada; 20 October 2020

Photo: Reverend John MacArthur. Credit: Wikimedia.

The US Pastor Who Preaches Climate Change Denial

Viewpoint by Paul Braterman*

LANCASTER (IDN) – Every so often you come across a piece of writing so extraordinary that you cannot help but share it. One such piece is a sermon on global warming by American pastor John MacArthur. Full of beautifully constructed rhetorical flourishes, it is forcefully delivered by an experienced and impassioned preacher to a large and appreciative audience.

: Phil Harris; OPINION; 19 October 2020

Photo: We will never know whether or not Reinoehl was guilty of murdering Danielson, as he was not given a chance to stand trial. Source: Insider.

Death Before Due Process in Trump's America

Viewpoint by Sonali Kolhatkar

This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute. Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder, host and executive producer of “Rising Up With Sonali,” a television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations.

LOS ANGELES (IDN) – The federal government’s killing of Michael Reinoehl exactly two months before the November 3 presidential race ought to have been one of the most high-profile election issues being discussed in America. Instead, it has been almost forgotten save for some media outlets starting to question the official narrative of his death.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 17 October 2020

Beware the Dangers of "Prozac Leadership"

Viewpoint by David Collinson*

LANCASTER (IDN) – Positivity is widely seen as an important quality for effective leadership. Upbeat and optimistic leaders can inspire commitment and creativity. But when taken to excess, being positive can become manipulative and counterproductive. In fact, my research has found that excessive positivity can be extremely dangerous.

I have examined the frequent tendency of leaders to engage in excessively positive thinking – what I’ve called “Prozac leadership”. Prozac leaders believe their own rhetoric that “everything is going well”.

: Phil Harris; OPINION; 10 October 2020

Photo: Prominent alt-rightists were instrumental in organising the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. Here, rally participants carry Confederate battle flags, Gadsden flags and a Nazi flag. CC BY 2.0

We Ignore Only at Our Peril the War Trump Is Waging on Us

Viewpoint by Sonali Kolhatkar

LOS ANGELES (IDN) – From the very beginning of his presidency, Donald Trump was pushing every boundary, violating the Constitution, and breaking rules and norms. But during this past year, he has escalated his attacks on the nation enough that we are at a point where the American president is waging war on the nation—even if many of us don’t yet realize it.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 09 October 2020

Photo: One of the two Chinese warplanes which briefly crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in August 2020. Source: Alert5 / CC BY-SA 4.0)

China Intimidating Taiwan

Viewpoint by Jonathan Power*

LUND, Sweden (IDN) – China has decided once again – as it does periodically – to up the ante with Taiwan, the big off-shore island, it claims as its own. Last month China sharply increased its military manoeuvres close to Taiwan’s borders. In return, Taiwan sent its fighter planes aloft every day for two weeks. U.S. diplomats in Taiwan are saying this is the worst escalation of Chinese military activity in two decades.

: Jonathan Power; OPINION; 06 October 2020

Photo: A new economic analysis for South Sudan indicates that the economy is recovering, but poverty remains deep rooted. Credit: World Bank.

Cash-Strapped Sudan Faces New Demands Before Painful Sanctions Are Lifted

Lisa Vives, Global Information Network

NEW YORK (IDN) – The U.S. has now conditioned the lifting of painful sanctions on Sudan until it agrees to Washington’s Middle East agenda and to normalizing relations with Israel.

If Sudan agrees before U.S. elections in November, sanctions could be lifted, opening the floodgates to desperately needed investment for this economically stressed corner of Africa.

Our economy is in shambles, admitted Amjed Farid, assistant chief of staff for Sudan’s prime minister. Sudan can't even get COVID aid from international institutions. U.S. sanctions have blocked all transactions using US currency or products, impeding any business with operations in the U.S. from trading with Sudan.

: Global Information Network; THE WORLD; Africa; 05 October 2020

Photo: Manish Uprety F.R.A.S., an ex-diplomat, and Ritesh Tandon, the Republican Party candidate for the US Congress from California’s 17th District.

Californians for Equal Rights and Prop 16

Viewpoint by Manish Uprety F.R.A.S. and Ritesh Tandon

Manish Uprety F.R.A.S. is an ex-diplomat and Ritesh Tandon is the Republican Party candidate for the US Congress from California’s 17th District. Any views or opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of IDN-InDepth News.

CALIFORNIA (IDN) – On September 19, a huge fleet of cars drove down the streets of California to spread the message to vote NO on Prop 16 among the local constituents.

The event endorsed by Californians For Equal Rights (CFER) and planned by a team of local volunteers reminded one of an old adage that the road to hell is usually paved with good intentions.

: Opinion Editor; OPINION; 04 October 2020

Putin Pleads For 5P Retaining Their UN Security Council Veto

By Radwan Jakeem

NEW YORK (IDN) – While U.S. President Donald Trump has availed of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations to continue China-bashing, for example, holding "China accountable for their actions" such as for unleashing "this plague" (COVID-1), and emitting "more toxic mercury into the atmosphere than any country anywhere in the world", Russian President Vladimir Putin preferred to focus on the role of the world body in maintaining international peace and security.

Trump believes that China is dumping "millions and millions of tons of plastic and trash into the oceans," overfishing other countries’ waters, destroying "vast swaths of cor.al reef".

: Radwan Jakeem; THE WORLD; Russia; 03 October 2020

Photo: President Trump as the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its September monthly employment situation report. On October 1, he and First Lady Melania Trump tested COVID-19 positive. Credit: White House.

Trump Should Be Facing Impeachment Over COVID-19

Viewpoint by Sonali Kolhatkar

This article was produced by Economy for All, a project of the Independent Media Institute. Sonali Kolhatkar is the founder, host and executive producer of “Rising Up With Sonali,” a television and radio show that airs on Free Speech TV and Pacifica stations.

LOS ANGELES (IDN) – President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania have both tested positive for the coronavirus in what is perhaps the most shocking “October surprise” in the history of presidential races. If he recovers with only mild symptoms, he will undoubtedly make the case that he was right all along in downplaying the virus. If he suffers, he will gain sympathy from the public at large.