Author: Bruce Snyder

London 30 October (20). In 2014, Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula. That same year, Russian special operation forces captured Donetsk and Luhansk, two of the main cities in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine and created puppet pro-Russian regimes there to further destabilize Ukraine. Media, academic and general coverage of the War on the Doorsteps of Europe received shock, disbelief and a bizarre debate on the greatness of the Russian Federation. In particularly a German article received my attention which ought to be considered. The Russian Federation is morally bankrupt. Regardless of the BRICS meetings and the self-flagellation of its…

US President Joe Biden said Monday it is time for all Americans to speak up because “diversity is being attacked” after a white man fatally shot three Black people over the weekend at a store in Florida. “Now is the time for all Americans to speak up when history’s being erased, books are being banned. Did you ever think we’d have this conversation here, at this time?” Biden said at the White House while addressing a reception to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, a civil rights organization founded in…

On Aug. 29, 2022, the largest water treatment plant in Jackson, Mississippi, failed – leaving 160,000 people, along with hospitals, fire stations and schools, without safe drinking water. In many cases, these communities had no water service at all. The catastrophe in the state’s capital, where 80% of residents are Black and about 25% live in poverty, was not the result of a natural disaster but rather generations of neglect by white politicians and policymakers. The year before, in fact, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael S. Regan presaged the crisis, citing the water treatment plant as an example of what…

A federal court Wednesday morning released a proposed agreement that would shift control of Jackson’s deteriorating sewer system under the control of Ted Henifin, who is already overseeing the city’s water system as a third-party manager. The stipulated order wouldn’t take effect until after a public comment period that will go until Aug. 31, and will include meetings for residents to attend. The Jackson City Council already approved the change in a vote two weeks ago. “Under today’s agreement, expedited measures will be taken to address the City of Jackson’s deteriorating sewer infrastructure and inadequate operation and maintenance, which have caused residents…

Mississippi, unfortunately, is perennially ranked as one of, if not the, poorest state in the United States. As of the latest data — the Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates — the median household income in the state of Mississippi was $49,111 — the lowest of any U.S. state. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t wealthy places in Mississippi. In a series of studies, we analyzed and identified the 50 richest cities in Texas as well as the richest cities in Ohio. Now, we’re going to delve into the data and discover the richest cities in Mississippi. Read on to find out what the richest…

Rahmon’s war against the Ismaili. Dubai (5/7 – 75) The government of Tajikistan’s campaign against the operations of a charitable organization funded by the Agha Khan, the spiritual leader of the country’s Ismaili minority, has intensified over the past few weeks. In the most recent development, the authorities have revoked the license of the Aga Khan Lycée in Khorog, the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, or GBAO. A source at the Aga Khan Foundation told Eurasianet that June 30 was the last day that the secondary school would operate under its aegis. The Aga Khan Development Network, the umbrella…

Almost three years after both houses of the Mississippi Legislature overwhelmingly voted to retire the old Confederate-themed state flag, a state senator from Union County is calling for its return. “That flag, a lot of our people fought and died under that flag,” Sen. Kathy Chism, R-New Albany, said during a political speech at the Belmont Political Rally in Tishomingo County on June 3. A reader shared a link to a video of her speech with the Mississippi Free Press. The state did not adopt the flag—which featured three red, white and blue bars with a Confederate cross in the upper left-hand…

It’s cheaper to rent than buy in most of the US, a new housing analysis found, unless you’re lucky enough to live in four select cities. The typical home’s monthly mortgage cost is lower than its monthly rent in Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Houston, according to the analysis of the 50 most popular metros by real estate brokerage Redfin. These were also the only places where more than 50% of homes in each respective market were more affordable to purchase than rent. In all other major cities — from San Jose, California to Pittsburgh — renting was more affordable than buying,…

London, Manchester, Liverpool (25/5 – 54) Pep Guardiola’s declaration that he will not leave Manchester City this summer is bad news for other clubs in the English Premier League. On 20 May, Manchester City secured their fifth Premier League title under Pep Guardiola. With the commanding Spaniard managing the team for seven seasons straight, since 2016, Manchester City only failed to become the champion on two occasions: 2016-2017 and 2019-2020. During those seven seasons in the Premier League, The Citizens collected an impressive 624 points from a possible maximum of 798. There seem to be no more challenges for Guardiola in…

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Democrats in the California Senate on Wednesday said they want to raise taxes on some of the largest corporations so they can cut taxes for nearly every other business. But the proposal was met with swift opposition from the business community and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom — highlighting the likely rocky budget negotiations ahead for a state facing an estimated $22.5 billion budget deficit. All California businesses pay a state tax rate of 8.84% on income, a figure that has not changed since 1997. This new proposal would create two tax rates for businesses in California.…