Seeing the online future, the Blackstone Group, one of the largest private and alternative investment firms in the world, continues to buy up industrial warehouses across the U.S. and Europe.  They just closed one of the biggest private real-estate deals in history, paying $5.9 billion.  No more window shopping at brick-and-mortar storefronts. Warehouses are needed for retail goods bought online and...

To add insult to already shrinking bankster-profit injury, HSBC has announced it will slash 10,000 jobs, eliminating over 4 percent of its workforce. This follows the 60,000 layoffs this year by Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Citigroup, and others. The next decade looks grim for all banking staff in the branches, call centers, and corporate headquarters.  In addition to positions being dropped...

On 4 October, Microsoft said that Iranian hackers had made more than 2,700 attempts to hack email accounts of U.S. government officials and journalists. The report by Microsoft says the hacking took place shortly after the Trump administration put additional sanctions on Iran. When looking more closely at the report, however, no names were offered as to whom the Iranians...

Vice President Joe Biden, who has been the leading Democratic contender since the campaign season began, is seeing his polling numbers drop along with his fundraising efforts. Biden’s campaign reported raising $15.2 million in the third quarter, a substantial drop from the previous quarter.  In contrast, a number of his rivals did better.  Senator Bernie Sanders, recently hospitalized following a...

More combustion in the Middle East. Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, announced a major military ground and air operation into Syrian territory.  Sharing a 500-mile border, Erdoğan said this area also would be used to resettle up to two million Syrian refugees currently living in Turkey. The White House issued a statement on 7 October that “U.S. armed forces will...

Week 18: Thousands of pro-democracy protestors continued taking to the streets the weekend of 5 October in Hong Kong. Reacting to a new law against wearing masks in public, so authorities can facially recognize the opposition, the protest movements have become increasingly violent. Their actions have resulted in disrupting the transportation, closing of most of its subway system, and the...

Over 100 people have been killed and over 6,000 wounded as Iraqi security forces used water cannons, tear gas, and live ammunition after two days of protests that spread across the entire country. As of 6 October, eight government buildings and over 50 public and private buildings were set on fire during the demonstrations. Prime Minister of Iraq, Adel Abdul-Mahdi,...

The Egyptian protests that began 20 September continue.  Despite the harsh government crackdown, protestors continue taking to the streets against the dictatorship of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s corruption, repression, and dire economic conditions.  Among the 3,000 arrested, many claim they were going about their daily business at the time.  Since his military takeover in 2013, El-Sisi, America’s proud ally, has arrested...

On 30 September, the President of Peru, Martín Vizcarra, dissolved Congress and called for new elections. His decision was based on what he claims was “rampant political corruption.” In response, Vice President Mercedes Aároz, who had been leading congressional opposition, announced she would move to impeach Mr. Vizcarra for what she said was an illegal action declaring, “I am temporarily...

Following the announcement on 1 October by Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno of harsh austerity measures, the country has been rocked by a nationwide strike of transportation workers and joined by students and indigenous groups.  Last February, Moreno made a deal with the International Monetary Fund for a $4.2 billion loan in exchange for some $1.4 billion in government cutbacks, which...