In many US states, more people die from prescription drug overdoses than from car crashes. That’s the finding of a new report on the explosive growth in prescription drug abuse. Kaiser Health News: Researchers at the Trust for America’s Health found that rates of overdose and addiction doubled since 1999 in most states. In West […]

Pakistan’s Army Chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, ended speculation regarding his future as he announced his retirement yesterday, surprising many and relieving some. The New York Times reports: The announcement was significant because it paves the way for the appointment of a new army chief — always a delicate matter in a country that has suffered four […]

Cities don’t need more reasons not to go bankrupt, but here’s another one anyways: it’s extremely expensive. Detroit is learning that lesson the hard way.As the city prepares for bankruptcy, it is hiring lawyers, consultants, administrators and appraisers, racking up massive bills in the process. The city has already spent $19 million in this manner, […]

Vladimir Putin’s moment to dazzle on the world stage is being marred by an uncooperative Olympic torch, which just won’t stay lit across an epic 123-day, 40,000 mile relay across Russia. And the pesky torch didn’t go out just once, but twice. The torchbearer, accompanied by a police car, an SUV, a small van and […]

We’re used to North Africa being a source of grim news: the war-that-isn’t-a-war rolls on, armed protestors in Libya have stalled the country’s oil exports, and Egypt is locked into an economic death spiral after this summer’s coup-that-wasn’t-a-coup. But there is one bright spot: a geological director for the Spanish oil and gas company Repsol sees […]

Young Chinese workers don’t want to work in factories anymore. Terry Gou, founder and Chief executive of Foxconn, China’s largest private employer and one of the manufacturers for the iPhone and iPad, claims that Chinese millennials aspire to more than the low-wage, mundane factory jobs which were held by so many in the previous generation […]

Detroit’s meltdown and ensuing bankruptcy are obviously a great tragedy for the city of Detroit, but for the rest of us there is a silver lining: the Motor City’s plight is a wake-up call to other struggling cities and municipalities across the country.The AP reports that a number of mayors, from NYC’s Michael Bloomberg to […]

India is close to signing a double-barreled mega deal with Russia to help shore up its struggling domestic energy supply. One deal will see Moscow helping New Delhi with nuclear energy technology, and the other will give India a stake in a liquified natural gas (LNG) project in Russia’s Yamal peninsula. The Wall Street Journal reports: The […]

China isn’t too pleased about America’s and Japan’s cozying up to one another in recent weeks.Last week, the US and Japan signed a treaty creating a missile defense system in Japan and boosting the US presence in Japanese bases. On Friday, representatives of both countries (along with Australia) met in Bali, where they brought up the […]

Stockton, California, is well on its way to repeating the mistakes of its sister bankrupt Golden State city, Vallejo: The city manager of Stockton has proposed a deal in bankruptcy court that involves zero pension cuts. Opting instead for slashing workers and health benefits, extending payments and selling buildings, the deal, if approved, would leave […]