Our joy at the news that the latest underwear bombing plot by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been foiled is somewhat diminished by the realization that this time they were trying a new and improved underwear bomb. Officials said the latest bomb was an updated model with a more effective detonation system and […]

Life in Timbuktu is changing quickly. Five weeks ago, this ancient city in northern Mali fell to Taureg rebels who sought an independent homeland. They were helped by at least one al Qaeda-linked Islamist group. Today, the Islamists rule the city alone.“The ‘bearded men’ are the new masters of the Azawad region. The MNLA [Taureg […]

Via Meadia has written previously about the tragedy of Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. A man of principle who is also a pragmatic and flexible leader, he has done more than anybody else to build a working Palestinian state, but that achievement is under growing threat as Hamas, Fatah and the Israeli government all pursue […]

April is the cruelest month for the Obama administration’s hoped for economic recovery; yet again this year signs of economic recovery faded in the spring after a winter of growth. But for one group, there has been little hope and no change: the jobs picture for young adults just keeps looking bleak.Data from Tuesday’s Gallup […]

The results from the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary are in, and unions were dealt a serious blow—their preferred candidate in the Democratic primary, Kathleen Falk, was soundly defeated by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who received 58 percent of the vote to Falk’s 35 percent. While Barrett has pledged to roll back many of Governor Walker’s policies, […]

Recent law school grads are painfully aware that their expensive degree is no longer a ticket to guaranteed wealth and lifetime employment. The job market may be difficult for some time, but making it easier and cheaper to get a legal education would ease the squeeze for aspiring legal eagles down the road.Washington University, for […]

Who is Mitt Romney? Via Meadia has been watching Romney for some time, but we feel like we still don’t know him. And it seems we’re not alone in this assessment: according to the latest Gallup poll, Barack Obama holds a near two-to-one advantage (60-31) when voters are asked to name which candidate is more […]

According to the latest polling from the Pew Global Attitudes Project, a majority of Egyptians want to ditch the peace treaty with Israel: Most Egyptians favor overturning the 1979 peace treaty in which Egypt became the first Arab country to formally recognize Israel. Roughly six-in-ten (61%) want to annul the treaty, up slightly from last […]

The austerity wave that swept Europe last year is under attack from all sides. François Hollande upset Sarkozy in the French election largely by running against austerity measures, and other European leaders are also calling for some relaxation. Much to the chagrin of the Germans, many economists (as well as The Economist), seem to believe […]

In recent days, gunmen and suicide bombers associated with Boko Haram bombed the offices of several prominent Nigerian newspapers; killed fifteen worshippers at a church in just the latest of many attacks on Christian civilians; bombed the convoy of a prominent policeman (who survived, unlike eleven not-so-lucky guards and bystanders); launched an assault on a […]