"Cost savings" obtained by screwing the poor and sick often cost society dearly. For instance, the UK could save 8 billion pounds a year by spending a mere 1/3 billion on mental health care for mothers.

Reducing spending or deficits is only an excuse. When right-wingers succeed in doing this, they turn around and cut taxes for the wealthy or businesses, thus creating another deficit that they "need" to reduce by screwing the poor and sick.

The US dropped weapons and supplies to Kurds in Kobani. and appears to have convinced Turkey to let Kurdish reinforcements in.

Thugs repeatedly clear away protest areas in Hong Kong.

If the 400,000 who supported the protests were to keep protesting, the antidemocratic government might have to yield.

The New York Times once again defines "democracy" in Latin America as "submitting to the USA".

The effects of global heating are nonuniform. The average October temperature in Pt Barrow has risen 7C (12F) since 34 years ago.