Global

"Berlusconi is there because others have failed." These words by Italian columnist Massimo Franco were made to the Washington Post in 2018, shortly before the Italian March elections. They sum up the story of Italy's modern politics.

 Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's adored but also loathed longest-serving prime minister died on June 12. His party, Forza Italia, is a partner in Italy's current government coalition, led by Giorgia Meloni. 

Berlusconi has not served as a prime minister since 2011. Despite his old age - he died at 86 - and his many scandals, he continued to cast a shadow over Italian politics, even when dying at Milan’s San Raffaele Hospital.

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Job opening: Prime minister.

Must be able to end Thailand's cycle of coups by satisfying the demands of Thailand's U.S.-trained, putsch-empowered military.

Must be able to seduce junta-appointed senators into supporting the next government, and continue capitalist Thailand's balancing of relations with the U.S. and China.

Unfortunately for Pita Limjarouenrat -- the May 14 election winner to be prime minister -- the Election Commission on June 9 opened a "criminal case" against him for alleged election fraud, punishable by 10 years in prison and a political ban for 20 years.

Mr. Pita is vulnerable because his new Move Forward Party's (MFP) nationwide election victory was buoyed by idealistic, anti-military voters.

That rang alarms throughout Thailand's increasingly insecure army establishment.

Put on the khaki uniform of a politically entrenched general, and it is easy to understand why you might regard Mr. Pita's election as a challenge.

Since October 2022, which marked 75 years since the House Un-American Activities (HUAC) began its witch hunting congressional hearings investigating “subversion” in Tinseltown, there have been a number of events commemorating the Hollywood Blacklist.

Because it can’t compete with the massive rise of renewable energy, its death rattle has morphed into yet another of the industry’s periodic big budget PR campaigns meant to spark a “Renaissance.”  

But America’s dangerously dark, aging fleet of 94 reactors constantly leak dangerous radiation.  

They make climate chaos worse, kill downwind living beings, and dangerously deteriorate every day. 

And as the breaking news shows, a wide range of experts now warn that Russia might not hesitate to actually blow up the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, with six reactors and fuel pools that could blanket Europe with deadly radiation—-a catastrophic disaster that could be duplicated at any other atomic reactor targeted by a hostile power or terror organization.   

What follows are 108 reasons for the industry’s failure.  A second set will follow shortly:  
 
1.    Commercial atomic reactors regularly burn the planet at 325 degrees Celsius or more.

2.  They emit significant quantities of carbon and other greenhouse gasses during nuclear fission.