Middle East Monitor | – – Haaretz reported on Thursday 23 November, 2017, that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas refused Wednesday to answer a phone call from Jared Kushner, adviser to US President Donald Trump who is responsible for mediating an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. Instead of answering Kushner’s call, Abbas forwarded it to the representative of […]
“Give me Liberty & Give Me Liquor” Anbar, Iraq after ISIL
Kamal al-Ayash. | Anbar | (Niqash.org) | – – Even before the extremists were in control in Anbar, selling alcohol was banned. During extremist control, selling liquor was punishable by death. But now liquor stores have become a sign of freedom. Sign of hope? Beer on sale at a bar in Iraqi Kurdistan. These days […]
Could Africa skip Pipelines straight to Solar Panels?
By Benjamin Fox | EURACTIV.com | – – Nearly €340 ($403) billion of investment will be needed to achieve universal access to electricity across Africa by 2030, the World Energy Network forecasts. That is a tall order. The combined grid capacity of the 48 sub-Saharan African countries is around 70 gigawatts, roughly equivalent to that […]
Remembering Puerto Ricans–Americans–on Thanksgiving
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Many Puerto Ricans are spending Thanksgiving on the mainland, away from home and family and friends, as climate refugees. I guess this catastrophe is something that should be on our minds on this day of feasting. Thanksgiving was a northern, regional holiday until 1863 when Abraham […]
The New Arab League Cold War
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Arab League is embroiled in a new cold war among its own members, largely over Iran’s role in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have so much influence in the Arab League that they got through a resolution of the foreign ministers committee […]
Sexual Predator Trump backs Sexual Predator Roy Moore (TYT Video)
The Young Turks | (Video News Clip) | – – “Does Trump support Roy Moore? Cenk Uygur, the host of The Young Turks, breaks down Trump’s response: “President Donald Trump on Tuesday directly addressed the sexual misconduct allegations against Alabama GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore, nearly two weeks after the first accounts of Moore’s alleged […]
Israeli Minister Confirms Secret Contacts with Saudi Arabia
By IMEMC News | – – Israel’s Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz revealed that the country maintains secret contacts within Saudi Arabia and many other Muslim and Arab countries, especially those with shared concerns from Iran. Steinitz, a member of Netanyahu’s security cabinet, did not characterize the contacts or give details when asked why Israel was […]
World’s Cheapest Solar Power in Mexico a Coal-Killer
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – China will have installed 54 gigawatts of new solar energy by the end of 2017, instead of the 15 gigawatts forecast last January or the 30 gigawatts forecast as late as last June. As of last June, the US installed solar capacity was only 47 gigawatts, […]
Trump’s attack on UCLA Athletes’ right to Dissent an Attack on America
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – So Trump intervened with Chinese authorities to release three UCLA basketball players guilty of shoplifting from a mall in Hangzhou while playing in China. They thanked him, he told them to change their ways. Then Levar Ball, the father of LiAngelo Ball–one of the three freed […]
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