By Celia Deane-Drummond, University of Oxford The death of Pope Francis has been announced by the Vatican. I first met the late Pope Francis at the Vatican after a conference called Saving Our Common Home and the Future of Life on Earth in July 2018. My colleagues and I sensed something momentous was happening at […]
South Africa’s Ambitious Renewable Energy Masterplan involves Solar Manufacturing
By Ricardo Amansure, Stellenbosch University (The Conversation) – About 85% of South Africa’s electricity is produced by burning coal. The country’s move to renewable energy means that the coal industry will be phased out. To this end, the South African cabinet recently approved the country’s first renewable energy masterplan, which sets out what’s needed to […]
Mideast Peace Depends on an unlikely Trump-Iran Nuclear Deal
By Simon Mabon, Lancaster University For the second week in a row, senior officials from the United States and Iran will get together to take part in talks about the Iranian nuclear programme. It’s the second round in the latest negotiations – the first having taken place in Oman on April 12. But recent statements […]
South African Court said no to new Coal-fired Power: what’s behind the Ruling
By Melanie Murcott, University of Cape Town (The Conversation) – Three South African environmental and climate justice organisations took the South African government to court in November 2021, to challenge the authorisation of new coal-fired power as part of the country’s energy mix. Three years later, the court ruled that the government’s new coal plans […]
What is the Israel Lobby – and Why is it so Anxious?
By Ned Curthoys, The University of Western Australia (The Conversation) – Last May, on a trip to the United States, world-renowned Israeli–Jewish historian Ilan Pappe was detained by Homeland Security and held for two hours. Aged 69 at the time, he was, among other things, asked about his views on Hamas and whether Israel’s actions […]
Iran and US to enter high-stakes Nuclear Negotiations – hampered by a lack of Trust
ByAli Bilgic, Loughborough University (The Conversation) – The announcement of planned talks between the US and Iran in Oman signifies a crucial development – especially given the history of distrust and animosity that has characterised their interactions. There remains a degree of confusion as to whether the negotiations over Iran’s development of a nuclear capacity […]
With US Bombers at the ready, can Trump cut a Deal with Iran and avoid a War?
By Amin Saikal, Victoria University (The Conversation) – The United States and Iran are once again on a collision course over the Iranian nuclear program. In a letter dated early March, US President Donald Trump urged Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to negotiate a new deal. The new deal would replace the defunct nuclear […]
Christian Zionism hasn’t always been a conservative evangelical Creed – Churches’ Views of Israel have evolved over Decades
By Shalom Goldman, Middlebury (The Conversation) – During confirmation hearings, Mike Huckabee, President Donald Trump’s nominee as ambassador to Israel, told senators that he would “respect and represent the President,” not his own views. But the Baptist minister’s views on the Middle East – and their religious roots – came through. “The spiritual connections between […]
How Trump’s Historically High Tariffs will Hurt the US Economy
ByBedassa Tadesse, University of Minnesota Duluth (The Conversation) – President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping new tariff plan on April 2, 2025, to reshape U.S. trade and boost domestic industry. Framing the announcement as “Liberation Day,” he proposed a 10% tariff on essentially all imports, with steeper rates for major trade partners, including 34% on […]
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