Europe

( Tomdispatch.com ) – That was President Trump’s blunt assessment of global power politics when it came to the United States and Russia following his inconclusive “summit” meeting with Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15th. Of all his comments about the meeting, that numerical assessment — made during a post-summit interview with Sean […]

European Union

European Parliament asks for Recognition of Palestinian State, Upholds halt to Aid to Israel

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – On Thursday, the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, passed a resolution asking European Union member states to recognize a Palestinian state. It isn’t the first time that the European Parliament has given support to Palestine recognition, but this resolution is the first directly to call on member states to undertake […]

Asia

While Trump Fiddles, China declares Eurasia Open for Business at At Shanghai Cooperation Org. Summit

Neil Thompson

Beijing raised its profile at the annual Shanghai Cooperation Council summit of non-Western countries just by providing a forum. London (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – China hosted the annual summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Council (SCO) last week at its port of Tianjin, drawing a crowd of world leaders from 20 non-Western countries. The […]

China

The Shanghai Cooperation Org. Summit and the Middle East in a Multipolar World

Middle East Monitor

By ‏Peiman Salehi | – ( Middle East Monitor ) – The recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Beijing was accompanied by a striking military parade and a series of ambitious economic proposals. Much of the global commentary presented the event as further evidence of a transition from US dominance to a new Chinese […]

Featured

Russia, China, reject attempt of E3 to Reimpose Sanctions on Iran over Nuclear Program

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – France, the United Kingdom and Germany (the “E3”) on Thursday sent a formal letter to the UN Security Council asking for snap back sanctions on Iran over its nuclear enrichment activities, which they maintain breach the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or nuclear deal. The joint letter of […]

European Union

How Europe is managing Guilt over Gaza: The Politics of moral Cleansing

Global Voices

Europe’s distancing from Netanyahu masks deeper complicity in Gaza’s devastation and the silencing of Palestinians Written byGuest Contributor By Dalia Ismail ( Globalvoices.org ) In the last few months, a noticeable shift has emerged across Europe as several governments signal a willingness to pressure Israel by moving toward the recognition of a Palestinian state. France […]

Archaeology

Ancient Nomadic Scythians Found to be Ethnically Diverse

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The more genetic history that is done, the more it is clear that ancient ethnonyms, the names given supposed ethnicities, put a variety of peoples under a single rubric. I talked recently about how the Phoenicians, long thought to be what we would now call Lebanese, were actually a multi-ethnic […]

Greece

Greek Protesters block military Cargo bound for Israel

Global Voices

The protest represents a multi-dimensional struggle: economic, geopolitical, and ethical. Written by Elvis Takahashi Mantello Protesters gather at Piraeus port to block a shipment believed to be destined for Israel for military purposes. Photo by Sotiria Georgiadou. Used with permission. Globalvoices.org ) – Despite the lingering summer heat in Athens, Greek protesters gathered at the […]

Israel/ Palestine

Why UK Recognition of a Palestinian State should not be conditional on Israel’s Actions

The Conversation

By Karen Scott, University of Canterbury (The Conversation) – The announcement this week by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the recognition of a Palestininian state has been welcomed by many who want to see a ceasefire in Gaza and lasting peace in the region. In contrast to other recent statements on the status of […]