Middle East

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Now that Emmanuel Macron is president of France, it is worthwhile asking what sort of foreign policy he would be likely to pursue. The French presidential system is more centralized than the American. I once did some consulting at the Quai D’Orsay, the French Foreign Ministry, […]

Israel/ Palestine

Israel to vote on Bill making it a “Jewish State,” demoting Arabic

contributors

Ma’an News Agency | – – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — An Israeli cabinet committee approved a contested bill on Sunday seeking to enshrine Israel’s status as a Jewish state into the country’s central legislation, sparking concern the heightened discrimination Palestinians would face should it become law. The Ministerial Committee for Legislation voted unanimously to move the […]

Featured

It was ISIL, not Hackers, who Hijacked French Election

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – That hackers, most likely Russia-linked, were trying to throw the French election to Marine Le Pen this weekend by releasing thousands of emails from her opponent Emmanuel Macron, probably struck too late to achieve their goal. They were counting on the rule that candidates may not […]

Iraq

Can Iraq’s Sunni Politicians agree on post-ISIL Future?

contributors

Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | – – “Iraq’s Sunni Muslims desperately need their politicians to present a united front and act in their interests. But the politicians cannot agree on a vision for the post-Islamic State future.” Last Sunday, Iraqi parliamentarians voted to ban their colleagues from participating in conferences held outside the […]

Iran

Syria: Rebels denounce De-escalation Zones ok’d by Russia, Iran, Turkey

contributors

TeleSur | – – Signatories to the agreement say that there should be a cessation of hostilities in safe zones designated by the three powers by Friday. Russia, Turkey and Iran on Thursday signed a memorandum on creating safe zones in Syria, while a delegation of the armed Syrian opposition walked out and shouted angrily […]

art and photography

Picture of the Day: Iranian Woman Tambourine Player, 1848

contributors

British Museum | Persian Costumes | – – “Portrait of a young woman; single-page painting mounted on album folio. A young woman kneels on a yellow and white carpet while holding a large tambourine to the right with both hands. She wears an orange blouse, a blue jacket fastened at the waist, and a bright […]

Investment

Iran Committed to Nuclear Deal, Opens Bonanza to European Investors

contributors

EurActiv | euroefe.es | translated by Sam Morgan | – – The head of the Iranian atomic energy agency (AEOI) said on Saturday (29 April) that his country will honour its commitments to the nuclear agreement regardless of who wins the presidential election on 19 May. EURACTIV Spain reports. Ali Akbar Salehi insisted Iran would […]

Iraq

Power, Water, Music: Mosul comes back to Life

contributors

Special Correspondent | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) | – – Locals in the parts of Mosul, from which extremists have been pushed out, are celebrating small signs of returning life: For one thing, the chance to pour a glass of water in a well-lit room. Some hope is returning to the locals in Mosul, after several […]