By Juan Cole It is clear that among the major losers in the fall in the price of Brent crude petroleum from $115 a barrel last summer to about $75 a barrel today are Russia, Iraq and Iran. Petroleum sales are 50% of Russia’s income, and are also central for Iran and Iraq. But the […]
Archives for November 2014
Crescent Dunes NV solar Plant Works Day & Night w/ Molten Salt Storage
Solar Reserve | — “Take an exclusive look at this revolutionary solar energy plant that works day and night.This is the world’s first 110 MW solar thermal power plant with advanced molten salt energy storage, The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project located in Tonopah, NV.” Solar Reserve: “The Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project – a […]
100K Homeless in Gaza face severe Flooding, Cold as UN Declares State of Emergency
BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — The UN’s Palestine refugee agency UNRWA on Thursday evening declared a state of emergency in Gaza City amid massive rains that have shut down normal life in parts of the besieged coastal enclave’s largest city. A major storm over the past week has filled the streets of Gaza City with water and […]
Christians of Syria’s Aleppo Hold out Despite Extremist Daesh/ISIL Threat
AFP | — “Tens of thousands of Christians have fled homes in Syria’s war-wracked second city of Aleppo but many others are determined to hold out despite their dread of Islamic State jihadists.” AFP: “Christians of Syria’s Aleppo hold out despite jihadist threat”
Rudy Giuliani Wants To Prosecute Ferguson Witnesses
The Young Turks | — “Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani weighed in on the Ferguson grand jury decision Tuesday night and said that if it were his case, he would prosecute some witnesses to the police shooting of unarmed teen Michael Brown for lying about what they saw. In an appearance on Fox News’ […]
Iran Leader Khamenei: We are not Opposed to Nuclear Talks, Will Accept Just Deal
By Juan Cole | — Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the clerical Leader of Iran, told an assemblage of volunteer paramilitary (Basij) forces on Thursday that he is not opposed to nuclear talks with the P5 +1 and would accept a just and reasonable deal. I said that a breakdown in the talks, which have been extended […]
Americans ask Pres. Obama to show Thanksgiving Mercy to Gaza
PressTV | — “President Obama pardoned two turkeys at the White House today, a tradition meant to illustrate the generosity and compassion of the Thanksgiving holiday. But for some, this time of year is more than a show of goodness.” Americans ask Obama to show Thanksgiving Mercy to Gaza
Can the Police Phone-Track you without a Warrant?
Hanni Fakhoury and Jennifer Lynch (Electronic Frontier Foundation) Once again, a federal court will decide whether police can track your movements over an extended period of time without a search warrant. Federal and state courts have divided over whether the Fourth Amendment requires police seek a search warrant to obtain historical cell site location information […]
Iraq Famine Threat? IS Daesh/ ISIL Stealing Wheat, Preventing Farmers from Providing Food?
JURF-AL-SAKHAR/DUBAI (IRIN) | — November is usually a busy month for farmers in the Iraqi town of Jurf al-Sakhar as they sow their seeds ahead of the bitter winter months. Yet this year fields lie unplanted and untethered goats and cows wander aimlessly among slayed palm trees. Months of fighting have taken a heavy toll […]