By Billie Jeanne Brownlee and Maziyar Ghiabi | (The Conversation) | – – The Twitter account of Lebanon’s prime minister, Sa’ad Hariri has been inactive since November 6, just after he announced his resignation in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh. Hariri justified his decision as a move to escape an assassination plot. So far, both […]
Former CIA Dir.: Trump is afraid of Putin Kompromat
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Two former intelligence officials on Sunday more or less said openly that Trump is compromised by Russia. Jake Tapper asked former CIA head John Brennan about Trump’s statement on Friday that he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin when he said that Russia did not interfere in […]
Wind powered all of Scotland in October & other Renewable Success Stories
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Wind and solar keep falling in price– each fell 6% in 2016. That fall was not as big as the two previous years, but there is every reason to expect price drops much bigger in coming years, as new technology makes the move from basic science […]
Nasrullah: Saudi has declared war on Lebanon
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Al Jazeera Arabic reports that Hassan Nasrullah, the secretary-general of Hizbullah accused Saudi Arabia of declaring war on Lebanon and on his party. He repeated his charge that Riyadh has abducted Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri and has forced him to announce his resignation in a […]
Brazil: Huge Solar Plant to help get to 45% Renewables by 2030
AFP News Agency | (Video News Clip) | – – “Brazil has lagged far behind in the shift to solar power, but the biggest facility on the continent now being built in the south-east aims to give the country its place in the sun.” AFP: “Huge solar plant aims for brighter Brazil energy production”
Top 5 reasons Roy Moore could still Win, despite Sex Scandals
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for senate in Alabama, was rocked by scandal this week, as a woman accused him of initiating sexual contact with her when she was only 14. Moore was twice removed as chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court for refusing to […]
Syria: If ISIL is dire threat, why isn’t its Defeat bigger News?
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Syrian regime announced Wednesday that its army, supported by the Lebanese Shiite militia, Hizbullah and Iraqi Shiite militia, took control of the city of Al-Bu Kamal, the last base for ISIL on the Syrian-Iraqi border, after battles with the terrorist organization. At the same time, […]
Le Pen Stripped of Immunity for Tweeting Gruesome IS Images
TeleSur | – – Circulating “violent messages that incite terrorism or pornography or seriously harm human dignity” is a crime punishable in France by up to three years’ imprisonment. France’s National Assembly has lifted far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s immunity from prosecution after she posted pictures on Twitter of Islamic State (IS) atrocities. The decision […]
Trump only president not invited to Paris Climate Summit
By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Europe1 is reporting that French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that “for the moment” US head of state Donald J. Trump is not invited to the international conference on the climate to be held in Paris in the wake of COP23 in Berlin on 17 November. […]