By May Darwich, University of Birmingham | – The 2019 Sudan uprisings that ousted long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir and installed a military-civilian transitional government gave hope that the northern African country could finally transition to democratic rule. The country has been ruled by the military for most of its independence since 1956. But Sudan’s bumpy […]
What the Iraq War can teach the US about avoiding a Quagmire in Ukraine – 3 key Lessons
By Patrick James, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences | – Leaked Pentagon papers showed in early April 2023 that the U.S. is allegedly following the inner workings of Russia’s intelligence operations and is also spying on Ukraine, adding a new dimension to the United States’ involvement in the Ukraine war. While the […]
Perovskite: new Type of Solar Technology paves the Way for abundant, cheap and printable Cells
By David Beynon, Swansea University | – Silicon solar cells are an established technology for the generation of electricity from the sun. But they take a lot of energy to produce, are rigid and can be fragile. However, a new class of solar cell is matching their performance. And what’s more, it can now be […]
Sudan: questions about Wagner Group Involvement as another African Country falls Prey to Russian Mercenaries
By Kristian Gustafson, Brunel University London; Dan Lomas, Brunel University London; Neveen S Abdalla, Brunel University London; and Steven Wagner, Brunel University London | – (The Conversation) – After more than a week of intense fighting between Sudanese government troops and paramilitary forces in Khartoum, many western countries – including the US and UK – […]
Singing, trauma and the resilience of the Yazidis of northern Iraq: The power of cultural identity on psychological well-being
By Mylène Ratelle, University of Waterloo | – (The Conversation) – Behind each door and gate in Sinuni, Iraq, there is a different story of trauma and resilience. The Yazidi community is still coping with the trauma and mental health burden following the ISIS genocide of 2014, where thousands of men, women and children were […]
Deadly Heatwaves threaten to reverse India’s Progress on Poverty and Inequality
By Ramit Debnath, University of Cambridge and Ronita Bardhan, University of Cambridge | – (The Conversation) – Record-breaking heatwaves in April 2022 put 90% of people in India at increased risk of going hungry, losing income or premature death, according to our new study. After 2022 was designated the hottest in 122 years, extreme heat […]
Sudan’s Plunge into Chaos: Implications for US Strategic Goals
By Christopher Tounsel, University of Washington | – (The Conversation) – The sight of diplomats fleeing Sudan amid chaotic scenes reflects the gravity of the situation, but also the extent of international interest in the strife-torn nation. Days into fighting that has left at least 400 people dead, governments from across the Middle East, Europe, […]
Sudan’s Conflict has its Roots in three Decades of Elites fighting over Oil and Energy
By Harry Verhoeven, Columbia University | – Sudan stands on the brink of yet another civil war sparked by the deadly confrontation between the Sudan Armed Forces of General Abdelfatah El-Burhan and the Rapid Support Forces of Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (“Hemedti”). Much of the international news coverage has focused on the clashing ambitions of the […]
Arctic sea ice loss and fierce storms leave Kivalina fighting to protect its island from the sea – ‘we just can’t adapt this fast’
By P. Joshua Griffin, University of Washington | – As winds and waves from Typhoon Merbok devastated communities along the coast of Western Alaska in 2022, Reppi Swan Sr.’s phone began to ring at Kivalina, a barrier island 80 miles above the Arctic Circle. A neighboring family had lost 3 feet of land to the […]