By John Nagle, Queen’s University Belfast | – The investigation into the Beirut port explosion has taken a new turn, with the judge overseeing the probe charging a former prime minister and two other former ministers with homicide with probable intent. The explosion in August 2020, which happened in a massive silo in the port […]
Combating Antisemitism today: Holocaust Education in the era of Twitter and TikTok
By Alan Marcus, University of Connecticut | – (The Conversation) – In the era of social media, antisemitism and Holocaust denial are no longer hidden in the margins, spewed by fringe hate groups. From Ye – formerly known as Kanye West – and NBA player Kyrie Irving to members of Congress on both sides of […]
As US-EU Trade Tensions Rise, Conflicting Carbon Tariffs could undermine Climate Efforts
By Noah Kaufman, Columbia University;Chris Bataille, Columbia University; Gautam Jain, Columbia University; and Sagatom Saha, Columbia University | – Rising trade tensions between the U.S. and the European Union, two of the most important global leaders when it comes to climate policy, could undermine key climate initiatives of both governments and make it harder for […]
Why gas stoves matter to the climate – and the gas industry: Keeping them means homes will use gas for heating too
By Daniel Cohan, Rice University | Gas stoves are a leading source of hazardous indoor air pollution, but they emit only a tiny share of the greenhouse gases that warm the climate. Why, then, have they assumed such a heated role in climate politics? This debate reignited on Jan. 9, 2023, when Richard Trumka Jr., […]
Desalination could give the Middle East Water without damaging marine Life – but it must be managed carefully
By Jonathan Chenoweth, University of Surrey and Raya A. Al-Masr, University of Surrey | – (The Conversation) – More than 2 billion people live in “water stressed” countries. These are territories where more than 25% of the available freshwater resources are withdrawn for human use each year. Desalination – the process of removing salt from […]
Israel’s new hard-line Government has made Headlines – the bigger demographic Changes that caused it, not so much
By Michael Brenner, American University | – Israel’s new goverment is the most right-wing and religious leadership the country has had in the 75 years of its existence, as many observers have pointed out. And this style of leadership may last because it represents the next generation of Israelis. You don’t have to look far […]
Israel’s Netanyahu facing off against the supreme Court and proposing to limit judicial Independence – and 3 other Threats to Israeli Democracy
By Boaz Atzili, American University School of International Service | – Democracy is not just about holding elections. It is a set of institutions, ideas and practices that allow citizens a continuous, decisive voice in shaping their government and its policies. The new Israeli government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu and sworn in on Dec. 29, […]
New Israeli Power Broker seeks to rewrite History to justify Violence against Palestinians
By Curtis Hutt, University of Nebraska Omaha | – (The Conversation) – A right-wing Israeli politician is trying to recast a key part of American history. That’s not a usual subject for an Israeli Cabinet member. But Itamar Ben-Gvir is trying to make his anti-Palestinian movement seem less extremist and more appealing to Jews and […]
Why do so many Turkish people believe ‘Secret Clauses’ in the 1923 Great Power Lausanne Treaty will be unveiled this Year?
By Ozan Ozavci, Utrecht University | – (The Conversation) – Commonly regarded as the “birth certificate” of modern Turkey, the 1923 treaty of Lausanne was the last of the peace settlements signed at the end of the first world war. This year’s centenary has already provoked far more public anticipation than one might expect, thanks […]