Energy

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 […]

Climate Change

Crescent Dunes NV solar Plant Works Day & Night w/ Molten Salt Storage

contributors

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 […]

Energy

Iran Leader Khamenei: We are not Opposed to Nuclear Talks, Will Accept Just Deal

Juan Cole

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 […]

Climate Change

Thanksgiving was always about Climate and Adaptation: Let’s Make it Green Again

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | — The popular story about Thanksgiving is an environmental parable that we would do well to remember today. It was a harvest festival in 1621, participated in by the 50 (out of 100) survivors at Plymouth Plantation and 90 Native Americans. Some of these latter, such as Squanto, had shared with […]

Climate Change

Global Warming brings extreme Floods and Drought: World Bank

contributors

By Andrea Germanos, staff writer (Commondreams.org) “Even very ambitious mitigation” can’t change the fact that the world has already “locked in” mid-century warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial times, a new report from the World Bank Group finds. This warming brings increased threats to food and water security and jeopardizes poverty-reduction efforts, the study states. It […]

Iran

Iran: US War Hawks go on Offensive after Nuclear Energy Talk Deadlines are Postponed

contributors

by Jim Lobe | (Inter Press Service) | — Buoyed by the failure of the U.S. and five other powers to reach a comprehensive agreement with Iran over its nuclear programme after a week of intensive talks, pro-Israel and Republican hawks are calling for Washington to ramp up economic pressure on Tehran even while talks […]

Economy

Iraq: A Bigger Threat than Extremists? Economy on Verge of Collapse

contributors

By Mustafa Habib | Baghdad | via Niqash.org The Iraqi dinar: there might not be enough oil revenue coming into Iraq next year. The high cost of fighting the extremist Islamic State group, the worldwide decrease in oil prices, corruption and a lack of sensible economic forward planning mean that Iraq may be on the […]

Iran

Will GOP Congress block an Obama Iran Nuclear Deal?

contributors

By Carl Schreck and Luke Johnson (RFE/RL) | —- WASHINGTON — With the deadline for an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program looming, the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama is under increased pressure to bring home a deal that is acceptable to a skeptical Congress. If he cannot do so by November 24, he faces […]

Iran

“Iran too big a fish for Israel to fry” – Former IAEA Head Hans Blix on Nuclear Talks

contributors

RT | — “The latest negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program are entering their final days – the deadline set for November 24. Officials say there are many obstacles – but they also could yield an end to sanctions on Iran. How likely is that to happen? What forces influence the leaders in Tehran and Washington? […]