Eastern Europe

Bonn (Special to Informed Comment) – Review of Nikolay Kozhanov (ed.), Russian Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East: New Trends, Old Traditions (London: Hurst and Co., 2022). “Syria is not witnessing a battle for democracy, but an armed conflict between government and opposition in a multireligious country. There are few champions of democracy in Syria. […]

Food Security

The Russia-Ukraine Grain Export Deal brokered by Turkey Promises major Benefits for Poor Countries

The Conversation

By Wandile Sihlobo, Stellenbosch University | – If Russia keeps to the deal it has signed with Ukraine allowing for the resumption of grain exports, much needed relief will be provided to importing countries, including many in Africa. Ukraine, which has about 22 million tonnes of grain (wheat, maize, sunflower seed and other grains) in […]

Apartheid

Israel bombs Civilian Apt. Bldg. in Gaza City, Killing 10, Wounding 55; When Russia does it, it is a War Crime

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Maram Humaid at Al Jazeera English reports that Israeli fighter jets bombed the civilian Palestine Towers apartment building in downtown Gaza City on Friday, killing 10, including a five-year-old girl, a Quds Brigades commander and wounding 55 other persons. The little girl, Alaa Qadooum, and her father were on a […]

Climate Crisis

Germany: Löwenbräu, other Beer Brands to be Made with Wind and Solar as Russian Gas Turns Unreliable

Clean Energy Wire

By Hannah Naylor | – inFranken.de / Süddeutsche Zeitung ( Clean Energy Wire ) – Bavarian breweries concerned about possible gas shortages are developing contingency plans to avoid a complete halt of beer production, reports regional news website inFranken.de. Munich breweries are considering switching to other energy sources, such as oil or renewables, but these […]

Food Security

The Turkey-Russia-Ukraine Grain Agreement and the Weaponization of Food

John Feffer

( Foreign Policy in Focus ) – When Russia bombed the port in Odesa last week, it was not an auspicious beginning to the new deal on grain exports. If anyone believed that this agreement between Moscow and Kyiv would have some positive spillover effect on the war grinding on elsewhere in Ukraine, the Russian […]

Israel

Israel fears a Nightmare Scenario as the Crisis with Russia escalates

Middle East Monitor

By Adnan Abu Amer | – Israel is convinced that Moscow’s threat to close down the Jewish Agency in Russia is retaliation for the Zionist state’s positions on the war in Ukraine. In fact, Israel now fears that the crisis with Russia will escalate further, which has prompted officials in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs […]

European Union

European Union sues Hungary over anti-gay Law – what it could mean for LGBT Rights in Europe

The Conversation

By Koen Slootmaeckers, City, University of London | – (The Conversation) – The European commission is taking legal action against Hungary at the European court of justice (ECJ), escalating a longstanding dispute over the country’s anti-LGBT laws. This is an unprecedented step for the EU, but it isn’t a sure win for LGBT rights in […]

Iran

Before Turkey can normalize with Syria, it must agree with Iran and Russia who the ‘Terrorists’ are

Omar Ahmed

( Middle East Monitor ) – Despite being at the forefront of states determined to see the overthrow of the Syrian government by throwing its weight behind armed opposition factions over a decade ago, Turkey has hinted that it could follow other countries in the region in normalising relations with Damascus. As it stands, Ankara […]

Iran

Russia and Iran’s growing Friendship shows their Weakness not their Strength

The Conversation

By Scott Lucas, University of Birmingham | – (The Conversation) – Facing economic and military difficulties in his invasion of Ukraine, the Russian president Vladimir Putin popped up this week in Iran’s capital Tehran. His plan was to show the world that, despite sanctions on Moscow and international aid for Ukraine’s resistance, he was not […]