Europe

“Nationalism and terrorism are constructed things to divide us”: Macedonian elections and a Balkan “War on Terror”

By Frances Trix | (Informed Comment) | – Now it appears, thanks to EU mediation, there will be new national elections in Macedonia next April 2016. In one sense it is quite early—there were national elections in April 2014 in which Nikola Gruevski, president since 2006, was once again elected. But in another sense, these […]

Christianity

Conservative, Catholic Ireland 1st Country to vote in Gay Marriage

contributors

Channel 4 News | (Video) – “Support for gay marriage in Ireland reaches 65 per cent with just the final votes to be counted – a resounding yes which forces the hugely influential Catholic church into turmoil after it opposed the change.” Channel 4 News: “Ireland votes to legalise gay marriage”

Africa

Global Connections: World History as Social History – a New Synthesis

Juan Cole

I and colleagues have just brought out a world history. Because of the fine and exciting writing of my co-authors, it is more than just a textbook. My readers often ask me about history books – here’s one I can recommend. By John Coatsworth, Juan Cole, Michael Hanagan, Peter C. Perdue, Charles Tilly, and Louise […]

Iran

Middle East Conflicts Trigger New U.S.-Russia Arms Race

contributors

By Thalif Deen | — UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The escalating military conflicts in the Middle East – and the month-long aerial bombings of Yemen by an Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia – have triggered a new arms race in the politically-volatile region. The primary beneficiaries are the United States and Russia, two of […]

History

Gallipoli: Prince Charles, Prince Harry in Turkey Honor 130,000 War Dead on Both Sides

contributors

Euronews | – “World leaders have gathered at the World War I battle sites of the Gallipoli campaign to mark 100 years since the British-led invasion. Representatives of countries that faced off in one of the most iconic events of the war honoured the dead in a joint ceremony on Friday, on the eve of […]

Iran

Iran: US, Israel dare not attack us; anyway if they could have, they would have

contributors

RT | — “With a nuclear deal around the corner, Russia’s decision to proceed with the sale of the sophisticated S-300 missile defense system to Iran sparked a flurry of speculation. How will these developments affect the balance of power in the region? Will it level the playing field or push the region into broader […]

Christianity

2015 Darwin Award: Paris would-be Church bomber Shoots own Leg, Calls 911

contributors

France24 | — “This church in the Parisian suburb of Villejuif may have escaped being attacked last week-end. “Documentation was found that said without ambiguity that a person known to authorities would carry out an attack on 1 or 2 churches,” says French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve.” France24 English: “France Terror threat – All we […]

Armenia

Controversy as the “Forgotten Genocide” of the Armenians turns 100

contributors

AJ+ | – “April 24 marks the 100th anniversary of what’s been called “The Forgotten Genocide” and the “Armenian massacres,” when hundreds of thousands – if not millions – of Armenians were killed at the hands of the Ottoman Empire’s Young Turks at the start of World War I. Here’s a breakdown of what happened. […]

European Union

700 Dead: Is Europe’s Neglect of Mediterranean Migrants a form of Genocide?

contributors

By Heaven Crawley The latest refugee deaths in the Mediterranean – up to 700 people drowned when the overcrowded fishing vessel in which they were travelling from North Africa capsized of the coast of Libya – follows a similar tragedy last week in which 400 people perished. In October 2013, more than 360 people – […]