Europe

By John V Whitbeck European parliamentary resolutions urging their governments to recognise the State of Palestine must be followed by actual recognitions of the State of Palestine The European Parliament, after a late compromise in pursuit of consensus, has now passed, by a vote of 498 to 88 with 111 abstentions, a resolution stating that […]

Central Asia

China’s Pivot toward Europe may Cut USA out of Deal

contributors

By Pepe Escobar | (Tomdispatch.com) — November 18, 2014: it’s a day that should live forever in history. On that day, in the city of Yiwu in China’s Zhejiang province, 300 kilometers south of Shanghai, the first train carrying 82 containers of export goods weighing more than 1,000 tons left a massive warehouse complex heading […]

Apartheid

Why Europe must stop blocking Palestinian membership of the Int’l Criminal Court

contributors

Human Rights Watch | — Position paper from Amnesty International, Broederlijk Delen, Christian Aid, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), Human Rights Watch, and Pax Christi Flanders Ongoing impunity for serious crimes committed during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has undermined the trust needed to bring about a durable, just peace. But a move by Palestine or […]

European Union

In Rebuke to Israel, French Parliament votes Resolution to Recognize Palestine

Juan Cole

Euronews / France24 | — VIDEO 1 (Euronews): “French MPs vote to recognise Palestinian state The French parliament has voted in favour of recognising the state of Palestine by a large majority. MPs voted 339 in favour and 151 against. Israel had earlier urged the French parliament to vote against the resolution. It is a […]

Eastern Europe

Putin, Blocked by Europe, turns to Turkey for Gas Pipeline

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | — The Russian annexation of Crimea and heavy interference in the Ukraine has had a significant consequence for its hydrocarbon industry. President Vladimir Putin has been forced to cancel a planned natural gas pipeline that would bring the fuel to southern Europe, because of European Union pressure for boycotting Russia. Moscow […]

Featured

Oil Price Fall: Saudi Arabia targets US Shale Oil, Iran, Iraq, Russia

Juan Cole

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 […]

Apartheid

Another Domino Falls: Spanish Parliament votes to Recognize Palestine

contributors

Euronews: “Spanish MPs have urged their government to recognise the Palestinian state. The a non-binding resolution presented by the socialists won the backing of all the political groups of the lower house, and would only ask for recognition when the Palestinians and Israel negotiate a solution to their long-running conflict. “The Spanish Parliament unanimously believe […]

Economy

Saudi Arabia at the G20: Is it waging Econ War on Iran, Russia and N. Dakota?

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole The G20 is a conference of the world’s top 20 economies as measured by Gross Domestic Product. Some observers have slammed it as an unelected and arbitrary body that is doing some of the work the United Nations was intended to do– only in a much less egalitarian way. The official web […]

Climate Change

Mr. 2%: Tony Blair’s Secret Oil Contract with Saudis Revealed

contributors

TheLipTV: “Tony Blair’s secret contract with a Saudi oil company has been revealed as details have emerged that the ex-Prime Minister received £41,000 a month and two percent commission on any successful deals that he helped broker. Tony Blair Associates (TBA) signed the contract with PetroSaudi to help find them new sources of investment and […]