Europe

By Michael Scollon ( RFE/RL ) – When Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Moscow in early 2022, he had high hopes of leaving with defense deals that would circumvent international sanctions and take advantage of the expiration of a United Nations embargo on arms trading with Tehran. Russian fighter jets, advanced antimissile defense […]

Drones

How Russian and Iranian Drone Strikes further dehumanize Warfare

The Conversation

By Jordan Richard Schoenherr, Concordia University | – Along with the recent reciprocal drone strikes by Iran and the United States in Syria, Russia continues to unleash its arsenal on Ukrainian civilian and military targets alike. While the Russian armies have started using outdated weapons, novel technologies remain the objects of fascination on the battlefield. […]

Climate Crisis

Scotland’s Renewables soar by 28%, as new Muslim Leader pledges Net Zero and Just Climate Transition

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Neil Pooran and Peter A Walker at Business Insider report that 28% more renewable electricity was generated in Scotland in 2022 than in the previous year. The impressive increase was largely driven by onshore wind farms. Scotland’s green energy generation capacity is expected to soar further as big offshore wind […]

Climate Crisis

Germany’s Heat Pump Boom Causes its Biggest Chip Maker to Expand

Clean Energy Wire

By Edgar Meza | – Handelsblatt ( Clean Energy Wire ) – Germany’s shift away from Russian gas, coupled with government plans to phase out fossil fuel heating systems, has led to a massive heat pump boom that is forcing the country’s biggest semiconductor producer, Infineon, to expand capacity, business daily Handelsblatt reports. Computer chips […]

European Union

‘Dirty Smear Campaign:’ How the United Arab Emirates Spread Hysteria against Islam in Europe (Yes)

Middle East Monitor

Nasim Ahmed Nasimbythedocks ( Middle East Monitor) – A “smear campaign” alleged to be orchestrated by the United Arab Emirates and executed through a Geneva-based private intelligence firm has apparently been peddling hateful misinformation associated with anti-Muslim conspiracy theorists, an article in New Yorker Magazine has revealed. In “The dirty […]

Islam

Humza Yousaf: Scotland gets a Muslim Leader in a moment of extraordinary Change for British Politics

The Conversation

By Parveen Akhtar, Aston University and Timothy Peace, University of Glasgow | – Humza Yousaf’s appointment as first minister of Scotland is a historic moment for the UK. It means that, for the first time in history, the country has a Hindu prime minister in Westminster (Rishi Sunak) and a Muslim first minister in Scotland. […]

Russia

The War of Surprises in Ukraine: Could there be one Surprise too Many?

Rajan Menon

( Tomdispatch.com) – Some wars acquire names that stick. The Lancaster and York clans fought the War of the Roses from 1455-1485 to claim the British throne. The Hundred Years’ War pitted England against France from 1337-1453. In the Thirty Years’ War, 1618-1648, many European countries clashed, while Britain and France waged the Seven Years’ […]

China

As Longterm Partnership with US Fades, Saudi Arabia deals with China, Iran and Russia, too

The Conversation

By Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Rice University | – (The Conversation) – The fact that Saudi Arabia entered a rapprochement deal with Iran and chose China to broker it came as a surprise to many international observers. The agreement, officially called the Joint Trilateral Statement, was signed in Beijing on March 11 and begins the process […]

Climate Crisis

Netherlands becomes European Leader in Solar Power Per Capita, with 500K Panels on Lakes, Reservoirs and Seas

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – Solar panels are like magic, turning sunshine into electricity. They are, however, relatively bulky. We own our own home and have 16 of them on our roof, but renters have often complained to me that it isn’t so easy in an apartment building. There is also a danger that they […]