Europe

By Scott Lucas | – All the standard public relations ploys were in evidence for the recent meeting between Syria’s leader Bashar al-Assad and Russian envoy Alexander Lavrentiev in Damascus. More than 230 officials from 30 federal executive bodies, five Russian regions, and the Russian defence ministry had trekked to the Syrian capital. There were […]

Climate Crisis

Open Letter to Chancellor Merkel: Germany’s Mega-Floods are a Wake-Up Call that We need Radical Climate Action, Now

contributors

Prof. Dr. Eicke R. Weber 10625 Berlin An Bundeskanzlerin Dr. Angela Merkel Bundeskanzleramt Willi-Brandt-Straße 1 10557 Berlin July 25, 2021 Dear Chancellor Dr. Merkel, We are again in deep concern. We were very grateful that our first letter of March 2011, after the terrible Fukushima catastrophe (see attachment), may have helped to reach your quick […]

Climate Crisis

Climate activists demand faster energy transition after flood disaster hits Germany

Clean Energy Wire

By Charlotte Nijhuis | – ( Clean Energy Wire) – Activists are protesting for better climate protection measures after catastrophic floods hit several parts of Germany last week. On 23 July, environmental group Robin Wood kicks off a three-week raft tour from Berlin to Hamburg in order to push for a faster energy transition. “We […]

European Union

European Islamophobia on both Left and Right is a Major Human Rights Concern

Ramzy Baroud

( Middle East Monitor) – Europe’s identity crisis is not confined to the ceaseless squabbles by Europeans over the EU, Brexit, or football. It goes much deeper, reaching sensitive and dangerous territory, including that of culture and religion. Moreover, once again, Muslims stand at the heart of the continent’s identity debate. Anti-Muslim sentiments are rarely […]

China

German carmakers likely to overtake Chinese rivals in e-car production, with US Lagging Behind

Clean Energy Wire

By Sören Amelang | – ( Clean Energy Wire ) – German carmakers look set to overtake Chinese companies in the production of e-cars next year, according to an analysis by conducted McKinsey. “In terms of production, Chinese and German manufacturers are expected to be on a par this year, with around 1.6 million e-cars […]

Iraq

Waiting for US withdrawal, is Russia eyeing Iraq’s oil?

Nikola Mikovic

Belgrade (Special to Informed Comment) – When the George W. Bush administration launched the invasion of Iraq in 2003, many believed the campaign’s main goal was to gain control of the country’s oil. Almost two decades later, most U.S. oil corporations have exited Iraq and the last major, ExxonMobil, appears to be on the way […]

European Union

The Int’l Community at Berlin II wants Oil and a Stop to Emigration from Libya; What Libya needs is Strong Institutions and Peace

John Hickman

Mt. Berry, Ga. (Special to Informed Comment) – A lazy international press corps is missing the big story on Libya. English language news coverage of the June 23rd Berlin II International Conference on Libya has been focused almost exclusively on the presence of foreign mercenaries while eliding information crucial to understanding the negotiations and the […]

Climate Crisis

German Transport Ministry advised that Electric Cars must Dominate new Sales by 2025, eyeing 1 Mn. EVs on Road this Year

Clean Energy Wire

By Edgar Meza | – Handelsblatt ( Clean Energy Wire ) – Electric cars will need to account for most new registrations in Germany in just four years and the end of new combustion engine cars will have to begin in 2030, says a report by the National Platform Future of Mobility (NPM) for the […]

China

Is Putin’s Positive View of the Biden Summit a sign he is Souring on his China Alliance?

Nikola Mikovic

Belgrade (Special to Informed Comment) – The results of the historic summit between the US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, held in Switzerland on June 16, will be felt for some time. Officially, the two leaders discussed Syria, Libya, Iran, Afghanistan, Ukraine, hacking and “strategic stability”, but what they agreed during […]