Middle East

AJ+ | – – “Five years of war has had a devastating effect on the Syrian city of Aleppo. With the constant threat of shelling and the soaring price of glass, people are now using plastic to cover up their windows.” AJ+ “Aleppo, Syria: A Windowless City”

Featured

Clash Looming? Russia-backed Syrian Army heading for ISIL’s al-Raqqa in race with US-backed Kurds

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The Syrian Arab Army is advancing toward al-Raqqa city, the capital of the phony ISIS “caliphate,” with Russian air support. US Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Christopher Garver confirmed on Wednesday that the US has seen the movement of the troops of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad “to […]

Israel/ Palestine

4 Israelis dead, multiple injured in Tel Aviv market shooting

contributors

Ma’an News Agency | – – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — At least four Israelis were killed and 10 injured in a shooting at the Sarona Market in Tel Aviv around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, according to Israeli emergency Services Magen David Adom (MDA). Israeli police spokeswoman Luba al-Samri said in a statement that the shooters, […]

Israel/ Palestine

EU: Israeli Squatter Settlements in Palestine could Lead to all-out War

contributors

Ma’an News Agency | – – BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — An EU high representative said during a UN Security Council briefing on Monday that the prospective of a viable two-state solution was getting “beyond reach,” according to the UN News Center. “The possibility of a secure state of Israel and a viable state of Palestine living […]

Turkey

Turkey’s Foreign Policy: From ‘Zero Problems’ To ‘Nothing But Problems’

contributors

By Abbas Djavadi | ( RFE/RL ) | – – For years, former Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s policy of “zero problems with neighboring countries” was a flagship concept of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A few years ago when a wave of protests inside Turkey started […]

Reproductive Choice

Turkish President: Muslims who use Birth Control are Traitors

contributors

By Arzu Geybullayeva | (GlobalVoices.org) | – – In the past 72 hours, international media coverage of Turkey has been replete with headlines such as “Go forth and multiply: Turkey President Erdogan warns Muslims”; “Turkey’s Erdogan warms Muslims against birth control”; “Family planning not for Muslims, says Turkey’s President”; and “Turkey’s Erdogan: No Muslim family […]

Bashar al-Assad

Stymied by Syrian regime Sieges, UN planning Food Airdrops to 600K Civilians

contributors

By Lyndal Rowlands | (Inter Press Service) | – – UNITED NATIONS (IPS) – The UN has begun plans to deliver aid to besieged Syrian towns by air but says there are a number of obstacles in the way and that delivery by land remains its preferred choice. The UN had promised to plan the […]

BDS Occupied Territories

Israel-First McCarthyism: Cuomo’s vow to spy on, punish BDS Activists in long Tradition

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – After New York governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order directing the state to monitor and sanction activists in the Boycott, Sanctions and Divest Movement (BDS) against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, critics complained that the order is McCarthyism. They objected that […]

Featured

Syrian Gov’t Troops enter ISIL-held al-Raqqa Province, racing against US Allies

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Syrian troops, aided by a Homs-based pro-government militia the ‘Falcons of the Desert’ and under the cover of Russian air support, entered al-Raqqa Province from Hama for the first time in two years on Saturday. The southern half of al-Raqqa province is one of two major […]