Author: M Barbu

The Limits of a New Iran Nuclear Deal

Why the Original Agreement’s Flaws Remain Unresolved

After months of discussion, negotiators appear close to an agreement to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Although some issues—including a series of last-minute Russian demands—remain outstanding, both the United States and Iran appear committed to securing a deal in the coming days or weeks. The agreement, if fully implemented, would bring the United States and Iran into compliance with the original pact, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), rolling back parts of Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for relief from the most severe U.S. sanctions regime ever imposed.

How the War in Ukraine Could Get Much Worse

Russia and the West Risk Falling Into a Deadly Spiral

During the first week of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian leaders repeatedly raised the prospect of a nuclear response should the United States or its NATO partners intervene in the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded his speech announcing war in Ukraine by warning that “anyone who tries to interfere with us … must know that Russia’s response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never before experienced in your history.” He subsequently emphasized Russia’s “advantages in a number of the latest types of nuclear weapons” while ordering Russian strategic nuclear forces on alert. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov returned to this theme a few days later, noting that a third world war would be a nuclear war and urging Western leaders to consider what a “real war” with Russia would entail. The message was crystal clear: nuclear escalation is possible should the United States or its NATO partners intervene in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Erdogan Aide Says Zelenskyy, Israel and Soros ‘Leading Ukrainians to Death’

Just before Israeli President Herzog arrives for Turkey visit, Erdogan’s adviser says in an antisemitic tweet that Ukraine and its people ‘are being used up and thrown away’

A senior adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy of leading his own people to death in the fight against Russia’s invasion, and said the Ukrainian president, who is Jewish, is supported by Israel and billionaire financier George Soros.

Russia Destroys Vinnytsia Airport, Mariupol Surrounded

As the Russian forces continue to target and bomb civilian infrastructure and non-combatants as it presses on its invasion of Ukraine, the cities of Vinnytsia and Mariupol had been the subject of Russian advances together with the city of Irpin, which had earlier been reported to be under attack from mortar shells, killing a Ukrainian family with children.

French forces kill long-time extremist in Mali amid pullout

French forces in Mali have killed a long-time al-Qaida official active in Algeria and Libya, French military authorities said Monday.

France’s army chief of staff said in a statement that Algerian Yahia Djouadi, who went by the name Abou Ammar al Jazairi, was killed north of Timbuktu Feb. 26 in a ground operation supported by a helicopter and two drones.

The Return of Idealism: Russell vs Hegel

According to the usual story, analytic philosophy was born when Bertrand Russell revolted against a version of Hegel’s idealism that had dominated the Cambridge philosophy scene. So how is it that around 100 years later, Robert Brandom, an influential philosopher grappling with technical debates at the heart of analytic philosophy, publishes an 856-page book dedicated to interpreting Hegel? Paul Redding explains how Russell’s failed attempt to use Gottlob Frege’s logic as a foundation not only for mathematics, but for the natural sciences, ended up calling for solutions found in Hegel’s philosophy.

Russia claims Ukraine planning false flag attack on nuclear facility

In yet another claim of false flags and nuclear issues, Russia alleged that Ukrainian security services and the neo-Nazi Azov Battalion are planning a radioactive incident to blame on Russia.

A nuclear reactor in Kharkiv is the target of a planned false flag attack by the Ukrainian security services (SBU) and the Azov Battalion, the Russian Defense Ministry and official Russian state media outlets alleged.