May 2020. Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a collection of 40 odd predominantly Shi’a armed groups (‘the Hashd’), came into being to fight a war against ISIL in 2014. Now, they are mobilising to combat the spread of COVID-19 across the country. To be sure, Iraq’s inefficiencies in administering public services means the country needs… Continue reading May 2020. Covid 19 comes to Iraq
Month: May 2020
Political Islam Part 12
Of the last sixteen years, the worst year for terrorism was 2014, with ninety-three countries experiencing attacks and 32,765 people killed. The second worst was 2015, with 29,376 deaths. Last year, four radical Islamic groups were responsible for 74 percent of all deaths from terrorism: the Islamic State (also known as ISIS), Boko Haram, the… Continue reading Political Islam Part 12
Problems with Diversity Part 13
Social tension can occur as a result of cultural and linguistic differences. In Europe, for instance, tension between the Muslim minority and the largely secular majority is frequently attributed to the incommensurability of Islamic and Secular values. The tensions caused by culture are thought to be exacerbated by economic differences, as European Muslim populations are… Continue reading Problems with Diversity Part 13
Political Islam Part 11
Since 9/11, at least $1.7 trillion has been spent on combat and reconstruction costs in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The total budgetary cost of the wars and homeland security from 2001 through 2016 is more than $3.6 trillion. Yet in spite of the sacrifices of more than 5,000 armed service personnel who have lost… Continue reading Political Islam Part 11
Migrants from France Part 4
Sixty-three migrants were brought to Dover after trying to cross the English Channel in four dinghies. Three boats were met by Border Force and a fourth was intercepted by French authorities. A fifth boat, carrying nine people, was rescued and returned to France after being spotted by a cross-Channel ferry in the entrance to the… Continue reading Migrants from France Part 4
Brexit Part 4
There are “serious” divergences between the U.K. and the EU regarding the new trade deal that is due to be implemented by the end of the year, the European Union’s chief negotiator said Thursday. Officials from Brussels and Westminster had their first post-Brexit discussions this week in the Belgian capital. Their aim is to establish… Continue reading Brexit Part 4
Problems with Diversity Part 12
It needs hardly be said that in a world of large and inc reasing waves of population migration, few countries are now without significant minority groups. New York, London, and Toronto are now so mixed socially that each represents ‘the world in one city’. West European countries acquired an average of one million migrants each… Continue reading Problems with Diversity Part 12
Apr 2020. Captain Tom
April 2020. The second world war veteran Capt Tom Moore, who has raised £30m for the NHS, has said he is overwhelmed and grateful for the outpouring of support from the public on his 100th birthday. Moore, who was appointed an honorary colonel to mark his 100th birthday on Thursday, received more than 125,000 cards,… Continue reading Apr 2020. Captain Tom
Apr 2020. Coronavirus in Scotland
April 2020. Nicola Sturgeon said that easing social distancing measures could see the rates of infection rise, countering the progress that has already been made. She added: “For all of our sakes, and to protect the progress that together we have made, all of the measures that are currently in place need to remain in… Continue reading Apr 2020. Coronavirus in Scotland
Problems with Diversity Part 11
A fierce controversy has broken out recently in political and social science circles about the effect of socially mixed and multi-cultural populations on modern society. At the heart of the argument is an article by Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam discussing the impact of diversity and pluralism (ethnic, religious, linguistic, national and cultural pluralism) on… Continue reading Problems with Diversity Part 11