World Politics News   Articles for World Politics Course

One of the interesting dimensions of the debate over Iran’s nuclear program is the extent to which the media describe the issue.  One could be forgiven if one were to believe that Iran has a nuclear weapons program given the words used by the media to describe Iranian activities.  But a very careful analysis of all the hard evidence indicates that there is not sufficient reason to believe that Iran has a nuclear weapons program.  In fact, all the hard evidence suggests that Iran has adhered closely to the provisions of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.   One is left to conclude that either the media is not careful in its choice of words or that the media is serving as propaganda outlets to some states.

We noted a few days ago that a new SARS-like coronavirus (MERS-CoV), with a very high mortality rate, has been identified and located primarily in Saudi Arabia.  Apparently, one of the medical doctors who worked with the virus sent a sample of the virus to researchers at a research lab, the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam.  Erasmus subsequently filed what is known as a Material Transfer Agreement which “requires sample recipients to contractually agree not to develop products or share the sample without the permission of Erasmus.”  An MTA is not a patent, but is a preliminary step to filing a patent, and has slowed down research on the virus.  Privatization of medical research on urgent public health issues such as a life-threatening virus should not be allowed.

What started out as an environmental protest in Turkey quickly escalated into large-scale national protests.  The initial protests were against changes to be made to Gezi Park in Taksim Square in Istanbul.  But the protest tapped into widespread discontent with the rule of Prime Minister Erdogan and the 11-year rule of his Justice and Development Party (AKP).  Many in Turkey believe that Erdogan has become increasingly authoritarian and new laws prohibiting certain sales of alcohol are viewed as a creeping form of Islamism infiltrating the secular constitution of Turkey.

Late-breaking news: the Russians have sent their only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, into the Mediterranean.  The deployment is an unmistakable signal that the Russians are upping the ante in their support for Syrian President Assad.  The next move it up to the US and the EU.  With Turkey facing growing protests and the growing violence in Lebanon, it is safe to say that the situation is getting quite serious.