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Scott Lucas

Professor of International Politics, University of Birmingham
Scott Lucas became Professor of International Politics in 2014, having been on the staff of the University of Birmingham since 1989 and a Professor of American Studies since 1997.

He began his career as a specialist in US and British foreign policy, but his research interests now also cover current international affairs – especially North Africa, the Middle East, and Iran – New Media, and Intelligence Services.

A professional journalist since 1979, Professor Lucas is the founder and editor of EA WorldView, a leading website in daily news and analysis of Iran, Turkey, Syria, and the wider Middle East, as well as US foreign policy.

Global Geopolitics Series

How will the Iran war change the Middle East? We asked 5 experts

Apr 06, 2026 03:04 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

On February 28, the US and Israel launched a war against Iran following weeks of US military build-up in the region and threats from US President Donald Trump. In the ensuing weeks, Iran has retaliated by striking US...

Global Geopolitics Series

Why are the US and Israel not on the same page over how to deal with Iran? Expert Q&A

May 30, 2025 12:04 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

The US president, Donald Trump, claimed on May 28 to have personally stopped Israel from attacking Irans nuclear facilities. When asked if hed intervened during a phone call with the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin...

Gaza deal: what it means for peace in the Middle East – expert Q&A

Jan 17, 2025 14:31 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics

After 15 months of bitter conflict on the Gaza Strip, a ceasefire deal has been agreed which promises an end to the fighting and will allow for the access of food and other desperately needed humanitarian aid to the...

Who is Syria’s new prime minister – and what will he do?

Dec 16, 2024 05:06 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Dressed in a modest grey suit and tie with a light blue shirt, bald and bearded, 41-year-old Mohammed al-Bashir addressed his fellow Syrians on Tuesday from behind a desk in an empty conference room. Asking for stability...

Global Geopolitics Series

October 7 marks 12 months of escalation into the ‘forever war’ now engulfing the Middle East

Oct 08, 2024 12:02 pm UTC| Insights & Views

One year after Hamass mass killing of nearly 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals and abduction of 251 others, and almost a year into the Israeli retribution that has so far slain almost 42,000 in Gaza, there seems no...

How Israel-Gaza will affect the US election campaign

Aug 22, 2024 23:22 pm UTC| Insights & Views

As delegates assembled in Chicago for the start of the Democratic National Convention on August 19, something surreal was happening 6,000 miles away in Israel. In Tel Aviv, the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken,...

Iran: meet the men – and women – lining up to contest the early presidential election

Jun 06, 2024 11:33 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

The death in a helicopter crash of the Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, on May 19 has triggered a presidential election one year earlier than expected. Its a consequential moment in Iranian politics as many believed that...

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Economy

Trump Plans 25% Tariff on EU Car Imports Amid Rising U.S.-EU Trade Tensions

The United States is preparing to increase tariffs on European Union car imports to 25%, a move that could significantly impact global trade and the automotive industry. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer confirmed...

Iran Warns No Military Fix for Hormuz Crisis as Talks Show Progress

Irans Foreign Minister Seyed Araghchi has cautioned that escalating military actions will not resolve the ongoing Hormuz crisis, emphasizing instead the importance of diplomatic negotiations. In a recent statement,...

Asian Markets Slip Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions and RBA Rate Hike Expectations

Asian stock markets declined on Tuesday as investor sentiment weakened בעקבות escalating geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and anticipation of further monetary tightening in Australia. Regional trading activity...

Oil Prices Ease in Asian Trade as Gulf Tensions and Hormuz Shipping Risks Weigh on Markets

Oil prices slipped during Asian trading on Tuesday following a strong rally in the previous session, as investors balanced rising geopolitical tensions in the Gulf with U.S. efforts to stabilize critical shipping routes....

Yen Volatility and Middle East Tensions Drive Dollar Strength in FX Markets

The Japanese yen remained a focal point in global foreign exchange markets on Monday, as it trimmed earlier gains against the U.S. dollar following a sharp rally driven by speculation of government intervention. The...

Politics

Dominican Republic Halts GoldQuest Mining Project Amid Environmental Protests

The Dominican Republic has ordered the suspension of all activities tied to GoldQuest Minings proposed gold and copper development, following large-scale protests driven by environmental concerns. President Luis Abinader...

South Korea Probes Explosion on HMM Vessel in Strait of Hormuz Amid Rising Tensions

South Korea announced an investigation into the cause of an explosion and fire aboard a South Korean-operated cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. The incident, which occurred on Monday,...

Russian Missile Strike on Merefa Kills 7, Injures Dozens in Kharkiv Region

A devastating Russian missile attack struck the town of Merefa in Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv region on Monday morning, leaving at least seven people dead and more than 30 injured, according to Ukrainian officials. Among...

Strait of Hormuz Crisis Deepens Amid U.S.-Iran Military Escalation

Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have escalated sharply as the United States and Iran exchange new attacks, raising concerns over global energy security and maritime trade. The vital shipping corridor, responsible for a...

U.S. Military Counters Iranian Threats in Strait of Hormuz Amid Escalating Tensions

The United States military announced it successfully destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted multiple cruise missiles and drones in the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting rising tensions in one of the worlds most...

Science

China vs. NASA: The New Moon Race and What's at Stake by 2030

The space race is back and this time, its a direct competition between the United States and China for dominance on the lunar surface. NASAs Artemis II mission recently made history when four astronauts flew farther into...

NASA Artemis II: First Crewed Moon Mission Since Apollo Takes Four Astronauts on 10-Day Lunar Journey

NASAs Artemis II mission launched Wednesday, marking humanitys return to crewed lunar exploration for the first time since the Apollo era. Carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft, this historic 10-day mission...

NASA's Artemis II Mission: First Crewed Lunar Journey Since Apollo

NASA's Artemis II Crew Arrives in Florida for Historic Moon Mission

The four astronauts chosen for NASAs Artemis II mission have touched down at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the beginning of final launch preparations for the first crewed lunar journey in over 50 years. NASA...

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

Technology

Apple Explores Intel and Samsung Partnerships to Diversify Chip Supply Chain

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is reportedly in early-stage discussions with Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC) and Samsung Electronics (KS: 005930) as part of a strategic effort to expand its chip manufacturing partnerships. According...

Palantir Reports Record Growth, Raises 2026 Revenue Outlook Above Expectations

Palantir Technologies delivered its strongest sales growth since going public, reporting impressive first-quarter 2026 results that exceeded Wall Street expectations and boosted investor confidence. The company announced...

Anthropic Secures $1.5B AI Venture Backed by Wall Street Giants, Shaking Software Sector

Anthropic has reportedly secured $1.5 billion in funding for a new artificial intelligence joint venture backed by major Wall Street firms, signaling a significant shift in the AI and enterprise software landscape....

Meta Plans $13B AI Data Center Financing in Texas Amid Surging Big Tech Investment

Meta Platforms is reportedly partnering with Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase to secure a massive $13 billion financing package for its planned data center in El Paso, Texas. According to sources cited by Reuters, the...

Anthropic’s $1.5B AI Venture with Wall Street Firms Targets Private Equity Market

Anthropic is reportedly nearing completion of a major $1.5 billion joint venture with leading financial institutions, including Blackstone and Goldman Sachs, aimed at expanding the use of artificial intelligence tools...