ASIA ARMENIA Armenia's Republican Party said on Thursday that the country will have a new prime minister after next week's parliamentary vote. And while they didn't specify it seems pretty likely that opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan is finally going to get the job since he is, at least at this point, the only declared candidate … Continue reading World update: May 3 2018

SYRIA It was one step forward and one step back in Syria on Thursday. Rebel fighters in the enclave around Yarmouk finally began to evacuate that area (ISIS is still holding out in Yarmouk itself) under the terms of a deal they reached with Damascus and Russia several days ago. However, a group of fighters … Continue reading Middle East update: May 3 2018

Sorry, we've got another relatively brief update today. It's been a busy day at HQ and your blog host isn't feeling well to boot. MIDDLE EAST SYRIA Rebels controlling an enclave near Homs said on Wednesday that they have reached agreement with Damascus and Russia to evacuate that area, surrender their heavy weapons, and relocate north near … Continue reading World update: May 2 2016

ENVIRONMENT New data from the World Health Organization shows that air pollution is killing seven million people per year--and naturally, poor nations are being hit hardest: “There are cities and regions where improvement is happening,” said Sophie Gumy, one of the authors of the report. “But even if things have started to move, they aren’t … Continue reading World update: May 1 2018

SYRIA Militant fighters in the Yarmouk area began evacuating on Tuesday under what amounts to a hostage swap negotiated between the rebels in Idlib and the Syrian government. The rebels, or more specifically Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have begun releasing civilians they seized three years ago when they captured Idlib province in return for safe passage … Continue reading Middle East update: May 1 2018