ASIA AFGHANISTAN After trading assertions and denials all day, the Trump administration and the Taliban concluded that there is no timetable for a US withdrawal from Afghanistan. So pretty much where they were before the day started. Earlier on Wednesday, Russian media quoted a Taliban negotiator saying that the US had agreed to pull half … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: February 6 2019

SYRIA The United Nations sent a large (100 truck) humanitarian aid convoy to the Syrian displaced persons camp at Rukban, near the Jordanian border, which arrived on Wednesday. There are as many as 50,000 people at Rukban, most of them believed to be women and children displaced by ISIS who are now unwilling to leave … Continue reading Middle East update: February 6 2019

CLIMATE CHANGE Hey call me crazy but this seems pretty freaking bad: Scientists have discovered an enormous void under an Antarctic glacier, sparking concern that the ice sheet is melting faster than anyone had realized — and spotlighting the dire threat posed by rising seas to coastal cities around the world, including New York City and Miami.The … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: February 5 2019

ASIA KAZAKHSTAN Nursultan Nazarbayev on Tuesday denied reports that he's planning to call a snap election. Nazarbayev had set off speculation by inquiring as to the constitutional length of his presidential term. Apparently, though, he wasn't doing so in order to stand for reelection. Instead, Nazarbayev wanted to know what powers he would retain after … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: February 5 2019

SYRIA Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, declared on Tuesday that further Israeli attacks on Syria would lead to "a firm and appropriate response to teach a lesson" to the Israelis. I'm not sure what that means but it's probably not good from a regional stability standpoint--though, to be fair, neither is … Continue reading Middle East update: February 5 2019

We're in the midst of Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu pilgrimage festival that began in mid-January and runs through early March. With apologies for not saying so earlier, best wishes to any Hindu readers who are celebrating. ASIA ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN According to Eurasianet, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev have met "three … Continue reading World update: February 4 2019

We're in the midst of Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu pilgrimage festival that began in mid-January and runs through early March. With apologies for not saying so earlier, best wishes to any Hindu readers who are celebrating. SYRIA The Syrian government is reportedly evacuating people from 10,000 residential buildings in Aleppo due to the possibility … Continue reading Middle East update: February 4 2019

ASIA KASHMIR Between the security measures and the general strike called by separatists, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kashmir on Sunday virtually shut down the province. Modi was there to kick off a slate of development projects meant to somehow make the Kashmiri people appreciate being governed by India despite the frequent security … Continue reading World update: February 2-3 2019

SYRIA A roadside bomb in Manbij killed at least one person on Saturday when it struck a bus carrying a group of teachers. Another four people were reportedly wounded in the blast. ISIS, which has carried out a handful of attacks in Manbij over the past month or so, is the likely culprit. In Aleppo, … Continue reading Middle East update: February 2-3 2019

EUROPE RUSSIA The Trump administration made it official on Friday, announcing its intention to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The administration made its intentions clear months ago, kicking off a long and fruitless round of talks involving Russia and NATO to try to salvage the accord, which the US maintains has been … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: February 1 2019