WORLD BANK When it comes to the two main international institutions responsible for immiserating the developing world, the US and Western Europe have always shared responsibility. Though both positions are technically open to anyone from anywhere, the head of the International Monetary Fund historically has come from Europe, and the head of the World Bank … Continue reading World update: January 10 2019

SYRIA Hayat Tahrir al-Sham extended its conquest of Idlib province on Thursday, forcing Turkish-backed elements of the Free Syrian Army to surrender and accept an HTS-led "civilian" administration--the so-called "Salvation Government"--over areas that HTS took from the FSA earlier this week. The bigger HTS's footprint gets, the likelier it will provoke a confrontation with Syria … Continue reading Middle East update: January 10 2019

EUROPE REPUBLIC OF NORTH (?) MACEDONIA/GREECE The Macedonian parliament will spend the rest of this week debating the constitutional amendments that would change the country's name to "Republic of North Macedonia" ahead of a final vote on the switch presumably either late Friday or maybe over the weekend. The amendments are expected to pass despite … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: January 9 2019

ASIA AZERBAIJAN They're small, but there have been some signals from Baku lately suggesting that Azerbaijani officials see an opening to improve relations with Armenia under (still relatively new) Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: Senior Azerbaijani officials have been making unusually positive statements in recent weeks. In December, President Ilham Aliyev tweeted that “The year 2019 … Continue reading Asia/Oceania/Africa update: January 9 2019

SYRIA Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says that the US is leaving Syria whether or not Turkey agrees not to attack the Kurdish YPG militia once the withdrawal is completed. This is pretty much a complete contradiction of what John Bolton has been saying, though Pompeo did add that the US would nevertheless ensure the … Continue reading Middle East update: January 9 2019

ASIA AFGHANISTAN A bombing in the city of Khost killed at least two people on Tuesday and injured at least 23 more. The Taliban is likely responsible. Speaking of which, the Taliban said on Tuesday that it's canceled planned talks with US representatives in Qatar that were supposed to begin on Wednesday. The group is refusing … Continue reading World update: January 8 2019

SYRIA Hayat Tahrir al-Sham is back on its bullshit in and around Idlib province. The former al-Qaeda affiliate has been on the offensive against the so-called National Army, the latest moniker for Turkey's rebel proxy force. On Tuesday it reportedly captured four villages in the al-Ghab plain in western Hama province, and there's no sign … Continue reading Middle East update: January 8 2019

Welcome back! As always after an extended break, we will not be recapping everything that happened while I was gone. If I've missed a story you think is important, you can always drop me a line and let me know. EUROPE RUSSIA At Eurasianet, Igor Torbakov argues that despite their recent Era of Good Feelings, … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: January 7 2019

Welcome back! As always after an extended break, we will not be recapping everything that happened while I was gone. If I've missed a story you think is important, you can always drop me a line and let me know. ASIA AFGHANISTAN At least 27 people were killed across Afghanistan from late Sunday into Monday. … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: January 7 2019