SYRIA At least six people were injured on Tuesday when a bomb exploded on a bus in the city of Homs. So far nobody has claimed responsibility for the attack, which is the second bus bombing in Homs this year. Robert O'Brien, the State Department's hostage envoy, publicly called on Russia and Iran on Tuesday to help … Continue reading Middle East update: November 13 2018

EUROPE CYPRUS The Cypriot governments opened two border crossings between the country's Turkish and Greek regions on Monday. The openings went relatively peacefully and are seen as a critical step toward resuming talks on reunifying the island nation, which has been divided since a 1974 pro-Greek coup in Nicosia prompted a Turkish invasion and occupation … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: November 12 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN A suicide bomber killed at least six people on Monday outside a police checkpoint in Kabul. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. The Taliban is reportedly on the verge of overrunning the Jaghori district in Ghazni province, where its fighters have been engaged in days of violent fighting with Hazara militia fighters. On … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: November 12 2018

SYRIA The Syrian government has reportedly changed the recently adopted property law that had threatened to dispossess refugees and internally displaced Syrians of their homes. The measure is known as "Law 10" and went into effect in April. The ostensible idea is to create redevelopment zones around the country where work can begin on rebuilding places … Continue reading Middle East update: November 12 2018

EUROPE RUSSIA Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump did not talk about the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in their brief encounter during Armistice Day festivities in Paris. So...OK then. Presumably they didn't talk about it because Trump isn't interested in reversing his decision to withdraw from it, but what do I know. UKRAINE Separatist governments in … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: November 10-11 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN The Taliban overran and then blew up a small Afghan army base in Baghlan province late Saturday, killing 16 people. The initial attack killed 12 soldiers while the bombs the group set to destroy the base killed four more people who had come to try to help recover the bodies. On Saturday, the … Continue reading Asia/Oceania/Africa update: November 10-11 2018

SYRIA The Syrian Democratic Forces announced on Sunday that, thanks to a reduction in Turkish artillery attacks in northern Syria, they will be resuming their ground offensive against ISIS in Hajin. It's unclear what's happened behind the scenes here but presumably some negotiations between the US and Turkish governments. This is good news if you're … Continue reading Middle East update: November 10-11 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN A Taliban attack in Farah province late Thursday killed seven Afghan police officers, while another attack on a military outpost in Takhar province on Friday morning killed at least 10 Afghan soldiers. The Russian government hosted its big Afghan peace conference on Friday, featuring a Taliban delegation as well as several members of … Continue reading World update: November 9 2018

SYRIA Multiple sources are reporting a fairly substantial battle between pro-government forces and Syrian rebels around the village of Halfaya in Hama province. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights pro-government forces attacked rebel positions there, leaving at least 22 members of the Army of Glory (Jaysh al-Izza) faction dead. State media is saying … Continue reading Middle East update: November 9 2018

ASIA ARMENIA Journalist David O'Byrne looks at what US sanctions on Iran might mean for the Caucasus. Georgia seems minimally affected, and Azerbaijan as a net energy exporter will probably be OK, but Armenia could be in a difficult situation: The bulk of Armenia’s gas is imported from Russia (via Georgia), but Yerevan also imported … Continue reading World update: November 8 2018