ASIA KASHMIR Indian soldiers killed five Kashmiri rebels in a gun battle on Saturday, then killed at least one Kashmiri civilian when they fired on a crowd of people gathered to protest those deaths. Meanwhile, Indian forces in Kashmir are facing a good deal of public anger as well as criticism from international human rights … Continue reading Asia/Oceania/Africa update: September 15-16 2018

SYRIA While everybody waits to see what happens in Idlib, the most active front in Syria at the moment is around the town of Hajin in Deir Ezzor province. The Syrian Democratic Forces moved into the village of Bagouz on Saturday as they advance toward the town, which is the last significant ISIS-controlled pocket of territory … Continue reading Middle East update: September 15-16 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN It was another violent night across Afghanistan as at least 37 people were killed in a series of Taliban attacks. One incident, in Farah province, left at least 29 police officers dead, while another in Samangan province saw at least six security officers killed. At least two civilians were reportedly killed by the Taliban … Continue reading World update: September 14 2018

SYRIA Thousands of people reportedly turned out on Friday in towns and villages across Idlib province to protest against a still-expected-but-now-delayed Syrian offensive against the rebel-held province. An estimated 25,000 protested in the city of Maʿarrat al-Nuʿman, perhaps best known as the place where we know the First Crusade turned to cannibalism, though of course that's … Continue reading Middle East update: September 14 2018

EUROPERUSSIA Energy Secretary Rick Perry visited Moscow on Thursday and said that the US may impose sanctions over the Russia-to-Germany Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline but stressed that no decision has been made on that point. The pipeline still has some legal hurdles to clear before it can be completed but the Trump administration has … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: September 13 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN Two Taliban attacks on checkpoints in Farah province on Thursday killed at least 13 Afghan police officers. MYANMAR Speaking at the World Economic Forum on Thursday, Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi allowed as to how that whole "genociding the Rohingya" business probably could have been handled better. Which is big of her. … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: September 13 2018

SYRIA News out of Idlib appears to have dramatically slowed down over the past couple of days, which suggests (though doesn't prove, to be sure) that the steps Turkey has taken to reinforce its outposts in the province and to arm its rebel proxies really have caused the Syrian government to rethink its plans. In … Continue reading Middle East update: September 13 2018

EUROPE EUROPEAN UNION European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivered his State of the Union address to the European Parliament on Wednesday with a focus on global leadership. Oh good, this kind of thing always works out well in the end. Juncker called for European unity so that the EU might "impose our position on others," an … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: September 12 2018

ASIAAFGHANISTAN The death toll from Tuesday's suicide bombing in Nangarhar province has shot up to 68 and may climb still higher. Another 165 people were wounded in the blast. MALAYSIA Likely future Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will reenter parliament in what amounts to an arranged by-election sometime in the next two months. The relatively … Continue reading Asia/Oceania/Africa update: September 12 2018

ISIS The pace of ISIS attacks in the West seems to be on the decline, but according to the New York Times' Rukmini Callimachi that's not for lack of trying. ISIS is still attempting attacks in the West at relatively the same pace, it's just not succeeding at as many of them: Since the lightning rise of … Continue reading Middle East update: September 12 2018