This evening marks the Islamic New Year so Happy New Year to readers who are celebrating it. I'm going to be out a good chunk of the day so this early/condensed update will have to hold you until tomorrow. ASIAAFGHANISTAN At least 32 people were killed and another 120 wounded Tuesday when a suicide bomber … Continue reading World update: September 11 2018

This evening marks the Islamic New Year so Happy New Year to readers who are celebrating it. I'm going to be out a good chunk of the day so this early/condensed update will have to hold you until tomorrow. AL-QAEDA Hey, Ayman al-Zawahiri (apparently) popped up out of his hole long enough to record a 30 … Continue reading Middle East update: September 11 2018

9/11 Tuesday is obviously the 17th anniversary of 9/11, and while some of you may be wondering if we're ever going to stop noting that anniversary, I would submit to you that we can't even stop fighting the war 9/11 started, so we're not going to stop commemorating 9/11 anytime soon. Here, in what I … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: September 10 2018

AL-QAEDA Almost 17 years later, LA Times correspondent Nabih Boulos argues that al-Qaeda's adaptations may have brought it to a stronger position today than the one it was in prior to the 9/11 attacks: What U.S. officials didn’t grasp, said Rita Katz, director of the SITE Intelligence Group, in a recent phone interview, is that Al Qaeda … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: September 10 2018

SYRIA United Nations Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock said in Geneva on Friday that the forthcoming Syrian offensive against Idlib could cause "the worst humanitarian catastrophe, with the biggest loss of life, of the 21st century." And while the 21st century isn't even a full 18 years old at this point, that's already a pretty … Continue reading Middle East update: September 10 2018

Shanah Tovah to any readers celebrating the Jewish New Year this evening. EUROPE KOSOVO Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić visited Kosovo on Sunday to a decidedly mixed reception. Predominantly Serbian crowds greeted him warmly in Mitrovica, but Kosovar Albanians blocked roads in an effort to prevent him from visiting other parts of the country. On Saturday, Vučić told … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: September 8-9 2018

Shanah Tovah to any readers celebrating the Jewish New Year this evening. ASIA AFGHANISTAN Dozens of people were killed in multiple attacks across Afghanistan over the weekend. In one attack, Taliban fighters overran a military installation in Baghlan province, killing as many as 40 Afghan security officers. Another Taliban attack killed 10 Afghan police officers … Continue reading Asia/Oceania/Africa update: September 8-9 2018

Shanah Tovah to any readers celebrating the Jewish New Year this evening. SYRIA Strap in and feel the Gs: President Bashar al-Assad of Syria has approved the use of chlorine gas in an offensive against the country’s last major rebel stronghold, U.S. officials said, raising the prospects for another retaliatory U.S. military strike as thousands … Continue reading Middle East update: September 8-9 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN Defense Secretary James Mattis made a surprise visit to Afghanistan on Friday that included meetings with Afghan leaders to discuss the prospects for peace talks with the Taliban and the Afghan-Pakistan relationship. We're 17 years in and the US defense secretary still has to make unannounced visits for security reasons. It's going great, … Continue reading World update: September 7 2018