ASIA AFGHANISTAN The Taliban have rejected another offer for peace talks from Kabul, this one made last month by the Afghan High Peace Council. They refuse to talk to the Afghan government and characterize it as an illegitimate US puppet. Whether or not you believe Afghanistan is at the mercy of the United States, it's … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: July 6 2018

SYRIA While there may be some mopping up to be done, Daraa province is now back in Bashar al-Assad's hands. Rebels there agreed on Friday to surrender their medium and heavy weapons and to either give up fighting or be relocated to Idlib province. As a result, the Syrian government regained control over its important … Continue reading Middle East update: July 6 2018

Well, we're back. As usual when I've been gone for a while this update will mostly stick to things that happened today with some pieces I flagged while I was gone in there for good measure. BANANAS If you like bananas, I'm afraid I have some bad news: A wild banana that may hold the … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: July 5 2018

Well, we're back. As usual when I've been gone for a while this update will mostly stick to things that happened today with some pieces I flagged while I was gone in there for good measure. ASIA AZERBAIJAN Azerbaijan has responded to Armenia's recent change in government by amping up its threats to regain control … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: July 5 2018

Well, we're back. As usual when I've been gone for a while this update will mostly stick to things that happened today with some pieces I flagged while I was gone in there for good measure. It will probably be long and there's not much I can do about that. SYRIA Owing to a combination … Continue reading Middle East update: July 5 2018

I'm going to be away for most of the next two weeks so these will be our last major updates until July 5. ASIA AFGANISTAN Though the Taliban declined to extend their recent mutual ceasefire with Kabul, there is hope among some analysts that the brief truce may have improved the conditions for negotiating a … Continue reading World update: June 23-24 2018

I'm going to be away for most of the next two weeks so these will be our last major updates until July 5. SYRIA Israel on Sunday launched a Patriot missile at a Syrian drone it says was about to cross into Israeli airspace. The missile missed and the drone apparently turned back on its … Continue reading Middle East update: June 23-24 2018

I'm tracking Turkish election results as they come in. Please check back for updates, which I'll add at the top of the post. UPDATE 7: With Turkey's official Anadolu news agency reporting almost 96 percent of the vote in, Erdoğan sits at just under 53 percent. He's already declared victory, though the opposition is casting doubt on … Continue reading Turkey election update: June 24 2018

MIDDLE EAST SYRIA ISIS's Amaq news agency is claiming that ISIS carried out an attack against Syrian Democratic Forces personnel in Raqqa on Thursday, which if true would be the group's first attack in the city since leaving it last October. So far I've seen no independent confirmation of anything like this having happened. Meanwhile, … Continue reading World update: June 22 2018