AZERBAIJAN The Azerbaijani government on Monday showed off (via photo) its swanky new missile systems purchased from Belarus and Israel. Both acquisitions are a little surprising--the latter because there was no indication Azerbaijan was in the market for Israeli missiles, and the former because Belarus is a treaty ally of Armenia, and Armenia and Azerbaijan … Continue reading Asia/North Korea update: June 12 2018

SYRIA The United Nations says that over 900,000 Syrians were displaced in the first four months of 2018. That figure blows past the highest number of displaced persons created in any four month period since the Syrian war--a war that has displaced almost 12 million people both internally and as refugees--began. A possible government offensive … Continue reading Middle East update: June 12 2018

It may be a spare couple of days around here as I fulfill some freelance obligations, so please bear with me. Also I wanted to get this update out before the Singapore meeting starts, so that's why it's a little early tonight. G7/SCO The Diplomat compares this weekend's G7 and Shanghai Cooperation Organization summits, and it's … Continue reading World update: June 11 2018

It may be a spare couple of days around here as I fulfill some freelance obligations, so please bear with me. SYRIA Syrian state media reported on Monday that the US-led coalition bombed a school in Syria's Hasaka province and killed 18 Iraqi refugees in the process. The coalition is denying it, and here we're once again … Continue reading Middle East update: June 11 2018

EUROPE POLAND The Polish government says that it has stopped trying to negotiate with the European Union over its judicial reforms: Jacek Sasin, an aide to Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, said the government has “run out of concessions” and expects the European Commission to withdraw its threats to punish Poland over the changes that give … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: June 9-10 2018

ASIA AFGHANISTAN The Taliban, in a bit of a surprise, responded to the Afghan government's ceasefire of last week with a ceasefire of its own, over the Eid holiday following Ramadan. It is the Taliban's first ceasefire of the entire Afghanistan War, so kind of a big deal. The Taliban did reserve the right to … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: June 9-10 2018

SYRIA According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Syrian rebels launched new attacks overnight on the predominantly Shiʿa Idlib province towns of Fuʿah and Kefraya, but were driven back. Rebels have been besieging both towns for over three years. The Syrian Democratic Council, which is the political wing of the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces organization, says … Continue reading Middle East update: June 9-10 2018

G7 Well it seems like the G7 is off to a really productive start. And by that I mean nobody stormed out or declared war on anybody else. That's about all anybody can hope these days. Donald Trump and the other six leaders--each of whom is either pissed at or freaking out over Trump's protectionism--reportedly … Continue reading World update: June 8 2018

SYRIA Airstrikes on the village of Zardana, in Idlib province, on Thursday reportedly killed at least 44 people. Syrian rebel media sources are accusing Russia of carrying out the strikes, but Moscow is denying it. It seems like it would be odd for the Russians (or the Syrian government, for that matter) to attack a target … Continue reading Middle East update: June 8 2018