We're in the midst of Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu pilgrimage festival that began in mid-January and runs through early March. With apologies for not saying so earlier, best wishes to any Hindu readers who are celebrating. ASIA ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN According to Eurasianet, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev have met "three … Continue reading World update: February 4 2019

We're in the midst of Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu pilgrimage festival that began in mid-January and runs through early March. With apologies for not saying so earlier, best wishes to any Hindu readers who are celebrating. SYRIA The Syrian government is reportedly evacuating people from 10,000 residential buildings in Aleppo due to the possibility … Continue reading Middle East update: February 4 2019

ASIA KASHMIR Between the security measures and the general strike called by separatists, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kashmir on Sunday virtually shut down the province. Modi was there to kick off a slate of development projects meant to somehow make the Kashmiri people appreciate being governed by India despite the frequent security … Continue reading World update: February 2-3 2019

SYRIA A roadside bomb in Manbij killed at least one person on Saturday when it struck a bus carrying a group of teachers. Another four people were reportedly wounded in the blast. ISIS, which has carried out a handful of attacks in Manbij over the past month or so, is the likely culprit. In Aleppo, … Continue reading Middle East update: February 2-3 2019

EUROPE RUSSIA The Trump administration made it official on Friday, announcing its intention to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. The administration made its intentions clear months ago, kicking off a long and fruitless round of talks involving Russia and NATO to try to salvage the accord, which the US maintains has been … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: February 1 2019

ASIA AFGHANISTAN The Taliban attacked a military checkpoint in Sar-e Pol Province on Thursday night, killing at least six soldiers according to provincial officials. Nine Taliban fighters are believed to have been killed in the battle. PHILIPPINES The Washington Post reports on Marawi, the Philippine city that was effectively captured by jihadist fighters in May 2017 … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: February 1 2019

YEMEN The United Nations ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen wrote a letter to the UN Security Council on Friday expressing "growing alarm" at the Houthis' "persistent, deliberate violations" of the Hudaydah ceasefire agreement. They counted 970 Houthi violations, but the big complaints are that the rebels haven't withdrawn their forces … Continue reading Middle East update: February 1 2019

CLIMATE CHANGE Full disclosure: I am not a climate scientist. With that said, this seems pretty bad in my layman's opinion: https://twitter.com/julian0liver/status/1091028901428711424 Again I'm not an expert! Maybe we don't need oxygen that much? But it kinds of seems like we do! EUROPE RUSSIA What seems like the longest and most anti-climactic arms control negotiation … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: January 31 2019

ASIA AFGHANISTAN The latest report from the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction (SIGAR) is out and, well, you know how they tell you that if you don't have anything nice to say, you shouldn't say anything at all? The report, by the agency of the Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction, or Sigar, said … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: January 31 2019

SYRIA When (if?) it finally pulls US forces out of Syria, the Trump administration reportedly wants a "coalition of Western nations" to establish and maintain a buffer zone in northern Syria to protect the YPG from Turkey. Which would be huge for the YPG and maybe prevent it from having to capitulate to the Syrian … Continue reading Middle East update: January 31 2019