EUROPE EUROPE Jean-Claude Juncker is the President of the European Commission and a man who also happens to be correct at least in this particular instance: EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker called European lawmakers "ridiculous" on Tuesday for failing to turn up to an address by Malta's prime minister, saying they should show more respect … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: July 4-5 2017

NORTH KOREA Remember that missile test I mentioned on Monday? And remember this? https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/816057920223846400 Yeah, so...about all that: North Korea did indeed test-launch an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) yesterday, as the nuclear-armed nation claimed, U.S. officials said. "The United States strongly condemns North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile," U.S. Secretary of State Rex … Continue reading Asia/Africa update: July 4-5 2017

IRAQ With victory in Mosul more in sight than ever, Iraqi leaders are just itching to declare victory or at least to predict when they will be declaring victory: Iraqi commanders and politicians continue to jump the gun on the finale in Mosul. Prime Minister Haider Abadi in his weekly speech congratulated the ISF for … Continue reading Middle East update: July 4-5 2017

EUROPE CYPRUS The most positive thing you can say about the Cyprus reunification talks currently ongoing in Switzerland is that they're currently ongoing. I don't mean that in a negative way--these talks are entering week two without anybody walking away in a huff, and that's no mean feat. Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders have now … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: July 3 2017

ASIA PAKISTAN This is a few days old, but the University of Sydney's Hussain Nadim suggests that America's ability to really sway Pakistani behavior vis-a-vis its support for Afghanistan's Haqqani Network is fairly limited: For coercion to work, it has to be credible and the United States needs to have the capacity to deliver sufficient punishment. … Continue reading Asia/Australia/Africa update: July 3 2017

SYRIA The Syrian army on Monday declared a ceasefire in the country's three southernmost provinces--Daraa, Quneitra, and Suwayda--through July 6. The ceasefire is intended to support the next round of peace talks in Kazakhstan, which are scheduled to begin next week but may be light on rebel participation on account of heavy recent government bombardments, … Continue reading Middle East update: July 3 2017

  EUROPE CYPRUS There was positive news from the Cyprus reunification talks in Switzerland on Saturday: A "clear understanding" has been reached at talks between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders and their backers on what is needed to reach a comprehensive agreement to reunite the island, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday. Guterres, … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: July 1-2 2017

ASIA AFGHANISTAN Afghan politics look like they're about to get more chaotic: Leaders of Afghanistan’s three major ethnic minority political parties, all of whom hold senior positions in the government, announced from Turkey Saturday that they have formed a coalition to save Afghanistan from chaos, issued a list of demands for reforms by President Ashraf … Continue reading Asia/Australia/Africa update: July 1-2 2017

SYRIA At least eight people, in addition to the bombers, were killed in Damascus on Sunday in a multiple car bombing. Three cars attempted to get into the central part of the city, but two were stopped at checkpoints and deliberately detonated, so the attack certainly could have been worse. As such the Syrian government … Continue reading Middle East update: July 1-2 2017

I know it's a little early this evening, but I'm beat and so I'm deciding to call it a night barring some major thing happening. EUROPE CYPRUS There has apparently been progress in Cyprus reunification talks, but not enough to say if or when there might be a deal: Progress has been slow in high-level … Continue reading Europe/Americas update: June 30 2017