Asia

By Wendy Whitman Cobb | – China became the third country to land a probe on the Moon on Jan. 2. But, more importantly, it became the first to do so on the far side of the moon, often called the dark side. The ability to land on the far side of the moon is […]

Afghanistan

Trump Spews Incomprehensible Nonsense on Kurds, Syria, Afghanistan

Juan Cole

“A Commentary on the words that spewed from Trump’s mouth at his news conference during a cabinet meeting on January 2, 2019,” or, “A Ph.D. who has been teaching at a public Ivy since 1984 is forced to spend his time chasing the rabid ferrets running around in the head of a decrepit reality t.v. […]

Islamophobia

Facebook’s ‘Virtual Coercive’ Implicated in Rohingya Genocide

The Conversation

By Robert Huish and Patrick Balazo | – New technology can have profound impacts on society in ways never intended. The radio carried codes during the First World War, but later became a household fixture. Early telephones were leased in pairs but after Western Union, a telegraph company, adopted “exchanges,” it led to rapid long-distance […]

Afghanistan

With Trump Ready to Leave Afghanistan, can Qatar Broker a Peace?

contributors

BY SAID SABIR IBRAHIMI | – (Political Insights) – Over the past few years, Qatar has shown itself to be an influential actor in Afghanistan’s peace making efforts. Said Sabir Ibrahimi examines Qatar’s efforts and what it can do to further the prospects of peace in Afghanistan. Qatar has emerged as a conflict resolution actor […]

Afghanistan

What Trump Ousting of SecDef Mattis Means for Russia, Syria & Afghanistan

The Conversation

By Scott Lucas | – The last adult in the Trump White House playground has gone – and the president is throwing his toys around. James Mattis, as defence secretary, was one of three retired generals in the Trump administration whose hope was to contain an ill-informed, temperamental, and unpredictable president. Now they’re all gone: […]

Afghanistan

With US Troop Pull-Out, Afghans Fear Return to Taliban Era

Allison Jackson

With Thomas Watkins in Washington – Kabul, Afghanistan | AFP | – The move has stunned foreign diplomats and officials trying to end the 17-year conflict with the Taliban, which already controls vast amounts of territory and is causing ‘unsustainable’ Afghan troop casualties US President Donald Trump has decided to pull about 7,000 troops from […]

Bangladesh

Rohingya Refugees Pushed to a Frontline of Climate Change

TeleSur

Bangladesh, and its environment, has been struggling to accommodate over 1 million Rohingya refugees who have fled state violence in Myanmar, a predominantly Buddhist-majority country. More than 900,000 Rohingya live in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar district, mostly in camps, according to the United Nations. For decades, Cox’s Bazar, a strip of land between Myanmar and the […]

Afghanistan

Trump Nominee admits Afghan Security Losses May not be Sustainable

AFP

Washington, DC (AFP) – Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, nominee to lead Central Command, testifies during a Senate Armed Service Committee confirmation hearing The death toll among Afghanistan’s security forces will no longer be sustainable unless urgent measures are taken to address recruiting and training issues, a top US general said Tuesday. Since the start of […]

Pakistan

Pakistan: Baluch Separatists Storm “Oppressive’ Chinese Consulate in Karachi, kill 2 Policemen

AFP

Karachi (Pakistan) (AFP) – Two policemen were killed on Friday when gunmen stormed the Chinese consulate in the Pakistani city of Karachi, officials said, with the attack claimed by a separatist group which branded Beijing “an oppressor”. Pakistani authorities said that security forces had secured the area after the attack, the latest in a series […]