Asia
Europe: countries redeploy troops
Despite a call by the Iraqi parliament for the withdrawal of its forces, the USA stated it has no plans to do so, even though a draft letter signalling a pull-out was sent…
Iraq: Iran / US hostility
Many believe the US killing of Qasem Soleimani (plus four senior commanders and an Iraqi militia leader) risks causing Iraq instability. The USA believed the men were organising radical tactics against it, describing…
Iran: proxy forces proliferate
Qasem Soleimani was named head of Iran's elite paramilitary Quds Force in the late 1990s. He then became widely known for expanding his country's regional influence by bolstering Shiite proxy forces around the…
Pakistan: police help Christian
In a rare move, police stepped in to stop Muslims attacking Amir Masih, a Christian sanitation worker, after he was falsely accused of ‘blasphemy’. The charges were dropped immediately after police investigations found…
Iran: women prisoners on hunger strike
On Christmas Eve British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert started an open-ended hunger strike in protest at being sentenced to ten years on espionage charges. She wants, at the very least, to be moved from…
Iran: ‘nuclear-capable projectiles’ cause concern
France, Germany, and Britain have told the UN's secretary-general that Iran has developed a ballistic-missile system capable of delivering a nuclear weapon in violation of the Security Council resolution. A letter from those…
Hong Kong: no Happy New Year
South China’s Morning Post editor prophesied: ‘There is no Happy New Year ahead for Hong Kong, just endless protest chaos for the foreseeable future. Get used to it because nothing is changing, nobody…
China Summons U.S. after Uyghur Bill Demands Sanctions
Beijing has summoned a U.S. diplomat after lawmakers in Washington approved legislation that calls for sanctions against senior Chinese officials for human rights violations linked to a crackdown on the country's Muslim minority.…
Europeans Scold Iran For Developing Nuclear-Capable Projectiles
France, Germany, and Britain have voiced concern to the UN's secretary-general that Iran has developed a ballistic-missile system capable of delivering a nuclear weapon in violation of the international body's Security Council resolution.…
Taliban council agrees to cease-fire in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban’s ruling council agreed Sunday 29th December to a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan, providing a window in which a peace agreement with the United States can be signed,…
