China striking hard in Tibet
Chinese authorities are keeping a watchful eye on Tibet, wary of a repeat of last year’s demonstrations and riots. The recently initiated “Strike Hard” campaign adds to the pool of evidence that Beijing has no interest in engaging with the Dalai Lama to reach a negotiated solution to the Tibet problem.
Global Forecast (5-17-2021)
Inflation in focus in Europe, the junta government in Myanmar faces more armed resistance, and Israel unrest spreads to the West Bank.
Blackwater’s secret war in Pakistan
At a covert forward operating base run by the US Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, members of an elite division of Blackwater are at the center of a secret program in which they plan targeted assassinations of suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives, "snatch and grabs" of high-value targets and other sensitive action inside and outside Pakistan, an investigation by The Nation has found.
New Regional Alliances Emerge in the Fight against Islamic State
The dynamic in the Middle East is changing. Recent events have pushed Turkey towards a more activist position against Islamic State (ISIS) and Kurdish forces, which is shaping the response of other regional players, and leading to new alliances that will impact the future of Syria, Iraq, and the wider region.
Cobalt Prices Surge as COVID-19 Recedes
Cobalt prices are surging, but is the market heading for a repeat of the false start of 2016-2018?
Japan-Australia Cooperation: Middle Powers Rising in the Indo-Pacific
The recently-signed Japan-Australia reciprocal access agreement signals the advent of a new era of middle power multilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Backgrounder: Turkey under Erdogan
This backgrounder recounts the long road to Turkey’s seminal 2017 referendum, and what to expect next from this key NATO ally that is still undergoing dramatic political shifts.
DRC: Cutting off Kabila’s Cobalt Fix
Joseph Kabila has promised new elections, but recent moves regarding the DRC’s mining code suggest he may have other plans.
Will Odinga’s Gambit Pay Off in Kenya?
Opposition politician Raila Odinga gambled by calling for a boycott of the second presidential vote. Will the move pay off with a high office, or is Kenya about to descend back into political instability and violence?
Obama cancels change agenda
At the G20 Summit, U.S. President Barack Obama rejected proposals for change to the global financial system, ensuring a continuation of American global economic hegemony.