Greater Middle East

Opening shots of new Russo-Turkish war?

The situation in northern Syria is escalating amid Russo-Turkish brinkmanship, with Turkmen villages coming under intense Russian bombardment.

Greater Middle East

Russian warplane down: heightened contradictions

After Turkey's downing of a Russian warplane over Syria, Vladimir Putin openly accused Ankara of backing ISIS—echoing a charge Kurdish forces have been making for months.

South Asia

Bangladesh: executions amid net silence

The Bangladeshi government imposed a social media blackout ahead of the execution of two opposition figures convicted of war crimes committed during the 1971 independence war.

North Africa

Glencore secures Libya oil contract

Global commodities giant Glencore signed a deal with Libya's state oil company—which is now divided into feuding branches loyal to the country's rival regimes.

Greater Middle East

Syria: protests break out in ISIS-held town

Residents of the ISIS-held northern Syrian town of Manbij have held unprecedented protests against jihadist rule, according to activists who got the word out via social media.

Africa

Mali: who is behind Bamako attack?

The deadly hotel siege in Mali's capital was apparently ordered by Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar—who was twice reported killed in military operations over the past two years.