East Asia

Taiwan Strait in the Trump world order

Did Tsai Ing-wen exploit Trump's anti-China stance to score a point against Beijing? Or was she herself played by Cold Warriors who seek to exploit Taiwan in the Great Game?

Afghanistan

UN condemns US drone strike in Afghanistan

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan condemned an air-strike launched by an unmanned aerial vehicle that struck a civilian home, killing 15 and injuring 13, including a child.

North Africa

US builds regional drone base in Niger

The US is investing at least $50 million in a military air base in Niger that will be capable of deploying drones to police the greater Sahara and Sahel regions.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan: ISIS claims massacre of Hazaras

ISIS claimed responsibility for twin suicide blasts that killed at least 80 and wounded 230 Shi'ite Hazaras who were gathered in Kabul for a protest demonstration.

Afghanistan

What was behind Af-Pak border clashes?

Pakistan and Afghanistan saw deadly border clashes and a tense stand-off over Islamabad's plan to build a barbed-wire separation barrier at its Torkham crossing.

Afghanistan

Mullah Mansour death: blow to Pakistan?

The killing of Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mansour in a US drone strike actually took place in Pakistan—without consent of Islamabad, signaling a break between the two allies.

Watching the Shadows

Court dismisses request for drone records

A federal appeals court upheld the dismissal of a Freedom of Information Act request for information about the US government's use of drones for "targeted killings."

Afghanistan

Drone ‘Kill List’ target speaks

Malik Jalal, a community leader from Pakistan's tribal areas, traveled to the UK to speak out, claiming he is on the US drone "Kill List" for his efforts to broker peace with the Taliban.

Africa

Somalia: US air-strikes on Shabaab camp

US drones and warplanes killed more than 150 al-Shabab militants in Somalia, with the Pentagon citing an "imminent threat" to US and African Union forces.

North Africa

Libya: mysterious air-strikes on Derna

Unidentified warplanes carried out air-strikes on Libya's Islamist-controlled eastern city of Derna—reportedly claiming civilian lives when a hospital was struck.