A historic meeting between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has led some to suggest the age of North Korea as a rogue state is coming to an end. The divided North and South have made increasingly conciliatory moves over 2018; however, experts have warned that this may not be the…
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Syrian rebels continue to be bombarded
A February military offensive aimed at breaking the resolve of Damascus’ last rebel pockets has resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe, with 400,000 Syrians trapped in rebel-controlled Eastern Ghouta. Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, is controlled by a number of Salafi Islamist groups including Jaysh al-Islam, Ahrar al-Sham and Tahrir al-Sham, all three of whom…
Global
Ollie Ryan Tucker examines terror charges against a British anti-ISIS fighter
James Matthews, a British volunteer who fought with the Kurdish YPG in Syria against ISIS, will be charged with a terror offence, Metropolitan Police have announced. The charge alleges that he attended “a place or places in Iraq or Syria where instruction or training was provided for purposes connected to the commission or preparation of…
Global
Iran: protests threaten status quo
On 28 December protests began across Iranian cities, with crowds chanting varied slogans expressing their frustration, both political and economic. Some cities saw explicitly anti-government chants, such as “bring back Reza Shah”, a cry for the return of Iran’s deposed monarchy, whereas others saw anger at Iran’s foreign involvement, with the line “not Gaza, not…
Global
Hundreds dead after bombing in Sinai
At least 311 people have been left dead after Islamist militants attacked a mosque in Sinai, north- east Egypt. The attack took place during Friday prayers, which often sees high attendances at the Al-Rawda mosque’s services. It is believed that around 30 attackers took part in the massacre. An initial bombing inside the mosque was…
Global
Saudi-Lebanon rift grows
Lebanon and the wider region were left stunned by a series of bizarre events surrounding the Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, and Saudi Arabia. Though reaction in the Western world has been stunted, the severity of the situation has even started to turn heads in the USA and Europe. The events started with the sudden resignation…