In The News

India and Pakistan in Uncharted Waters: BBC

Soutik Biswas March 1, 2019
India launched air strikes against militants in Pakistani territory on 26 February, and Pakistan responded hours later with air strikes across the Line of Control dividing Pakistan and Indian-controlled Kashmir. The strikes across the Line of Control were the first since 1971. Pakistan “also claimed to have shot down two Indian Air Force jets in its airspace in Kashmir and arrested two pilots on...

Questions Over US Security Clearances

March 1, 2019
Nepotism and rejection of evidence and expert opinions characterize the Trump administration. The New York Times reports that the president ordered his chief of staff to grant top security clearances to Jared Kushner, despite numerous concerns raised by security, law-enforcement, intelligence and legal staff. Trump and his family have previously denied any clearance shortcuts. John Kelly, former...

US-NK Summit Fails: Korea Herald

Choi He-suk February 28, 2019
A summit, with the aim of curtailing North Korea’s nuclear-weapons ambitions, ended early with no agreement. The Korea Herald reports that North Korea had offered to denuclearize partially if the United States lifted sanctions, and Donald Trump refused. Other reports suggest North Korean officials do not agree with that description. A draft agreement went unsigned. That draft declared an end to...

1 Million Forest Families Evicted in India: Guardian

Jatindra Dash February 25, 2019
India’s Supreme Court issued an order to reject 1.3 million land claims and remove indigenous people from forest lands in 21 states. “The case highlights the plight of India’s underprivileged lower castes and indigenous groups as the world’s second most populated country – with 1.3 billion people – juggles with environmental protection, poverty reduction and economic growth,” explains Jatindra...

Showdown Over Aid for Venezuela: New York Times

Nicholas Casey, Anatoly Kurmanaev and Ernesto Londoño February 23, 2019
Venezuelans have suffered for years from shortages of food and other necessities due to economic mismanagement by the regime led by Nicolás Maduro since 2013. More than 10 percent of the country’s population has already fled, the violence exacerbating a refugee crisis International aid supplies are waiting near the border in Brazil and Colombia. Opposition leader and head of the country’s...

Saudi Nuclear Bomb Ambitions: New Europe

February 21, 2019
US Deputy Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette assured European allies at the Munich Security Conference that the US does not support development of a nuclear bomb by Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia has refused to rule out weapons-grade uranium enrichment, saying the Kingdom may need to consider its own nuclear weapons programme in order to counter its arch-enemy, Iran’s, perceived nuclear ambitions...

Another Cuban Missile Crisis: Reuters

Andrew Osborn February 21, 2019
The United States withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and Russia soon followed. Both nations claim the other violated terms. Russia opposes deployment of such missiles in Europe, and Vladimir Putin claims that Russia holds the edge when it comes to first-strike capability, reports Reuters. Putin referred to the Cuban Missile Crisis, which “erupted in 1962 when Moscow...