AFPC fellow in Indo-Pacific Studies Michael Sobolik testifies before the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee: Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation regarding the 'Strengthening of U.S. Ties with Southeast Asia.'
In Morocco's elections, an Islamist rout;
Egypt cracks down on Islamist literature;
Foreign fighters go to ground in Austria;
ISIS grows in Africa;
The al-Hol nightmare, continued
When Moroccans went to the polls earlier this month to elect a new parliament, the result was a massive repudiation of Islamism – and a resounding affirmation of the North African nation's current geopolitical trajectory.
As the Taliban resurrects its Islamic Emirate, the United States is once again facing the likelihood of terrorist groups operating at will within Afghanistan.
[T]here’s another, less-recognized setback happening for the United States far south of the Rio Grande or the Sonora Desert: crumbling relationships with Latin American countries.
Russian detained in Prague on Crimea-related charges;
New Dzerzhinsky monuments cause a stir;
Dissident investigation claims Lavrov mistress;
Communist party will not recognize e-votes;
Belarus included in the SCO's "Peace Mission 2021";
Russia found responsible for Litvinenko assassination
Despite the Biden administration’s desire to be rid of Afghanistan, now is not the time to disengage.
Ahead of elections, Russian authorities stack the digital deck;
Crimean Tatars arrested on sabotage suspicion;
Russia, Belarus inch toward integration;
Nord Stream II comes of age;
NATO wary of Zapad-2021 military exercise
To change Beijing’s calculus, arm Taipei with missiles and turn the island into a ‘porcupine.’
China's crackdown on culture continues;
Local governments accused of "fabricating economic data";
Prenatal test under international scrutiny for military links;
Tiananmen vigil organizers in Hong Kong charged;
China using Honduras election to "create controversy"; Taipei
...if America is not loyal to our friends, chances are that we will soon find ourselves without any.
It's official: Saudi Arabia has begun to seek other suitors.
No matter who wins, public opinion and the possibility of having to partner in a coalition government make it likely that the victor will take a more hawkish line.
Pope defends deal with China;
China shuts American Chamber of Commerce in Chengdu;
Beijing to establish a stock exchange for small business: XI;
Micronesia rejects Chinese funding for Pacific undersea cable;
Crackdown on showbiz for 'polluting' society
Russia's new climate strategy: Less than meets the eye;
Navalny ally politically intimidated, removed from ballot;
Journalist: Putin's regime has entered survival mode;
Homophobia on stage;
Is Russia walking away from the ISS?
Could the Communist Party be more clear that it does not keep its word?
In July, a U.N. panel of experts released a new report on global terrorism, with some alarming conclusions. In it, they noted that East and West Africa have been the world regions hardest hit by terrorism over the past year, and that terrorist groups in Iraq and Syria are fast becoming "an entrenched insurgency."
Riyadh turns to Russia;
Russia's military equiptment gets a facelift;
The legal fight over water in Crimea;
Russia evacuates 500 from Afghanistan;
Navalny being surveilled, force fed state propoganda;
Stalin-era grave site discovered in Ukraine
Abraham Accords offer New Delhi a new opening...;
...while the Taliban's ascent complicates India's calculus;
Changing South Korean attitudes about China, Japan;
Taipei warns Beijing can "paralyze" its defenses;
Thailand's unrest continues
Algeria cuts diplomatic ties to Morocco;
The Sudans: An agenda for growth;
Congo rethinks China deals;
Ethiopian rebels accused of war crimes...;
...As U.S. sanctions eritrean military chief
How social media helped the Taliban win;
Afghanistan: A problem for platforms;
Kyiv works to limit Moscow's messaging;
Due to disinfo, Latvia lags on health;
Cracking down on anti-vaccine disinformation
China's Sinovac to invest $60 million in vaccine facility in Chile;
Xi wants wealth redistribution;
Amid demographic crisis, China allows couples to have third child;
China schools introduce 'Xi Jinping Thought' into curriculum;
Congo reviews "infrastructure-for-minerals" deal with China
Beijing is trying to shape the academic and political conversation.
UK sanctions seven for Navalny poisoning;
A new Russia-China bridge;
Belatedly, U.S. sanctions Nord Stream II;
Dozhd branded foreign agent;
Putin confident ahead of parliamentary vote;
Turkey to purchase more Russian systems
Beijing has been quick to throw its weight around on the world stage in recent years.
It is crucial that Washington seize every opportunity to trumpet U.S. leadership on the global stage and remind the world of China’s failure to behave as a “responsible stakeholder.”
By now, it's beyond question that the Biden administration's hasty, uncoordinated withdrawal from Afghanistan is nothing short of a debacle.
Russian Ambassador: Kabul safer under Taliban;
Russian wildfire world's biggest;
Police search houses of Navalny, FBK supporters;
Jail time for former DNR minister;
No asylum for Afghans...;
...as Moscow encourages cooperation on Afghanistan
Beijing's clampdown sparks Hong Kong exodus;
New, pro-China curriculum for Hong Kong schools;
China banning Karaoke songs that endanger national unity;
Shanghai cancels English final exam in elementary schools;
Shanghai mandates the Xi Jinping thought reader for students
ROSNEFT makes record gains;
A tit-for-tat on journalist visas;
Prigozhin at the movies;
Russia "satisfied" with transfer of power in Kabul;
Whelan's lawyers make legal appeal
At the expense of American landowners, farmers and companies, Chinese corporations have been buying up valuable land for years.
Boko Haram on the back foot;
Hamas turns to digital fundraising;
The shape of today's terror;
German fears over an ISIS resurgence
A tussle over access to the Nile;
The nexus of climate change and immigration;
Lebanon's water woes;
In Iran, a building hydrological crisis
Seeing Taliban convoys rolling down a highway might intimidate Afghans, but US defense planners should see them as targets begging to be destroyed.
Pundits irate over Olympic losses;
Military drills and Sino-Russian alignment;
Dispute over scale back of Black Sea oil spill;
Russian spy arrested in Germany;
Russia's budding drone commanders;
CEO of hypersonic firm arrested for treason
A year ago this week, Israel and the United Arab Emirates made history when they agreed to formally normalize their diplomatic relations.
Another Xi Jinping thought center opens;
China eases child-rearing costs to boost births;
For-profit tutoring barred in core school subjects;
Power outages spread as temps rise;
Local businessman sentenced to 18 years
Xi attacks technology blockades;
UK, EU, NATO: China responsible for Microsoft hack and ransomware;
U.S. charges four Chinese in global hacking campaign;
China fines tech giants for content exploiting children;
Beijing counter-sanctions seven Americans
China's novel coronavirus theory;
The Taliban's revolution won't be televised;
The latest disinformation target: American veterans;
Mideast think tanks unite to fight Iran in the "War of Ideas"
Return of the clone candidates;
Russia's continuing coronavirus crisis;
The Kremlin crackdown on Navalny allies continues;
Belarus wants integration with Russia...on its own terms;
Villages evacuated as wildfires engulf Siberia;
No legal remedy for Grudin
The Iranians are thirsty. In the past few weeks, thousands have taken to the streets in cities and towns throughout the Islamic Republic to protest the country's deepening hydrological crisis — and the Iranian regime's chronic mishandling of it.
U.S. military eyes travel-size nuclear reactors;
Tanker drone fuels Navy plane;
Invisibility approaches reality;
Pentagon planners eye directed energy to maintain space superiority;
Protecting against bullets with nanomaterial
More than 200 nuclear silos being built in Xinjiang and Gansu;
China sends team to help Pakistan investigate terror attack;
China pushes conspiracy theory, rejects calls for Wuhan lab audit;
China, Pakistan to collaborate on Afghanistan;
Taliban will play an "important role": FM Wang Yi
Russia, U.S. revive arms control talks;
Russia leans on Google;
Russia hacked federal prosecutors;
Kremlin wants to unmask Bitcoin transactions, users;
OSCE refuses to observe upcoming elections;
Moscow eyes Central Asia as it hedges against Afghanistan
Iranian hackers hard at work;
Water protests...and the regime response;
Tehran turns up the heat in Iraq
Iran's Chabahar Port takes center stage;
Duterte drops opposition to VFA;
Burmese junta extends state of emergency;
Indian states in border staredown;
Final attempt to save BRI project in Malaysia falters
For the second time in a half-decade, U.S. policy toward Iran is undergoing a profound redefinition, as the Biden administration abandons the "maximum pressure" of the Trump era in favor of a broad effort to reengage the Islamic Republic.
Russia versus the world wide web, continued;
The Kremlin leaves Argentina hanging;
Prominient communist banned from fall elections;
Russia faces stiff carbon tax;
Mishustin visits disputed islands;
Now Navalny's website blocked by state censor
Chinese human waste dumping endangers South China Sea ecosystem;
Firms operating in Xinjiang at "high risk" of violating law, U.S. warns;
Japan warns of China threat and "sense of crisis" in Taiwan Strait;
U.S. Senate passes bill to ban all products made in Xinjiang;
China urges efforts to oppose American "internet hegemony"
Russia "checkmates" the F-35;
Russia opens up voting in the Donbas;
Sakhalin newspaper silenced;
Washington, Berlin reach agreement on Nord Stream II;
Russia files suit against Ukraine in human rights court