By William Tucker
Two Tibetan monks have set themselves on fire, a practice known as ‘self-immolation,’ to protest Chinese policies over the past two days. These two acts take the number of self-immolations by Tibetan monks to 15 over the last year. As is typically the case, larger protests break out shortly after these acts occur. In this most recent case, Beijing has agreed to allow the protests to take place.
By William Tucker
Another bombing in Damascus today killed 10 people and wounded many more according to Syrian state media. The apparent target was a police bus, but the methodology of the bombing hasn’t been confirmed by an independent source. Syrian government officials claim that it was a suicide bombing – pictures of the scene are consistent with that type of attack.
By William Tucker
Two Libyan militia groups exchanged gunfire in Tripoli yesterday killing four and wounding five. The firefight began when a militia from Misrata tried to free several prisoners held in the former intelligence headquarters building of the Gaddafi regime. In response, the military council of Zawiya street returned fire disrupting the Misratan operation. Fighting between armed rebel groups in Tripoli has been a profound fear of the interim government.
By William Tucker
Two months ago, Kenyan forces invaded southern Somalia with the ostensive purpose of creating a buffer region between al-Shabaab and the Kenyan border. The Kenyan military has thus far not stated how far into Somalia they will go, but it is widely expected that they are intent on attacking the port city of Kismayo.
By William Tucker
Iranian war games are well under way in the Strait of Hormuz. In the past few days several different Iranian politicians have made statements regarding the ease with which the Strait could be closed, thus disrupting much of the world’s oil supply. Although Iranian threats regarding the Strait have been ongoing for some time it is only recently that the U.S. issued a blunt response to these threats.
By William Tucker Venezuela is typically a poor country in the best of times despite its oil reserves. The…
By William Tucker
North Korea’s official media outlet has reported that the nation’s leader, Kim Jong-il, has died at the age of 69. Jong-il has been in bad health recently and suffered a stroke in 2008. Although Kim Jong-il named his son, Kim Jong-Un, as his successor in September 2010, the younger Kim does not have any political or military experience.
Here is today’s podcast with William Tucker on the significance of Kim Jong-il’s passing. The Death of Kim Jong-Il…
By William Tucker
In 2006, a professor at National Autonomous University of Mexico claims he was recruited by officials from the Cuban Embassy in Mexico to lead a group of hackers to attack the U.S. Instead of following through, the professor recruited a few students to infiltrate the hacking group to better understand how they operate.