The war in Ukraine approaches its first anniversary – and, much like the conflict on the ground, the air war has become a protracted contest for control. For Ukraine, fighting on the defensive, it has been wise to play for time and wait for any opportunities that may arise from increased Western support that it […]Continue Reading
The war in Ukraine is shaping up to be one of the bloodiest of the 21st century, with both sides reported to be losing hundreds of soldiers each day as the conflict moves toward its first anniversary. But just how many people are dying in this bitter struggle depends on who is doing the reporting. […]Continue Reading
Some 540 million years ago, diverse life forms suddenly began to emerge from the muddy ocean floors of planet Earth. This period is known as the Cambrian Explosion, and these aquatic critters are our ancient ancestors. All complex life on Earth evolved from these underwater creatures. Scientists believe all it took was an ever-so-slight increase […]Continue Reading
Two years after Myanmar’s coup on February 1, 2021, the country’s large and growing resistance forces receive almost no attention outside the country. The democratic opposition, fronted by the National Unity Government (NUG), but comprising many different groups, armies, militias and individuals, has also struggled to gain awareness, even for its substantial battlefield successes. And […]Continue Reading
The recent decision by Olaf Scholz’s German government to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks – after weeks of clear reluctance to provoke Vladimir Putin – was more than a domestic policy shift. It also demonstrated how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could prove to be a tipping point in a long-running battle of ideas between […]Continue Reading
The decision to provide heavy tanks to Ukraine in significant numbers constitutes a step change in western military support for Ukraine. For the first time, western countries are providing substantial offensive capabilities to support a major campaign to regain lost territory. The decision has been long in coming. But for some months, the German chancellor […]Continue Reading
QNET is being investigated by Indian authorities for suspected money-laundering.Continue Reading
The investigation into the Beirut port explosion has taken a new turn, with the judge overseeing the probe charging a former Lebanese prime minister and two other former ministers with homicide with probable intent. The explosion in August 2020 happened in a massive silo in the port of Beirut containing a large amount of the […]Continue Reading
Since the Covid-19 pandemic was declared in March 2020, a recurring topic of debate has been whether official Covid-19 death statistics in the US accurately capture the fatalities associated with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. Some politicians and a few public health practitioners have argued that Covid-19 deaths are overcounted. For instance, a January […]Continue Reading
President Joe Biden announced on January 25, 2023, that the US would send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine – following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s repeated requests for more military tanks to help wage its war against Russia. “This is about helping Ukraine defend and protect Ukrainian land. It is not an offensive threat to […]Continue Reading