Al Qaeda's North African node reportedly has called for vengeance against Chinese interest in response to the recent violence in Xinjiang involving ethnic Uighurs. Islamist threats against Chinese targets are nothing new, and have more to do with the militants' own agenda, however. [more]
Mexico's La Familia Michoacana crime organization continued retaliatory attacks on federal police in Michoacan state July 14 raises the possibility of a possible escalation in violence. [more]
The Web site for the Turkish Embassy in China was attacked by online vandals following tensions between the two countries over the security crackdown on ethnic Uighurs in Urumqi, Xinjiang province, Global Times reported. The online attacker left a pro-China message, demanding that Turkey not meddle in Chinese domestic affairs. The message was removed from the Web site.
An opposition group is making gains against the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party, and Prime Minister Taro Aso has called new legislative elections for Aug. 30. Is the party behind the face of Japan’s government about to change? [more]
The success of counterinsurgency in Afghanistan boils down to whether Washington will gain an intelligence edge over the Taliban before the Taliban inflicts enough casualties to shift Western public opinion against the war. [more]
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