Catastrophe capitalism: climate change, COVID-19, and economic crisis – An interview of John Bellamy Foster

In the backdrop of the ravaging coronavirus pandemic, John Bellamy Foster, editor of Monthly Review, the famous socialist magazine, discusses the pandemic in relation to the present condition of capitalism and economic crisis in the following interview conducted by Farooque Chowdhury in late-March, 2020. Foster, professor of sociology at the University of Oregon, and author of numerous books on political, economic, and ecological issues, relates the pandemic to the capitalist economy, its crisis and climate change.

Small Groups, Big Weapons: The Nexus of Emerging Technologies and Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism

Historically, only nation-states have had the capacity and resources to develop weapons of mass destruction (WMD) due to the significant capital, infrastructure, and intellectual capacity required to develop and maintain a WMD program. In recent years, however, this paradigm has been shifting, particularly for non-state actors. The commercialization of emerging technologies is reducing the financial, intellectual, and material barriers required for WMD development and employment.

The Black Sea and COVID-19

As with the rest of the world, COVID-19 is likely to wreak havoc across the Black Sea region in a very short period of time. With the outbreak projected to peak in April or May – and with some predicting the pandemic will last two years and infect 60 to 70 percent of the global population – it is difficult to fathom the potential consequences for this region.

Co-chair of the PYD: SDF could join government forces in Idlib after an agreement on role in Syrian Armed Forces

During the most recent military escalation by Syrian government forces and their allied militias in northwest Syria, which led to the displacement of more than one million people, media outlets—mostly opposition-leaning—reported that the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fought alongside the Syrian government forces. The SDF, however, has denied these claims.

Dozens of Syrian mercenaries in Libya killed in 1 week

Although the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported that 151 Turkey-backed militants – fighting in the ranks of Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) have been killed since the beginning of this year, the LNA announced Thursday that the number of Syrian mercenaries who fell over the previous 72 hours is 103.

Special Analysises

Dollars for Daesh: The Small Financial Footprint of the Islamic State’s American Supporters

Abstract: An analysis of all related court cases since 2013 shows that, save for a few exceptions, the vast majority of U.S.-based Islamic State supporters left a remarkably small financial footprint. Most, in fact, simply relied on personal savings to pay the small costs required for their activities. Some engaged in specific fundraising activities, which tended to be fairly unsophisticated. The crime-terror nexus prevalent in Europe has been virtually absent in the United States with respect to the Islamic State-linked cases, and very few U.S.-based supporters engaged in financial transactions with full-fledged Islamic State members, with only one known case of an individual who received funding to carry out an attack domestically. The small size of the financial footprint of U.S.-based Islamic State supporters is, in itself, good news for U.S. authorities but has a flipside, as the scarcity and inconspicuous nature of the financial transactions of many U.S.-based Islamic State supporters can represent a challenge for investigators.

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Special Analysises

Islamic State West Africa (ISWA / ISGS): Suicide Bomber Targets French & Malian Convoy on Road Between Ansongo & Menaka, Near ‘Indelimane (In -Delimane) & IED Targets Convoy Following Day in I Hagana, Garo Region, Mali

Reporting from London, Sophia Badawy follows developments throughout Africa. This week, Badawy followed the Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS) very closely. The group has been actively targeting the In-Delimane (Ansongo) since November 2019. Because of its location, before ISGS, the area was targeted by JNIM. On 14 March, Badawy began collecting on the ISWA/ISGS suicide bombing targeting a French and Malian convoy.