• The ISIS Munition Trail

    As a known arms dealer for rebels fighting Isis in his east Syrian home town, Abu Ali was sure his days were numbered when, a year ago, two jihadi commanders stepped out of their pickup truck and walked towards him. He was baffled when they handed him a printed paper. “It read, ‘This person is permitted to buy and sell all types of weaponry inside the Islamic State,’” recalls Abu Ali. “It was even stamped ‘Mosul Centre’.” – Financial Times

  • The Nomads of the Pamir Mountains

    The Kyrgyz of the Pamir Mountains live divided by borders — some in China or Afghanistan, the majority in Tajikistan. During the Soviet era their nomadic lifestyle was brought to an end, as they were forcibly settled. Now, though, many return to the yurt during the summer, which they spend on the high mountain pastures tending yaks or looking after tourists. By Janyl Jusupjan. – Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty

  • Do Americans Really Just Want a Dictator Instead of the President?

    This incessant clamoring by voters and punditry for better “leaders” and more “leadership” is one of the most unsavory, dangerous and un-American tendencies in political discourse. When Donald Trump was asked last week by Joe Scarborough what he made of an endorsement from Vladimir Putin—a thug who’s probably murdered journalists and political opponents and more—the GOP presidential front-runner responded, “He’s running his country, and at least he’s a leader, unlike what we have in this country.” Then he offered an incredibly dumb moral equivalency about how the United States also does “plenty of killing.” – Reason

  • Charlie Rose Talks to Apple CEO About Encryption

    The technology giant’s CEO, Tim Cook, addresses issues concerning his company — including encryption technology, corporate taxes, and manufacturing products in China. – CBS News

  • Russian Airstrike Kills Rebel Leader in Syria


    Russian air strikes have struck targets in multiple locations in Syria, killing the commander of the best organised and best armed opposition group in the Damascus area, Al Jazeera has learned. Friday’s attacks, which notably targeted the opposition stronghold of Eastern Ghouta, killed Zahran Alloush, head of the Army of Islam. Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbara, reporting from Gaziantep in Turkey, said Alloush’s death was a major blow to the opposition given that he commanded a 20,000 “well-armed rebel force”. – Al Jazeera

[Featured image: AFP]