About Oliver Scanlan
Oliver Scanlan lives in Parbatipur, Bangladesh where he works for a local NGO which advocates for indigenous peoplesâÛª rights. He has studied Chinese and spent a year studying in Beijing, which inspired his twin passions for global affairs and tricky languages. He is an intern for oD's terrorism and security section.
Articles by Oliver Scanlan
Libyan rebel military chief assassinated
On Thursday, it was announced that the head of the Libyan rebel armed forces, Abdel Fattah Younes, had been killed by gunmen in Benghazi, along with two military aides. The announcement was made by the head of the rebel National Transitional Council (NTC), Mustafa Abdul Jalil, who called Younes ‘one of the heroes of the 17th February revolution’. One of the assailants has been reportedly captured, with a manhunt underway in Benghazi to locate the others.
Spectre of US-China tensions as budget crisis continues
At a press conference held in Tokyo on Friday, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, characterised differences between the United States and China as ‘stark’. Admiral Mullen was speaking after visiting China as part of his Asia tour; the first such visit in four years. It entailed a meeting with his Chinese counterpart, chief of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) general staff Chen Bingde.
Yemen on the verge of collapse
On Friday, heavy fighting continued in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. Street protests that erupted in January against the rule of President Ali Abdullah Saleh have escalated to the point where the capital has been divided between those forces loyal to the President and rival tribal militias. The fighting has killed at least 135 people in the last ten days. Street combat between government and tribal forces has also led to the temporary grounding of flights at Yemen’s main airport.
Bin laden ‘revenge’ suicide bombing kills 80 in Pakistan
At 6am on Friday, recruits at the Frontier Corps military academy in Pakistan were hit by twin suicide bombers in an attack that has killed at least 80 and wounded over a hundred, with the death toll expected to rise.
Israeli Foreign Minister urges boycott of PA – Hamas government
On Wednesday, a historic agreement was reached between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas in Cairo, reconciling the two factions and laying the groundwork for a new, interim government.
Armed drone attacks sanctioned in Libya
Just over a week after withdrawing fifty aircraft from operations in Libya, the US is now employing Predator drones in the stalemated conflict. US defence secretary Robert Gates stated that they were deployed on Thursday, following an order from the president. It is thought they will be used against loyalist forces currently besieging Misrata.
Confusion continues as NATO assumes leadership of Libya no-fly zone
On Thursday, NATO Secretary –General Anders Fogh Rasmussen announced that the Atlantic alliance will be taking command and control of the no-fly zone over Libya.
International commission calls for inquest into Bangladesh ethnic violence
On Tuesday the International Commission for the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) sent a letter to the prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, calling for the formation of an impartial commission of inquiry into recent violence perpetrated against the indigenous people of the region by Bengali settlers.
Contested narratives and security implications as protests continue across the Arab world
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Little optimism as Turkey hosts Iran nuclear talks
On Friday, the so-called P5+1 nations, the US, Russia, China, UK, France and Germany, began another phase of diplomatic negotiations with Iran over the future of its nuclear programme. The talks, hosted in Istanbul by the Turkish government, are aimed at making some headway in resolving an issue that has dominated the region for several years.
This week's editor
Europe from the bottom up
European debate
Democratic Wealth
Nuclear non-proliferation
Women and the Arab Spring
oDRussia at journalismfestival .com
Mali - the plot thickens
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Remote control war
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