China is leading foreign investor in Afghanistan
The NY Times reports that 79% of foreign investment in Afghanistan come from China. Nonetheless, China has no troops in the country but it has obtained the rights to much of the country oil, iron, copper, and rare earths. It seems that the US and the West have, in effect, been fighting a war to defend Chinese capital.
Syrian troops launch offensive in the south
The Syrian army, backed by Russian airpower, have driven into the area south of Damascus, which was home to some of the earliest risings against Assad. Observers are increasingly vocal in noting that Russian airstrikes are having a great deal of collateral damage. The drive south may have been embarked upon because the one on the north around Aleppo has not fared well.