This Week in War: 1st Week, May 2018

Afghan journalists are seen after a second blast in Kabul. Explosions in the Afghan capital killed at least 26 people on Monday, including nine journalists who had arrived to report on an initial blast and were apparently targeted by a suicide bomber, officials said. REUTERS/Omar Sobhani

1st week, May 2018.

This Week in War:  A Friday round-up of what happened and what’s been written in the world of war and military/security affairs this week.  

It’s a mix of news reports, policy briefs, blog posts, and long-form journalism.

• Chemical weapons inspectors are back from Syria's Douma. 

• US accuses China of pointing lasers at its pilots from Djibouti base.

• 36 killed in a coordinated double suicide bombing in Kabul. 10 journalists were among the dead.

• Iran slams US ‘bullying', says it won't renegotiate nuclear deal.

• All the latest updates on the Gaza protest

• Russia will stand by the Iran nuclear deal and develop closer ties with Iran if President Donald Trump withdraws from the agreement on May 12.

• US judge orders the release of 'first Black Identity Extremist’. 

• 4 Kenyans were shot and hacked to death in al-Shabab attack.

• Chinese Nobel Peace Prize widow, Liu Xia, is ready to 'die at home’ and has been under house arrest since 2010, after her husband was awarded the Nobel prize.  She has never been charged with any crime.

• CIA director Gina Haspel has Thailand torture ties.

• The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, has apologized after he was accused of antisemitism following a speech in which he suggested that historical persecution of European Jews had been caused by their conduct, not by their religion. 

• China deploys cruise missiles on South China Sea outposts--missiles could target ships and aircraft.

• US President Trump set to benefit as Qatar buys $6.5m apartment in New York tower.

• No prisoner swap for bin Laden hunt doctor, says Pakistan. The doctor helped the CIA track al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

• Alleged Nazi war criminal fights deportation from Canada for fourth time.

• Tens of thousands of people joined nationwide protests in Armenia, after the parliament failed to elect opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan as the country's interim prime minister.

• ISIS attacks in Tripoli, Libya took place as election officials were registering voters for polls scheduled later this year.

• Misogyny 'clear-cut' in deadly Toronto attack.

• Thousands of demonstrators in San Juan, Puerto Rico gathered to oppose school closings, university tuition increases and potential cuts to pensions and other benefits. Police fired tear gas and pepper spray.