Editor’s note for Monday, December 12, 2022

My thoughts today:

Afghan security forces under the Taliban government killed at least three attackers who opened fire in Kabul Longan Hotel, which is frequented by Chinese nationals. Al Jazeera reports that no foreigners were killed in the attack, and that ISIL (Islamic State) claimed responsibility.

It was never going to be easy for Beijing in Afghanistan.

Our word of the day is Kabul Longan Hotel (喀布尔桂园酒店 kābù’ěr guìyuán jiǔdiàn)

“Longan” is not rendered as 龙眼 lóngyǎn, the name of the fruit as you might expect but as 桂园 guìyuán, or “laurel garden.”