All Under the Radar
France calls off Mistral warship sale to Russia. Should EU buy it instead?Such a move could have accomplished two goals: Keep the ship out of Russian hands, and boost EU defense capabilities.
Nigeria's Boko Haram targets top leaders at home and abroadBoko Haram last week tried to assassinate a moderate Muslim prayer leader and a leading contender for Nigeria's presidency. Its latest abductee is the wife of Cameroon's deputy prime minister Amadou Ali.
US and South Korea postpone transfer of wartime control to SeoulThe handover would grant South Korea full control of its military in the event of a conflict. But the transfer might be delayed yet again.
Saudi Arabia woos Pakistan with $1.5 billion grant. Why now?As US president Barack Obama looks to mend ties with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh today, the Saudis hope to shore up regional support. Their $1.5 billion gift has raised suspicions among Pakistanis.
Turkey bans YouTube as Syrian incursion plan is exposedTurkey has tried to stay out of the Syrian war, but a leaked recording shows officials planning a limited action. The government has blocked YouTube to halt the spread of the recording.
Syrian rebels tout a fighting force the US can work withThe Syrian opposition says it finally has a rebel group that rejects extremism, welcomes a diplomatic solution, and can win a fight. Now, where are its weapons?
Happy Nowruz? Iran finds fault with Obama's new year greeting.Both President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry hit positive notes in their messages. But Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei was critical of other elements.
US, Taiwan save F-16 upgrade deal after budget cutPentagon budget cuts made it appear that Taiwan's F-16s would not receive promised upgrades, even as neighbor China boosts military spending.
Syria's secretive rocket industry spotlighted by Israeli weapons seizureWhen Israel seized a cache of weapons last week, it played up Iran's role. But Syrian-made rockets in the shipment show its sophistication in developing longer-range missiles.
Why President Obama stopped calling Turkish leader ErdoganThe US used to hold Turkey up as a role model for the Middle East. But today, as it floats the possibility of banning Facebook and YouTube, Turkey has lost its shine.
Syria's 'third force' Kurds may emerge stronger from conflictSyrian Kurds are attempting to assert greater autonomy from the chaos, but former ambassador to Syria Robert Ford says that the US would not back their bid, unlike in Iraq in the 1990s.
Why French lawmakers want troops to stay in distant Central African RepublicMoral concerns appear to have outweighed public disapproval of the deployment in the national assembly's vote Tuesday.
UN nuclear inspectors throw a bone to 'Trust Iran' campIran has assured skeptical diplomats that it is slowing its nuclear work. The latest report from the UN nuclear agency backs them up.
US, Iran pledge to play nicer on home frontThe US and Iran have attacked each other in public to sell nuclear talks to skeptical audiences at home. But harsh words have eroded trust.
Could Sochi give an Olympian boost to EU-Ukraine diplomacy?With Vladimir Putin focused on the Games in Sochi, some experts say that will keep Russian eyes off of Ukraine – opening the door for the EU to cut a deal with Yanukovych.
To protect Shiites, Hezbollah imposes its own checkpoints in LebanonA spate of suicide bombings against Shiite areas of Lebanon – retaliation for Hezbollah's battlefield assistance to the Syrian regime – has prompted demands for greater protection.
Eying Taliban, Pakistan military moves into strategic Swat ValleyThe Pakistan military is constructing a base in the Swat Valley to ward off threats from the Pakistan Taliban and spillover conflict from Afghanistan.
Turkey wakes up to blowback threat from Al Qaeda-linked fighters in SyriaTurkey is increasingly concerned about the proliferation of Al Qaeda-linked fighters along its border with Syria. This week its military fired on jihadist targets in Syria.
In Philippines, family politics muddy post-typhoon rebuildReconstruction aid is arriving in Tacloban but its mayor is sparring with Philippine President Benigno Aquino. Both are scions of rival political families.
Look who's trying to defuse tension in the East China SeaTaiwan's calls for talks about China's new air zone aren't being taken too seriously. Here's why there may be something more to them.
