All Security Watch
- In Libya election, joy and purple fingers: But also big questions
Libya's first election in 60 years began today amid joy and purple fingers. But militia violence, an absence of strong institutions, and a tussle between Federalism and a strong central government, loom large.
- A senior Syrian general defects
A top Syrian general and one-time confidante of President Bashar al-Assad has defected and is believed to be headed to Paris, a possible blow to Assad's regime.
- First NATO trucks roll into Afghanistan after months of negotiation
After months of back-and-forth negotiation, Pakistan reopened NATO supply routes on Tuesday when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton apologized for a November border attack.
- Yasser Arafat killed by radiation poisoning?
An Al Jazeera report argues that's likely, sparking a renewed flurry of speculation about how the Palestinian leader died.
- July 4 calumny! Hotdogs and hamburgers blamed for making Kuwaitis fat
Is nothing sacred?
- Lies, damned lies, and LIBOR: Barclays, Diamond, and a devalued benchmark
The story of how Barclays tried to rig an interest rate benchmark called LIBOR, which cost CEO Robert Diamond his job today, may seem obscure. But it's the latest evidence of bankers taking every inch regulators leave to them.
- Report: Syria tortures dissidents in 'archipelago' of prisons
Human Rights Watch report finds that Syria has created an 'archipelago' of torture facilities where the four intelligence agencies have used more than 20 distinct torture methods on detainees.
- Mali Islamists vow to destroy 'every mausoleum' in Timbuktu
Ansar Dine, the Islamist group that controls Mali's north, destroyed historic tombs and damaged a mosque this weekend, saying the religious landmarks constitute idolatry.
- Egypt's first Islamist president takes oath of office
Egyptian president-elect Mohamed Morsi addressed a throng of adoring supporters in Tahrir Square today. He is from the Muslim Brotherhood, the oldest Islamist organization in the world. So what does that mean, exactly?
- Can the Geneva meeting on Syria accomplish anything?
Kofi Annan, the UN special envoy to Syria, says he is 'optimistic' the emergency meeting on Syria will yield results, but the parties involved have already staked out some irreconcilable demands.
- As Assad talks war, US and UN talk peace
Rapid deterioration of the situation in Syria has given world leaders a sense of urgency, but they seem no closer to finding common ground.
- What war in Syria looks like: journalist killings, deadlier IEDs
Whatever restraint that was being exercised by the parties to Syria's civil war appears to have been cast aside.
- For Egypt's new president, getting elected was the easy part
President Morsi is the first freely elected president in Egypt's history. Now he has to form a government, forge a working relationship with the military, and address a shrinking economy.
- Syria's Assad: We are in a 'real state of war'
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told his new government yesterday to spare no effort to win what he now calls a full-scale war.
- Indian arrested for Mumbai massacre implicates Pakistan military
Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari, arrested last week after his deportation from Saudi Arabia, has told Indian authorities that Pakistani military and intelligence officials participated in planning the 2008 attack.
- Chemical weapons raise the stakes in Syria
Syria's civil war is ugly, and outside intervention could make it uglier. But Syria's alleged chemical weapons stockpiles argue for a major US and international role if the Assad regime collapses.
- The political circus and spin after Muslim Brotherhood's Egypt presidential win
Spin, double talk, and attempts at partisan gain following the victory of the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi in the first free presidential election in Egyptian history.
- Three top Syrian officers defect to Turkey. How bad for Assad?
Such high-level defections have been rare so far. But if they become more frequent, they could cause Assad's regime to crumble from within.
- Egypt has a new president: Let the fear mongering begin!
Fox News put up video that identified a speech by hard-core preacher Safwat al-Hegazy as being delivered by Egypt's new President Mohamed Morsi within hours of Morsi's victory.
- Greece vs. Germany: Schlegel, Beckenbauer, Socrates, and other footballing greats
The Euro 2012 quarterfinal between Greece and Germany has been played before, thanks to Monty Python.