Topic: David Cohen

Iran nuclear talks in Istanbul show progress remains elusive

Talks in Istanbul today over Iran's nuclear program and sanctions that have crippled its economy yielded little in the way of progress.

Boy Scouts delay decision on gay membership, citing 'complexity'

First there was the backlash to the Boy Scouts of America membership policy that prohibited openly gay scouts or troop leaders. Then came the backlash to the backlash, from conservative groups. Now the Boy Scouts have called a timeout.

Would change on gays allow Boy Scouts to recapture role in society? (+video)

The Boy Scouts has signaled it may remove a ban on gays that caused a rift within the movement. This could help improve both Boy Scout enrollment and fundraising.

Supreme Court: Both sides in gay marriage debate voice optimism

The Supreme Court's decision to take up appeals over DOMA and California's Prop. 8 ban on gay marriage elicited positive reactions from advocates on both sides of the contentious issue.

MS-13 gang labeled transnational criminal group, a first for US street gang

MS-13 gang is a violent group engaged in the drug, sex, and human trafficking trades in the US. Designating MS-13 gang a transnational criminal organization helps US officials target it more aggressively.

MS-13 gang: Why US Treasury is after the gang's assets

MS-13 gang: The US has designated the violent MS-13 gang as a international criminal group on Thursday, an unprecedented crackdown targeting the finances of the US and Central America group.

Syria civil war rages: why Hillary Clinton is focused on what comes after

The US is eager to keep undesirable actors out of a post-Assad Syria, but when Hillary Clinton meets Saturday with senior Turkish officials and Syrian opposition figures, they'll want to discuss the raging civil war.

Romney's foreign trip ends on a high note in Poland

At a library at the University of Warsaw in Poland, U.S. Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney spoke of 'freedom and justice.' Romney's stop in Poland was likely a way of appealing to Polish and Catholic voters. He returned to Boston Tuesday. 

Boy Scouts reaffirms ban on gays. Is it out of step with the times? (+video)

The Boy Scouts said it was keeping its ban on gays after a 2-year review by a panel representing a 'diversity of perspectives.' Critics said the organization was at odds with its own principles.

Terrorism & Security British spy chief says Iran is two years from nuclear bomb

Sir John Sawers, the head of MI6, said the British spy agency has tried unsuccessfully to thwart Iran's efforts to develop a nuclear weapon and warned that US and Israeli retaliation was likely.

More sanctions for Syria as US targets bank

The Treasury Department has targeted the Syria International Islamic Bank, which they say has been acting as a front for Syrian banks trying to get around existing sanctions.

Iran nuclear talks: negotiators cite progress ahead of Baghdad meeting

Two days of UN-IAEA talks in Vienna signal some flexibility on both sides ahead of key nuclear meeting in Baghdad next week.

Backchannels Iran debate: If Obama doesn't bluff, he's not a good poker player

President Obama's interview with The Atlantic can be seen as a preemptive strike to control the nuclear Iran narrative ahead of Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu's visit next week.

Newark Muslims hold protest rally over NYPD spy operation

Newark Muslims plan to rally Friday in protest of a 2007 NYPD spying operation targeting Muslim groups in Newark, N.J. Mayor Bloomberg says the operation was 'constitutional.'

Should Obama call for Syria's Assad to go? And would it matter?

As the White House presses Syria to halt it's brutal repression of dissent, it is considering calling for Assad to step down. While it is not clear how effective that would be, Obama may have little choice.

UN resolution on Libya: Does it let allies target Qaddafi?

On March 17, The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1973, an international rebuke of Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi’s regime. But how far does the resolution go? Here are the four ways UN Resolution 1973 changes the conflict in Libya.

Comcast to share content with Netflix, competitors

Comcast: To take over NBC, Comcast agreed to license popular NBC shows and movies to competitors like Netflix and Apple. the only question is, can they afford it?

Why FBI is following the money in Times Square bomb case

Three Pakistani men arrested Thursday in Massachusetts and Maine may have used an informal network known as hawala to channel funds to alleged Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad, officials say. Counterterrorism efforts have made it increasingly difficult to transfer money by traditional means.

Review: 'American Violet'

Texas tale of a wrongful arrest digs into drug busts and racism.

USA

Facing inflation, Asia gets more aggressive

As social unrest grows over rising food and fuel prices, policymakers from Thailand to Indonesia are raising interest rates.