Topic: International Institute for Strategic Studies
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Blue helmet drones? UN prepares to send drones over Africa.
High-tech, unarmed drones in Central and West African states can track guerrillas and swing the intelligence battle; UN chief Ban Ki-moon favors the idea.
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Decoder Wire North Korea's threat to restart shuttered reactor: Bluster or big problem?
North Korea said Tuesday it would restart a nuclear reactor capable of making fissile material for bombs. At least one expert sees it as North Korea's 'most worrisome' threat yet.
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Iran nuclear talks conclude with plans for more talks
World powers offered to lift some sanctions on Iran if it scaled back its nuclear activity. No deal was reached, but the two sides will discuss the proposal at talks next month.
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Nuke fast track? Iran plans to up uranium-enrichment capacity
In a letter to the UN's nuclear watchdog, Tehran announced it was planning to replace its centrifuges, which experts worry could significantly speed up development of a nuclear weapon.
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In South Korea, Kim Jong-un's New Year speech generates surprise - and doubt
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for economic reform and expressed a wish to improve relations with South Korea, departing from the usual North Korea rhetoric.
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Why is Iran's nuclear stockpile growing?
An increase in Iran's higher-grade uranium stockpile is worrying but may arise from a bottleneck in making reactor fuel as opposed to accumulating material for nuclear weapons.
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North Korea threatens US after it helps South Korea
The question now is whether the furor over missiles actually marks another step on the way to a much more serious confrontation, or is simply another exercise in a long-running game of dare.
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With latest IAEA report in hand, UN chief slams Iran for lack of cooperation (+video)
Speaking in Tehran today, UN chief Ban Ki-moon criticized Iran for failing to reassure the world it is not pursuing nuclear weapons as the IAEA reported its nonmilitary nuclear work continues apace.
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Why is North Korea threatening to conduct a nuclear test? (+video)
First, to make up for the embarrassment of the failed missile; second, the regime's past nuclear tests didn't go very well.
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Iran loading homemade nuclear fuel rods, firing up new centrifuges
Iran says it now has the next generation of centrifuges to enrich uranium for its nuclear program. But US experts are skeptical of Iran's claims.
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Why Venezuela is key to quashing the FARC
Colombia is worried that FARC fighters are looking to acquire missiles in Venezuela, which would diminish Colombia's air-power advantage against the rebels.
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Ambassador Eikenberry's pushback against Karzai: Will it make a difference?
US Ambassador Karl Eikenberry responded sharply to criticism of the US by Afghan President Karzai. His unusually tart remarks come amid growing pressure in the US to bring troops home.
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Venezuela-Colombia ties remain strong despite Chávez's reported links to FARC
Newly published findings that Venezuela financed the FARC rebel group in Colombia seem unlikely to harm growing economic and diplomatic links between the two countries.
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Former President Jimmy Carter arrived in North Korea amid hope for six-party talks
Former President Jimmy Carter arrived in North Korea on Tuesday for talks aimed at reducing tensions with North Korea. This trip looks similar to his first visit in 1994.
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Splits widen among Western leaders over way forward in Libya
As the US moves to transfer command of Libya operations to Western allies, Europe is grappling with who should take the lead to enforce UN Resolution 1973.
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Iran missile system tested, rhetoric sharpened on eve of NATO summit
Iran missile system: Iran tested a new air-defense system and lashed out at NATO as the military alliance prepared to meet this weekend in Lisbon, Portugal. Iran has long sought homegrown air defenses.
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Iraq war by the numbers, as last US combat brigade leaves
The last US combat brigade left Iraq today, after $751 billion and 4,415 American lives. Here's a breakdown of the Iraq war numbers.
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US in Iraq: What's been left behind
After seven years of war, Iraqis are freer but feel embittered by the loss of life and halting progress in turning on the lights.
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US-Vietnam ties strengthen with military exercises, to China's chagrin
This week, the USS John McCain is engaged in military exercises in the South China Sea - setting a new threshold in US-Vietnam ties.
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Why North Korea Cheonan sinking gets wrist slap from UN
North Korea agreed to its first talks with the US in a year, and is signaling interest in restarting the six-party talks about nuclear disarmament.
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Sadr followers snub Allawi and Maliki. Who will lead Iraq?
With followers of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr saying they support neither Nouri al-Maliki nor Iyad Allawi, the top two vote-getters continue to jostle for allies to form a coalition that will lead Iraq.
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Iranian scientist defects: US covert ops hurt Iran nuclear program
The defection of Iranian scientist Shahram Amiri to the US shows that a long-running CIA covert program against the Iran nuclear program is working.
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North Korea spurns UN push to stop executions and torture
The North Korea ambassador to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva denounced its recommendations just as reports emerged that the North had executed the official responsible for a ruinous currency revaluation.
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How the world views Obama at one year
While Obama remains a ‘rock star’ in many countries, skeptics don’t see much tangible change in US policy.
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American missionary allegedly held by North Korea. A 'gift' to Pyongyang?
North Korea said it has detained a US citizen, widely believed to be Robert Park, a Korean-American missionary who crossed the border into North Korea with a message for the regime to close all labor camps. His fate could be tied up in the future of six-party talks.
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