Security
Diplomats meet as Italy plots Gaddafi’s escape
Gates Says Libya Not Vital National Interest
Officials: Libyan operation could last months
Turkey offers to broker Libya ceasefire as rebels advance on Sirte
Libyan rebels say they’ve seized Gaddafi home town
Libyan migrants arrive in Italy
Qatar becomes first Arab country to recognize Libyan National Council
UAE Jets Arrive in Italy for Libya Operations
New Libyan Rebel Leader Spent Much Of Past 20 Years In Suburban Virginia
Yemeni regime loses grip on four provinces
Militant attacks raise fear of Yemeni power vacuum
Prez’s son-in-law joins Yemen opposition
Fatal blast at Yemen arms factory
The Dance of the Snakes: Brewing Civil War in Yemen Has All Sides Nervous
Syrian VP: Assad to announce big decision in 2 days
Snipers kill two in Syria
Tensions In Lataqiya, Syria Becoming Increasingly Ethnic
Alarabiya.net: Syrian Government To Step Down, Other Reforms
U.S. Won’t Back New Intervention
Pro- And Anti-Assad Demonstrations In Lebanon, Egypt; Syrian News Agency: Arab Leaders Are With Assad
The Syrian Spring
Jordanians bury first casualty of demonstrations
Jordan’s lower house rejects calls for limiting king’s powers
Jordan Teetering On Civil War, Local Analysts Say
Jordan releases protesters blamed for unrest
As the Middle East burns, Saudi economy glows
Mecca Imam: No Separation Of Religion And State
Saudi Sheikh In New Delhi: Unite To Change Social Order
Bahrain opposition accepts Kuwait’s offer to mediate
Bahrain opposition says 250 detained, 44 missing
Bahrain Opposition Faces Uphill Effort
Young activists see Muslim Brotherhood alliance with military regime
Egyptian military plans to transfer power to civilian rule ‘as soon as possible’
Egypt military rulers: 30-year emergency laws to be lifted before September general elections
Hamas getting cozy with new Egyptian leaders
Egypt’s fundamentalist Salafists rise in wake of Mubarak’s fall
Bombing attempt on Egypt-Israel gas pipeline fails
Egypt Air Wipes Israel Off the Map
An unusual German export to Egypt: how to handle the secret police
Egypt: A Purge too Far?
‘Cheap’ bread to cost billions in Egypt
Egypt says will recognize new South Sudan state
Qatar Seizes Two Iranian Boats With Arms: Report
Iranian Human Rights Website: 80 Prisoners Killed in Iranian Jail
Iranian hacker claims he acted alone in stealing digital SSL certificates
Al-Maliki Warns of Sectarian War In Middle East Due To Bahrain
Iraqi Coalition Government Showing Signs of Breakup
Beware the ‘Turkish Model’
PNA leader Abbas hopes Palestinian state recognized this year
Abbas: Draw up constitution of future state
Abbas aide: president ready to give up $400 million in US aid for Palestinian unity with Hamas
Facebook ‘monitoring’ page calling for 3rd intifada
Fatah spokesman emphasizes that terrorism is “legitimate right”
Israel deploys first anti-rocket system near Gaza
Israeli strike on Palestinian rocket squad kills 2 militants
Israel’s premier warns Gaza militants of military retaliation if rocket fire resumes
Hardliner to Head Israel’s National Security Council
In Push for Mideast Peace, Whose Side Is Obama On?
Alassane Ouattara rejects African Union representative in Ivory Coast
Ivorian ex-rebels ‘seal border’
Forces for Ivory Coast’s internationally recognized leader say they have taken a major city
Moroccan teachers to strike after violent protests
Tunisia’s interim president sacks interior minister without explanation, report says
Gov’t detains Somali radio journalists, accusing them of inaccuracies in report on fighting
Police: Radical sect members kill a political youth leader in Nigeria’s restive northeast
Madagascar opposition groups reject new unity government
Truck explodes in eastern Afghanistan, killing 20, wounding dozens, Taliban claims attack
Taliban militants say they have kidnapped 50 Afghan policement in northeastern Afghanistan
Pakistani official says 11 troops have been killed in a militant ambush close to Afghan border
South Asia rivals in terror talks
India Not Ready to Lead on World Stage
Radioactive water risk played down
New radiation leak at Japan plant
Officials say plutonium detected in soil outside of troubled Japanese nuclear complex
U.S. helps clear vital Japan harbor
China arrests blogger Ran Yunfei
Manager of battery factory in eastern China arrested after 168 villagers suffer lead poisoning
China poised to overhaul US as biggest publisher of scientific papers
Chinese students screened for ‘radical thoughts’ and ‘independent lifestyles’
China’s Repression Undoes Its Charm Offensive
Vietnam Eyes China ‘Threat’
Thousands of Indonesians rally against international strikes on Libya, say Gadhafi should go
Myanmar military holds unusually low-key celebration of Armed Forces Day
Hugo Chavez doubling down on support for Mideast dictators
Russia ‘kills Caucasus militants’
Russia Arrests Two Bombing Suspects
Central Asia Stokes Russian Imperialism
Ukraine Opposition Warns of Setbacks
London erupts as 400,000 protest spending cuts
UK Fear over China power, poll finds
Portugal under heavy EU pressure to seek financial aid
Merkel ‘loses key state election’
Big stake for unpopular Sarkozy in France’s local elections amid far right resurgence
Dominican president hints he wants to run for 3rd term despite term limit rules
Israel asking Argentina if it stopped inquiry into Jewish center bombings to appease Iran
Human bondage hits U.S. heartland
Mexico Drug War Displaces 230,000 and Half Find Refuge in the U.S.
4 people die from swine flu in northern Mexico
The Return of Anarchism
One billion face water shortages by 2050

Maritime
Philippines seeks patrol ships, aircraft, radar to bolster watch in and near the Spratlys
Indian navy seizes Somali pirates

Military
US pulling back naval firepower aimed at Libyan forces as military mission gains ground
Shortage Of RAF Pilots For Libya As UK Defence Budget Cuts Bite
Libya may make US defense cuts a no-fly zone
China Eyes Naval Track Record
PLA on board an Orient express
Turkish, Afghan, Pakistan Forces Hold Anti-Terror Exercise
U.S. Seeks to Maintain 10 Military Bases in Iraq
US-Philippine military exercises may be scaled back because of relief mission in Japan
DFAS cannot promise pay in government shutdown

Economy
Economists expect Greek default
Foreign Shocks Temper America’s Export-Led Rebound
The Economy Remains Too Vulnerable

Environment
Major earthquakes don’t trigger dangerous ones around the globe, historical study suggests

Politics
Obama on Libya: a Goldilocks doctrine gambling on Gaddafi’s exit
Obama’s Libya speech: satisfactory, but not satisfying
Government Shutdown Grows More Likely
Democrats offer more cutbacks as a showdown on budget looms
Durbin: Social Security a deal-killer
Rising Medicare premiums threaten to wipe out Social Security COLA for third straight year
Political journalist forced to stand in a closet
Gov’t emails: Political reviews over requests for US records ‘meddling,’ ‘crazy’ and ‘bananas’
Key GOP leadership targeted for backing nuke program cuts

Religion
Turkey: Christians Despised
Pakistan’s Sherry Rehman stands alone after colleagues’ assassinations
Egypt clerics protest at graft in religious bodies
Pope prays at memorial to victims of Nazi massacre in Rome; Jews decry trips for perpetrator
Progressives Dumbly Dismiss Conservative Theology

Security
Israel warns of ‘aggressive’ response to Jerusalem blast
Fayyad: ‘I resolutely denounce this terror attack’
Barak: ‘We can’t tolerate attacks on Israelis in South, J’lem’
‘PA police arrest 2 Islamic Jihad members for J’lem attack’
Islamic Jihad To Hit Cities Deep Inside Israel, Group Says
Is a Palestinian Uprising Next?
Islamic Jihad hits Beersheba
Israel stages air strikes on Gaza, none hurt: Witnesses
Islamic Jihad admits the purpose of the rockets is terrorism
Allies Target Gadhafi’s Ground Forces
Row over role of Nato splits coalition forces
Libyan Rebels Foresee ‘Democratic, Secular’ Regime
Obama rules out `land invasion’ in Libya
Arab League Removes Libyan President of Arab Parliament
Turkey warns over Libya ‘agenda’
Nato role unsettles Ankara’s ambitions
Turkey offers warships to help implement UN arms embargo against Libya – media
The Arab allies trickle in
Libyan Expats Plot Revenge Terror Attacks On UK Streets Over Gaddafi Bombing Raids
The consensus on intervention in Libya has shattered
Stalemate could become hallmark of civil war
The Damning Contradictions of Obama’s Attack on Libya
Shi’ite rebels step up attacks in Yemen, down government MiG
Mass protests in Yemen as emergency law imposed
Yemeni Military Leader Tied to Terrorism Pledges to Protect Protesters
In Yemen Opposition, Reflections of Old Regime
Gates: No plan for post-Saleh Yemen; US will continue to watch unrest there
US fears for forces waiting to run Yemen
Assad sends special forces against protesters
Syria: The Government Takes off its Gloves: 15 Killed
22 in Bahrain face probe over role in protests
Bahrain protest crackdown defended by European Union envoy
Bahrain Crisis and its Regional Dangers
Jordan’ king blames his PM of slow reform, says he will not tolerate delays
In Jordan, Youth Movement Calls For Amman Sit-In
Egypt’s public prosecutor accuses top security officials of killing protesters
U.S. Says Egypt Vote Shouldn’t Be Rushed
Saudi newsite: police holding some 100 people who protested against government this month
Prominent Salafi-Jihadist Cleric Calls on Mujahideen to “Light the Fuse of Revolution” in Saudi Arabia
Saudi King: Don’t Call Me King Of Humanity – Only Allah Is King
Kurdish governor of Iraq’s Kirkuk resigns
In Iraq, Assassinations Of Military Officers Using Weapons With Silencers
Iraq Unveils Plan to Boost Oil Output
Iraq’s Regional Awakening
UAE boosts military pensions, seen pre-empting unrest
At Last, Arabs Seize the Moment
Tribal Power or People Power in Mideast?
Middle East: Let Them Eat Bread
Moroccan FM warns West that Al Qaeda could exploit ME
North-south Sudan flashpoint sees troop increase
Thousands of Afghan Taliban laying down arms: US
General warns of Taliban fightback
India to probe police ‘rampage’
India Could Face Water Woes In Coming Decades
Smoke forces nuke plant evacuation
Tokyo tap water unfit for infants; radiation warning on 11 vegetables
Radiation Risks Minimal in Tokyo Water
Nuclear fears shut 25 embassies in Tokyo
Hong Kong blocks food imports from 5 Japanese prefectures over radiation concerns
China railway funds ‘embezzled’
China Starts Censoring Phone Calls Mid Sentence
China and the Arab World
South Korea Announces Major Live-Fire Drills
S Korea criticised over Cheonan
Malaysia Gets Tough on WMD
Al-Qaeda-Affiliated Indonesian Group Charged With Funding Terror Camps
Why America No Longer Gets Asia
Bomb threat and suspicious package lead to brief evacuation of France’s Eiffel Tower
Portugal faces bailout over debt crisis vote
New Phase in Europe Crisis
Caribbean governments report mixed results as UN holds regional drill on tsunami preparedness
U.S. agencies respond to cyberattack on information security firm
Building Blocks of Successful Revolutions

Maritime
Pirates ‘show Danes to reporter’

Military
Who Sold Libya Its Supermissiles?
50% Success Rate in Latest Taiwan Missile Test
Naval strike aircraft to be part of Russian Air Force
Bataan ready group deploying today from Norfolk
DoD Brass Expect More Cuts
Pentagon Studying Additional Nuke Reductions

Economy
Quake causes $312 bln damage to Japan – govt.
Survey says U.S. financial house in state of disorder

Politics
Former White House Economists: Deficit Is ‘Severe Threat’
Republicans out to trim welfare again
Aging Population Is Biggest Challenge for Federal Budget
An Accelerating Downward Spiral
Why Libya and Not Darfur, Yemen or Syria?
Revisited: The Drumbeat of “Humanitarian Intervention?”

Religion
Near-genocide Conditions for Iraqi Christians, Archbishop Says
Pakistan’s Religious Minorities Want Independent Investigation of Bhatti’s Murder
Egyptian court sentences man to 5 years prison for throwing makeshift bomb at Cairo synagogue
Two Christians Slain in Attack Outside Church in Pakistan
US Embassy In Pakistan Condemns Florida Pastor’s Burning of Qur’an
A House Church in China raided by police
Malaysia backs down on bible issue
Ethiopian Jews in Jerusalem still not assimilated after two decades
Church Leaders, Parents Charged With Child Abuse In “Biblical Punishment” of Their Children
Vatican: Those who oppose gay rights are ‘vilified’
Church must ‘speak out against sexual violence’ in Africa

Security
No water, food or power – and still the rebels resist regime’s attacks
Who’s In Charge? Germans Pull Forces Out Of NATO As Libyan Coalition Falls Apart
Sarkozy opposes Nato taking control of Libya operation
Arab League to reiterate backing for Libya no-fly zone
Attacks to focus more on Libyan ground troops
Libya ground forces ‘not ruled out’
NATO to enforce Libya arms embargo
China calls for immediate cease-fire, end of airstrikes in Libya
Libya, The West and Democracy
Partition: Dividing Libya in two may be rebels’ best hope
India’s Pointless Abstention
Yemeni president given emergency powers
Defiant Yemen President warns ‘mutinous’ military of long, bloody civil war
Yemeni President Salah’s Family Decides He Should Leave; Report: U.S., U.K., Saudi Arabia Discussing Post-Salah Era
Yemen: The forbidden has occurred
Yemen May Be the Next Regime to Fall
Yemen on the brink of a breakdown
With Yemen crumbling, US sees fragile counterterrorism ally fading, and few good options ahead
Syrian forces kill 6 in mosque attack, protests continue
Report: Syria importing Hezbollah to quash protests
Syrians have broken the fear barrier
Syrian: Damned if We Do and Damned if We Don’t
Syrian Opposition Website: Jordan’s King Must Not Cooperate With Syrian Regime
Mourners call for revenge at funeral of Bahraini woman killed in unrest
Bahrain Relies on Old Playbook in Crackdown
Kuwait Sends Aid Ships To Bahrain; Shi’ite Clerics Attempt To Mediate
Iranian Website: Bahrainis Must Form Their Own Hizbullah To Fight Saudi Arabia
In Bahrain, Saudis Play Into Iran’s Hands
Saudi Arabia to hold municipal elections next month after two-year delay
Western Diplomats: Iran Again Violates Arms Embargo
Back to the Drawing Board on Iran
‘Turkey finds weapons on Iran cargo plane, arrests crew’
Police officer killed in demonstration in Iraq’s northern Kurdish region
Egypt’s Interior Ministry building set on fire as police protesters demand better wages
Early Egyptian elections could damage democracy
Post-Mubarak Egypt raising gas prices for Israel
There Is A Small War Starting Along Gaza Border
Gazans Hope to Join the ‘Arab Spring’
Arab Water Ministers Confirm A Strategy For Water Security
Saudi Emir: We Must Form United Gulf Army
Arab League states: a recent history of protests
War Stalks Revolution In Middle East
In the Mideast, U.S. policy is still driven by realism
America’s descent into strategic dementia
Islamists post bounty for killing US pastor over Quran burning
“Zionists use heavy metal music to corrupt Muslims, take over the world”
The Tragic Fate of ‘Muslim Moderates’
Ivory Coast’s recognized president asks UN to use ‘legitimate force’ to protect civilians
Somali Gov’t Claims ‘Remarkable’ Gains In Mogadishu Fighting; 7 Killed In Latest Violence
Benin opposition leader rejects election result and claims presidency
Uprisings to be replicated in sub-Saharan Africa, predicts Hague
Karzai names Nato pullout areas
Taliban’s assassination campaign against officials, security forces impedes civilian progress
Security Council strongly backs UN to lead international civilian efforts in Afghanistan
Russia supports NATO success in Afghanistan – defense minister
Is China Backing India’s Insurgents?
Kyrgyzstan Open to Military Cooperation with the US and Russia
Activist says overthrown Middle East governments have triggered Chinese crackdown on Uighurs
China’s Nimble Libya Pullout
Why Doesn’t China Want Dalai Lama to Resign?
Japanese official says fuel storage pool at troubled nuclear plant is at or near boiling point
Japan fears food contamination as battle to cool nuclear plant continues
Strong quakes jolt Japan’s tsunami-hit northeast
Why the US and China Woo Mongolia
Philippine defense official says amount of military funds lost to corruption is staggering
Kenyans: Why ‘feed’ a car?
Putin denies split with Medvedev over Libya
Russia to double oil supply to quake-hit Japan in 2011 – Sechin
Portugal braces for minority government’s collapse amid discord over austerity debt crisis
Chavez enacts decree allowing pro-government militias to receive weapons from military
Canadian opposition to vote against budget unless changes made, likely triggering election
Welcome to the Era of the Obama “Smart War”

Military
NATO: Better in Theory than In Practice
The Iranian Navy’s Historic Mediterranean Deployment: Timing Is Everything
The Bear, the Abacus and Impossible Defense Computations

Environment
Are Reusable Shopping Bags Environmentally Friendly?

Economy
Oil rising again; gasoline prices flat, but experts say they should keep climbing this spring
Oil markets and Arab unrest: The price of fear
Breaks in the Supply Chain: Disaster in Japan Sends Ripples through the Global Economy
UK Inflation ‘expected to hit 28-month high’
IMF Plan Sees Role in Crises

Politics
Capitol Hill falls silent as Libya war rages
Libyan bombing ‘unconstitutional’, Republicans warn Obama
Why Obama’s Not Open on His Real Reason for War
A Rorschach Presidency Won’t Work
U.S. Approaching Insolvency, Fix To Be ‘Painful’
Public Asleep as Budget Crisis Mounts
U.S. to Issue More Gulf Drilling Permits
9/11 Military Case Has Stalled as White House Pushes For Civilian Trials
American anger at BBC World Service Trust’s bid for US funding
U.S. demanding gay rights support at U.N. body
Big Labor’s Plan to Break the Financial System
Census: Detroit population falls 25 percent in past decade, losing more than 237,000 people

Religion & Culture
Christians in prison, beaten in Saudi Arabia
Nepal Christians protest to demand the government provide burial grounds
Beijing’s fear of faith
Failed Bomb Blasts in Jos Nigeria as Genocide of Christians Continues
Malaysia: Bibles Still Restricted
Catholic Church says Cuban government to release last 2 political prisoners held since 2003
S.D. governor signs 3-day wait for abortion into law
‘Extinction threat’ to religion
Buddhism is the new opium of the people
Why Are We Letting Our Daughters Dress Like Prostitutes?

Security
The Toll Of Japan’s Earthquake Disaster Is Now Believed To Be 25,000
‘They’ve Lost Control’: French Claim Japan Is Hiding Full Scale Of Nuclear Disaster As TWO More Reactors Heat Up
Blast-hit Japanese reactors cooled, radiation levels down
Spent Fuel Rods at Plant Pose Big Risk
Strategic implications of Japan’s disaster
Libyan forces predict fall of rebel-held Benghazi ‘within 48 hours’
Libyan rebels fault inaction by United States
Red Cross pulls out of Benghazi
UN security council to vote on Libya no-fly zone resolution
Curfew in Bahrain capital after security clears protesters from Pearl Square
Clinton: Bahrain, Gulf allies, ‘on the wrong track’
West warns nationals in Bahrain to be ready to evacuate
Shi’ites, supplied by Iran, control most of Bahrain, ‘shooting back’ at Saudi forces
Incursion threatens U.S.-Saudi ties
Iran recalls ambassador from Bahrain
1 killed, 200 injured as Saleh loyalists attack protesters
Special Report from Yemen: Escalation of Violence Moves Yemen Closer to Civil War
Egyptian State Security Apparatus To Be Dismantled
Debate rages as Egypt prepares for constitution vote
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa: ‘The Beginning of an Epochal Development’
The Saudi Day of Rage
Holy Smokes! The Saudis Are in Bahrain
UAE to hold elections on Sept. 24
Iran boosts Mongolia ties
Iraq court orders execution for insurgent who led forces to 2 top al-Qaida chiefs
Rights group says Syrian officers break up protest, detain 30
Turkey Stops, Searches Iranian Plane
Turkish paper says it will publish WikiLeaks cables on US-Turkish ties
Turkish Artillery Shells Border Areas In Dahook, Iraqi Kurdistan
In Lebanon, Michel Aoun Says: Harm To Hizbullah’s Weapons Will Lead To Takeover Of Beirut
Iran Army Chief Denies Sending Arms To Gaza
Abbas Offers Hamas an Olive Branch
Palestinian president says he won’t run for re-election
Report: Palestinians stepping up cooperation with Israel
Two killed in Israeli air strike on Hamas compound in Gaza
A regional strategy for democracy in the Middle East
Turkey as a model for a new Mideast
Ivory Coast grenade attack kills 1, wounds 18, including baby, as political violence mounts
Who Is Winning Afghanistan War? US Officials Increasingly Disagree.
Gen. Petraeus on the ‘conflicted’ Iranians
NGOs Can’t Be “Neutral” in Afghanistan
CIA contractor in Pakistan freed after ‘blood money’ paid
The Idea of Pakistan
Food Security Problems in Central Asia Challenge Local Regimes
China to Suspend Approval of New Nuclear Projects
Tibetan monk burns himself to death in protest against Chinese rule
Cyber-attacks add to North Korea arsenal
Mexico says it has allowed US drones into its territory to gather intelligence on drug gangs
Colombia Farc ‘Drug Boss’ Oliver Solarte Killed
Haiti a mix of excitement and dread as Aristide plans return ahead of presidential election
US life expectancy rises above 78 for the first time, infant mortality drops, CDC report says
Japan, the Persian Gulf and Energy
Perfect Global Storm
The Global War Against Baby Girls

Maritime
Indian Ships May Get Armed Anti-Pirate Guards

Military
Did India Shift Nuclear Posture?
China, Japan Fated for Conflict?
Anti-Ship Missiles Sent to Hamas
Russia to Deploy S-400 Anti-Aircraft Missiles in Kurile Islands
Warship deal with Russia losing support in France – paper
Moscow Intensifies Military-Scientific Research in Modernization Drive
Russia to lease nuclear submarine to India before October
Scorpene Delivery to India Delayed 3 Years
Forget the Wehrmacht – Germany may soon have no army at all

Environment
Strong 6.5 magnitude quake strikes Vanuatu

Economy
World braces for Japan economic hit
Nikkei rallies 5.68% as Japanese stocks rebound
Twin Threats Stalk the Economy
Japan’s rebuilding likely to exceed $159 billion
Oil price up as turmoil continues
Oil prices may soar to $150-200 per bbl on Mideast unrest, Japan quake – Kudrin
Portugal bailout fears rise as credit rating cut
UK Jobless total hits 17-year high
US homebuilding in February slump
Cost of groceries up and climbing higher

Politics
Tax Plan Aims For 25% U.S. Cap
7 in 10 Americans support allowing women in ground combat
Panel considers ‘In God We Trust’

Religion
Bomb hits office of liberal Indonesian Islamic group defending Ahmadis
Islamic Extremists Up Persecution Of Christians in Ethiopia
Christians & Muslims in Mubarakless Egypt
Proposed Tajik Law Banning Children’s Participation In Religious Activities Draws Objections