All Backchannels
This just in: Totally unbelievable thing is absolutely untrueA World Health Organization report mistakenly described an epidemic of deliberate HIV infection by Greeks seeking government benefits. A lot of the press believed this.
Does Iran nuclear deal pave way for Syria compromise? Not so fast.What allowed Iran and world powers to reach an agreement was avoiding matters where interests diverge -- like Syria.
Another dubious conspiracy theory that won't die: Lockerbie bombingA longtime advocate for the families of victims of Pan Am Flight 103, which was destroyed by a bomb over Lockerbie bomber, takes aim at an element of persistent conspiracy theories around the event.
What is a loya jirga anyways?A grand council of elders in Afghanistan is debating the presence of US troops in the country beyond 2014. What is it and how does it work?
Karzai tells Afghan loya jirga that US not to be trustedApparently, today's loya jirga doesn't have final say on whether a deal to keep US forces in the country after all.
Afghanistan and US reach security agreement? Close, but not quite.Afghan tribal leaders now get to decide whether US troops can stay, balancing the indignity of relying on foreigners with their fear of the Taliban - and their fear of losing US money.
Is Pakistan putting its reputation as an Al Qaeda safe-haven at risk?Perhaps.
Is global warming generating storms like Typhoon Haiyan?So far, there isn't strong evidence to support this assertion.- Afghanistan and Pakistan scramble for the favor of Al QaedaAs the US military presence winds down, Afghan leaders are hedging their bets, looking to protect themselves. Like allying with the very groups the US ousted in 2001. Messy? You bet.
Using drones to kill people for doing calisthenicsOne reason US assertions of limited civilian casualties in drone strikes don't hold water.
The US-Saudi breakup that isn'tMaybe pleasing Saudi Arabia shouldn't be a high priority for the US anyway.
Murders at weddings and attempted assassinations. Is this what Egypt has become?As Egypt's military-backed government drafts a new constitution in secret, there are worrying signs that political violence is becoming the norm in the Arab world's largest country.
NSA or Google?Pick your poison. (And cue the lame "don't be evil" jokes.)
US debt showdown: In the eyes of the world, the damage is already doneUS politicians appear to have found a way to avoid going over a cliff and creating a US government default. But the rest of the world is taking note of how the US plays with financial fire.
NSA spying? Everyone does it.The latest Snowden revelation in the Washington Post makes it clear that the US and its National Security Agency have lots of foreign help when it comes to intelligence collection.
Another Afghan governor assassinated as clock ticks on US withdrawalThe governor of Afghanistan's Logar province was assassinated today. After 12 years of war, the clock is ticking on a US withdrawal from the country.
CNN says Obama suspending aid to Egypt. White House disagrees.The White House shot down a bombshell for Egypt watchers 鈥� that the US is cutting off all aid to Egypt. But something is probably afoot.
Karzai says Taliban no threat to women, NATO created 'no gains' for AfghanistanAfghan President Hamid Karzai told this and more to the BBC in an interview out today.
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, in his own wordsThe far-right Israeli cleric聽Rabbi Ovadia Yosef聽has made comments that would be condemned if they came from an Iranian leader.
A Silk Road to total freedom?Or to total thuggery? The dark side of Internet culture's obsession with anonymity.
