Rewards for good behaviour
An Indonesian court has reduced the sentences of ten men convicted for their involvement in the devastating 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings, thanks to their reported "good behaviour".
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Russia and China have staged a series of dramatic war exercises at the close of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's summit. China and Russia have strengthened their ties significantly in recent years as they seek to counterbalance the United States in Central Asia and on the global stage.
Russia has resumed its Soviet-era practice of sending bomber aircraft on long-range practice flights across the Pacific Ocean, often passing near American bases and listening posts.
An international investigative panel concluded that a 16-foot missile dropped into a Georgian field last week came from Russia. The panel stopped short of accusing the Russian state of involvement in the incident.
Padilla guilty
After being held for over three years as an "enemy combatant", US citizen Jose Padilla was found guilty by a Miami court of abetting al-Qaida and conspiring to commit murder. He now faces a possible life sentence.
While the Counterterrorism blog sees the conviction as proof that the Bush administration's murky system of detention "works", the Armchair Generalist blog sees plenty of cause for concern in how easily the government has eroded basic civil liberties.
Curfew in Port Harcourt
Nigerian authorities have implemented a curfew in the strife torn coastal city of Port Harcourt, where insurgents and criminal networks have been engaged in a week of violent clashes.
Nasrin death warrant
Bangladeshi writer Tasleem Nasrin is now the target of a "death warrant" issued by prominent clerics in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata. Nasrin was earlier attacked by mobs in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad. She earned the ire of many hardline Muslims with the publication of her novel "Shame", on the Hindu-Muslim riots in her native Bangladesh, which banned the book and sent her into involuntary exile.
Saudi-Syria feud
High-ranking Saudi and Syrian officials continue their war of words as Riyadh reacted angrily to claims from Damascus that Saudi Arabia's role in west Asia was on the "wane". Relations have been strained between the two countries since the assassination in 2005 of Rafik Hariri, a close Sauid ally.
Rudy says no to Palestinian statehood
Writing in Foreign Affairs magazine, Republic presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani argues that a Palestinian state would only sponsor terrorism and cause further harm to the west and Israel.
Washington has signed a new ten year military aid deal to Israel worth $30 billion.
Engaging the Taliban
Eurasianet reports on how the peace jirga in Afghanistan debated Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf's suggestion that there are "good Taliban" that must be negotiated with.
Five civilians were killed in fighting in the east of Afghanistan.
