Media Roundup

United States

Counterterror Strategy Will See C.I.A. Back in Spying Role

By Mark Mazzetti | The New York Times

Some American officials and outside experts believe it could take years for a spy agency that has evolved into a paramilitary service to rebalance its activities with a return to traditional spying.

Latin America

Mexico Cartel Dominates, Torches Western State

By Mark Stevenson | The Associated Press

The farm state of Michoacan is burning. A drug cartel that takes its name from an ancient monastic order has set fire to lumber yards, packing plants and passenger buses in a medieval-like reign of terror.

Asia-Pacific

North Korea Says Will Take 'Positive Steps' for Peace

By Terril Yue Jones and Sui-Lee Wee | Reuters

A North Korean envoy told China's president on Friday that his reclusive country was willing to take "positive actions" to ensure peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, as China steps up diplomatic efforts to bring Pyongyang back to talks.

Beijing Signals a Shift to More Liberal Economic Policy

By David Barboza and Chris Buckley | The New York Times

After years of relying on government spending to supercharge growth, China is planning to shift gears so that the private sector and market forces play a larger role.

Advocates Cheer Tightening of Extractives Transparency Standards

By Carey L. Biron | Inter Press Service

Development groups and corruption watchdogs are applauding landmark new standards adopted Wednesday by an international initiative focused on ensuring greater transparency among oil and mining companies operating particularly in developing countries.

Africa

China 'Offers Troops' to UN Mali Peacekeeping Mission

BBC

China has offered soldiers to the new UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, UN officials say. Talks are underway, and more than 500 Chinese peacekeepers and engineers could potentially take part in the mission, according to UN officials.

Belmokhtar 'Supervised' Niger Bombs

BBC

Militant leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar masterminded the two suicide bombs in Niger on Thursday which killed 20 people, a Mauritanian news agency reports.

Europe

Analysts: London Attack Appears to Be Work of Home-Grown Extremists

By Shaun Waterman | The Washington Times

The attack that killed an off-duty soldier in London this week appears, like the Boston Marathon bombing, to have been the work of home-grown, “lone-wolf” extremists, underlining the very different kind of threat posed by al Qaeda now that its leadership has largely been destroyed and its ideology of global jihad left largely in the hands of individuals and small groups all over the world.

Middle East

Cabinet Shake-Up Begins in Libya Under New Law

By Ashish Kumar Sen | The Washington Times

Libya's prime minister has nominated a new interior minister to fill the first spot vacated in his Cabinet, a consequence of a new law that bars officials who had served under late dictator Moammar Gadhafi from holding public office.

Syria’s Exile Opposition Opens Conference in Turkey Amid Anger, Confusion

By Roy Gutman | McClatchy Newspapers

Syria’s political opposition met Thursday in Istanbul to elect new leadership, choose a government-in-exile and deliberate on a negotiating stance for peace talks, but it hit a controversy when the immediate past president of the Syrian Opposition Coalition, a Muslim cleric who no longer holds any post in the group, presided over the opening session and released a surprise peace initiative without consulting the group.

United States

Keeping the Peace With Russia

By Paul J. Saunders | The Washington Post

Why the hysteria about Russia? From the tone of what passes for policy discourse in Washington, one would think that Russian troops were massing on the country’s western border and that opposition activists were being executed by the hundreds.

Take Syria Seriously -- and Stay Out

By Saul Landau | Foreign Policy in Focus

Syria’s civil war has inspired some in Congress and in the media. Stupidity or insanity? Some people don’t learn from past mistakes. Why start another body count in a Middle East conflict with no direct relationship to U.S. security?

The ‘Cyber Tension' Between the U.S. and China

By Aydogan Vatandas | Today's Zaman

During his nine day Asia-Pacific trip last year in November, President Barack Obama announced a new American military doctrine, which comes as a result of the country's new foreign policy on the Asia-Pacific region: “As we end today's wars, I have directed my national security team to make our presence and missions in the Asia Pacific a top priority.

Latin America

Dumb and Dumber

By Daniel Politi | International Herald Tribune

Argentina’s proposed tax amnesty only rewards cheats.

Asia-Pacific

Pulp Liberation Army

By Isaac Stone Fish | Foreign Policy

Welcome to the strange -- and terrifying -- underground world of Chinese military fantasy novels.

China Eco-Boosterism, Revisited

By Bret Stephens | The Wall Street Journal (Subscription Required)

Why did Western liberals think China was a model for environmentalism?

Asian Tensions and the Problem of History

By Jonathan Tepperman | International Herald Tribune

A gaffe by Japan’s prime minister speaks volumes about Asia’s current rivalries, and how they might be soothed.

Japan the Model

By Paul Krugman | The New York Times

Japan appears to be turning around its economy. Could its economic experiment be the last, best hope for recovery for the rest of the world?

Europe

Europe’s Lost Keynesians

By Kenneth Rogoff | Project Syndicate

There is no magic Keynesian bullet for the eurozone’s woes, despite what many commentators and much of the public seem to believe.

Britain, Ireland, and Europe

By David Miliband | Project Syndicate

British Prime Minister David Cameron is increasingly beholden to Conservative backbenchers who want to pull the UK out of the EU. On May 22, former British Foreign Secretary David Miliband delivered the Irish Business and Employers Confederation Annual Lecture, in which he defended continued EU membership.

Middle East

A Cyberattack Campaign for Syria

By Chris Finan | The New York Times

American policy makers should consider a military cybercampaign to give Syrians the ability to communicate freely online.

Iran's Moment of Truth

By Amir Taheri | Asharq Alawsat

Is it still interesting? This question concerns the forthcoming presidential election in Iran.

Iran’s Democracy Charade

By Frida Ghitis | Miami Herald

Keep an eye on Iran over the coming weeks. The country is in the process of shedding the final vestiges of democracy as it heads to a new presidential election on June 14. It is a sad unraveling of an experiment that began more than 30 years ago.

United States

Russia, U.S. to Boost Law Enforcement Cooperation

RIA Novosti

Russia and the United States may set up joint working groups to counter emerging crime threats, Russia’s interior minister said at the end of a working visit to the United States.

Latin America

Pacific Alliance Agrees to Eliminate Most Tariffs

Merco Press

The Pacific Alliance, made up of Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Chile, on Thursday agreed to eliminate tariffs on most goods to promote free trade between the countries and increase exports to Asia.

Canada Sets New Aid for Peru Linked to Mining

Associated Press

Canada's prime minister has announced a new package of development aid for Peru that environmentalists are viewing warily because it is closely tied to Canadian mining investments in the South American country.

Asia-Pacific

Japan, India to Sign Deal for Annual Naval Exercises

By Indrani Bagchi/TNN | Times of India

During Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Tokyo on May 27, India and Japan are likely to work out a set of annual bilateral exercises between the two navies off the coast of India on the lines of the Malabar exercises with the U.S.

India's Defense Minister to Make First Australia Visit

By Rajat Pandit | Times of India

With India and Australia slowly cranking up their strategic partnership, Indian Defense Minister A K Antony is set for his first-ever visit to Australia to bolster bilateral ties in maritime security, counter-terrorism, military exchanges and joint exercises.

Japan's Abe Begins Landmark Visit to Myanmar

Al Jazeera

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is traveling to Myanmar on the first visit to the country by a Japanese leader in 36 years, as Japan attempts to reassert its position as a top economic partner after decades of poor relations with the previous military regime.

Deadly Blast Targets Thai Soldiers

Al Jazeera

Five paramilitary soldiers have been killed and one other has been wounded by a roadside bomb in southern Thailand, local police say.

Kazakhstan Ratifies Afghan Transit Deal With U.K.

RIA Novosti

Kazakhstan’s parliament ratified an agreement with Britain on Thursday on transit of military equipment and personnel across its territory from Afghanistan, where British troops are serving in the International Security Assistance Force.

Africa

Togo Police Fire Tear Gas at Protesters

Associated Press

Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the latest confrontation between the ruling party and Togo's increasingly active opposition. Demonstrators were gathering to protest the death of an opposition member who died in jail.

Europe

Putin to Meet With Serbian President

RIA Novosti

Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with his Serbian counterpart Tomislav Nikolic in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi on Friday, the Kremlin reported.