A fighter from the Islamist Syrian rebel group Jabhat al-Nusra is seen in front of a burning vehicle, caused by what activists said were missiles fired by a Syrian Air Force fighter jet from forces loyal to Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, at their base in Raqqa province, east Syria, May 12, 2013. REUTERS/Hamid Khatib

How Syria's Islamists govern with guile and guns

RAQQA, Syria - Using a mix of intimidation and organization, alliances of Islamist brigades are filling the vacuum in areas where Assad's army has withdrawn and more secular rebels have failed to provide order. They administer utilities, run bakeries and in one town operate a hydroelectric dam. They are also setting up courts and imposing punishments on those judged transgressors.  Full Article 

U.S.-Taliban talks in Qatar not expected Thursday: source 3:51am EDT

DOHA - Preliminary Afghan peace talks in Qatar between U.S. and Taliban officials are unlikely to take place on Thursday as had been expected, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke speaks to the press following the Fed's two-day policy meeting at the Federal Reserve in Washington, June 19, 2013. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Bernanke: Fed may trim bond buying this year

WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday the U.S. economy is expanding strongly enough for the central bank to begin slowing the pace of its bond-buying stimulus later this year.  Full Article 

Members of the Brazilian law enforcement troops chase demonstrators during protests ahead of the Confederations Cup soccer match between Brazil and Mexico outside the stadium of Fortaleza June 19, 2013. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Brazil's protests: Not quite a 'Tropical Spring'

SAO PAULO - Brazil's blossoming protest movement is a coming-of-age for what had been one of Latin America's most politically disengaged youth populations, but does not appear to constitute a major threat to governability.  Full Analysis 

Myanmar pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi smiles to supporters as she leaves the National League for Democracy party headquarters after attending her 68th birthday ceremony in Yangon June 19, 2013. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Constitution likely to dash Suu Kyi's hopes

YANGON - Her adoring compatriots believe democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi is destined to become Myanmar's next president. But don't bet on it.  Full Article 

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks from behind a bulletproof glass at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, June 19, 2013.   REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

Obama seeks deeper nuclear cuts from Russia

BERLIN - U.S. President Barack Obama used a speech in Berlin on Wednesday to call on Russia to revive the push for a world without nuclear weapons, offering to cut deployed nuclear arsenals by a third, but Moscow immediately poured scorn on his proposal.  Full Article 

People queue up to make a transaction at an ATM outside a branch of Laiki Bank in Nicosia March 21, 2013. REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis

Euro ministers to decide direct bank rules

BRUSSELS - Euro zone finance ministers will decide on Thursday when and how their bailout fund can invest in a bank to save it from failure, laying a cornerstone of the banking union seen as vital to restore economic growth.  Full Article 

Pedestrians walk past a Sprint store in New York in this December 17, 2012 file photo. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/Files

Sprint should raise Clearwire bid

NEW YORK - Sprint Nextel Corp should consider raising its offer price for Clearwire Corp or risk being saddled with a contentious relationship with Dish Network Corp, controlled by feisty billionaire Charlie Ergen.  Full Article 

Brazil: Protesters and sport score

June 20 - Brazil's biggest protests in 20 years win a cut in public transport fares as its soccer team beats Mexico in a crucial cup match. Paul Chapman reports.

Ian Bremmer

The new Iranian president’s restrained power

When President Hassan Rohani takes office in August, he will have the potential to bring about meaningful changes within the confines of Iran's usual restrictions.  Commentary 

David Patrikarakos

Rohani: A survivor in the snakepit of Tehran

Rohani is the Beria of the Islamic Republic: He knows how to negotiate the pit of vipers that is Iranian politics.  Commentary 

Nicholas Wapshott

David Cameron takes on the tax havens

There is nothing more likely to spark anger than an unfair tax regime. That puts Britain's prime minister David Cameron, who like most conservatives believes in low taxes, in a bind.  Commentary 

John Lloyd

Trusting in our new security state

To adapt to our new surveillance status quo we have to trust the state, the government, the politicians, the businesses, the bureaucracies, the police, the security forces, the journalists and, yes, ourselves.  Commentary 

Sheldon Whitehouse

The price of ignoring climate change

Climate change endangers much of the world economy. Economists calculate that a 3.5-degree Fahrenheit rise in global temperature would reduce global gross domestic product by 1 percent.  Commentary 

Edward Hadas

Rate rigging costs more than money

In cash terms, the manipulation of supposedly objective reference rates and prices is a petty crime: relatively small gains for a few and microscopic losses for many. Ethically, though, the tolerance of untrustworthy behaviour makes the industry look particularly bad.  Full Article