Dec. 29, 2015 Without knowing the details of the Islamic State’s activities in the weeks and days before the Kurdish-led alliance took the Tishrin Dam in Syria, it isn’t clear whether this was a major defeat or even preparation by IS for a new offensive elsewhere.

Dec. 29, 2015 Saudi Arabia will cut public spending in 2016, which may signal problems for a government that relies on public funds to maintain control at home and in the region.

Dec. 29, 2015 After introducing reforms that will leave tens of thousands of soldiers unemployed, the Chinese government has ordered state-owned enterprises to offer preferential hiring to veterans.

Dec. 28, 2015 The quiet of the past few days gives us an opportunity to explain how we decide whether or not an event is important.

Dec. 26, 2015 A Russian official said the country has had contact with the Taliban over the Islamic State, which would represent a shift in Russian policy.

Dec. 24, 2015 Relations between Azerbaijan and the U.S. have recently deteriorated, which could have an impact on American interests in the Middle East and Russia.

Dec. 23, 2015 The reality is that the Islamic State is retreating from a non-crucial town not integral to its current battle plans.

Dec. 23, 2015 Central Asian governments have been turning their attention to potential security threats and economic problems that could destabilize the region.

Dec. 22, 2015 The most interesting response to the Spanish election results came from the Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.

Dec. 21, 2015 Europe’s political masters are simply putting off facing extremely significant decisions they know they must make.

Dec. 21, 2015 A six-month extension was applied to sanctions on Russia by the European Union, indicating members of the EU have mixed priorities when it comes to the Russia-Ukraine issue.

Dec. 18, 2015 The decline of the Russian economy and weakening of the ruble have had significant impacts on Tajikistan and the governments in both countries are concerned about a possible increase in instability as a result.