The successful launch on Dec. 12 of a space satellite by North Korea is cause for concern, but no sign of a basic strategic shift — yet. Nonetheless, a tough response with teeth is required by the world community.

“Big Brother is watching You” was the pervasive punch-line in British writer George Orwell's novel “1984.” Recent developments in Britain give fresh currency to the classic.

“I'm very keen on having true freedom,” President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt recently declared in an interview with “Time” magazine, but his aggressive actions belie those words. The recently elected chief executive also just decreed emergency supremacy over the nation's courts, as a special assembly completed a draft national constitution.

Cambodia, which less than four decades ago was scene of the “killing fields” genocide, has just hosted the seventh East Asia Summit. The event brought together leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), plus Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea and the U.S. The summit concluded Nov. 20, on a positive note.

General and just-resigned CIA head David Petraeus is sitting at a crucial crossroads. This does not refer to the global media glare now seeking to dissect every aspect of his private life, in excruciating detail.

While the Republican ticket of Romney-Ryan was defeated in Tuesday's election, Paul Ryan may still prove to be a political winner. After re-election to his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, despite a relatively strong Democratic challenger, he is well positioned to be a leader in the impending Washington tax and spending battles.

Once again, the Korean Peninsula is the focus of concern about nuclear developments. This time, however, attention is directed at South Korea's nuclear power program, not North Korea's primitive but alarming nuclear weapon development efforts.

Cyclone Sandy was technically downgraded from hurricane status just before striking the U.S., but remains highly disruptive. Both the Obama and Romney presidential campaigns temporarily suspended their frenetic activity. In part, this reflected the practical impossibility of moving through the storm region, but also more fundamental considerations.

October is the scary month, and not just because of Halloween. Exactly a half century ago, the Cuban Missile Crisis from Oct. 22 to 28 dominated global news as Washington and Moscow sparred right on the edge of thermonuclear war.

On Oct. 10 the confrontation between Syria and Turkey ratcheted up further when a Syrian civilian passenger airplane, suspected of carrying military supplies, was forced to land in Ankara. The Turkish government has ordered civilian aircraft to avoid Syrian airspace. Syrian artillery shelling has led to retaliation in kind. Turkey shelters many refugees from Syria