While relations between China and India seem warm, concerns of a Chinese land grab in Ladakh are making headlines. 

Interested in the US presidential race? Check out Chinese news coverage on the turbulent nomination races. (Added bonus: the Chinese Polar Robot and China’s new policy towards soldiers involved in nuclear tests) 

With Pakistan’s upcoming elections coming right on the heels of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, many wonder what role the military will play. Latest development: Pakistan’s army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani “has recently directed army personnel to keep away from politics and said that army’s role in the coming elections would be restricted to maintaining the law and order.” 

David Pollock and Michael Jacobson on how the UN plays a vital role in America’s counter-terrorism efforts:

The promising early signs from Kuwait illustrate the important counterterrorism role the UN can play. Like many other countries in the region, Kuwait occasionally needs a UN imprimatur to take potentially troublesome steps requested by Washington, even when they serve common interests. This is true not only in the counterterrorism arena, but also with regard to Iran: although the emir has just traveled to Tehran and proclaimed it a “friend,” his government carefully adheres to UN sanctions against Iran‘s nuclear program. 

Unfortunately, the UN’s counterterrorism role has been in sharp decline, with designations steadily dropping in recent years. In fact, 2007 saw only eight designations related to al-Qaeda and the Taliban — the lowest annual total since 2000. Given the limits of what the United States can accomplish on its own against al-Qaeda in Kuwait and elsewhere in the region, pushing to reinvigorate the UN’s role should be a priority.

Tony Blair might just become President after all—of the European Union. The European alliance will be electing its first time President in twelve months.