New Era As Gas Giant's Profits Plummet 

A year ago, Gazprom was sitting on top of the world, but the fortunes of Russia's state gas company have taken a dramatic turn for the worse. While the company still ranks among the world's most valuable, it's worth less than half what it was in 2008, and a number of problems lurk on the horizon. More

Turkmen, Uzbek Eyes Stray Toward Brussels 

Boasting huge hydrocarbon reserves, Central Asia has become accustomed to the stream of foreign companies and politicians who visit hoping to lock up energy deals. For the most part, European representatives have returned home empty-handed. But with Central Asian states seeking to break Russia's dominance of their energy-export routes, they are hitting the road to court the EU. More

Israel And Islam 

As U.S. President Barack Obama delivered his much-awaited speech to the Muslim world, many were listening keenly to hear his thoughts on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Is that conflict so central to U.S.-Muslim relations and peace in the Muslim world? More

Islam's Reformation and Obama's Speech 

President Obama can say very little about the specifics of the ongoing reformation of Islam. But modestly voicing support for those brave Muslim champions of Islamic diversity and civiilizational richness would actually be saying a lot. More

Fruit, Nut Trees Of Global Importance Under Threat 

Scientists believe that many of the fruit and nut trees commonly cultivated around the world originated in Central Asia and were brought west along the Silk Road centuries ago. But a new survey shows that some of these wild ancestors of the fruits we eat today are threatened with extinction, posing a potential risk to our food security. More