* A first look at world's future battleground Unmanned boats, cars and tanks and small remote-control operated aircraft are just some of the new developments presented at this week's AUVSI conference.
* Barak: Israel, US Disagree on Iran Timetable Defense Minister Ehud Barak says Israel and the US disagree on what would be a realistic timetable for stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
* French killings suspect dies shooting at police, authorities say The French police siege to capture a suspected al Qaeda-trained militant came to a bloody end Thursday.
* Islamists seek influence in Syria uprising The gunmen in eastern Syria, wielding grenade launchers and assault rifles, announced on the Internet they were forming the "God is Great" Brigade.
* 'Anti-Semitic notions' on rise among French, other Europeans The French have grown more likely to believe that Jews hold too much power in business or world finance.
* Egypt struggles for spy satellite program progress Since Egyptian technicians lost touch two years ago with an observation satellite they hoped would help carry the country into the "space club," the country has struggled to make progress in gaining intelligence satellite capabilities.
* Effective World Government Will Be Needed to Stave Off Climate Catastrophe Almost six years ago, I was the editor of a single-topic issue on energy for Scientific American that included an article by Princeton University's Robert Socolow that set out a well-reasoned plan for how to keep atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations below a planet-livable threshold of 560 ppm.
* Clashes rage across Syria despite UN statement Syrian troops shelled and raided opposition areas and clashed with rebel fighters around the country Thursday.
* Zawahiri to Afghans: Rise Against 'Crusader Swine' Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri urged Afghans to rise up against "Crusader swine" in an audio message on Wednesday.
* Oil Prices at $200 a Barrel? Some Think It's Coming Signs that crude futures may hit much higher levels are converging, say oil traders and analysts.