Wildfires in Australia kill 35, government suspects arson
Lessons from Japan's "Big-Works" stimulus package
Iran's domestically-produced satellite raises ballistic missile fears; country celebrates the 30th anniversary of its Islamic Revolution
Iraq holds peaceful elections - but Afghanistan is "chaos central"
Europe strangely silent on China's "manipulated" currency
Madagascar protest turns violent, 23 killed
U.N. suspends aid shipments to Gaza, sends humanitarian mission to Zimbabwe
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Friday, February 6, 2009
Daily Update - Special Focus on Russian Diplomacy
- Poland is "ready" for America's missile defense shield, but the Russians remain wary, and appear to seek a detente with the U.S. and its new administration, especially by pursuing mutual nuclear disarmament. Russia has reported that it will deploy Iskandar short-ranged nuclear missiles in Kalingrad in response to an extension of the U.S. nuclear shield over Poland - the missile shield issue will be a focus at the Munich Security Conference this Saturday, where the U.S.'s policy of re-engaging European allies will be put to the test.
- Russian interest and influence in removing U.S. forces from Kyrgyzstan are noted in addition to Kyrgyzstan's own complaints. Russia has offered the U.S. an alternative supply route to Afghanistan through Russian territory, but the U.S. still needs an airforce base capable of deploying combat missions to Afghanistan
- Russian media ignores accusations by opposition leaders that Putin is "Russia's main economic problem" - the Russian stock exchange has fallen by 80% and the rouble has been devalued by 35% since last summer
- A.Q. Khan, Pakistani nuclear scientist who admitted selling nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya, and North Korea five years ago, has been released from house arrest. Khan's leading role in Pakistan's development of atomic weapons makes him immensely popular in Pakistan, and Pakistan has denied U.S. and IAEA inquiries into how Khan was able to evade international proliferation controls.
-U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gives an interview to The Hindu on Pakistan, Terrorism, the Kashmir Issue, other Indian concerns
- Russian interest and influence in removing U.S. forces from Kyrgyzstan are noted in addition to Kyrgyzstan's own complaints. Russia has offered the U.S. an alternative supply route to Afghanistan through Russian territory, but the U.S. still needs an airforce base capable of deploying combat missions to Afghanistan
- Russian media ignores accusations by opposition leaders that Putin is "Russia's main economic problem" - the Russian stock exchange has fallen by 80% and the rouble has been devalued by 35% since last summer
- A.Q. Khan, Pakistani nuclear scientist who admitted selling nuclear secrets to Iran, Libya, and North Korea five years ago, has been released from house arrest. Khan's leading role in Pakistan's development of atomic weapons makes him immensely popular in Pakistan, and Pakistan has denied U.S. and IAEA inquiries into how Khan was able to evade international proliferation controls.
-U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon gives an interview to The Hindu on Pakistan, Terrorism, the Kashmir Issue, other Indian concerns
Thursday, February 5, 2009
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