What's going on in the World Today 100713

USA

Russia: 12th Person Implicated In Spy Ring July 13, 2010

A 12th unnamed person has been linked to a U.S. probe into a Russian spy ring, The Wall Street Journal reported July 13, citing an unnamed U.S. official familiar with the case. The 23-year-old Russian man has been under investigation since October 2009, when he entered the United States, in an espionage investigation by the FBI, according to the official. The man obtained a U.S. visa in August 2009. Investigators did not have enough information to charge him and eventually believed his case was different from the others implicated. He was in custody on July 12 at an undisclosed location and facing deportation, the official said. His visa was canceled June 26.

Russia: Will Sign Energy 'Road Map' With Iran July 13, 2010

Iranian Oil Minister Massoud Mirkazemi and Russian counterpart Sergei Shmatko on July 14 will sign a road map outlining future energy cooperation, the Russian Oil Ministry announced July 13, Reuters reported. Russian oil and natural gas majors Gazprom, Gazprom Neft and LUKoil have signed deals to develop Iranian oil and natural gas fields, but projects have been delayed due to sanctions.

EUROPE

Germany: Aid Group Banned Due To Alleged Hamas Ties July 12, 2010

Germany has outlawed the International Humanitarian Aid Organization (IHH), which is registered in Frankfurt, due to its alleged ties to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Hurriyet reported July 12, citing a statement from German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere. De Maiziere said the IHH has used humanitarian aid as a cover to support “Gaza Strip-based so-called social associations which are attributable to Hamas, for a long period of time and to a considerable financial extent.”


Ukraine: NATO Military Drills To Begin July 12, 2010

Ukraine-NATO Sea Breeze military drills will begin July 12 in Ukraine’s Black Sea region and last until July 23, RIA Novosti reported. The land phase focuses on anti-piracy operations and will take place in the Nikolayev region; the sea phase will be held in the northwestern Black Sea. Ukraine will send a naval infantry battalion and five Coast Guard vessels.

RUSSIA

Russia: Prepared To Sell S-400 Systems To Belarus July 13, 2010

Russia will sell S-400 air defense missile systems to Belarus if Minsk is interested in purchasing them, Russian air force Commander-in-Chief Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said July 13, Interfax news agency reported. Zelin said Russia would put the systems in Belarus because the countries have a unified air defense system, adding that Russia is looking into options for equipping the Belarusian military with various systems, including the S-400

Russia: Ready To Send Arms To Afghanistan - Ambassador July 12, 2010

Russia is prepared to give military equipment and arms to Afghanistan, Russian Ambassador to Kabul Andrei Avetisyan said July 12, Interfax news agency reported. Moscow is prepared to deliver arms via bilateral cooperation and in collaboration with NATO, Avetisyan said, adding that Russian arms deliveries to Kabul currently are small.

IRAN

Russia: Iran Close To Nuclear Weapon Capability - Medvedev July 12, 2010

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev said at a meeting with Russian ambassadors and representatives that Iran is close to possessing the nuclear capabilities that could be used to construct a nuclear weapon, Interfax reported July 12.

Iran: FM Refutes Allegations On Nuclear Program July 13, 2010

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said recent allegations made by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev on Iran’s nuclear program are false, Iranian state-run news agency IRNA reported July 13. Mottaki, speaking from Madrid, said Iran will not give up its “legitimate rights” and is looking to improve relations with Russia despite its stance toward Iran in recent months.

Dispatch: Iranian Nuclear Scientist Resurfaces

IRAQ

Iraq: Minister Criticizes Kurdish Fuel Sales To Iran July 13, 2010

Iraqi Oil Minister Hussein Shahristani criticized Kurdish authorities for allowing the export of fuel to Iran without the central governments approval, Reuters reported July 13. Shahristani said the central government has had to import fuel because of a shortfall and that the Cabinet decided to summon Kurdish officials to discuss the issue.

ISRAEL

Israel: Intelligence Flaws Caused Botched Flotilla Raid - Military July 12, 2010

An Israeli military report concluded that flawed intelligence and planning led to the botched raid on the Gaza-bound Turkish flotilla, AP reported July 12. Declassified sections of the report released July 12 did not fault the Israeli commandos who fired upon the ship’s activists, but rather the military’s underestimation of the potential for violent resistance.

Israel: 32 Homes Approved For Construction July 12, 2010

The Jerusalem District Planning and Construction Committee approved the construction of 32 housing units in the eastern neighborhood of Pisgat Ze’ev, Ynet reported July 12. Members of the committee said construction can begin immediately. The 32 homes are part of a larger project, which includes 220 homes to be built near Jerusalem’s Hizma neighborhood. The committee is scheduled to approve another 48 housing units the week of July 18.

Palestinian Territories: No Direct Talks Without Settlement Freeze - Abbas July 11, 2010

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a speech that unless Israel commits to a settlement freeze and agrees to begin negotiations where they ended with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in 2008, direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians will be futile, AP reported July 11. An aide to Abbas said a decision to resume talks would not be made without the support of Arab nations, and that Arab foreign ministers are planning to discuss the talks later in July. The aide added Abbas will meet with U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell later in the week of July 11 to discuss gestures Israel is prepared to make to encourage Abbas to begin direct talks. Unnamed Israeli defense officials said the moves include removing some West Bank checkpoints and expanding the role of Palestinian security forces.

Libya, Greece: Aid Ship Headed For Gaza, Not El-Arish =July 11, 2010

A ship that left Greece on July 10 carrying aid is headed for the Gaza Strip, not the Egyptian port of el-Arish, as had been previously reported, according to Youssef Sawani, head of the Gadhafi International Charity and Development Foundation which is sponsoring the vessel, Israel Army radio reported July 11. The ship is expected to arrive off Gaza or el-Arish on the morning of July 14, and is reportedly carrying food supplies donated by Greek companies and charities.

Israel: Hezbollah Claims List Of Military Targets
July 11, 2010
Hezbollah has a list of military targets inside Israel that the group would attack in the event of a future war, according to a senior Hezbollah commander based in southern Lebanon, AP reported July 11. Sheikh Nabil Kaouk made the statement to Lebanese state-run media following Israel’s release of military maps and aerial photographs depicting alleged Hezbollah arms depots and command centers in Lebanon.
Kaouk said the release coincided with the anniversary of “Israel’s defeat” in the 2006 war in Lebanon.

Israel: PM, DM, IDF Chief Will Testify On Raid July 13, 2010

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi will testify in August on the May 31 IDF raid on a Turkish Gaza-bound aid flotilla, Ynet reported July 13. Netanyahu will appear before the Turkel Commission on Aug. 9, Barak on Aug. 10 and Ashkenazi on Aug. 11.

Libya: Aid Ship Captain Asks To Dock In Egypt July 13, 2010

The captain of the Amalthea, a Libyan aid ship bound for Gaza, told Israeli Defense Force officials that he will reroute to el-Arish port in Egypt and will not try to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza, Ynet and The Jersualem Post reported July 13. An Egyptian official confirmed that the ship had requested permission to dock but said that officials do not know what the ship’s final destination is, Reuters reported.



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AFGHANISTAN

Pakistan: Petraeus Meets With Military Chief July 12, 2010

Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, met July 12 with Pakistani military chief Gen. Ashfaq Kayani at Pakistan’s military headquarters in Rawalpindi to discuss issues of mutual interest and efforts to improve regional security, AP reported. Petraeus said that success countering militant activity in Afghanistan and Pakistan is impossible without Islamabad’s assistance.



SOUTH OF THE BORDER

China, Argentina: Transportation Contracts Signed July 13, 2010

China and Argentina signed six bilateral contracts that focus on transportation issues, Xinhua reported July 13. Under the contracts, China will provide export buyer’s credit to Argentina on locomotive purchases. The two countries will also cooperate in Argentina’s construction of a light rail system, a subway system and the electrification of rail lines. Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu and Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner attended the signing ceremony in Beijing.

MISC

Egypt: Mubarak To Return To Germany For Treatment
July 13, 2010
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is set to leave for Germany by the end of the week for a new round of treatment, DPA reported July 13, citing an unnamed Lebanese source. According to the source, Mubarak’s health had deteriorated while in Paris the previous week. The Heidelberg clinic Mubarak had previously checked into for treatment would not confirm whether he had made a new appointment.

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