What's going on in the World Today 100802

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USA

India: Nuclear Fuel Deal Signed With U.S. July 31, 2010

India and the United States signed an agreement on using U.S. nuclear fuel for plants in India, RIA Novosti reported July 31, citing an Indo-Asian News Service report. India had been under limitations on buying nuclear fuel, reactors and equipment until 2008. After those limitations were lifted, India planned to build four new nuclear plants. India has already signed similar agreements with Russia and France, but the United States had been wary of the possibility of India using foreign companies for service and regulation at the sites.

U.S.: Hacker Says Students Helped Wikileaks Suspect. August 2, 2010

Two students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology helped Pfc. Bradley Manning, who was charged for leaking classified documents and videos to WikiLeaks, by giving him encryption software and explaining how to use it to him, former hacker Adrian Lamo said, CNN reported August 2. Lamo said both students are working for Wikileaks and are Facebook friends with Lamo and Manning.

Canada, U.S.: NORAD And Russian Air Force To Conduct Air Defense Exercise August 2, 2010

The Russian Federation Air Force and the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will conduct a cooperative air defense exercise for the first time on or around Aug. 8-11, NORAD reported on its website Aug. 2. The exercise, named Vigilant Eagle, will involve Russian, Canadian and U.S. Air Force personnel operating from command centers in Russia and the United States. The exercise will focus on shadowing and handing off a monitored aircraft between participating nations’ fighters.

EUROPE
NSTR

RUSSIA

Russia: A New Use for the Customs Union | STRATFOR

Russia Customs Union

Dispatch: Expanding Russian Naval Influence | STRATFOR
Russia: Police Convoy Attack In Dagestan Injures 12 July 31, 2010

Unknown attackers struck a Russian police convoy in the North Caucasus republic of Dagestan on July 31, injuring at least 12 police officers, Xinhua reported, citing local media. The convoy was escorting a riot police squad to the mountainous part of the republic, where a 200-person melee was under way that eventually killed three people and wounded five, AFP reported. The firefight between police and the unknown assailants lasted for two hours. The interior ministry said it is working to confirm the number and circumstances of the injuries.

Russia: Antigovernment Protesters Arrested July 31, 2010

Russian police arrested anti-Kremlin opposition leaders Boris Nemtsov and Sergei Udaltsov in Moscow and at least 95 others across the country on July 31, Reuters reported. About 200 protesters attempted to demonstrate in St. Petersburg, and police arrested about 60. Police also detained several protesters participating in an unauthorized rally in downtown Moscow, RIA Novosti reported.

IRAN

Iran, Russia: Ahmadinejad's Message Gets Personal | STRATFOR

IRAQ
NSTR


ISRAEL

Israel: U.N. To Assemble Commission Over Flotilla Raid July 31, 2010

The United Nations will assemble an international commission to investigate the deaths of nine people aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla in May, Sify reported July 31, citing al-Arabiya. Israel will cooperate with the commission, the al-Arabiya report said.

Israel: Gaza Rocket Hits Southern Israel July 31, 2010

A Qassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed on a public building at Sha’ar Hanegev regional council, damaging the structure’s rooftop and destroying most of the second floor, though causing no injuries, Haaretz reported July 31. The attack came hours after Israel launched airstrikes throughout Gaza in response to a previous rocket attack from the area.

Israel, Turkey: U.N. To Launch Flotilla Probe August 2, 2010

The United Nations will create a four-person international panel to investigate the May 31 Israeli attack on a Turkish aid flotilla bound for Gaza, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon said Aug. 2, Reuters reported. According to Ban, the panel, which will be led by former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and outgoing Colombian President Alvaro Uribe Velez, will have one Israeli member and one Turkish member — both of whom have yet to be identified. The group will begin its investigation Aug. 10 and will submit its first progress report by mid-September, Ban said.

Israel: Participation In U.N.'s Gaza Flotilla Probe Confirmed August 2, 2010

Israel will take part in the U.N. investigation into the May 31 Gaza flotilla raid, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon on Aug. 2, the Israeli Government Press Office announced. Netanyahu said that Israel must ensure that the truth comes to light.

Turkey: Israeli Participation In U.N. Probe 'Positive' - FM August 2, 2010

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said Israel’s decision to take part in the international commission launched by the United Nations to investigate Israel’s raid on a Turkish-led flotilla was a positive step, NTV reported Aug. 2. Davutoglu said the commission will confirm the rule of international law and that all U.N. members are accountable for their actions. The commission will release a preliminary report on Sept. 15, Davutoglu said, Anatolia news agency reported.

Turkey: U.N. Flotilla Investigation Welcomed August 2, 2010

Turkey welcomed U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon’s decision to launch an international investigation into the May 31 Israeli attack on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, according to an Aug. 2 statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The statement did not comment on Israel’s decision to participate in the investigation.

Israel: Gaza Airstrike Kills Hamas Commander July 31, 2010

Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip killed Hamas military commander and rocket maker Issa Batran and wounded 13 other people, Hamas said July 31, Reuters reported. Israel launched airstrikes July 30 in retaliation for a rocket fired from Gaza that exploded in the city of Ashkelon. The airstrikes hit Batran’s caravan as well as a Hamas training camp and smuggling tunnels along Gaza’s border with Egypt.

AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan: Suicide Bomber Kills Former Warlord, 2 Others July 31, 2010

A suicide bomber at a football game killed three people, including a former warlord who had supported the Afghan government, and injured 19 others July 31 in Kunduz, the capital of Kunduz province, AP reported. The former warlord targeted in the bombing, known only as Selab, had fought against the Soviet Union in the 1980s and during the following civil war.




SOUTH OF THE BORDER

Colombia: Police Discover Guerilla Attack Plan August 2, 2010

Colombian authorities discovered a plan of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) to carry out an attack in Bogota the day before the Aug. 7 inauguration of President-elect Juan Manuel Santos, Xinhua reported Aug. 2. Gen. Luis Gilberto Ramirez, director of the Judicial Police, said four weapons traffickers were captured and explosives were seized. FARC guerrillas were blamed for shooting to death three off-duty soldiers in a club on Aug. 1 in Chaparral, south of Bogota. FARC rebels also detonated two bombs in Chaparral but caused no damage, a government spokesman said.

Mexico: The U.S. Consulate in Juarez Closes | STRATFOR

Mexico: Federal Police Rescue 2 Cameramen July 31, 2010

Mexican federal police rescued two kidnapped cameramen July 31, five days after they were kidnapped by drug traffickers, AP reported. The Public Safety Department said in a statement that Alejandro Hernandez of Televisa and Javier Canales of Multimedios Television had been rescued but did not give details. A news conference is scheduled for later in the day.

Venezuela: Joint Ventures With Foreign Firms Approved July 30, 2010

Venezuela approved three joint ventures with foreign energy firms to develop the Orinoco extra heavy crude belt, Reuters reported July 30. Petroindependencia, in which Chevron has a 34 percent share, will develop Carabobo Project 3 and the projected output by 2013 is 400,000 barrels per day. Petrocarabobo will develop Carabobo Project 1 and Spanish firm Repsol, Indian ONGC and Malaysian Petronas each have 11 percent shares. Petromiranda will develop Junin Block 6 and a 40 percent share will be given to a Russian consortium comprised of Rosneft, Gazprom, Lukoil, TNK-BP and Surgutneftegaz.

Mexico: District Senator Kidnapped July 30, 2010

Mexican Durango state district senator-elect Alfonso Pena Pena has been missing along with three of his bodyguards since July 26 and his whereabouts are unknown, El Universal reported July 30, citing National Action Party authorities. Pena Pena was reportedly kidnapped in Durango, Durango state.

Mexico: Naval Secretary Denies Selectively Targeting Cartels July 30, 2010

Mexican Naval Secretary Mariano Francisco Saynez Mendoza denied that the Mexican navy targets only members of the Los Zetas drug-trafficking cartel, Milenio reported July 30. Saynez Mendoza admitted that the government has been criticized for allegedly not targeting members of the Sinaloa Cartel, but said that the killing of suspected drug trafficker Ignacio Coronel on July 29 is proof to the contrary.

Somalia: Pirates Seize Ship, Crew August 2, 2010

Somali pirates on Aug. 2 hijacked the Panama-flagged MV Suez cargo vessel, the European Union naval force said, Reuters reported. The 23 crew members were from Egypt, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India. The 17,300-tonne ship was carrying cement bags when it faced small arms fire while traveling in a recommended shipping lane.

MISC
Iran, Japan: Curious Incident in the Strait of Hormuz | STRATFOR

Dispatch: The French in Africa and AQIM