USA
Associated">Associated Press – (Pennsylvania) No charges in Pa. VA hospital Legionnaires’ case. Federal authorities announced November 21 that after a 9 month investigation, no criminal charges will be filed in connection with an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease that killed 5 patients and sickened 21 from water that was not properly treated at a Pittsburgh Veterans Affairs hospital
AFRICA
Sudan's Economic Decay
ASIA
Vietnam''s Long Search for Partners
Ukraine's Balance Between the EU and RussiaEUROPE
Ukraine's Balancing Act Between Russia and the EU
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/india-us-nuclear-deal-and-indian-icbms
India: Nuclear-Capable Missile Test Successful November 23, 2013
The Indian military successfully test-fired its nuclear-capable Dhanush ballistic missile from a naval ship off the Odisha coast on Nov. 23, the director of the army's Integrated Test Range in Chandipur said, The Times of India reported. The surface-to-surface missile, a naval variant of India's indigenously developed Prithvi missile, is capable of carrying a conventional or nuclear payload of 500 to 1,000 kilograms and hit both land and sea-based targets.
MEXICO/LATIN AMERICA
In Honduras, Major Changes Are Unlikely to Follow Elections
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: President Karzai Plays Realpolitik at the Loya Jirga
Elders Back Security Pact That Karzai Won’t Sign
KABUL, Afghanistan — An angry President Hamid Karzai, at times openly hostile to his American allies, on Sunday rejected the final recommendation of a four-day Afghan grand assembly that he should promptly sign a security agreement with the United States.
Even though he had convened the assembly, or loya jirga, to ratify his decision to sign the agreement, Mr. Karzai told the assembled elders that he would do so only after further negotiations.
He also demanded that American forces cease raids on Afghan homes immediately, saying that he would nullify any bilateral security agreement if there was even one more such raid.
In practical terms, that would mean an end to the last remaining combat missions American troops are regularly carrying out: raids by elite units aimed at capturing high-profile insurgents.
“From this moment on, America’s searching of houses, blocking of roads and streets, military operations are over, and our people are free in their country,” Mr. Karzai said, his voice filled with emotion....
CHINA
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
IRAN
Next Steps for the U.S.-Iran Deal
What was unthinkable for many people over many years happened in the early hours of Nov. 24 in Geneva: The United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran struck a deal. After a decadelong struggle, the two reached an accord that seeks to ensure that Iran's nuclear program remains a civilian one. It is a preliminary deal, as both sides face months of work to batten down domestic opposition, build convincing mechanisms to assure compliance and unthread complicated global sanctions.
That’s the easy part. More difficult will be the process to reshape bilateral relations while virtually every regional player in the Middle East seeks ways to cope with an Iran that's no longer geopolitically encumbered.
The foreign ministers of Iran and the six Western powers that constitute so-called P-5+1 Group clinched a six-month deal that begins the curtailment of Iran's nuclear program while relaxing as much as $6 billion in sanctions -- basically those embargoes that do not require U.S. President Barack Obama to secure approval from Congress. Allowing Iran to enrich uranium to “civilian” levels while making sure the know-how is not diverted military purposes will be complex.
IRAQ
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
ISRAEL
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
RUSSIA
Russia Mends Ties With the Vatican
Russia's View of the Iran Deal and U.S. Plans for Central Europe
Russia: Wanted Militant Killed By Own Bomb November 24, 2013
The man killed Nov. 23 in the North Caucasus region as he was preparing an improvised explosive device was identified as wanted militant Suleiman Magomedov, according to Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee, RIA Novosti reported Nov. 24. Magomedov had been linked to previous terrorist attacks, including the female suicide bomber who blew up a bus in Volgograd on Oct. 21.
SYRIA
Syria: More Than 75 Dead In Damascus Clashes November 24, 2013
Fighting between rebels and forces loyal to the al Assad regime in the Ghouta area east of Damascus has resulted in more than 75 dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and activists in the country Nov. 24, AP reported. The attempt by rebels to break a government blockade that has been preventing food, water and other supplies from reaching the opposition-held suburbs has led to a spike in violence
MIDDLE EAST GENERAL
Army on ‘alert’ after Benghazi clashes
Libya’s army has declared a “state of alert” and ordered all troops to report for duty after clashes with a militant group in Benghazi led to the death of at least nine soldiers on Monday, military and medical officials said.
Gunfire and explosions could be heard in the city and thick smoke rose from the Ras Obeida area, witnesses said told Reuters.
“A violent clash has been taking place for several hours between our forces and an Ansar al-Sharia cell,” Colonel Milud al-Zwei, spokesman for Libya’s special forces, told Agence France-Presse.
The interior minister said nine people were killed and 49 others wounded, updating an earlier toll, AFP reported.
Libya has been plagued with a recent surge of violence over the past few weeks.
Libya’s government announced plans last Tuesday to remove militias from the capital and eventually integrate them into the security forces, after a weekend of deadly clashes between militiamen and residents.
At least 45 people were killed and around 400 were wounded in street gun battles between Libyan militiamen and residents in the capital Tripoli last week which were sparked by a protest against the former rebels who played a role in Libya’s 2011 revolt against former leader Muammar Qaddafi....
Egypt: Constitutional Referendum Expected In Late January November 25, 2013
Interim Egyptian Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi said Nov. 25 that he expects a referendum on the constitution in the latter half of January, Reuters reported
Polio in 2013
A Middle Eastern Polio Outbreak Could Hamper Schengen Expansion
Except where noted courtesy STRATFOR.COM
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