USA
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
AFRICA
Nigerian Militants Threaten the Country's Oil Industry
ASIA
Nearing a Critical Moment in Ukraine's Protests
Ukraine: President, Opposition Meet As Police Officers Are Freed January 25, 2014 |
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich and members of a working group set up to resolve the country's political crisis are meeting once again Jan. 25 for the fourth consecutive day of talks amid ongoing clashes between protesters and authorities around Ukraine, Ukrayinksa Pravda and Kyiv Post reported, citing a statement from the office of the president. Meanwhile, the government regained control of the Energy Ministry building, which protesters seized earlier in the day, and two police officers who had been held captive by activists in Kiev's city hall were reportedly released. Peaceful protesters and foreign diplomats helped negotiate the release of the officers, Interior Minister Vitali Zakharchenko said. As the security situation deteriorates in Ukraine, Yanukovich is left with few options.
Ukraine: Protests Spread To Regional Governments January 26, 2014 nti-government protests have spread across Ukraine as some 3,000 people tried to take over a regional government office in Dnipopetrovsk and 5,000 people demanded the departure of government officials in Zaporizhia, RT reported Jan. 26. Further destabilization in Ukraine could have deep implications not only for President Viktor Yanukovich's government but also for the country's broader ties with Russia and the West.
Turkey: Prisoner Exchange With Greece Being Considered January 24, 2014
Turkish and Greek authorities are negotiating a possible prisoner exchange, Radikal reported Jan. 24, citing the Ethnos newspaper. Turkey could hand over former Postbank board chairman Angelos Filipidis in exchange for two Turkish intelligence officials and one member of the Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party/Front, a militant group that carried out an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Ankara. Filipidis was arrested in Istanbul on Jan. 11.
EUROPE
Unemployment in Spain Persists Despite Positive Indicators
Spain's Shrinking Labor Force
MEXICO/LATIN AMERICA
Peru: Resolves Maritime Border Dispute with Chile January 27, 2014
The International Court of Justice at The Hague settled a long-standing territorial dispute between Peru and Chile on Jan. 27, Reuters reported. Over half of a contested 38,000 square kilometer (14,670 square mile) ocean zone has been awarded to Peru, though Chile retains profitable fishing grounds. Despite their geopolitical rivalry, both countries share export and investment opportunities and a negotiated solution that avoids conflict is advantageous to both Santiago and Lima.
The Panama Canal's Expansion
The Panama Canal's Expansion
AFGHANISTAN
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
CHINA
China, Taiwan: Cross-Strait Officials To Hold First Meeting January 28, 2014
Beijing invited a Taiwanese cross-strait affairs official to the Chinese mainland for face-to-face talks, the first since 1949, the South China Morning Post reported Jan. 27. The head of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, Wang Yu-Chi, will meet his counterpart, Zhang Zhijun of the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, after Lunar New Year festivities are over. The announcement came one day after Taipei approved a proposal to build a petrochemical plant in China, a move made possible by the October 2013 lifting of a ban on Taiwanese countries investing in Chinese energy. Enhanced economic integration could bring China a step closer to fulfilling a core geopolitical imperative by reuniting with the island.
IRAN
Could a Detente with the U.S. Change Iran?
IRAQ
NIGHTWATCH 140124
Iraq: Update. On 22 January, at least 88 people, mostly gunmen, were killed, and 29 more were wounded in violence across Iraq. Sunni Arab rebels apparently retain control of parts of Ramadi and Fallujah. Today there were indications that Samarra also is in rebellion.
ISRAEL
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
RUSSIA
Russia: Expanding Its Influence Through Education
SYRIA
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
MIDDLE EAST GENERAL
Bombings in Egypt Signal Expanding Militant Capabilities
Egypt: At Least 9 Killed In Anti-Government ClashesJanuary 25, 2014
At least nine people were killed and 300 people were arrested in clashes between anti-government protesters and authorities in several Egyptian cities Jan. 25, a day when thousands rallied for and against the current military-led government in commemoration of the third anniversary of the fall of former President Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's Health Ministry and security sources said, Ahram Online and Reuters reported. Security forces used teargas and fired automatic weapons in the air to deter opposition protesters from reaching Cairo's Tahrir Square. Four protesters were killed elsewhere in the capital, two supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi died in clashes in the southern town of Minya, two people were killed in Giza, and a woman was killed in a clash in Alexandria. In the three years since the overthrow of the Mubarak government, Egypt has seen three constitutional referendums and six national votes.
NIGHTWATCH 140125
North Korea: The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published a report concerning the notice that the Central Committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society sent to the South Korean Red Cross on Friday proposing a resumption of family reunions during the Lunar New Year celebration.
"The notice said: The crucial proposal and open letter of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK to terminate the evermore escalating distrust and confrontation between the north and the south and pave a wide avenue for improving the inter-Korean relations are now positively supported and approved by all Koreans who aspire after the nation's reconciliation and unity and the country's reunification."
"The open letter sent to the south Korean authorities by the NDC of the DPRK in the wake of the crucial proposal made to them on January 16 fully reflects the patriotic decision and noble sense of responsibility of the supreme leadership of the DPRK to put an end to the history of the territorial partition and national split in view of the hard reality to which the Korean nation can no longer remain a passive on-looker and open a fresh phase of national reunification."
The Central Committee of the DPRK Red Cross Society proposed the south side to arrange the reunion of separated families and their relatives from the north and the south with the Lunar New Year's Day as an occasion, prompted by the single desire to open a way of improving the relations between the north and the south in practice as desired and wished by all Koreans at home and abroad…."
"The reunion may take place at Mt. Kumgang Resort as had already been agreed upon between the north-south Red Cross organizations and it is better to fix the date of the event as the south side deems it convenient at the time when cold weather turns warm after the Lunar New Year's Day, taking the time required for arranging it into consideration, the notice pointed out."
"As for other matters, they can be discussed and settled through the Panmunjom Red Cross hotline, the notice said, adding that the north side would look forward to a positive answer from the south side."
Pakistan: Update. The treason trial of the former president Musharraf has been delayed again after the special court adjourned to consider his medical report. Lawyers representing Musharraf handed the report to the judges on Friday, 24 January. Justice Faisal Arab, who leads the three-man panel, said the court would retire until Wednesday to review the information.
Defense lawyers also said on Friday that Musharraf wants to go abroad to undergo medical treatment for a heart condition.
Comment: Today's medical report is the second supplied by the military hospital treating Musharraf. Musharraf's defense strategy is to leave Pakistan for medical reasons with court approval. He could easily leave smuggled in a military aircraft, but he wants to leave with dignity, insisting he is innocent.
Egypt: Four bombings took place in and around Cairo on Friday, including a car bomb at the main police headquarters which damaged a nearby museum. The Health Ministry announced that 18 people died and at least 70 and possibly over a100 people were injured. The Ministry blamed the attacks on the Muslim Brotherhood.
Comment: The bombings commemorated the third anniversary of the overthrow of former President Mubarak. They constitute a security lapse, but it is nearly impossible to maintain security considering that the Islamists and jihadists have many sympathizers in the urban and rural population.
The terrorists like to celebrate anniversaries. Thus, it is premature to draw conclusions about insurgency or security trends in Cairo, based on these attacks.
MISC
January 24, Softpedia – (International) CNN blogs and social media accounts hacked by Syrian Electronic Army. Attackers claiming affiliation with the Syrian Electronic Army hacktivist group compromised, hijacked, and defaced several blogs, Twitter accounts, and a Facebook page belonging to CNN. CNN later removed fake articles and announcements posted to the blogs and accounts.
Except where noted courtesy STRATFOR.COM
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