What's going on in the World Today 100915

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USA

China: Man Violated U.S. National Security, Sentenced - Court
September 14, 2010

A Chinese national was sentenced in San Diego, Calif., court to eight years in prison for trying to smuggle military encryption technology by ship from the United States to Macau and Hong Kong, AFP reported Sept. 14. Chi Tony Kuok “chose to surreptitiously damage (U.S.) national security,” District Judge Roger Benitez said. The prosecutor said the defendant, a resident of Macau, tried to obtain defense articles on the U.S. Munitions List.


EUROPE
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

ASIA
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

RUSSIA
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

IRAN
Iran: Gasoline Price Increase Postponed September 15, 2010

Iran has postponed a scheduled increase of gasoline prices for at least a month despite a plan to phase out subsidies by late September, Iranian Fuel and Transport Management Organization head Mohammad Royanian said Sept. 15, Mehr news agency reported. Motorists will continue to receive a monthly quota of 60 liters (13 gallons) of gasoline at subsidized prices of about $0.10 per liter until Oct. 22, Royanian said. In addition, the government will continue to provide gasoline at a “semi-subsidized” price of $0.40 per liter for consumers who exceed their quotas. The president will determine when the subsidy plan will be implemented, Royanian said.

IRAQ
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

ISRAEL
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

AFGHANISTAN
href="http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20100914_week_war_afghanistan_sept_8_14_2010/?utm_source=Snapshot&utm_campaign=none&utm_medium=email&fn=517182726">A Week in the War: Afghanistan, Sept. 8-14, 2010 STRATFOR

SOUTH OF THE BORDER
U.K., Brazil: Defense Agreement To Be Signed  September 14, 2010

British and Brazilian officials plan to sign a defense agreement involving six patrol boats and five or six Type-26 frigates, worth up to 2.9 billion pounds ($4.5 billion) if the vessels are built in the United Kingdom, according to the Financial Times, Reuters reported Sept. 14. The patrol boats would likely be used for surveillance and deterrence at Brazil’s offshore oil fields, and for general maritime security and search-and-rescue operations, the newspaper stated.

Guatemala: Explosive Device Found In Prison HQ September 14, 2010

Guatemalan police defused a bomb in a vehicle at the General Penitentiary System office located in central Guatemala City, according to Interior Minister Carlos Menocal, Xinhua reported Sept. 14. The explosive device consisted of two propane gas cylinders, fireworks and hundreds of nails and screws, with a cell phone used as the trigger. Guatemala’s National Civilian Police are investigating the origins of the device, Menocal said, adding he could not rule out possible involvement by organized crime.

Above the Tearline: Mexico's Drug Cartel Insurgency STRATFOR

href="http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20100914_dispatch_venezuelas_bolivarian_militia_deployed">Dispatch: Venezuela's Bolivarian Militia Deployed


MISC
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

Except where noted courtesy www.stratfor.com