What's going on in the World Today 100921

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USA

NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT

EUROPE

EU: Law Passed To Expel Illegal Pakistanis, Afghans September 21, 2010

The European Parliament has approved a law that will send thousands of illegal Pakistani and Afghan immigrants in the European Union back to their home countries, AFP reported Sept. 21. EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said the bloc’s rules must be obeyed to ensure that those who do not have a legal right to be in the European Union are returned to their home country. She added that under the law, no one would be returned to their home country if it puts them at risk of persecution, torture, or inhumane and degrading treatment.


ASIA


Dispatch: Indonesia To Skip U.S.-ASEAN Meeting STRATFOR

RUSSIA


Russia: French Warships To Be Purchase - Defense Ministry September 21, 2010


Russia has agreed to purchase four French Mistral-class helicopter carriers in a deal worth an estimated 600 million euros ($765 million) that will be officially signed later in September, Interfax reported Sept. 21, citing a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry. Two of the four ships will be bought from the French manufacturer and two will be built in Russian shipyards, according to the statement.


IRAN


Iran: Central Bank Threatens To Withdraw Foreign Assets `September 20, 2010


Governor of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) Mahmoud Bahmani said Tehran will withdraw all of its assets from any country that imposes financial restrictions on, or behaves in an unfriendly manner to, Iran, Fars News Agency reported Sept. 20. In addition, Bahmani dismissed rumors that the CBI had frozen assets it had withdrawn from European banks, saying that any such reserves will be given to Iranian banks to carry out national projects. Many government banks have utilized the CBI’s reserves to implement petrochemical projects and to complete oil projects in the country, Bahmani said


Iran: Utility Bills Soar As Fuel Subsidies End September 21, 2010


The Iranian government ended fuel subsidies without immediate prior notification, signaling the first measure of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s plan to save the $100 billion Iran currently pays to subsidize essential goods, Reuters reported Sept. 21. Utility bills for September are reportedly much higher than the previous month; one individual said her two-month bill increased from 800,000 rials (about $80) to 5 million rials, due in part to a new policy to increase charges on high consumption. Abdolhossein Naseri, a lawmaker in the city of Gorgan said some of his constituents’ bills have increased tenfold. According to what parliament approved, the price of goods and services should rise slowly and reach their real price over five years so people don’t feel the pressure on their daily lives, Naseri said.


IRAQ


NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT


MIDDLE EAST

Dispatch: Tajikistan and Central Asia's Fergana Valley STRATFOR

Eight men entered a car repair garage in Chihuahua, Chihuahua state, and used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to destroy five police vehicles, El Universal reported Sept. 20. The attackers left a sign at the scene accusing the police of corruption and asking them to “return the money.”

Russia, Kuwait: Nuclear Cooperation Deal Signed  September 20, 2010

Russia and Kuwait have signed a memorandum of intent to cooperate in the peaceful use of nuclear energy within the framework 54th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency, RIA Novosti reported Sept. 20. Specifically, the two countries agreed to cooperate in the areas of nuclear medicine and the nuclear fuel cycle, as well as in developing a nuclear power plant.

Syria: Russian Missiles Received  September 20, 2010

The Syrian army received shipments of advanced surface-to-sea and sea-to-sea missiles from Russia, Western diplomats said, Haaretz reported Sept. 20. Syrian President Bashar al Assads regime supplied Hezbollah with sophisticated weapons such as the Iranian-made M-600 missile and is providing Hamas with advanced anti-tank weaponry previously supplied only to Hezbollah, diplomats said. Multilevel meetings were held with Russia but the sale went through, they said. Israel lives with the threat of new missiles and rockets, and must have a military response, an official stated. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cited the advanced F-35 fighter jet as part of that military response.

ISRAEL

Israel: U.S. May Supply Advanced Weaponry September 20, 2010

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak will meet several top-ranking U.S. officials Sept. 20 to secure new and advanced weaponry for Israel, Ynet News reported. Israel is optimistic and believes Washington will agree to meet previously declined demands for advanced weaponry, such as “bunker buster” bombs and advanced cruise missiles, sources said. Those close to Barak stressed that Israel’s defense ties with the United States “are at their height,” adding that Americans were doing all they could to meet Israeli demands. Barak reportedly told close advisors that it was crucial that Israel maintain its regional technological advances.

AFGHANISTAN
Pitfalls in Afghanistan's Parliamentary Elections STRATFOR

Afghanistan: Helicopter Shot Down By Taliban September 21, 2010


A U.S. Chinook helicopter has been shot down by Taliban forces in Daichopan district, Zabul province, Afghanistan, the Taliban’s Voice of Jihad website reported Sept. 21. The helicopter, carrying U.S. troops, caught fire after it was struck by a rocket shortly after it took off at 10:00 a.m. local time, according to the report.


SOUTH OF THE BORDER


Colombia: 22 FARC Rebels Killed September 19, 2010


At least 22 Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) militants were killed Sept. 19 by an air strike and assault by Colombian special operations forces in Putumayo province near the Ecuadorian border, Reuters reported. Colombian Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera said in a radio announcement that the raid was a severe blow to FARC’s 48th Front division based in the area.


Mexico: 5 Police Vehicles Destroyed By IEDs September 20, 2010

Unidentified people temporarily kidnapped the Honduran deputy consul in Veracruz, Veracruz state, on Sept. 18, El Universal reported Sept. 20. Joel Aguilar was held for several hours with another Honduran diplomat, and both men were abandoned in different areas near Veracruz, the Honduran Foreign Ministry said.

Guatemala: Country 'Full' Of Los Zetas - President September 20, 2010


Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom said Guatemala is “full” of members of Mexican criminal organization Los Zetas, who control two zones in the country, according to a Sept. 20 interview with Mexican daily La Jornada. Colom said the Zetas began arriving in his country in 2004 and had previously controlled four zones in the country. Presently Guatemala has incarcerated 47 Zetas, including some Guatemalan members of the group.


Mexico: Pacts With Criminal Organizations Needed - Official September 21, 2010


Cesar Nava, the president of Mexico’s National Action Party, said the Mexican government should make pacts with criminal organizations as a way to end violence and allow security forces to regain ground lost in the past several months, El Diaro reported Sept. 21. Nava said Mexico needs to see results as the security situation in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, is as bad as it has ever been.

Mexico Security Memo: Sept. 20, 2010 STRATFORAbove the Tearline: Terror Investigations and the 'Disruption Model' STRATFORExcept where noted courtesy www.stratfor.com




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