USA
January 17, Boston Globe – (National) 1b effort yields no bioterror defenses. The Pentagon is scaling back one of its largest efforts to develop treatments for troops and civilians infected in a germ warfare attack after a $1 billion, five-year program fell short of its primary goal. Researchers were unable to break through the limitations of genetic science, according to government officials and specialists in biological terrorism. The Pentagon’s next $1 billion for the Transformational Medical Technologies program will focus on better ways to identify mutant versions of Ebola, Marburg, and other deadly viruses. Those are among the genetically modified agents that officials fear could be used by terrorists or rogue states against urban or military targets. The continued flow of money, even with the shift in strategy, should help states retain jobs and research labs focused on this arena. The new strategy represents a return to the drawing board for an ambitious program conceived after the mailing of anthrax to members of Congress and media organizations. Scientists initially set out to develop new medicines capable of attacking viruses that might be altered by terrorists to make them more deadly. After more than 50 research projects by more than 100 contractors, only two experimental medicines have shown promise. Even those are far from being ready for limited clinical tests. A hurdle in the government’s effort is that treatments cannot be tested in human clinical trials because it is unethical to expose people to deadly virus in such a study, requiring animals with similar traits as humans to serve as surrogates. Source: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2011/01/17/after_1b_spent_pentagon_shifts_strategy_on_bioterror_threats/?page=full
January 19, Computerworld – (International) Keyless systems on cars easily hacked, researchers say. The passive keyless entry and start systems supported by many modern cars are susceptible to attacks that allow thieves to relatively easily steal the vehicles, security researchers at Switzerland’s ETH Zurich University said. In demonstrations using 10 cars from 8 makers, the researchers showed how they were able to unlock, start and drive away the cars in each case, by outsmarting the smart key system. The break-ins were carried out using commercial, off-the-shelf electronic equipment available for as little as $100, the researchers said in a paper describing their exploits. Although the possibility of such attacks on keyless systems has been discussed previously, it has not been clear before if they would be feasible on modern cars, the researchers said. “In this paper, we demonstrate that these attacks are both feasible and practical,” they said. Source: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9205478/Keyless_systems_on_cars_easily_hacked_researchers_say
EUROPE
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
ASIA
South Korea Pushes the Missile-range Envelope | STRATFOR
China's Economic Challenges for the Year Ahead STRATFOR
Pakistan: 2,000 Rally Against U.S. UAV Strikes January 21, 2011
About 2,000 people in the Taliban-controlled town of Miran Shah in North Waziristan, Pakistan, rallied against U.S. unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) strikes, calling for an end to the strikes and the arrest of the U.S. officials ordering them, AP reported Jan. 21.
January 19, Global Security Newswire – (International) Radioactive capsules recovered in India. Indian authorities have recovered four radioactive isotope cylinders and detained one person allegedly linked to the apparent theft of the material, the Statesman reported January 15. The capsules turned up inside a public restroom at a low-income neighborhood near the Durgapur Steel Plant, the site of their disappearance. The removal of the capsules prompted concerns among managers, police, and experts about the facility’s security measures. The site is continuously overseen by 1,500 personnel with India’s Central Industrial Security Force. The capsules are “deadly harmful for human beings and are supposed to be preserved in a secure environment,” plant officials said. Experts have expressed concern radioactive material could be dispersed by a radiological “dirty bomb.” Source: http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20110119_7551.php 8. January 18, Computerworld – (National) Gaping security flaw exposed on anti-tamper devices. Security devices used in transportation, packaging, and even in accounting for nuclear materials are very vulnerable to attack, two security researchers warned January 18 at a Black Hat security conference in Arlington, Virginia. The physical security devices, known as “tamper-evident devices,” are not intended to prevent theft but to alert inspectors something has been broken into. The devices are wide-ranging in design and application, and are used to seal everything from evidence bags, large shipping containers and even things like the warranty seal on gaming consoles. Two analysts with i11 Industries went through a long list of tamper-evident devices at the conference and explained, step-by-step, how each seal can be circumvented with common items, such as solvents, hypodermic needles, razors, blow dryers, and in more difficult cases with the help of tools such as drills. The more difficult devices may be bolt locks designed to secure shipping containers, or polycarbonate locks designed to shatter if cut. Source: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9205461/Gaping_security_flaw_exposed_on_anti_tamper_devices [Return to top]
RUSSIA
Russia: Afghan Drug Inflow Dropping January 21, 2011
The flow of drugs into Russia from Afghanistan has dropped by about 10 percent, according to Russia’s anti-narcotics service, Interfax reported Jan. 21. Viktor Ivanov, head of the anti-narcotics service, said 15,000 metric tons of opium has accumulated in Afghanistan, and the total amount of opium crops in the country was about 123,000 hectares (303,000 acres). He also said the estimated number of Afghan families involved in drug production grew to 250,000 from 247,000 in 2010 from 2009.
IRAN
Iran in a Position of Relative Strength | STRATFOR
Iran: Russia Preferred For New Nuclear Plant Construction January 20, 2011
Russia is Iran’s preferred choice for winning a future tender to build a new nuclear power plant in the country, Iranian envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency Ali Asghar Soltanieh said Jan. 20, Interfax reported. Iran trusts Russia more than it trusts any other country, Soltaniyeh added.
Iran: National Tanker Company To Increase Fleet By 72 Percent January 24, 2011
The Iranian National Tanker Company (INTC) is going to add 22 tankers to its fleet by 2013, increasing the fleet’s size by 72 percent, Fars News Agency reported Jan. 24, citing a company official. International sanctions have had no effect on the activities of the company, the official said, adding that INTC was currently transporting oil for companies such as Shell and Total, as well as Saudi, Kuwaiti and UAE oil companies.
IRAQ
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
ISRAEL
Norway: Oslo To Recognize Palestine If Peace Talks Fail January 20, 2011
Norway will recognize Palestine as a state if negotiations with Israeli fail to make progress by September 2011, according to Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, Ice News reported Jan. 20. Stoere said Norway is striving to help with the development of the Palestinian economy and believes that a political peace process could be a success. Norway will be one of the first European states to recognize Palestine when there is an act as an international team, Stoere said, adding, Norway will continue to back negotiations between Israel and Palestine while supporting Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad’s plan.
Israel: Palestinian Negotiator To Meet With Israeli Officials - Source January 21, 2011
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat will head a delegation that will travel to Israel to meet with Israeli negotiators and U.S. envoys Dennis Ross and George Mitchell, a STRATFOR source said Jan. 21. The meeting was agreed upon during Erekat’s visit to Washington on Jan. 12, the source said. Israel Radio had earlier reported Jan. 20 that unnamed senior Palestinian officials would soon meet with Israeli officials as well as Ross and Mitchell.
Israel: Interim Palestinian State Plan Drafted - FM January 24, 2011
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman confirmed he is drawing up a plan that seeks to create an interim Palestinian state with temporary borders in the absence of a full peace agreement, AP reported Jan. 24, citing Lieberman’s interview on Israel Radio. According to Lieberman, “there is no other way” since the Palestinians have rejected previous Israeli offers. He added a full peace deal remains impossible. According to a government source, the plan turns up to 50 percent of the West Bank over to the Palestinians.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan: Russia Ready To Invest In Electricity Project January 21, 2011
Russia will invest $500 million in the Central Asia-South Asia (CASA) 1000 electricity project if Inter RAO is chosen as its operator, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said, Reuters and Itar-Tass reported Jan. 21. During talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Putin said the same applied to a possible line from Turkmenistan that could be linked to CASA 1000 around Kabul. CASA 1000 is supposed to transmit electricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to South Asia. Russia is also prepared to restore a house-building plant and a concrete plant in Kabul, as well as infrastructure such as the Salang Tunnel and an irrigation system, Putin said.
Afghanistan: Russia Ready To Rebuild Soviet-era Facilities January 21, 2011
Afghan President Hamid Karzai asked Russia to rebuild Soviet-era facilities in the country during talks with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, Reuters reported Jan. 21. Karzai said he wanted to restart key projects that were started long ago. In a joint statement, Russia said it was ready to take part in “priority economic projects” in Afghanistan, including the Salang Tunnel in the Hindu Kush, hydroelectric power facilities in the provinces of Kabul and Baglan, a customs terminal and a Kabul university.
Afghanistan: Governor Escapes Grenade Attack January 21, 2011
The governor of Afghanistan’s eastern Laghman province survived an attack Jan. 21 in the provincial capital of Mehtar Lam, sources said, Afghan Islamic Press reported. Islamic Emirate militants threw a hand grenade as the governor entered his office, and it is not yet known whether any casualties resulted, according to the Voice of Jihad website.
MIDDLE EAST
NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO REPORT
SOUTH OF THE BORDER
Mexico: Cartel Operative Dies In Confrontation January 20, 2011
A suspected top operative, Leonardo Vazquez, aka “El Pacis,” of the Zetas drug cartel died on Jan. 19 during a confrontation with Mexican military, federal, state and local police forces in Poza Rica in the state of Veracruz, AP reported Jan. 20, citing Veracruz Governor Javier Duarte de Ochoa.
MISC
South Korean Vessel Retaken from Somali Pirates | STRATFOR
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