On Monday 15, 2008 Robert Mugabe, president of Zimbabwe, signed a treaty with the opposition party’s leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. This treaty still kept Mugabe as president of Zimbabwe but also appointed Tsvangirai as the prime minister who will oversee a cabinet of ministers. These ministers will be divided between the three main political parties in Zimbabwe. This came after almost three decades of uninterrupted rule by Mugabe, who has had control over Zimbabwe since he helped lead the country in its war for liberation. Mugabe is charged with countless acts of human rights violations and has led his country’s economy into the ground, which resulted in an inflation rate in the millions. In the last election the results were disputed after Morgan Tsvangirai claimed victory but the Mugabe backed government challenged the results and set up a runoff election. At this point Morgan Tsvangirai backed out in fear of the repercussion that would befall his supporters after voting against Mugabe. The United States and the European Union look at this deal with their breaths held. The European Union has pledged economic support for Zimbabwe if their truly is a change. Zimbabweans looks at this deal with hope that it will finally bring stability, especially economic stability to their country.

In Zambia, three times presidential hopeful Michael Sata (693,787) is reported to have a 7% vote lead (43%-36%) on President Rupiah Banda (542,362), with eight other candidates splitting the remaining votes. These results come from 85 of 150 constituencies reporting on Thursday, with final results expected to be announced by the end of the day. Small disturbances were reported to have broken out and put down quickly in the southern Copper Belt province, which is Sata’s stronghold. The disturbances seem to be caused by Sata’s supporters, who fear that vote-rigging will occur. Zambia’s independent Civil Society Elections Coalition reported that the election went relatively smoothly, but that “Vigilance must continue to help ensure the credibility of the collation and announcement of results.” Zambia’s economy is improving due to increasing world copper prices, and President Banda is taking credit for the stronger economy.

The President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, declared that the Ukrainian Parliament will be dismissed and will be replaced when elections are held on December 7. This declaration also entails earlier presidential elections. This is in response to Yulia Tymoshenko, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, trying to take away power from Yushchenko by passing bills along with the pro-Russian opposition groups, the Communist Party, and the Regions Party. When she did this, Yushchenko’s party left the pro-West coalition, which led to its collapse. When the new Parliament is elected, they will appoint a new government to replace of one of Tymoshenko.

A new bill was proposed in Greece this past week. This bill would utilize harsh austerity measures. It passed with 154 of the 300 seats in parliament meaning that it will go into effect soon. Riots broke out in response to social projects having their funding cut in the austerity measures. These riots are returning from months of pressure from the debt in Greece.

The temporary cease fire in Yemen’s capital city of Sana’a was broken Thursday as the Republican Guard clashed with the First Armoured Division and local tribesmen. Two tribesmen were killed in the fight, while five others were wounded. This comes after a huge protest on Wednesday when hundreds of thousands of people calling for President Saleh’s outing and trial demonstrated near Change Square. Youth groups had said on Wednesday that they were going to have a peaceful march all the way to the president’s house, but when the actual marching occurred on Thursday, the groups, which were estimated in the tens of thousands, kept confined of First Armoured Division’s areas of control. The group chanted “Peaceful. Peaceful. No to civil war.” President Saleh returned to Yemen on Friday after recovering in Saudi Arabia after a failed assassination attempt.

On Wednesday, September 17th the U.S Embassy in Yemen was attacked by a terrorist organization.Although it has not been confirmed, all fingers point to Al-Qaeda for the bombing. The Embassy, located in Sanaa, the capital of Yemen was attacked by two car bombs, as well as six men dressed as police officers who drew fire on the security guards. Unfortunately their were 16 deaths in the ordeal, none of which were American casualties.

Yemen authorities have arrested a group of Islamic militants they claim have ties to Israeli intelligence. The arrests came in response to the September 17th bombing of the US embassy in Yemen, an act in which the terror cell is said to be connected. Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh made the claim that the group was connected to Israel during a meeting with various state leaders and officials at Al-Mukalla University. Israel has denied the claims, stating they are “far-fetched".

The King of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, allowed for a change in the law which was giving the women the right to run for a political office and then hold that political position. This stunned conservative Muslims, but when the Saudi Arabian women heard the news they turned to social media sites to discuss further issues. They want the right to drive which is currently a very important hot topic for women in Saudi Arabia. Rather than praising the King for allowing the right to run in elections, they viewed him with disappointment for ignoring the popular and more prominent issue.

The President of Yemen, Ali Abudullah Saleh, has recently returned to Yemen and is resistant to give up power. While he stayed in Saudi Arabia due to an assassination attempt, Saleh agreed to step down from presidency, but has yet to do so which is creating conflict and fighting amongst the protesters and Saleh’s security forces. Pro-Democracy protesters are trying to end the Saleh regime but Saleh is not ready to give up power. Saudi Arabian tanks and weapons were sent to Yemen to aid Saleh in the fight against the activists. Many protesters have died and are asking for intervention from the West.

Libya has withdrawn assets from Swiss banks and halted oil sales to the country in protest of what an unnamed foreign ministry official called, “poor treatment of Libyan diplomats and businessmen.” Tensions grew between the states in July, when the youngest son of Libya’s de facto leader, Muammar Gaddafi, was arrested in a Geneva hotel. Hannibal Gaddafi and his wife were accused of assaulting two members of their staff, but charges were dropped after the employees received undisclosed compensation. Libya had threatened to cut oil sales in July, after the initial incident took place. The Libyan oil company Tamoil claims to hold more than 300 gas stations in Switzerland, as well as account for 20 percent of the country’s oil supply. Tamoil CEO Issam Zanati said Thursday of the halted sales, “it is a decision of Libya and not of Tamoil.”

In Angola, their were movements to eject the 32 year President Jose Eduardo dos Santos from office. These included a facebook page calling for Angolans to take to the streets and march, and various online remarks from Angolans. The Angolan government responded by arresting 12 people, including an Angolan rapper.

According to the 2010 census, white Brazilians are no longer the majority race in 2011. Of the 191 million Brazilians, 91 million of them identify as white, 82 of them consider themselves mixed race and 15 million consider themselves black. White Brazilians fell from 53.7% of the population to 47.7% of the population in 10 years.

Zambia has just had their presidential elections, and the results came in on Friday the 23rd. The two major canidates were the opposition leader Michael Sata and the past president Rupiah Banda. The race had been neck and neck when Sata finally pulled ahead and won. Sata or “King Cobra” has criticized Chinese labor laws in their mines.

After winning the vote for Prime Minister by 431 votes, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni needs to put together a coalition within 45 days in order to lead the country. She has already begun to start talks for coalitions with party leaders she defeated and must obtain a coalition as soon as possible in order to begin to take charge of the Israeli government.

One of the many militant groups in the Niger Delta region has “declared war” on the Niger government. The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has recently attacked oil stations and pipelines in the Niger Delta region with bombs, explosives, and grenades. It was labeled by MEND as a response to an unprovoked air attack by the Nigerian military. This recent engagement between MEND and the Niger military and security forces left 22 military casualties being reported as well as a high number of MEND casualties. However, there was no reported decline in oil production as the station which was bombed was currently in repair.

A US Army sergeant was convicted of murdering unarmed Afghanistan civilians in a court martial on Thursday. Staff Sergeant Calvin Gibbs was also convicted of removing fingers from their corpses as a war prize, which he likened to removing the antlers from a deer. Gibbs was the suspected ring leader of a self proclaimed “kill team” squad, which committed the premeditated murders during a 3 month period last year. In total, 5 soldiers from Gibbs’ infantry unit were accused of murder. Gibbs, the ringleader, was sentenced to jail time, but would be eligible for parole in 8 ½ years.

Israeli forces continue to attack Palestinian settlements that are located on the Israeli side of the West Bank. This threatens and uneasy relationship between the two groups that has been ongoing since Israeli became a country.

On wednesday, Syria agreed to an Arab league plan to withdraw troops from its cities, and to release political prisoners. Protestors say that President Bashar al-Assad has done neither. After several months of protests that have called for the Syrian President to stand down, he apparently agreed to an Arab league plan to withdraw the military from the cities, to release prisoners, and to open talks with the opposition. Renewed violence on wednesday and thursday shows that Assad shows to intentions to do so as several more people were killed, particularly in the city oh Homs.

Brutal deaths have struck Yemen as 4 young revolutionists were killed, 35 injured by bullet and tear gas last Monday between revolutionists and Pro-Regime soldiers. They were trying to keep the Yemen youth from controlling one of Yemen’s most important roads. Violence has plagued Yemen the past week as well, with Yemen youth protesting consistently and the security forces retaliating with snipers, tear gas and even killing off their own citizens. The protests stem from another demonstration that took place September 18th, which left many dead and injured.

In the United Kingdom Vietnamese children are being trafficked as forced laborers or prostitutes. It is difficult to track and combat. The trafficking of the children is not being addressed by Parliament.

Hugo Chavez, the President of Venezuela, and Dmitry Medvedev, the President of Russia, have been involved with talk this week in the Russia capital trying to strengthen their countries ties with each other. Over the last couple days the two countries have signed a deal where Russia will loan Venezuela one billion dollars to increase its military hardware by buying Russian weapons. This is already after Venezuela has already bought an estimated 4.4 billion dollars worth of Russian military Hardware. Venezuela will also be opening up a manufacturing plant to build Russian AK 104’s and 103’s under contract. In addition, it is suspected that today Russia and Venezuela will start talks about solidifying their oil production. Russia who is already slated to start drilling off Venezuela waters in October will try and allow more of their companies to come into the area and also help Venezuela with its internal oil production. The two countries are also planning to start talking about allowing Russian Nuclear energy technology to be implemented in Venezuelan run power plants. These events come right before a planned joint naval operation between Venezuela and Russia. The two countries are quickly becoming strong friends and allies.

Colombian drug lord Maximiliano Bonilla Orozco, better known as Valenciano, was captured in Venezuela while trying to carry drug money into Mexico.

Ilan Grapel, a US-Israel citizen, was released from Egyptian custody after being arrested as a spy in June. Israel agreed to exchange 25 Egyptian prisoners for the return of Grapel. None of the Egyptian prisoners released were any sort of security threat to Israel. Whether or not Grapel was actually a spy is still up to speculation.

The United States attacked Taliban militant targets in Pakistan. The attacks occurred in a tribal region bordering Afghanistan. The United States has not confirmed the attack and the number of causalities is still unclear. North Waziristan, the region where the attacks occurred, is considered to be “a haven for Taliban and al-Qaeda fighters who enter Afghanistan to fight US and NATO forces.” While the United States contends that they only act on clear intelligence and that this is critical to the Global War on Terror, Pakistan claims that these and similar strikes are “counter-productive."

A suspected Al-Queda terrorist had been smuggling weapons across the Syrian border into Iraq. Therefore, four American Special Forces helicopters crossed into Syria from Iraq. Eight Syrians were killed after U.S. troops left the helicopter and attacked the location of the suspected Al-Qaeda terrorist. Syria has reported that the U.S. violated international law and that the eight Syrians killed were civilians. Syria is thus asking for a formal apology from the U.S. The U.S. has not yet issued an apology or a statement of whether the mission was a success or not.

The United States is waiting to negotiate a $53 million arms deal with Bahrain due to reports of human rights abuse. U.S. senators have stated that the finalization of the arms deal with Bahrain could potentially weaken US efforts to bring democracy to the Middle East and would jeopardize US credibility. On October 30, the US State Department is expected to release a plan that explains the procedures of dealing with the civil rights of Sunni protestors in a Shia-majority state.

Four US helicopters crossed the Iraq/Syria border and fired on a farm, allegedly killing a number of civilians, including four children. US officials claim the raid focused on a network that brought militants from North Africa and other areas of the Middle East into Syria. Syria has condemned the attack, calling it an act of aggression. They have also called for Iraq to make sure their state is not used to launch attacks into Syria.

Zimbabwe has reached out for international aid in its fight against a cholera epidemic that has killed over 500 and infected over ten thousand more. The United States and Great Britain have agreed to aid the country. In return, internationally unpopular Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe agreed to hold elections in 2 years if the current political system fails.

China and the United States pledged $20 billion in what the BBC calls “trade aid.” The news comes on the tail of a global economic slowdown. The money is meant to infuse international trade in an attempt to bolster the faltering economy worldwide. Additionally, the aid will allow developing countries to trade on credit, an allowance that has been harder to come by in light of the recession.

The mayor of La Piedad, Ricardo Guzman, was killed in a drive-by shooting Wednesday night after handing out fliers for the candidate Luisa Maria Calderon promoting an upcoming November election. He was a member of the National Action Party (PAN) and was active in the fight against Mexican drug cartels. The investigation of the killer’s identity is still ongoing and it is unknown whether or not it was a drug war related death.

United States President Barack Obama recently announced the deployment of Marines to Australia. China has been growing closer to its neighbors economically. There is also wariness over the State’s growing military power. Since China is be preparing to stretch over its borders, the United States has been working to secure its own foot in the door of the Pacific. The United States is attempting to strengthen its alliance with Australia. President Obama announced that the deployment of Marines to Northern Australia was meant to emphasize the desire for a greater, “co-operation,” with the State.

As a result of three years of work by the Bush administration and Indian officials, President Bush has signed legislation that reverses three decades of policy and agrees on civil nuclear cooperation between the United States and India. The enactment of this US-India trade agreement will allow American businesses to enter India’s multi-billion dollar nuclear market. With the passing of this legislation, the United States will be able to sell nuclear fuel, technology, and reactors to India. Some controversy arises in that critics in India argue the constraints of the legislation compromise the country’s right to conduct nuclear tests and some experts say the deal is likely to speed up nuclear arms competition in Asia.

India has been looking for ways to feed its energy crisis any way it can. It recently found success when the United States lifted the ban on the sale of nuclear technology and fuel to India. This deal comes as a reversal of United States foreign policy in regards to nuclear power which is usually to try and limit its spread. However, this deal is expected to bring large amounts of revenue to American companies. In addition, this was lobbied hard by American defense companies in hopes to build closer ties to India so they can sell their goods to India. Some pro-nuclear proliferation groups such as the Arms Control Association deeply resented this bill. This group called this deal a, “A non-proliferation disaster of historic proportions that will produce harm for decades to come.” Two other countries also signed deals with India this week to supply nuclear fuel and technology and these two countries were France and Russia.

The United States and Israel have come close to finalizing a trade agreement involving the installment of X-Band radar systems in Israel as well as the sale of up to 75 stealth Strike Fighters from the US to Israel as part of the Joint Strike Fighter program, which also involves seven other states. The US would be paid up to $15.2 billion in return as well as have control over the operation of the radar system. The agreement is still waiting for Congressional approval.

The United States and China seem to agree that the most pressing common task of both states is the global financial crisis. US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Qishan co-chaired a high-level of dialogue between the two states. China and the United States agree it is imperative the two states work together to restore market confidence as soon as possible, restrain the crisis from spreading, and avoid a global economic recession.

With a vote of one hundred seven to fourteen (107-14) in favor of Palestine, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared Palestine a full member of its organization at its UNESCO General Conference. There was much speculation as to whether the vote would sway in Palestine’s favor because of the United States’ threat to cut funding to UNESCO if it had admitted Palestine as a member to its committee. The US currently makes up around twenty-two percent of UNESCO’s funding.

In Makurdi, the State Capitol of Benue, Nigeria, had an outbreak of violence after an Appeal Court ruled in favor of the PDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party). The ACN (Action Congress of Nigeria) lost the hearing and its supporters were no where near ready to go home and sulk about it. To make matters even more toxic, the PDP planned a large, public celebration in order to bask in their victory. The celebration was quickly dismembered due to outraged ACN loyalists. The blood and violence which occurred had deep impacts on the victims attending the celebration. The ACN rebels inflicted property damage and physical damage to their rivals. One PDP victim said, “If I had not been quick to shield my head with my arms, I would have had my brains spilled.” The violence was ended relatively quickly, once armed Police Mobile Units arrived. Authorities are still investigating who the specific suspects were for such tremendous acts of violence inflicted on the victims attending the celebration.

On Tuesday, Congolese rebels closed in on the provincial capital of Goma, despite being attacked by United Nations peacekeepers in helicopters. The United Nations Security Council urged the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Rwanda to “take concrete steps to defuse tensions and to restore stability in the region.” A recent meeting of the United Nations did not make a decision on the request to add to the 17,000 strong United Nation force in the Democratic Republic of Congo. European governments will meet Monday to discuss the possibility of sending additional peacekeeping troops (up to 1,500 men). United Nations forces did not keep rebels from lobbying rocks and increasing violence, causing many to think the United Nations peacekeepers are not doing adequate work to achieve peace.

On September 22, more than thirty diplomats walked out during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s UN speech that criticized the killing of Osama Bin Laden and questioned the Holocaust. Israel rejected the speech before it began, and later used the speech as ammunition towards the Iranian President. This speech comes a day before the Palestinian bid for UN membership, which Iran fully supports. Countries against the Palestinian bid include Israel and The United States, both of which spoke at the UN press conference. President Ahmadinejad’s speech expressed many of his concerns, including the United States’ reasoning behind not questioning Osama Bin Laden about the September 11 attack before assassinating him. He suggested that The United States had not questioned Bin Laden’s methods of maneuvering around the US’s security, because his killing was actually a cover-up by the US for the 9/11 attack. UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s speech criticized Ahmadinejad’s mistreatment of the people of Iran, including their prevention of public demonstrations and denial of access to free media. Iran also spoke of its support of Palestine’s bid for UN membership.

The United Nations announced on Thursday that their “warehouses are effectively empty” for three quarters of a million people who rely daily on UN food aid in the Gaza Strip. Israel refused to allow aid trucks through the border, over which they have control. The earliest predicted shipment is Saturday morning, a span of time that will leave many Gazans in the lurch. This news comes after recent fighting between Israelis and militants in the Gaza Strip.

Following the failure of a January peace deal in August, conflict erupted again this week in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Tutsi rebels are driving the conflict against the Congolese military troops in the Goma region of the state. Faced with the strong rebel insurgence, the Congolese army is pulling back and civilians are fleeing the region. MONUC, a force of UN peacekeepers, has 17,000 troops present to support the Congolese troops in defending the region. But there are not enough forces to effectively keep the peace. In fact, Congolese civilians have mobbed UN troops in frustration and anger. Despite, the UN Security Council demand for an immediate cease-fire, the fighting continues. Fighting near the Rwandan border is heightening tensions between the state neighbors.

Serbia requested that the International Court of Justice, part of the United Nations, examines the legality of Kosovo’s succession this February. The General Assembly approved Serbia’s request though the ICJ is likely to take one to two years to release a decision. Specifically, 77 countries voted in favor of Serbia’s request, six against and 74 countries abstained from voting.

A summit meeting began on Friday between United Nations secretary general and seven African presidents. Although peace treaties have already been signed, violence still continues in the Congo’s mineral rich region, as it has for the past decade. Peacekeeping troops have not been effective in putting an end to the violence, and weak military and state institutions have been even less effective.

The UN is sending envoys into Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kigali in Rwanda, since the two are currently at odds at one another over boundary discrepancies. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, released a statement that this extreme violence was creating a humanitarian crisis of “catastrophic dimensions".

After a four-year collaboration, the “Orange Revolution” in the Ukraine is coming to an end. President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko are calling it quits this week after the two could not agree on many policies and legislation in recent months. As per the coalition agreement set in place four years ago, Tymoshenko and the speaker of the Rada, Arseny Yatsenyuk, agreed to resign if the coalition were to ever collapse. Yatsenyuk has already offered up his resignation, while Tymoshenko has agreed to serve until her replacement is chosen.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the Ukrainian government of supplying the Georgian military forces with weapons and Ukrainian military specialists. Russian officials claim that the new technology was responsible for Russian military deaths during the fighting and that the supply of arms to Georgian military units poses a direct threat to Russian power in the region. Ukraine occupies a very important strategic territory for Russia and Ukrainian support of Georgia, a Russian enemy, has made Ukraine appear as a threat to the stability of the region. Ukrainian officials have stated that they will investigate the matter, but domestic power struggles have divided the Ukrainian government so that results are doubtful. Fearing a loss of control in the region, Russia has gone about reasserting its strength.

France and Britain have been helping Libya out since they started their revolution. As the Libyans take over the city of Sirte, a Gaddafi stronghold, to show their support Prime Minister David Cameron of the United Kingdom and President Nicolas Sarkozy of France travel to Tripoli.

Somali Pirates hijacked an Italian carrier that held scrap metal that was headed to Vietnam. The Pirates took 23 hostages and made their demands. The Royal Navy made sure that all of the crew members were safe. They then were able to take control of the ship and free the hostages.

Two men, one who is an American citizen, have been exposed and charged with conspiracy to commit terror against the United States. Manssor Arbabsiar confessed to U.S authorities after being arrested in JFK International Airport on September 29th. The foiled terror plan was an attempt to assassinate Adel al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the United States. The plot included explosives in the attempt to murder Adel al-Jubeir on U.S soil. The United States caught on when Manssor contacted a U.S DEA agent stationed in Mexico, posing as a drug cartel member. Iran has called the assassination attempt a “fabrication” by the United States.

U.S ambassador to Damascus, Robert Ford, was attacked by Syrian mobs for attending meetings with groups against the Syrian regime. The regime is accusing Robert Ford of supporting the oppositions cause. The regime has also accused Ford of being a CIA agent looking to help take down the current Syrian regime. Ford was trapped in a office building for three hours before being escorted by security to safety. The regime attempted to storm the office building at least once, and pelted Ford with tomatoes and eggs while being escorted away.

The Turkish government is holding high level official talks between the Turkish President Abdullah Gul, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardali, and Afghan President Hamid Karzai in Istanbul, Turkey beginning late Thursday and carrying on through Friday. The talks are centered around drug trade, counter-terrorism, security training, and joint economic development plans between the three states in an effort to bring the three states closer together. It is also designed to have Karzai and Zardali engage in dialogue with each other as the two neighboring states are currently maintaining cold relations.

On Thursday, October 20, 2011, Turkey sent 10,000 elite troops to commence a major offensive operation against Kurdish rebels in Iraq. Turkey is retaliating after the Kurds attacked 42 Turkish soldiers, killing 24 and injuring 18. The raids were executed near the Turkey-Iran border Wednesday. This demonstration of power is the largest offensive operation Turkey has engaged in since 2008; when they invaded Iraq and held a week long attack on the Iraqi mountains.

Turkey plans to sign a continental shelf accord with Turkish Cyprus if Greek Cyprus starts offshore drilling for oil and natural gas in October. This would allow Turkey and Turkish Cyprus to assign areas in the eastern Mediterranean to launch their own oil rigs. Everything is prepared between Turkey and Turkish Cyprus to sign the delimitation agreement if Greek Cyprus begins its exploration project. Greece is not happy that Turkey is trying to threaten Greek Cyprus over the planned exploration. Greece hopes that Turkey will not increase tension in the already sensitive area. Turkey says that it is just trying to ensure the protection of rights for the Turkish Cyprus, and says that the Turkish Cyprus will not be spectators to the drilling.

Initially Turkey turned down aid from Israel. Turkey suffered a devastating earthquake, killing some of its citizens as well injuring many others. The earthquake also caused damage to buildings and roadways. Israel offered aid to Turkey right after the earthquake, yet Turkey turned the offer down. Last Turkey reversed the offer and welcome aid from Israel. Both parties said the aid between them did change how the countries “felt about each other.”

Turkey asked for help from the Northern Iraqi government Friday to deal with the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s Party of PKK. This group was responsible for two separate attacks on Turkey’s southern border over the two weeks. This group whose bases and training facilities are located in Northern Iraq hope to gain power in the region. Turkey is trying to pressure the Northern Iraqi government to allow the Turkish government to get rid of this group in their region. Though the Northern Iraqi government does not condone the attacks they have not done anything to try and pressure the groups to stop. Turkey finally had enough and attacked a group of rebels trying to cross the border at night. This attack was successful in stopping this group of insurgents from getting across the border into Turkey. Yet, many insurgents still are able to cross the border and create trouble for Turkey.

The Turkish Parliament has approved an extension of the state’s military operations against Kurdish separatists in northern Iraq. Conflict between Turkey and Kurdish separatists has been ongoing since the 1980s. Turkey asserts that Iraq’s attempts to stop the violent actions of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) are inadequate. Recent artillery attacks in southern Turkey have ignited public outrage and thus more pressure Turkey to address the situation.

Days after Turkey’s Parliament voted to extend cross-border raids into Iraq for an additional year, Turkish jets bombed suspected Kurdish insurgents in the northern region of Iraq. Turkey and the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) have engaged in conflict for over twenty years. The PKK is considered by the European Union and the U.S. as a terrorist organization. The tension between Turkey and Iraq’s border region is growing into military conflict.

After the Tunisians kick out their dictator (Zine el Ben Ali), they began to start in the election process. Ennahda, one of the political parties, had protestors at their building and these two thousand people threw rocks at security. The protests occurred when certain political candidates victories were consider invalid. As a way to stop the people’s unrest the Tunisian police force shot tear gas. The election officials stated that there were some finical violations in some of the seats resulting in being replaced.

The Kurdistan Worker’s Party (or PKK) killed 24 Turkish soldiers and with this act the Turks sends 22 battalions into the Trukey and Iraq border. Prime minister Erdoğan of Turkey asked Iraq for permission to enter their northern borders for the offensive strike aganist the PKK. Iraq allowed Trukey to enter Northern Iraq to finish off the PKK.

The United States’ President, Barack Obama, announced on Friday that the US would be pulling out all remaining troops in Iraq by the year’s end. This announcement comes days after Iraqi government officials released statements addressing their refusal to grant American soldiers immunity past December of this year.

Per Cuba’s request, the United Nations General Assembly voted for the seventeenth consecutive time on the issue of ending the economic and commercial embargo on Cuba that the United States has followed since 1962. The Cuban chancellor Felipe Pérez Roque compared the United States’ embargo to genocide of the Cuban people because of the poverty and economic distress caused by the United States’ refusal to interact with Cuba. One hundred ninety-two countries voted to end the embargo and only three, including the United States, voted to continue the embargo.

Italian economy has gone down the tank and it is soon to be in the hands of former EU Commissioner Mario Monti. Italy must find a way to pay off its debts and secure funding for future investments. The current proposed Eurozone bailout is too small to help the Italian economy. In the coming year Italy will owe 304 billion euros in old government bonds. With interest rates around 7 percent it will be extremely unaffordable for Italy to pay it back. The new transitional government made up of so called technocrats will come into power hopefully by the weekend to ensure that Italy, 17 percent of the Eurozone’s economy doesn’t end up like Greece.

Egypt’s temporary military government has settled on a date for the beginning of the first truly free election in Egypt since former President Mubarak took officer over thirty years ago. The elections are scheduled is to begin on 21st November and run to 3rd January with the majority of the election covering the Lower House, and Peoples Assembly, with the Upper House elections beginning 22nd January to 4 March, as quoted by Abdel Moez Ibrahim, head of the electoral commission. The final date for elections will be set and televised on Egyptian state news.

The International Criminal Courts have issued an arrest warrant for the defense minister of Sudan Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein. He is being indicted on criminal charges involving genocide in Darfur. A top Sudanese official has denied the charges and a made clear they would not affect Sudan. Hussein denies the charges and refuses to hand himself over the International Criminal Court.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), an insurgency group comprised of ethnic Tamil minorities, battled the Sri Lankan navy off the north-western coast of the South Asian country. The naval boats were conducting a patrol when fighting broke out. The battle, which involved upwards of forty boats, resulted in the deaths of 25 Tiger insurgents and destruction of 10 insurgent vessels, while two sailors were injured.

Three women, two from Liberia the other from Yemen, all three women have made great strides and advancement for civil change in their respective countries. The three women are Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Leymah Gbowee, Tawakkul Karman. Ellen Sirleaf ran against Liberian warlord Charles Taylor in 1997 and lost, but after a rebellion Taylor left office and Sirleaf won the following election by a landslide. One of the women who made this possible for her was Leymah Gbowee who advocated for women to participate in elections, to stop the long war that ravaged Liberia, and stop the rape and abuse of women in the country by soldiers. Tawakkul Karman has been dubbed “Mother of Revolution” by her followers. She has been leading protests against Yemen President Ali Abdullah Saleh since 2006.

In Baghdad, Iraq, thousands gathered in Firdos Square in order to protest the United States and Iraq security deal. The protesters hung a giant picture of President George W. Bush over the spot that once supported a statue of Saddam Hussein, and placed a hood over the picture’s head along with a whip in the picture’s hand. Protesters shouted “no, no to America; no, no to Israel!"
Many of the Iraqis protesting the security deal felt that the deal did not ensure the Americans would actually leave. Although they have a time to withdrawal, the Iraqis feel that they will not necessarily adhere to this time, and occupy the land far longer than they once said they would.

China has launched its third manned mission into space on Thursday. The three to four day mission is expected to revolve around a forty-minute spacewalk. The ship has three men on board who have been training together for a decade. The spacecraft, the Shenzhou 7, went into orbit shortly after nine p.m. Thursday evening.

Students within Chile, have been protesting for the last four months, in order to increase the funds allocated to public education. The Chilean government, and some 25 student organizations have agreed to have talks to come to mutually benefitial agreements.

A Ukrainian cargo ship, MV Faina, was hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Somalia. The ship, carrying 33 Russian tanks and other arms, was destined for Kenya, even though the pirates disagree with this statement. The pirates are asking for $20 million US dollars to free the ship. The United States navy has blockaded the ship as negotiations are being held between the pirates and the ship owners. The pirates say that the $20 million is not a ransom but a fine for trespassing on Somali waters.

Although the United States had earlier vowed to condemn any and all that supported Palestine’s bid for statehood to the UN, Secretary of State for the United States, Hilary Clinton, released a statement to the contrary. Clinton said on Tuesday that the United States would not cut funding to any organizations that supported the Palestinian bid. She also stressed the opinion shared by France and the United States that Palestine and Israel need to resume diplomatic talks in order for Palestine to reach its intended statehood and that the Unites States will veto the bid.

The United States has planned to install an anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. In response, Medvedev said Moscow would deploy the Iskander missile system in the Kaliningrad region. A missile system in the region, which is between NATO members, Lithuania and Poland, would neutralize the United States anti-missile system. Medvedez also threatened to electronically jam the United States anti-missile system.

he Ukraine are suing Russia over the gas price increase. There has been a lot of rhetoric surrounding the lawsuit but after a lot of talking the Ukraine is holding ground.

In the past couple weeks there have been endless protests on the streets of Bangkok, Thailand. The government currently in power is said to be a “puppet” government for the previously ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Since 2006 and the military coup which forced Thaksin to leave his position as Prime Minister, Somchai Wongsawat has been elected into the position and has been leading the People’s Power Party.
The protesters, who are made of up the Thai middle class and the academics of Bangkok have named themselves the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD). The PAD earlier this week forced Wongsawat to leave after giving a speech to the public by jumping over the fence behind the Parliament building. The protestors was so overwhelming that the police surrounding the Parliament building were forced to use tear gas against them. The PAD was also extremely aggressive, armed with poles, firecrackers, and machetes. One protester was killed, while close to 400 protesters were injured.

Russia has signed a free trade agreement with seven former Soviet Union republics this week in meetings in St. Petersburg. The agreement will put aside import and export tariffs that presently exist between the countries. The countries that have agreed to the agreement are Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Tajikistan. It is expected that Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan will join the agreement later next year. Russia’s Prime Minister and former president Vladimir Putin headed the conference in St. Petersburg.

Two leaders of an indigenous workers protest were killed by the Colombian National Police, leading to increased tension in both Colombia and the surrounding region. The indigenous people were protesting their marginalization by their own government and have come to identify themselves with the wave of socialist and indigenous-led parties in Latin America. In contrast, the conservative Colombian government, led by President Uribe, has a strong attachment to the United States. Internal differences in identity between poor indigenous leaders and the wealthier Mestizo (ethnic mix of indigenous and European blood) leaders of the central government have simmered for years. The recent emergence of an external system of values and beliefs, with which Colombia’s indigenous can attach themselves, has brought a new found sense of purpose to domestic movements. This series of conflicting internal and external identities has led to instability and the threat of continued violence.

Gaddafi has recently died and so has his reign of terror. Now, there is a possibility of a democratic system for Libya. Gaddafi was killed during the battle near his hometown of Sirte between his loyalist and anti-loyalist.

As a result of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, several former Soviet republics fought for independence, citing their desire for national self-determination. However, the majority of these newly independent regions also contain minority nations of significant size and with significant differences between itself and the predominant nation of the new state. The Ossetians in Georgia are one such example. A second example is the de facto independent state of Transdnestr within Moldova.
Seeing the similarities between Georgia and Moldova, the European Union is seeking ways of ensuring the territorial integrity of Moldova. The Czech Prime Minister, Mirek Topolanek, seeks to have Russia withdraw its troops from Transdnestr. The European Union is using diplomacy to enhance ties between itself and former Soviet republics. In response, Russia asserts that it will work to preserve the territorial integrity of Moldova.

The United Nations’ Security Council and the Nato military alliance have both recently taken steps to become more engaged in the struggle to secure the dangerous seas off the coast of Somalia. The rampant piracy which has continued to plague Somalia, is costing millions of dollars in ransoms, is preventing food aid from reaching a population in need, and contributing to the perpetual instability of this state. Therefore, the institutions have stated that international forces are “to use the necessary means, in conformity with international law ... for the repression of acts of piracy.” This clear statement that force can be used “shows the great importance attached by the international community to the severity and urgency of the piracy situation."

The Middle East Quartet which was created in 2007 at the Annapolis conference in an attempt to finally bring peace to Israeli-Palestinian conflict is said to be “failing” in its mission. The Quartet which is made up of the US, the EU, Russia, and the UN, has been warned by aid agencies that “the peace process would fall apart unless (they) made swift and dramatic progress towards its goals.” Progress has not been made due to a “vacuum in leadership.”

Tunisia, the country in which the Arab Spring began, is celebrating the end of a peaceful election. Indicators show that the moderate Islamic group Ennahda will soon have power. Ennahda is said to be modeled after the party of Prime Minister Erdoğan of Turkey. The elections took place with no violence. This is a positive sign of a peaceful transition to a new, more democratic government.

Opposition to the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has been firming since the beginning of the Arab Spring earlier this year.

The 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) will be opening session in Beijing on the 24th of October. ASEM is an inter-governmental open-forum discussion between high level officials from the 27 European Member states, European Commission, Japan, China, India, as well as 13 other Asian states. These talks are centered on hearing concerns and proposing solutions between all member states regarding the economic downturn and fears of a global recession. Also included on the agenda are environment and disaster relief issues. The talks are scheduled to last two days.

Leaders of one of the major Thai protests groups against the current government have surrendered to police. The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) had been protesting the government of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, who they claim as linked to the corrupted government under former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who has been exiled to Britain.

Many people and groups were angered and disappointed after the release of the UN Report September 2nd concerning the legality and morality of the Flotilla Blockade in Gaza and the attack of Israeli Forces on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara. The UN’s Palmer Report was given by President Alvaro Uribe, former New Zealand Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, and was then presented to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Some, including Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, have vocalized their concerns with, and opposition to, the Palmer-Report. On Tuesday, September 13th, five members of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) released a very different report, opposing statements released by the Palmer-Report, especially those concerning the legality of the blockade. Foreign Minister Davutoglu maintains that Turkey will be taking the fight to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), based in The Hague.

On November 13th the North Korean Military has threaten to partially restrict the overland passages through the Southern/Northern Korean boarders. This is due to the propaganda leaflets being flown via helium balloons, over the boarder from Southern civic groups. With tensions already high between the two nations, this would be a huge set back for the two countries.

The Brazilian army began exercises on the border of Paraguay and Brazil this week. This increased tensions between the two countries as Brazil already controls farm land within the country of Paraguay. Relations between peasants in Paraguay and Brazilian farmers has been violent as Paraguayans believe that Brazilians are occupying the land illegally.

Thailand and Cambodia have concluded three days of negotiations. The talks have come amid a border dispute that had caused arms build up and violence along the shared border. The states’ leaders discussed one of the most controversial issues, the Preah Vihear, with great ease. Both states came acclaiming positive results and future peace.

Indian car producer Tata abandoned its Nano plant in West Bengal Friday, citing protests from farmers whose land was bought to build the plant upon. Tata Group chief Ratan Tata said in Calcutta, “we cannot run a plant with police around all the time.” Indian Congress blamed the pull-out on the leftists, calling them Communists. Ratan Tata said his company hoped to be able to install plants in West Bengal in the future but for now, the plant would be abandoned. Additionally, the August opening was already delayed more than a month by protests.

on Wednesday video footage of military tanks in the city of Homs was released that showed mounted machine guns firing on civilians. These civilians are opposition to the government and it is reported that at least 3000 people have been killed since demonstrations have started

Government troops in northern Sri Lanka uncovered a 200-meter airstrip on Thursday. It is believed that the Air Tigers used it for many of their bombings across the country. Meanwhile, battles in Kulmulamunai and Mullaitivu resulted in government victories. The 59 Division has fully captured the village of Kulmulamunai, which happens to be a strategically vital victory.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai was in London this week to speak with the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. In the midst of these talks, the British Prime Minister was told that more troops had to be sent into Afghanistan. This would be on top of the eight thousand troops that they currently have stationed there.

President Ma of Taiwan met briefly with Chen Yunlin, a representative from The People’s Republic of China. Gifts and formalities were exchanged and trade agreements were dicussed. President Ma was not referred to as a “President” by Yunlin, so as to not show the recognition of Taiwan as anything but a de facto country. President Ma was also once a member of Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang party which lost to the communists in China in 1949. The Taiwanese government feels strongly that there will be no unification and no war with China, but feels the Taiwanese people should chose about their independence. China still will not allow this, and has a strong hold over Taiwan in various ways, militarily, economically, and just out of sheer numbers.

Specific issues were discussed in the very brief meeting, however it was one step towards diplomacy rather than conflict for power.

Ma Ying-jeou the President of Taiwan met with the head of China’s Associate for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS), Chen Yunlin. During the meeting (which lasted just over five minutes), Yunlin also met with Chiang Pin-kung, head of the Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF). Although tensions still exist between the states and the meeting caused hundreds of protestors to speak out, the two states made progress in their trade relationship. The agreements reached will improve financial and economic cooperation and show the promise of prosperity for both states.

Officials from China traveled to Taiwan over the last week in hopes of increasing ties between these two countries. This marked the highest level meeting between these two nations since Taiwan was established in 1949 by retreating democratic forces. The meeting met with protests in Taiwan but so far all has been peaceful. Many issues were talked over the course of the meetings. The two countries agreed on a trade of wildlife where china received a deer and Fermosa serow, while Taiwan received two pandas from China. However, more importantly the two countries agreed on new trade agreements dealing with food safety, mail services, flights, and direct shipping. They also agreed to meet regularly from now on in hopes of strengthening their relationships. This meeting will hopefully be one of many to come in bringing new found friendship between these two nations.

Thousands of Syrians gathered to protest the US raid at the now closed American Embassy in Damascus. The protest remained peaceful, while the crowd demanded the US government apologize for the raid which allegedly killed eight civilians. The US government has not commented on the protest and has not confirmed that the incident took place.

Thousands of Syrians have staged a mass anti-U.S. rally outside the U.S. embassy in Damascus, Syria. Signs reading “No to American terrorism” and “America the sponsor of destruction and wars” illustrates Syria’s protest to the recent U.S. military raid near the border of Syria and Iraq, killing eight civilians including children. The attack, U.S. officials say, targeted an Iraqi national who was smuggling arms and fighters across the border. The U.S. has repeatedly accused Syria of not doing enough to stop the trafficking of weapons and anti-government fighters into Iraq from their borders. Syria, on the other hand, has said it is doing all it can do to secure the border. In response to the attack, Syria has demanded a formal apology from the United States and has threatened to cut off cooperation with border security if any more incidents occur. The U.S. government has refused to confirm, deny or comment on the alleged attack.

Tensions between Lebanon and Syria are increasing as Syria deployed troops along its border with northern Lebanon last week under the pretext of preventing cross-border smuggling. This move coincided with a massive bombing in Damascus, Syria on Saturday, followed by a bombing in Tripoli, Lebanon on Monday. Official statements from both countries declare extremists groups to be responsible for the bombings. However, both countries expressed animosity towards one another following the attacks: Syrian president Bashar Assad claims that Northern Lebanon has become a breeding ground for extremism which threatens Syrian security, and Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian majority in the Lebanese Parliament declares that Syria’s deployment of troops is a direct threat to Lebanon’s sovereignty.

The government in Syria has agreed, in principle, to allow observers from the Arab League into the country. The main goal of the observers is to try to help stop the bloodshed occurring in Syria. The cause of the bloodshed is protests calling for a change in Syrian government. The Syrian government has asked for unspecified amendments to be made to the proposal. This comes after reports of an estimated 3,500 people being killed since the protests started in March.

American Special Forces crossed the Iraqi Syrian border Sunday in an attempt to locate and apprehend a suspected Iraqi Al-Queda terrorist who had been smuggling troops and weapons across the border. The raid began early Sunday morning with four helicopters crossing the border. Two helicopters provided support fire during the raid while two dropped troops who quickly stormed the suspected terrorist’s compound. Eight Syrian’s were killed in this action and the Syrian government says they were all civilians including two children. No American casualties were reported. The American’s have refused to comment on the success of the mission and whether they found the suspected terror suspect. Syria is asking for a formal apology from the United States for the total disregard of international law and international borders. A rally was held in Damascus protesting this raid by Americans and showing support for the Syrian people from the Syrian government. The United States as of this time has issued no formal apology.

A seven-month crackdown on pro-democracy protests continues to become more and more violent in Syria. Just this week, 30 civilians were killed in the uprising against President of Syria Bashar al-Assad’s rule. This has become one of the deadliest chapters in the Arab spring. Bashar al-Assad has been in power since 2000, after the death of his father who ruled for 30 years.

David Miliband, the British foreign minister, and Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, held talks in Syria’s capital of Damascus regarding Syria’s influence in promoting peace in the Middle East. “It is very important to understand that Syria has a big potential role to play in stability in the Middle East,” Miliband said. Miliband has argued that Syria can be a force for stability or a force for instability in respect to the Middle East peace process. While Syria has been shunned by the United States due to its ties with Iran, European nations are initiating steps to bring Syria back into the international scene. Britain has also supported ongoing rounds of indirect peace talks between Syria and Israel, which have been brokered by Turkey.

U.S. officials have reported that a US helicopter raid into Syria killed a key figure whom of which was allegedly involved in the smuggling of foreign fighters into Iraq.

From the perspective of the United States the raid was conceived to be a success as Iraqi Abu Ghadiyah was killed during the raid, while Syria on the other hand refers to the attack as an act of terrorist aggression.

Syria’s protests have stepped up as thousands are killed while the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, characterizes the situation as a civil war. Protests have been going on since March. The Syrian National Council (SNC) has organized with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) to oppose President Al-Assad. Both the SNC and FSA has come to an agreement that they will only use military force to defend civilians and not for offensive tactics.

The Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom held talks with the Syrian president in an effort to encourage the Middle Eastern country to help build comprehensive peace in the region. While the United States has remained critical of Syria’s seemingly apathetic attitude towards insurgent groups operating in the country, diplomatic contact between the United Kingdom and Syria has increased in recent months. The Foreign Minister hopes Syria can act as a positive link between the West and Iran.

The Royal Swedish Academy named him the recipient “because, through his condensed, translucent images, he gives us fresh access to reality.” Tomas Tranströmer is the first Swedish writer since Eyvind Johnson and Harry Martinson, who shared the prize in 1974, to claim the Nobel. The 80-year-old is the 108th recipient of the prestigious prize, given last year to Peruvian Mario Vargas Llosa. Presented by the Nobel Foundation, the award is only given to living writers and is worth 10 million kronor. The 80-year-old Swede from Stockholm began his serious writing career in 1954 when he published “17 dikter” (17 poems). A significant amount of his work has been translated into English and other languages including “The Sorrow Gondola” and “New Collected Poems,” published in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Tranströmer suffered a stroke in 1990 which impaired his speech, but he continues to write. He has been mentioned several times in the past as a candidate for the Nobel prize and was also tipped as one of the favorites this year. Aside from his work as a writer, Tranströmer was also respected for his work as a psychologist prior to suffering his stroke, working in juvenile prisons and with drug addicts and convicts.

One of the suspected leaders of the Basque Separatist movement, also known as the ETA, was arrested in France. He was arrested in connection to the killings of two Spanish police officers in Southern France last December. The arrest was the culmination of a joint effort between the Spanish and the French.

Zimbabwe’s Morgan Tsvangirai was not able to attend the previous scheduled summit because his passport is currently invalid. Mugabe’s government has stalled his passport that he was suppose to receive for three months, instead Tsvangirai was given an emergency travel document. Tsvangirai will attend a rescheduled summit aimed at breaking the deadlock that has left the country virtually leaderless with a growing economic crisis. Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe signed a power-sharing deal last month but have since been bitterly deadlocked. Tsvangirai accuses Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party of trying to hold on to too many of the most powerful ministries in a proposed 31-member unity Cabinet, including those responsible for finance and police.

Turkey has reauthorized strikes in Iraq on members of the Kurdish Workers’ Party (PKK). The conflict between the Turks and the PKK has been going on for over two decades. In this time, about 44,000 have been killed. The action by the government to extend the government mandate was issued days after soldiers were killed in an attack outside Diyarbakir, a primarily Kurdish city in southeast Turkey. The President of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, says that the air strikes and ground operations will be “used solely against the pinpointed targets of the terror organization.”

Relations between the United States and China are under further tension as a result of The United States sending over 5 billion dollars to help upgrade Taiwan’s F-16 fighter jet fleet. China has come right out and asked the United States to stop this assistance as it is damaging China’s plan of reunification with Taiwan, a country they see as a breakaway, and is also straining Chinese-U.S. relations. Similar events took place last year when China became distraught over an arms deal between the United States and Taiwan.

Several states are meeting in Oslo to begin signing a treaty banning the use of sub-munitions cluster bombs. These weapons, in use since World War Two, have come under harsh criticism for being out-of-date and a treat to civilians, whom some experts say are 98% of the victims of these bombs. Though several key states, including the United States, Russia, and China, have not signed, the treaty may stigmatize these weapons so that international pressure will discourage their use.

A series of aggressive actions by the Sri Lankan military has badly decimated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) separatist movement. Military actions have led to the destruction of 4 LTTE naval ships as well as seizure of the strategic port of Nachikudda. The LTTE and its attempts to separate from Sri Lanka have represented a deep threat to the legitimacy of the State. The domestic actions of the LTTE have marginalized Sri Lanka as a member in regional politics. The inability to maintain power within its own borders has left Sri Lanka out of the realm of international politics.

Many places in Asia, namely South Korea are providing health care to international patients. This healthcare is administered at a premium price and just as high of quality. Many of the hospitals in nations such as South Korea, Thailand, and The Philippines are not only providing care for patients, but are now competing on a worldwide level in different ways. They are battling to provide ambiance and resort-like qualities.

From personal experience, a hospital in Thailand rivals many five-star hotels in other countries. With fine cuisine and impeccable service, these hospitals are state of the art. One article states that South Korea is taking an Island and creating a “Health Town,” a 370-acre resort which provides health care amenities. “A visitor from China could have a medical checkup and his wife could have knee surgery while their children cavort on the beach” (1).
South Korea will host the 2008 International Medical Travel Conference from November 19-21 in Seoul. Many different countries will discuss their plans for expansion, as well as the hopeful pursuit of more successful medical tourism.

South Korea looks to relieve tensions with North Korea by sending $6.94 million dollars to their northern neighbors. The money, which will go through the United Nations, intends to equip North Korean hospitals battle malnutrition and starvation that the people of North Korea are suffering from. Many infants and children of North Korea are the victims of starvation, and South Korea looks to offer some relief to those who are. The money itself will not be given directly by South Korea, it will go through the United Nations.

The African National Congress in South Africa has been in strong command for the past 14 years but recently the party seems to be dividing in two. The split within the party has been described as keeping the “outs” trying to get in and the “ins” trying to keep the “outs” out. They will be holding a convention in Johannesburg, the announcement that a new political party will be started on December 16. The name has not been be officially announced but promotional t-shirts were named the South African National Congress.

Last weekend, former South African President Thabo Mbeki’s nine year term came to a disgraceful end after the ruling African National Congress (ANC) forced him out of office. Mbeki is currently being charged with corruption in the government, and was asked to leave his position early. Parliament soon elected the new Interim President Kgalema Motlanthe for the next seven months.
Motlanthe was endorsed by the leader of the ANC, Jacob Zuma, who is predicted to be elected as the new President next year. Motlanthe previously spend time in jail during Apartheid along side Nelson Mandela. He is very highly appreciated by the ANC, and was voted in by 269 to 50. Some of his first jobs include appointing new members of the government to take over the jobs os some of Mbeki’s past advisors. In addition he has promised to keep the economy stable and help to create jobs for South Africans. Motlanthe is described as a “peacemaker” and the people of South Africa are very confident in the Parliament’s decision.

South Africa’s cabinet has made the decision to withhold aid to Zimbabwe until a representative government is established. South Africa has taken a tougher stance on Zimbabwe stating that the political disagreement cannot justify the current humanitarian crisis. The new South African leader has rejected the “quiet diplomacy” that was being pursued for a firmer approach. With half the population of Zimbabwe projected to be in need of food aid next year and the economy in freefall, the situation looks dire. The political deadlock which is inhibiting this earmarked aid is due to the failure to form a united representative government between the Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Zimbabwe claims that this refusal of aid is not a major concern.

On Monday October 10, the Italian vessel, Montecristo, was seized by Somalian pirates 620 miles from Somalia. The ship sailed from Liverpool, heading towards Vietnam with a cargo full of iron. There were five armed pirates that held the Montecristo, which had and 23 crew members on board. The Italian ship is owned by the D’Alesio group, stating their main concern now is the safety of the crew. The Italian foreign ministry states the crisis unit is supervising the event and is contacting the shipping company and officials.

The Piracy situation has been escalading in the past few weeks in Somalia. On the 23rd France arrested nine suspected pirates and handed them over to regional officials in northern Somalia. Somalia has recently turned to NATO for help in the situation, along with the International Naval forces to patrol the area.

An American blockade of the coast around the Somali city of Hobyo is currently being enforced, with help expected from Russia, as a Russian frigate carrying both marines and special forces moves towards the area. The international reaction to the capture of the Ukrainian cargo ship The Faina by Somali based pirates has been strong. Including a proposed EU force to prevent piracy and ongoing negotiations between the pirates and the owners of the cargo on the ship.

There has been a surge in piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia during 2008 and they are continuing today. Sirius Star, a Saudi Arabian oil tanker, was hijacked on Tuesday by Somali pirates. The captured crew on the Sirius Star includes two British citizens, two Polish citizens, one Croatian, one Saudi national and 19 Filipinos. Over 90 vessels have been attacked by the pirates this year.

On October 4th, 2011 a suicide bomber killed more than 75 people outside a government building located in central Mogadishu, Somalia. This attack was initiated by Al-Shabab, an Islamist militant group currently fighting against African Union forces in order to gain control of Somalia.

Palestine may not have a state but as of Sunday they have, for the first time, a stadium to call their own. Palestine, with help of FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, renovated a stadium outside of Jerusalem which has become the home field of the Palestinian soccer team. The team hosted neighboring Jordan in a friendly match with the two sides tied 1-1.

The Slovakian government is the holdout of the European Union member states to approve the new bailout funds and funding mechanism. The current coalition government in the Slovakian parliament has fractured on the issue. The Slovakian government will likely approve the measures eventually, as is the desire of the majority party, however, members of the coalition have opposed the measure and the opposition party has expressed a support of the spirit of the legislation.

With only 17 nations needed to approve the bailout plan to increase the economic conditions of Europe, the European Union is finding it difficult to cooperate. One nation that seems to not want to be a player in the non-zero sum game is Slovakia. Slovakia’s governing body is concerned about taxing their citizens for thus bailout plan. Despite the country’s concerns, other countries of the union are still pushing for the binding agreement of 17 nations to approve the bailout plan.

An airport in Sirte has been taken by supporters of the National Transitional Council (NTC). Sirte is one of the few main cities still loyal to Gaddafi. The airport had fallen into the hands of the NTC before, but was regained by Gaddafi supporters a short time later. Resistance was strong, but not enough seeing as the airport fell once again to the NTC. The airport’s location is important due to the fact that it is close to the center of the city of Sirte. Gaddafi’s location is still unknown as the fighting continues and members of his family continue to flee Libya.

The National Transitional Council (NTC) took back the airport, after pro- Qaddafi defenders had taken control two weeks ago. Sirte is the birthplace of Qaddafi. Intense fighting broke out between the NTC and Qaddafi’s defenders. After three deaths and citizens being endangered by the artillery firing, the National Transitional Council has control over the Airport and airbase. Libyan officials have asked the United Nations for aid for the citizens of Sirte who have been injured by NATO attack and the Airport rage.

Israeli forces have evicted some 200 settlers from a building known as the “house of peace,” in the town of Hebron. Israeli forces recently stormed the house after settlers refused an order by the Israeli Supreme Court to leave the house until the residence’s proper owner could be identified. This resistence, following days of simmering hostility between Palestinian and Settler groups, caused the Israeli army to act. Once in place they were able to remove the antagonistic settlers from the residence within thrity minutes with minimal casualties.

However, after the settlers had been removed from the house, they proceeded to set fire to Palestinian cars and property. Several Palestinians were hurt and four settlers were arrested.

Montenegro along with many other states recognized Kosovo’s independence sparking disapproval from Serbia causing them to expel Montenegro ambassador. Kosovo is considered by Serbs the cradle of their Orthodox Christian religion and statehood therefore very important to the Serbs. Several other states lead the way in recognizing Kosovo’s independence about 50 UN nations. Montenegro claims this not an act against Serbia but a chance to enter the European Union and NATO. Serbia did however win a diplomatic struggle Wednesday at the U.N. General Assembly, which approved a resolution to ask the International Court of Justice to provide a formal opinion on the legality of Kosovo’s declaration of independence.

Second son of Muammar Gadaffi, Seif Al-Islam, has expressed his willingness to turn himself over to the Hagues War Crimes Court. Seif Al-Islam apparently has expressed concern and fear for his own life after the death of his father. The Libyan rebels who executed Muammar Gadaffi were exceptionally brutal when they discovered the former Libyan leader. Seif Al-Islam knows that his fate would be just as brutal if caught while on the run. The realization that he may not be safe across African borders has made him realize spending a sentence in a jail cell would be less excruciating. Seif Al-Islam has been rumored to be looking to strike a deal with the ICC to turn himself over to the Hagues court.

The ongoing civil war in Sri Lanka between the Sinhalese and the minority Tamil resulted in a sea battle Thursday. Sri Lanka’s navy says during a routine patrol near the fishing port of Nachchikuda in north-western Sri Lanka they were attacked by Tamil rebels. During this battle the navy sank seven small and three medium rebel boats and killing at least 25 rebels. There has been no word from the side of the rebels on their account of the battle. The battle also sparked awareness of the Sri Lankan policy requiring people arriving in the western province, mostly people displaced because of the war, they are mostly Tamil people.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have been negotiating for the past few days on economic, religious, and terrorist issues. Pakistan asked Saudi Arabia to provide it with a deferral of one-third of Pakistan’s oil payments. Pakistan governments believe that the deferral will be of great help to Pakistan’s struggling economy. The two states have also discussed a possible inter-faith discussion and proposals of bringing together Afghan government and Taleban leaders.
Pakistani government officials have declared the negations to have positive outcomes that will be finalized in the near future. Saudi Arabia has pledged to give financial aid to Pakistan.

By Thursday night, Michael Sata, 74, won Zambia’s presidential elections. Sata ran against ten other candidates, but only one other candidate was considered his contender, Rupiah Banda. Although less than half of the Zambia’s population voted, Sata won electoral election by 43% of total votes.

Michael Sata won the election to become Zambia’s new president after receiving 43% of the vote. Riots broke out after results were kept from the public. The previous president, Rupiah Banda, had been in office for many years with his program known as the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). Sata is in favor of improved labor conditions, mainly in foreign firms. He had run for president four times before finally being elected this year.

Michael Sata, of the Patriotic Front party has one the recent Presidential election in Zambia, after a couple of days of strenuous vote counting. This election has been overshadowed by the riots that have ensued which have been caused by a media ban on announcing results. Many are accusing the Movement for Multiparty Democracy of abusing government monies during this election process.

The European Union is renewing its sanctions to keep Iran at bay. There are concerns that Iran is making nuclear weapons. The old sanctions did not worked, for Iranian banks found ways to keep the State running. With the new sanctions the EU hopes to restrict Iran even further to make sure no nukes are made or sent to Iran. Before the UN can get with the plan, Russia and China has to be on board.

A French judge issued a warrant for the arrest and trial of Rwandan President Paul Kagame’s chief of protocol, Rose Kabuye. After her arrest in Germany, Rwandans began protesting in their capital against the unfair treatment of African states in the international sphere. Kagame released a statement indicating that France had violated Rwandan sovereignty and generally lacked respect for African states.

Rwanda decided to expel Germany’s envoys and has recalled its own ambassador amid a rough conflict over one a detained presidential aide. The detainee is Rose Kabyue and she has been detained in Frankfurt since Sunday in connection with a killing that allegedly was the catalyst for the 1994 genocide. Kabuye’s involvement as one of the nine senior officials connected to the shooting of former President Juvenal Habyarimana’s plane. Rwanda’s Foreign Minister, Rosemary Museminali asserted that the German envoy would not be welcome in Rwanda until the arrest of protocol chief Kabuye was resolved.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met earlier this week to discuss the recent worldwide economic problems, talk about a continuing Russian-German dialogue, and attempt to ignore the recent “conflict” in Georgia.

Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev and Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev are joining together to form a new political party in Russia. Gorbachev and Lebedev, frustrated by what they feel is backwards progression from democracy by Russia’s current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, have created the Independent Democratic Party of Russia. Neither Gorbachev or Lebedev can confirm if the party will run in the 2011 Duma Elections.

Earlier this week, Russian armed forces withdrew from Georgian buffer zones around the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This pullout shows compliance with the ceasefire deal signed this summer to end the short war between Russia and Georgia over the two areas.

Russia has begun pulling its troops from checkpoints stationed around the breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia---a move which both Georgia and Russia have confirmed. Even so, Russia is intent on leaving thousands of troops within the separatists regions and has reaffirmed its recognition of the two regions as independent states. While it has been pleased with the withdrawal, Georgia continues to denounce the Russian occupation of the breakaway territories and their Russian recognition as independent states.

Russia has expressed outrage over reports that Ukraine had supplied Georgia with military technology and technicians before the start of the brief Russian-Georgian war in early August. Russia believes Ukrainian involvement in the conflict is a “crime” which would “pit Russian and Ukrainian peoples against each other.” Ukraine denies these allegations, firmly believing that the report would prove to be unfounded.

After relations had soured with the event of the Georgian-Russian conflict, Russia has agreed to gradually reengage in negotiations with NATO. Ministers from both parties have agreed to hold informal talks in which each will voice their concerns. While the United States had welcomed the talks, it still considers Russia’s actions in the Georgian-Russian conflict to be “unacceptable.”

Russia plans to send short-range Iskander missiles to the Kaliningrad region in response to the United States’s plans to deploy its anti-missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. While the United States has stated that the shield is a defense against “rogue nations,” Russia sees it as a threat. Concern over a new arms race has been expressed by states throughout the region.

Russia’s President, Dmitry Medvedev, has signed treaties with the Georgian breakaway regions, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The treaties signify Russia’s commitment to protect and defend these regions from outside attack. Moreover, the friendship pacts suggest Russia’s plan for military, economic, and diplomatic cooperation between Moscow and the two regions. Russia has recognized the two regions as independent after its brief fight with Georgia in early August.
Georgia’s President, Mikhail Saakashvili, is deeply concerned by Russia’s actions, arguing that Russia’s move appeared more like an invasion and annexation. President Medvedev, on the other hand, believes the treaties demonstrate the necessary measures both Russia and the separatist regions have taken to eliminate the threat of peace and to resist any acts of aggression.

This week, Russia rejected a second US proposal to collaborate on a project to install a missile-defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. The first proposal came in the beginning of 2007 and similar to the recent plan, included anti-ballistic missile components such as interceptor missiles. In the new proposal, the Bush administration has included the possibility of having Russian observers at the missile-defense locations. The US Missile Defense Agency is looking for collaboration with Russia but Russia not only fails to explain its objection, but has also clearly explained that the state is waiting to discuss the issue once Obama takes office.

The lower house of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, voted unanimously to endorse the friendship treaties with Abkhazia and South Ossetia which were signed in the Kremlin last month. Russia recognized both provinces as independent states following its war with Georgia in August. The treaties allow for the deployment of 3,800 Russian troops in each of the two provinces. These treaties will help to establish military, economic, and diplomatic ties between Russia and the two regions. The Russian Foreign Ministry believes that these treaties were not only necessary for diplomatic reasons, but to create a legal basis for the deployment of Russian troops in the two territories. Although Russia argues that it fully met its commitments under a peace brokered deal by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Georiga believes that Russia broke its commitment under the peace deal by keeping large numbers of troops in the two breakaway regions and failed to withdraw from areas which had been under Georgian control before the war in August. The peace brokered deal obliged Moscow to withdraw its forces from areas outside Georgia’s breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Russia has lent Venezuela one billion dollars to help Venezuela purchase Russian military technology. The loan will go toward the 4.4 billion in arms the Latin American country has promised to buy from Russia over a dozen arms deals signed between the two nations since 2005.

After 18 years of negotiations over the WTO (World Trade Organization) Russia is on the verge of joining. This would be a huge membership as Russia has a very large amount of exports to Europe and this begins to streamline the cooperation between the states. Georgia has the power to veto Russia’s involvement in WTO and waited to decide because they are longtime rivals.

Georgia signs trade deal giving Russia access to the WTO. This has been an 18-year journey for Russia, who has tried to gain access to the WTO since 1993. Entry requires approval from each WTO member country and Russia has failed to get approval from Georgia because of the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries, which last a fought a War in 2008.

The president of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, has taken a trip to a city in Southern Russia, to highlight the increased co-operation between the two countries. This meeting with President Medvedev is aimed in increasing military and economic ties between the two countries.

Russia announced plans on buying pilotless aircrafts from Israel but a final decision has not been made. The idea of these aircrafts seems to have stemmed from the use of them in Georgia during August offensive on its breakaway Republic of South Ossetia. The unmanned reconnaissance drones performed well in Georgia. Reports said Georgia had acquired a total of 40 drones, worth around $2millions each, from Israel between 2006 and 2008.

Khaddafi was brutalized when he was caught by the rebels that he despised so much. He said that he was going to fight to the last bullet and that’s what he did. The rebels were able to take hold of him and beat him while the rest of the rebels celebrated in the background. It is not known how exactly he was killed, but the official story is that he was killed in a crossfire between the two sides when he was trying to escape but it is widely speculated that he was executed on the spot.

In a speech delivered to the German Marshall Fund in Washington, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has warned Russian leaders that their choices “are putting Russia on a one-way path to self-imposed isolation and international irrelevance.” Amidst pressure from Washington and protests from the international community, Russian President Dmitri Medvedev signed treaties with separatist regions South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both territories of Georgia. These treaties guarantee protection in the event of another attack and will allow Russia to build military bases and deploy additional troops to the regions.

Recent evidence has shown that the attackers who struck Mumbai, India---leaving more than 170 dead---were Pakistani terrorists. This evidence has complicated US diplomatic efforts. A day after meeting with Indian leaders, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Pakistani leaders to urge the two countries to work together to find the attackers and bring them to justice. Rice pointed out that Indian and Pakistani governments already have a significant capacity to combat the problem, and further emphasized the importance of preventing such problems. Her attempt to smooth the waters between these two neighboring rivals has not gone unnoticed.

North Korea plans to restart its nuclear program by rebuilding the Yongbyon reactor and start processing plutonium once again. The resumption of nuclear work in North Korea would violate the terms of an agreement to dismantle its Yongbyon nuclear reactor. International inspectors were barred from the nuclear plant and the international community is warning North Korea of the implications of restarting its nuclear program.

After the collapse of a proposed Treaty in Yemen on Tuesday between governmental forces and protesters, violence has only increased in urban areas, particularly in the capital, Sanaa. Tensions have only increased ever since a failed attempt on the life of President Saleh’s life, his subsequent return to the country, and his refusal to step down. Several outside powers have backed a plan to have Saleh leave power and have a transitional government take over, but Saleh refuses. He has now seemingly embarked on a rather brutal bombardment strategy to try and break the will of the protesters.

The United States military ordered for the capture or execution of a known Al Quaeda terrorist, Abu Ghadiya. His operation of organizing arms and men to cross between the Iraq and Syrian border to fight U.S. forces, was based out of Syria. As a result, four U.S. military helicopters crossed eight kilometers into the Syrian border and dispatched eight Special Forces to raid the suspected building which housed the operation and Ghadiya. Unconfirmed reports have stated that there were five killed, four were adult children and the other their father. Also, one woman claims to have been shot as well. There has been no comment on the status of Ghadiya. The Syrian government has denounced the U.S. incursion into their state and has held public demonstrations of American flag burnings and mass rallies against the United States.

children all over Africa are being kidnapped and forced into becoming killing blood thirsty machines. More than 30,000 children have been taken from their homes, schools and villages to fight bloody wars over tribe territory or political issues. These children are brain washed and trained to kill. Many never return home and those who do are turned away by their family and friend. The African government signed a treaty with the United Nations to stop recruitment of children, but the African government is stuck on what to do with the many children left behind. These children are left with the trill of killing they do not know how to act with other children and they are very violent.

On September 22 2011 refuges hide away in their camps, Earlier on this week an uprising of black protesters spoke up about the over throwing of Muammar Gaddafi. The migrants see strength in numbers and hope they can escape the arbitrary detentions, arrests and beatings that many of their fellow migrants have been subjected to. Over the over throwing of Muammar Gaddafi.

Conflict between the United States and Syria continues as the United States pressed further raids on potential terrorism present within Syria. Syria, who has had a long standing feud with Israel has now lashed out at the United States for their raids on terrorism within Syria. Syria views the United States’s actions as ‘terrorist aggression’. Additionally, the United States is considering closing the U.S. embassy in Damascus because of riots and fears of violence towards Americans.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak decided to close the Gaza Strip crossings yesterday. This order was made after a Qassam rocket was said to have hit Western Negev. Whether or not there was a rocket is disputable. Israeli sources say that there was a malfunction in the alert system; however, international sources claim that there was an attack. Either way this would be the second Qassam rocket attack in ten days in this region.

On Thursday, December 4, Vladimir Putin spent the majority of his annual question and answer session reassuring Russians that they will come out of the current economic recession. In fact, he stated that the effects of the recession would be “minimal.” He faced a series of questions, the bulk of them pertaining to the economy, and he was quick to place the blame on “American recklessness.” He also claimed that the United States “contaminated all leading economies of the world with this crisis.” However, he then turned on his offensive position to state that he is optimistic about the new Obama regime.

Putin also addressed economic differences with the Ukraine and Georgia, and he was also criticized for oil policies, namely rejection of economic diversification efforts. Russia is currently suffering due to the sharp drop in crude oil prices, as those revenues are crucial to Russia’s economy. Finally, Putin promised Russians that their pensions and unemployment benefits would not be compromised given the economic crunch.

Earlier this week, Vladimir Putin indicated that he may run for Prime Minister in the upcoming Russian elections. Putin is ineligible for a third term as president, and must therefore find other means for affecting policy. It is believed by some that he may have ulterior motives, since he does specifically state that the new president must be “a person with whom I work as a team,” i.e. someone who will follow his lead.

The Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin, and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met in Moscow to sign off on a lot of exchanges between Russia and China. The main exchange signed off on was the Russian trade of oil for Chinese loans. Russian oil will be sent to China through an oil pipeline that will be a part of the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline that will supply Asian markets with oil. In exchange for this oil, China will be lending the Russian oil companies approximately $20 billion. Russia has also agreed to build two new nuclear power reactors in China. China plans to financially support the Russian development of a civilian heavy helicopter, and Russia will sell China four heavy helicopters. In addition to these agreements, many others were made between Russia and China.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to discuss increased oil trade between Russia and Venezuela and increased military cooperation between the two countries. Russia has decided to loan Venezuela one billion dollars as a part of this increased cooperation.

Ehud Barak, Israel’s minister of defense gaffed earlier this week when comments made by him, about Iran and how if he were Iranian he would “probably” have a nuclear program, made headlines. Barak was later caught stating that his comments were misunderstood, and he did not sympathize with Iran.

Most of the public transports had joined in to strike against the debt crisis in Greece. With growing problems with protestors and police it was only a matter of time when transportation joins in the protesting. As Greece enters in a nationwide strike increasing their dues and the State wants to cut pays and increase taxes to it off, but it seems to cause more trouble.

10,000 people on Friday protested the Iraqi government’s plan to sign a security agreement with the United States maintaining U.S. troops for up to three years. Hezbollah, a group in Lebanon, has urged the Iraq government to reject the proposal. Under the security agreement, U.S. forces would have to leave the country altogether by 2011.

A protest has become the most severe case of violence since the ousting of President Mubarak in February, leaving 24 people dead. The protest was sparked by the bombing of a Coptic church in Egypt, an event blamed on Muslims. Coptic Christians, who make up approximately 10% of the Egyptian population, have been major leaders in the protest marches, though others not affiliated with the religion have joined. The march has been met by army soldiers who reportedly firing teargas and rubber bullets. There has also been word that live ammunition has been fired.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, University students, high school students, labor unions and teachers went to the streets, marching in protest. This protest is meant to show support for the movement for education reform. On Tuesday, some protesters set fire to a city bus, along with creating burning barricades, which stopped traffic. Police used water cannons and tear gas on the protesters and more than sixty were arrested. The leaders of the protests say that they disapprove of the destruction caused by some protesters, claiming that it is not associated with their movement.

With 26 votes in favor of the deal, a swap between Israel and Hamas has been agreed. The Agreement involves the trade of one Israeli-an soldier for 1000 Palestine prisoners. 450 has been released, the other 550 will be released in about two month. Soldier Gilad Shalit, has been held in Hamas captivity for about five years.

: A prisoner exchange occurred between Israel and Palestine on Tuesday. Four hundred forty-seven Palestinians returned to their families in exchange for one Israeli man held captive by Palestinian authorities. This exchange comes during heavy Palestinian and Israeli tension after Palestine submitted a bid for statehood to the UN.

Palestine and Israel have come to agreements as to how to go about settling a prisoner exchange. Israel agreed to release over 1000 prisoners in exchange for one Israeli. The one prisoner, Gilad Shalit, has been in Palestine custody for five years. The Israelis decided to release such a high number of prisoners due to the fact that Shalit’s family has maintained a campaign for his release for some time and his eventual release would raise morale. Citizens of Hamas run Gaza celebrated the exchange. None of the high profile Palestine prisoners are being released in the deal.

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan expressed the need to recognize Palestine as its own state. However, Erdoğan has also stated that the Israeli government’s opposition to recognizing Palestine is becoming a barrier to justice in the MIddle East. The Palestinians are in the process of creating a bid to present to the United Nations in the hopes of becoming a sovereign member. Erdoğan also announced the possibility of a civil war in Syria between the Sunni Muslims and Alawites. Erdoğan will continue his tour to Tunisia.

Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki made televised address on Tuesday night defending the three-year security agreement Iraq signed with the United States. The Prime Minister reassured Iraqis that representatives from all sects had been involved in the negotiating process and that the agreement was the best option available for Iraq.

The Prime Minister of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, went on a tour recently of Middle Eastern and North African states affected by the Arab Spring. Erdoğan visited the Arab-League in Cairo, Egypt as well as Tunisia and Libya. Erdoğan spoke on secular democracy and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Turkish Prime Minister Erdoğan came to Cairo to speak. In his speech he advocated for the spread of democracy throughout the Arab lands, using the work of his party as an example for the cohabitation of democracy and Islam. He brought with him approximately 200 business people, seemingly in hope of increasing trade relations in Northern Africa. He also criticized the government of Israel, to the delight of the Egyptian citizens.

President Gül of Turkey recently visited Germany. The reaction of the citizens of Germany toward his visit was positive. During his visit, he met with the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel. The meeting was well-received by German population.

Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, declared his candidacy for president at a United Russia Party Congress meeting. He announced that his running mate would be the current president, Dmitry Medvedev. While some people would say that this move would set Russia up for disaster, the majority of speculators claim that this could be a sign of stability for Russia’s finances.

Representatives from mainland China and Taiwan met in Taipei to further build ties across the Formosa Strait. The growing relations are to be symbolized by an exchange of flora and fauna, notably with the island receiving two Giant Pandas, the universal symbol of mainland China. In return, the PRC will accept a pair of the goat-like Formosan serow and two spotted deer.

The UN conference on climate change is being held this year in Poznan, Poland. The official title is the 14th UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. It is the fourth meeting of the signers of the Kyoto Protocol. The main goal of this conference is to have the signers to agree to cut back emissions further than initially agreed upon, especially because many states have not adhered to the protocol. They now want rich states to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25% to 40% by 2020, from the 1990 levels.

On Monday, September 15, in Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe, agreed to a power-sharing deal with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai (also the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change) and the deputy Prime Minister, Arthur Mutambara. However, after attempts at negotiating the specific distribution of power, the leaders have reached a stalemate. Mugabe refuses to cede the five significant ministries Tsvangirai demands. Neither side shows any indication to actually compromise, as was decided upon in the Monday agreement.

The power-sharing deal is expected to help jump-start the effort to reshape Zimbabwe’s government and pull the nation out of economic crisis. But the leaders must reach an agreement in order to proceed with the transformation.

On Monday, a power-sharing agreement was signed in Harare, Zimbabwe. After twenty-eight years in office President Robert Mugabe will give up some of his power to the opposition leader, Mr. Tsvangirai. This agreement has come at a critical time for Zimbabwe, because its economy is nearing complete collapse. This is the country’s way of continuing its second liberation.

President Mugabe and Prime Minister Tsvangirai are deadlocked over the division of the posts in the cabinet. Mugabe, who represents the Zanu-PF, will ultimately lose power because the rivaling MDC party will soon take control of 16 cabinet positions, thus leaving 15 positions for the Zanu-PF. But, President Mugabe plans to still control the government by claiming the most important cabinet positions. The breakaway faction, MDC, will continue to insist on having an equally powerful position in the government.

After violence in Kenya caught the world’s attention after the presidential elections the two sides have come to a truce. President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga Thursday have said they will work together to heal and re-unite the country after violence tore the nation along tribal lines. The ceremony that announced the power sharing agreement came after months of violence that followed last year’s disputed elections. The agreement splits the cabinet evenly between the former bitter enemies from opposing parties. After the compromise, opposition leader Raila Odinga was sworn in as prime minister.

The State Statistics Service confirmed that poverty in Russia has increased by more than two million in the past year. Of Russia’s 21.1 million person population, about 15 percent is below poverty.

After three decades, Egyptians were finally able to vote since the fall of the President Hosni Mubarak. The first round is the first in the multi-step process, which allows citizens to pick members of the lower house of parliament. The elections will be conducted over three rounds, each involving polling in nine governors. The results in the first round of voting are being postponed and said to be released on either Friday or Saturday.

Pope Benedict XVI is challenged to reform the Catholic Church by Germany. Many Germans are gradually losing faith in the church and its traditionalist ideals. Scandals and tension have aided in over 100,000 Germans leaving the church.

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), in a cross-border raid on Turkey last month, captured eight Turkish soldiers and killed twelve others. But after the threat of being chased and killed by Iraqi troops, the 8 were released. The main focus of the story should be the commitment by Iraq to aide Turkey in their fight against these rebels.

Pirates off the coast of Somali continue their pattern of hijacking ships and holding the ships and their crews for ransom. This week, the pirates made their most impressive seizure, taking control of a Saudi oil tanker, Sirius Star, that measures greater than the size of a US aircraft carrier. Despite attempts at interference of foreign states and international armies, the Somali pirates continue to hold Sirius Star, as well as several other ships, hostage in an effort to collect money for new boats and weapons. The ship has been spotted off the coast of Somali, in the Gulf of Aden, where the pirates have attacked at least 90 other vessels. The Somali pirates’ stealth, experience, and strength of weaponry help deter international involvement and advance their plight.

An increasing number of pirate attacks on merchant ships off the coast of Somalia have been occurring, affecting commerce worldwide. Over 50 attacks have been reported this year, a significant increase from a reported 13 total attacks last year. As a result, insurance prices for ship owners have been increasing and possible military involvement may soon be necessary.

Somali pirates have hijacked a cargo ship holding battle tanks and hostages for a ransom of 20 million dollars. The Somali government has reached out to foreign powers to use force against the piratesm, after which the pirates declared they would be ready to battle any commando-style rescue attempt. The US Navy did not disclose any information or any plan to use force, but they did warn against harming the 20 crew members or trying to unload the ship’s cargo of 33 Soviet-designed T-72 tanks and other weapons. The pirates deny any connections with terrorism but only a want the ransom money. The U.N. has proposed a resolution that calls on all countries with any stake in maritime safety to send ships and aircrafts to fight piracy off Somalia. These pirates are known to hold out and usually receive the ransom they demand. Countries from Russia, France, to the United States all have sent help to Somalia in an attempt to end piracy, none have yet to succeed.

Extreme weather and drought has driven Somalian’s from their homes in search of nutrition and safety. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is currently developing a plan to restore and prevent future humanitarian disasters from occurring. However, aid is being hindered by the Somali government’s confusion with policy. It was said that no foreign aid workers would be allowed into Al-Shabab territory, but the areas that have taken the biggest hit from the famine has been controlled by Al-Shabab. 20 humanitarian agencies have urged the Somali government to “put their people before politics", but until then, families in Al-Shabab territory will continue to be deprived of the aid they need to survive.

Greek President George Papandreou puts the brakes on a Referendum vote

After a week of turmoil in the greece the new interim government is sworn into office with Prime minister Papademos. Papademos will lead a coalition until elections, which are expected to be held in February. The new coalition government, formed on Friday, includes ministers from the country’s two main parties - the Socialists who have governed for the past two years, and the conservatives, as well as from a smaller right-wing party. Among those included in the cabinet is Evangelos Venizelos, retaining the key position of finance minister.

Earlier this month, Israel froze tax money owed to the Palestinian Authority (PA) after the PA asked for, and was granted, membership to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Israel said it will soon release the withheld funds but warned that the PA should discontinue its “unilateral steps” around peace talks.

A 19-year Palestinian boy, Qassem Mughrabi, was shot dead by Israeli soldiers after running his car into a group of Israelis at a bus stop. The boy’s family insists Qassem did not mean any harm, claiming he did not have a driver’s license and thus never learned how to drive a car correctly. Israel insists the attack was deliberate, saying he decided to carry out the attack after a failed romance with his cousin. The attack resulted in nineteen injuries and no fatalities. Many Israelis are calling for a return to the practice of demolishing the home of the attacker’s family.

Representatives for the United Nations recently claimed that the United Kingdom, France, and Columbia will withhold from voting on Palestine’s bid for statehood if it indeed goes to a vote in the Security Council. Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, has announced that Palestine will not settle for a status upgrade to an “observer state”. Palestine’s foreign minister, Riyad al-Maliki, has announced that although Palestine won its membership into the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), it will not seek to further its status at any UN body other than at the UN Security Council.

Palestine President, Mahmoud Abbas, placed advertisements in several Israeli newspapers. These advertisements were published in Hebrew and promote an agreement to bring peace to the area. The advertisement laid out what Israel would have to do in order to secure Arab cooperation with the arrangement. Israel has recognized that the plan has some strong points. Others remain skeptical that this peace agreement could be effective arguing that Palestine, in particular, is unable to achieve peace internally let alone with Israel. Likewise, the response from Arab states was mixed with both critics and supporters of this political move.

After attempting to ride an “Israeli” bus to into Jerusalem, six Palestinian activists were detained by Israeli police on Tuesday. Palestinians are not allowed into Jerusalem without a permit issued by Israeli officials and, although there are no official laws that ban Palestinians from riding Israeli buses, it has become a social rule and many bus drivers have refused to pick up Palestinians at bus stops. It is reported that the occupied territory in the West Bank, Palestine, is “home to 2.5 million Palestinians and some 300,000 Jewish occupiers”. Although it is against “international law” to create settlements, Israel has been occupying and building settlements in Palestine with increasing numbers in recent years.

Palestine is to be admitted as a member of UNESCO after 107 delegates voted to approve the State. Palestine is striving to become a full member of the United Nations. The United States and Israel are opponents of Palestine joining the United Nations.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) based in Afghanistan performed air strikes against Pakistan at the border and killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. The Pakistan soldiers did not fight back because there was a communication error that prevented the all clear message to go through properly. Pakistan’s Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani stated that all soldiers have full permission to fight against any NATO member who creates a cross-border attack. He wants to make sure that in the event that NATO attacks again, all his soldiers are prepared and ready to stand up against them unlike the previous recent situation.

United States Join Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen made accusations that Pakistan is funding the Haqqani, a group affiliated with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda; Pakistan denies any dealings with Haqqani.

On October 2nd the American lawmakers overturned a three decade ban on atomic trade with India. This now gives Delhi access to US civilian fuel and nuclear technology in exchange for inspections of only their civilian facilities. However, Pakistan is now also demanding a civilian nuclear agreement with America in the wake of its regional rival’s deal with the US.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, also known as North Korea, has formally announced the banning of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from monitoring the nuclear facility in Yongbyong. This formal declaration has been just another step towards the PDRK backing out of a disarmament agreement made during the Six Party Talks held last October which involved the five world powers: United States, China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea.

Recent drops in crude oil prices have caused stress for oil producing nations such as Iran, Libya and Venezuela. Predictions show that prices could drop as low as USD 10 per barrel. Currently prices are about USD 68 per barrel after a record high this past July of USD 147.27 a barrel. This is more than a fifty percent drop. Due to the crisis, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has called an emergency meeting in Vienna to resolve the issue.

For sometime now the former Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, has been on trial for exceeding her authority in negotiating a 2009 agreement over gas with Russia.Prosecutors are currently requesting that she be sentenced to seven years in jail. While the Czech President, Vaclav Klaus, is requesting that the trial refrain from being a political or personal trial.

President Al Assad is facing more and more pressure every day. At first he was just criticized in the way he was handling the 8 month protest in his country. However, outside powers have called for his removal and his regime is causing Syria significant harm. His heavy handed dealings with the protestors has even cause part of the army to split off and attack governmental forces. These renegarde soldiers call themselves the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and recently attacked an airforce base. The situation in Syria continues to grow closer to all out civil war everyday. Protestors are growing in number, and President Al Assad refuses to back down amid heavy outside pressure, such as economic sanctions from the Arab League and the European Union.

Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia was named the new crown prince and Deputy Prime Minister today. Prince Nayef takes over this position after Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz passed away from colon cancer roughly a week ago. Prince Nayef was appointed by the Allegiance Council, which was set up in 2006 to help ease the process of succession in Saudi Arabia. Prince Nayef has been the Interior Minister for Saudi Arabia since 1975. Prince Nayef is largely credited for ending al Qaeda attacks in the kingdom.

In Nigeria’s Delta region, the fighting between the Movement of the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) and security forces in this proclaimed “oil war” has escalated. These events have cut Nigeria’s oil production by 20 percent. Oil facilities have been attacked and hostages have been taken as a “human shield.” MEND has said it is “declaring war” on the Nigerian military and has now been joined by the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) in its efforts. There have been threats to expand this “war” to other states with dozens already dead in the Niger Delta. MEND, claiming to be fighting for those living in poverty in the Niger Delta, are seeking to control of the region’s oil resources.

President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and President Hu Jintao of China signed an agreement on Wednesday in Beijing that may raise Chinese imports of Venezuelan oil to one million barrels a day by 2010. The agreement also provides for a joint investment fund of $12 billion and the construction of several refineries in China for Venezuela’s crude oil.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has decided to cut back oil output by 1.5 million barrels per day, a result of current economic conditions. OPEC, which consists of the world’s 12 largest oil producing countries, is looking to act on the declining demand and price of oil, which would also protect their domestic economies. OPEC has further justified this as a protection against uncontrollable international players (i.e. speculative traders) who have artificially raised oil prices to their highest levels ever. Since July oil has fallen by 50% and has reached a point where OPEC must ensure that its power through oil is not undermined. What has arisen is a shift in the balance of power as the nations of OPEC have taken an aggressive move against those countries that depend on oil for their economic growth and security.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad congratulated Barack Obama on his presidential election win --- the first time an Iranian leader has exchanged any such words to an elected US president since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The United States and Iran have had no formal diplomatic relations since 1979 and their current relations remain very tense. To Ahmadinejad, Obama is expected to redirect the foreign policies of George W. Bush to “an approach based on justice and respect, as well as lack of intervention in the affairs of others.” Despite Obama’s openness to direct diplomacy with Iranian leaders, his team has made it clear that they are not going to be soft on Iran. Nonetheless, any diplomacy is better than no diplomacy.

The U.S. Congress, this past Wednesday, approved a nuclear trade deal with India. The final approval came as the Senate voted to ratify the deal, 83-13. The legislation will now be presented to President Bush and if the President signs, which he said he will, the legislation will become a law. The nuclear trade deal with India will end a three-decade ban on U.S. nuclear trade with India. President Bush recently stated “This legislation will strengthen our global nuclear nonproliferation efforts, protect the environment, create jobs, and assist India in meeting its growing energy needs in a responsible manner". Although critics claim that the deal will damage global efforts to contain the spread of nuclear weapons. A reason for this is due to the fact that India has tested nuclear weapons but never signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Syrian violence has hit a critical point. The Syrian government has now started to lay landmines around villages to prevent humanitarian aid from reaching its citizens. The Syrian government has also tightened up security around the border to prevent evacuees from fleeing. There have been unconfirmed reports of attacks from the Free Syrian Army which supposedly killed six government soldiers. The attacks from the opposition could very well be a precursor to civil war in Syria. The opposition has claimed they are smuggling in weapons from various outside sources. The United Arab League drew up a plan which would end violence in Syria but the Assad government has taken no actions to help.

North Korea has decided to pull out of its deal to disarm itself of nuclear weapons. North Korea, South Korea, Russia, China, Japan and the United States entered an arrangement in 2007 with the aim to disarm North Korea’s ability to make Weapons of Mass Destruction and an end to economic sanctions on North Korea.
The pact was greatly deferred when North Korea expelled the United Nations inspectors. The International Atomic Energy Agency stated that the North Korean government asked the inspectors to leave and remove seals and surveillance in North Korea’s Yongbyon plant. North Korea defends its actions by stating that the United States has defaulted on their section of the deal. One section of the agreement stated that the United States would remove North Korea off the blacklist of states that aid terror.
The transactions that have defaulted the original agreement may bring serious consequences to today’s world.

North Korea has removed seals and surveillance cameras from part of their main nuclear complex at the request of Pyongyang officials. Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will no longer have access to the reprocessing plant. The removal of seals and surveillance cameras is a part of North Korea’s plan to reactivate the Yongbyon plant.
Although North Korea began dismantling the reactor last November and blew up the main cooling tower at the Yongbyon plant as a part of its commitment to the disarmament deal it signed in 2007, North Korea has announced its plan to reactivate. As part of the disarmament deal, which involved North and South Korea, the United States, Japan, China, and Russia, North Korea was expected to complete the disarmament work by the end of October in exchange for one million tons of heavy fuel oil and its removal from the United States’ terror list. However, the United States refuses to remove North Korea from their terror list until North Korea’s disarmament is confirmed. While North Korea plans to reintroduce nuclear material to the reprocessing plant in one week’s time, the United States as well as South Korea has urged North Korea to resume its disablement process.

The U.S. nuclear envoy attempted to save negotiations regarding the disarmament of North Korea’s nuclear program by staying another day. After Pyongyang started to dismantle its nuclear facilities in 2007, it has changed course and has started to restore its main nuclear reactor and to restart its plutonium reprocessing activities after disputes with Washington who demanded further verification before it removed North Korea from its list of states sponsoring terrorism. With the negotiations being described as unproductive and ending early, any agreement seems unlikely.

North Korea has proclaimed that it will shut down cross-border traffic with South Korea effective December 1st because of South Korea’s increasingly confrontational behavior toward its northern neighbor. South Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak, who just took office earlier this year, has taken a more assertive approach toward North Korea, and North Korea claims that Myung-bak is not following the two joint declarations signed by North Korea and South Korea in 2000 and 2007.

The current difficulties of maintaining security in North Korea has developed into eminent issue recently, as the state has new intentions of reactivating the Yongbyon nuclear complex. Despite the initial efforts of Pyongyang to dismantle the reactor during the past year, they have gone back on their word for disarmament, and demonstrated their commitment symbolically, by blowing up the main cooling tower at Yongbyon.
A spokeswoman for the International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed that seals and cameras at the site were removed completely earlier this week. In addition to surveillance removal, the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency will no longer have any access to the reprocessing of the plant. The conflict is an international one, being that North Korea was on the United States’ list of state sponsors of terrorism. North Korea’s backing out of the disarmament deal only makes matters worse. The members of the original deal included North and South Korea, Japan, China, Russia, and the United States of America. Experts have stated it will take almost a year to get the plant back up and running but the plutonium production of the plant could be as high as 6kg within two months of being in commission.

The IAEA removed surveillance equipment from North Korea’s Yongbyun nuclear reprocessing plant on Wednesday at the behest of North Korea. North Korea is prohibiting any further inspections of its central nuclear plant by the International Atomic Energy Agency because North Korea believes that the United States has not upheld its promise to remove North Korea from the lists of state sponsors of terrorism in return for compliance with IAEA requests. North Korea announced that it is reactivating the Yongbyun nuclear facility, thus nullifying the progress the IAEA had made toward North Korean nuclear disarmament in 2007 when North Korea agreed to suspend its nuclear weapons program. Before closing in July 2007, the Yongbyun plant had produced enough plutonium to make six atomic bombs.

In their latest aggressive move, North Korea has barred international inspectors from the entirety of its Yongbyon nuclear complex and further announced its plans to restart the facility. Although last month it was announced that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) could no longer monitor the reprocessing plant, the agency has stated that its staff were permitted to remain on the site but only in their quarters. The current situation, however, is that the IAEA has been banned from even entering the Yongbyon complex. North Korea has announced its plans to reactivate the Yongbyon plant because of the United States’ failure in fulfilling its part of their 2007 disarmament deal according to North Korea.

North Korea has announced moves to restart its nuclear plants after they agreed to disarm and began disabling their complex and handed over details to the nuclear programs. The previous agreement was between six nations including China, the US, South Korea, Japan, and Russia urging North Korea to shut down their factories in exchange for one million tons of fuel oil as well as removal from the US blacklist in order to receive foreign aid. When North Korea was informed they would not be removed from the list until they adhered to US verification conditions they backed out of their agreement. Negotiations are in progress to return North Korea to their previous agreement of disarmament.

North Korea has threatened to close its south border and cutting off all communication with South Korea. Although the North has cited “confrontation activities” as the reason for this shut down, the “propaganda leaflets sent by civic groups (in South Korea) are considered to be the real reason behind the threat.” These groups are sending leaflets over the border in balloons, which claim that Kim Jong-Il’s health is failing and explain “the concept of freedom.” This leaflet campaign is considered “psychological warfare” by the North and has prompted this threat to close the border and “risks provoking military confrontation."

On September 24th the U.N’s atomic watchdog reported it had removed seals and surveillance cameras from part of the Yongbyon plant at North Korea’s request.
North Korea had said it planned to restart nuclear activities because the U.S had failed to fulfill its part of a deal to remove Pyongyang from its terrorist blacklist.
The U.N nuclear inspectors have been expelled from a very dangerous part of the Yongbyon facility, the reprocessing plant, which is used to make weapons-grade plutonium. Although the U.S says that talks of denuclearization are not “dead”, this definitely puts added pressure on the situation

The DPRK’s largest nuclear facility, located in Yongbyon, will no longer be under the IAEA’s supervision. This is because the seals and surveillance equipment set by the IAEA have been removed by North Korea. The reprocessing plant, due to a disarmament deal in 2007 with some of the world’s most powerful countries, was disabled but the removal of the seals is a sign that North Korea will reactivate the plant.

North Korea has announced that it will close the boarder between itself and South Korea beginning December 1. Tensions between the North and South have increased since South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak took office last February. North Korea vows to shut down or eliminate any boarder crossings between the two countries and threatens this could lead to a permanent severance of ties between the two states.

North Korea took a major step to re-establish its nuclear ambitions by asking international inspectors to remove seals on it previously disabled nuclear complex in Yongbyon. UN surveillance cameras were also removed. North Korea, led by Kim Jong-Il has been locked in discussions for years over their nuclear ambitions with South Korea, China, Russia and Japan. This is a very aggressive step by North Korea that the United States is not taking lightly.

The same week that the People’s Republic of Korea announced its plan/threat to close the inter-Korean border in December, the northern half of the Korean Peninsula has started to limit Chinese visitors.

This move comes as the People’s Republic of China has increased its military presence along the Chinese-North Korean border. China is apparently worried about an influx of refugees from North Korea should there be unrest if/when the people there learn of Kim Jong-il’s possibly poor health.

Niger Delta militant groups have recently threatened to continue their attacks on oil pipelines and oil-pumping stations in the oil-rich Niger Delta. So far, the attacks have been restricted to Rivers State, but the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) has vowed to extend their attacks to offshore oilfields in neighboring states in the Niger Delta. MEND, the most publicly visible of several armed groups operating in the impoverished delta region, has coined the attacks “Operation Hurricane Barbarossa.” There have been conflicting claims over the severity of the violence, with MEND claiming to have killed several Nigerian soldiers and oil workers and the military denying any such casualties.
The attacks have taken a huge toll on oil production in Nigeria. Prior to 2005, Nigeria was producing 2.5 million barrels of oil a day. After the attacks began in 2005, production was cut down to 2.1 million barrels a day. Because the militants have recently accelerated their attacks, oil production is down to about 1.5 million barrels a day. This heavy loss has aided in peak oil prices in international markets.

The surge in the demand for oil has persistently been a worldwide issue for about the last decade. However, the recent demand and high prices for oil has emerged immensely this year, and has become an enigma for nations like the United States. Nigeria is the leading oil exporter in Africa, and is the 5th largest source of crude oil imports for the United States of America. This issue has grown to be more than an economic matter in nations like Nigeria, as violence has ensued vastly throughout the state. The high demand fused with the unrest, and corrupted state of the government has become a frightening affair as militants have taken matters to another level.
The demand for oil in Nigeria was the catalyst for the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND): a militant powered movement by the indigenous people of Nigeria, whom of which has expressed violent resentment about what they refer to as the exploitation and abuse of their land, due to oil extraction in the region. MEND’s most recent engagement has been the fourth attack in a week, as militants on speedboats bombarded Shell and Chevron oil facilities, while taking hostages as well. Nigerian spokesman, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa affirmed that the militants attacked in eight speedboats, armed with grenades, bombs, and dynamite. Two South African Britons and twenty-seven people have been seized.

Daniel Ortega, former president of Nicaragua, was reelected once again after being president in 1990 and in 2006. Ortega remained influential in politics and ran for presidency several times. After serving two terms, Ortega was forbidden to run for presidency in the 2011 elections, but since he remained influential, he was able to easily control Supreme Court. This is unconstitutional, yet Ortega has the support from Hugo Chavez and a few other nations who are providing him large amounts of money.

The previous Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was forced to resign so that he would be able to fight charges of corruption in his government. This forced a vote by the ruling Kadima party to see who would take Mr. Olmert’s place as PM. The race, though advertised as being largely in favor of Tzipi Livni, ended with a concession from her opponent after a close race that had them within 2 points of each other. Now the focus shifts from the race to the appointment of a new cabinet and what that will mean for Israel.

The failure of the sub-prime mortgage market has affected the American and global economies in new and unforeseen ways. The massive uncertainty that has been caused due to the lack of credit available to businesses and individuals, unable to obtain credit to help pay expenses and provide payroll, businesses throughout America and around the globe making it harder for them to meet expenses. Within America, the DOW Jones Industrial average has fallen to its lowest point since 2003, currently holding somewhere around 8455.97. The loss of confidence in the American market has been felt throughout the world, as markets around the globe face a loss of trading power. The trading markets in Europe, Japan and other major economic powers, including Russia and China, are down anywhere from 7 to 10 percentage points, with the market in Singapore saying that its economy has shrunk 6.3% during the 3rd quarter.

Sheik Khaled al-Khalifa, the prime minister of Bahrain, has stated a desire for a Mid-East body to the United Nations. The organization would include states in the Middle East and North Africa, especially Arab states, Iran, and Israel. The main goal of the organization would be to work together to solve regional problems. It is also hoped that these diplomatic meetings will increase interest and aid from Western countries.

NATO and Russia have picked up negotiations with one another after the Council established between the two was suspended following Russia’s invasion of Georgia over the summer. Relations between the NATO nations and Russia remain unstable, particularly given NATO’s original raison d’etre: a check against aggression from Moscow.

On October 9, in a meeting in Hungary, the NATO military alliance pledged to send warships to combat pirates off of the coast of Somalia. The warships will also accompany ships with aid to the flooded country. To further quell piracy, the UN released a resolution allowing force to be used against the pirates.
To put a dollar value on this issue, the BBC reported that piracy so far this year has “cost up to $30 million in ransoms"

A cross-border military air strike killed 24 Pakistani soldiers is being called a deliberate act of aggression by Pakistan’s military. The Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, was quoted as saying, “Enough is enough. The government will not tolerate any incident of spilling even a single drop of any civilian or soldier’s blood.” Pakistan has withdrawn from Afghanistan peace talks that will be taking place in Germany, in protest of the attack.

NATO seeks to stop funding of insurgency by drug lords and narcotics trafficers in Afghanistan. The poppy culivation industry fuels terrorism and supports insurgents through funding of terrorists by drug lords. The Afghani government cannot decrease the problems caused within their country, not only the funding of insurgency, by the drug trade and cultivation of poppies within their country.

In response to the percieved threat that Somali piracy in the Gulf of Aden area poses to shipping, several major nations have proposed to support actions against piracy in the area. These include a NATO convoy and a dispatched Russian frigate. The actions being taken by Russia and NATO are in response to a May resolution by the security council to prevent piracy, but mainly is due to the Sept. 25th seizure of a Ukrainian cargo ship that contains tanks and other heavy weapons.

Dozens of nations have signed a treaty banning cluster bombs at a conference in Oslo, Norway. While the treaty has been hailed as a major breakthrough, the United States, China, and Russia have failed to sign the treaty, despite its plan to ban the abandoning of weapons blamed for maiming and killing innocent civilians. Cluster bomblets are packed by the hundreds into artillery shells, bombs or missiles that are then scattered over vast areas. Some fail to explode immediately, where the unexploded bomblets then lie dormant for years until they are disturbed, often by children attracted by their small size and bright colors. The United States, Russia, and other non-signers believe that cluster bombs have legitimate military uses such as repelling advancing troop columns. However, the treaty will not ban cluster bombs outright, but allows for the development of cluster bombs with greater precision and lower failure rates.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is to meet with the President of the European Council and French President Nicolas Sarkozy to continue talks about further installments on the Greek bailouts. Greece is having trouble meeting the demands of the austerity imposed after the first bailout. Eurozone leaders have agreed that Greece does in fact need another round of money to keep the country from going into default. Many leaders fear that the diseased economy of Greece may, in fact, spread to the rest of Europe.

Last week, terrorists attacked two luxury hotels and other locations in Mumbai, India. A Pakistani militant group named Lashkar-e-Taiba is currently being held responsible for the terrorist attack. Since this militant group was trained in Pakistan, India is calling for Pakistan to take “strong action” against Lashkar-e-Taiba.

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe solicited lifting sanction on his country at the UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday. He accused the Security Council of acting outside of its UN Charter-given boundaries and stifling the Zimbabwean economy with high tariffs and other trade regulations. He also called for a reorganization of the “undemocratic” Security Council, with the addition of at least two seats for his home continent, because he believes that Africans know best how to solve African problems.

Yesterday marked an end to a brutal era in Libyan history. Muammar Gaddafi was killed in his hometown of Sirte by the rebel troops. He was taken from a large concrete pipe where he was hiding. He was captured and killed shortly after the rebel discovery. After the announcement of Gaddafi’s death, the excitement could not be contained in the streets of Tripoli.

Gaddafi was killed on Wednesday a the age of 69. The circumstances of Gaddafi’s mysterious death are still unknown. He was killed outside of Sirte, his hometown. The rebels found Muammar Al Gaddafi in a hole, but it is unclear how the rebels murdered him or what events occurred. Pictures and videos from cell phones are being showing world wide from the death of Gaddafi. The National Transitional Council has come out with a public statement saying that it has a video proving Gaddafi’s death and showing the rebels who were treated like dirt by Mummar Al Gaddafi, taking revenge on him

Russia has announced that it is willing to partake in an informal meeting with NATO to discuss Russia’s political objections to the political and moral stance that NATO took during the recent Georgia conflict. Russia has also announced that the discussing will begin the talks it was having with NATO before the Georgia conflict began. NATO has also agreed to begin the talks that it was having with Russia before the Georgia conflict. Although only an informal version of the original NATA-Russia council that took place before the Georgia conflict will take place.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has recently been in China speaking with Premier Wen Jiabao about agreeing on a price for oil. The feuding sides cannot agree on what prices Russia will set to sell oil and what price China will buy oil from them. This controversy has been occurring for a few years and is slowly getting closer to and near an end as friendly talks between the neighboring states increase.

Unrest is Syria is contined, now with the high possibility of leading to a civil war. Early this past wednesday renegade forces known as the Free Syrian Army or FSA carried out an attack in Harasta. The attack left six Syrian government soldiers dead, and a nine year old girl. Syrian President Al Assad is recieving critisim and being told that he needs to step down as Syrian President. It started with his crackdown on the eight month uprising and now the fighting between the government soldiers and the FSA. Because of the uprising and now the attacks a civil war doesn’t seem far off in Syria’s future.

Egypt and Turkey are seeking an alliance to calm down Israel. The State of Israel shot down a humanitarian frigate bringing in food supplies to the blockaded Gaza strip. As well the death of six Egyptian soldiers on the Israeli-Egyptian border.

Macedonia and Montenegro recognized Kosovo as a nation state on Thursday even with opposition from Serbia. As a result, Serbia has expelled the Macedonian ambassador. Russia, who has supported Serbia, also still does not recognize Kosovo as a state even though it has recognized Southern Ossetia as an independent state from Georgia.

On October 9, 2008, Montenegro and Macedonia officially recognized Kosovo as independent after a unanimous vote by Montenegro’s cabinet and a majority vote in Macedonia’s parliament. This action is causing tension between Montenegro and Macedonia and Serbia because Serbia won a vote to address the issue of Kosovo’s independence before the International Court of Justice the day before. With recognition from two neighbors of Kosovo, Serbia’s case against Kosovo’s independence will be weakened. Montenegro and Macedonia are meanwhile trying to become members of the European Union, and the recognition of Kosovo may be an attempt to appeal to the EU.

20-21 miners, number disputed from several sources, were killed in an apparent gas leak. The incident happened early on Thursday at the Sizhuang mine in Yunnan province’s Qujing city. The mine has been operating illegally due to its license being suspended last year because of safety issues. Rescue worker have been working around the click to find the remaining works, but no survivors have been found thus far. Some reports state that the gas leak lead to an explosion with the mine causing the rest of the workers to become trapped. This accident followed another tragedy in a Chinese mine. The central government has been fighting to make mines more safe and shutting down the ones operating illegally.

On November 6, Otto Perez Molina won Guatemala’s presidential election. His opponent Manuel Baldizon lost by 10 points. Molina has made promises to the country, such as a providing better income by giving workers an extra month’s salary a year, and reinstating the death penalty and television executions. Twenty-five years later, Molina would be the first former military leader elected president.

Mexican officials have captured Ovidio Limon Sanchez. Sanchez has been the Don of the Sinaloa Crime Family which has been smuggling cocaine and other illegal drugs to the United States. With a reward of 5 million dollars on his head, Sanchez was captured by Mexican officials in Culiacan without a shot being fired.

Merkel presents a plan to be placed in the European treaty to help restore peace and the Euro. This binding agreement, in Merkel’s eyes, will help the Euro strengthen rapidly.

On Wednesday, the day after elections in the United States, Dmitri Medvedev gave a State of the Nation address. The address was meant to speak about the current economic crisis in the Russian Federation. Not only did he accomplish that, but he was also able to set a tone for the Obama administration immediately following the election. Medvedev warned the United States against its militarism through proposed missile defense systems.

Vladimir Putin of Russia traveled to China to ensure the passing of a gas bill between the two countries. The main topic on the table was energy but an underlying topic was to try and mend the foreign relation held by the two countries. China and Russia are cooperating on expansions in nuclear energy and the exploration of other means of fuel. Both countries share a common interest in helping each other and want to extend their relations in the future.

Dmitri Medvedev, the President of Russia, laid out his plans to install missiles in Kaliningrad during his first state-of-the-nation address. This installation of missiles is in response to the United States recently installing anti-missile systems in the east of Europe. Medvedev accuses the United States of using the conflict in Georgia to bring NATO to Russia’s borders.

Mediators from South Africa help the Zimbabwe election crisis. The Southern African Development Community or SADC, says a small regional team arrives in Harare in the next two weeks to help establish conditions for free and fair elections

Even before his Inauguration as President, there are high hopes for Barack Obama and his approach on the situation in the Middle East.

On November 9, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan volunteered to help mediate talks between the United States and Iran. During his campaign, Obama claimed that he would be willing to talk to Iran diplomatically; George W. Bush was not willing to hold these talks during his time as President.

Turkey has taken a position between the United States and Iran in regards to bans on Iran’s nuclear development. Turkey claims to support the US position, but also states that this ban undermines peaceful efforts of the Middle Eastern ‘reformists.’ Turkey also has a vested interest in this issue, according to the International Herald Tribune. “Turkey fears an economically and politically isolated Iran, which supplies it with its principal alternative to Russian energy. It also wants to avoid another military conflict on its borders, which also include ones with Iraq and Georgia."

Max Bank almost became the tenth bank in Denmark to declare bankruptcy since the economic collapse in 2008. However, the bank was saved by a buyout deal with the state’s support. Unfortunately for those who had invested in Max Bank, their investments are no longer valuable. Sparekassen Sælland, based in Holland was able to buy out the healthy portfolios held by Max bank while the remaining insolvent portions are left for the Financial Stability Company to deal with. As of 2010, Max Bank had 23,000 shareholders and registered a net loss of 60.3 million kroner in the first six months of this year. It’s speculated that the cause of this collapse was from the bank handing out too many large loans that it couldn’t pay off.

Palestine Authority and Israeli officials have meet with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other Heads of States to try lobby what should become of the Palestine region in Israel. It has become quite clear that neither side will budge in negotiation talks and the Security Council will hear the case in the coming weeks. The Palestine Authority wishes to receive a non-state bid for representation in the United Nations (U.N.). Nine out of fifteen votes are to allow for membership and the United States, one of the five countries with veto power, has stated it will use it in the hearing.

Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni was elected the leader of the Kadima party in the primary elections, putting her on the path to succeed Ehud Olmert as the prime minister of Israel. Livni won with only 43.1% of the vote—a mere 1.1% more than Transport Minister Shaul Mofaz. In order to become Israel’s next prime minister, Livni will need to form a coalition government in the coming weeks. Livni seeks to negotiate with the Palestinians towards a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while her predecessor continually postpones negotiations. Palestinian Authority officials welcomed Livni’s election while Hamas did not, claiming that she rejects Palestinian rights.

The National Transition Council fighters have taken 70% of Sirte, hometown of Gaddafi, however 30% is still not under control and is still a threat. Yet this is the final stages of the fight against Gaddafi’s loyal followers. Gaddafi’s loyalists are using advanced weaponry, which makes it difficult for the National Transition Council (NTC) to fight back. Libya is ready to take full control of the birthplace of Gaddafi and will continue to fight against Gaddafi loyalists.

Libya’s new leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil, replacing Gaddafi, made his first public speech on Tuesday September 13th. His speech was met with much praise from the crowd. The audience was numbered in the thousands, which was clearly noticeable when Abdul-Jalil would often have to pause due to loud applause from the crowd.

3000 migrants are being held under Libyan authority because they are supposedly mercenaries for Quaddfi. They are currently in the town Sabha, until the National Transitional Council can vet them. The NTC wants to vet them, to find out whether or not they are mercenaries for Quaddfi.

The National Transitional Council (NTC) is currently committing forces to the task of liberating the city of Sirte, one of the last bastions for Gaddafi support in Libya. Earlier this month, forces from the NTC began an assault on the city in an effort to oust the Gaddafi forces. However, the fighting has taken its toll. While the NTC forces have taken so key areas in the city, such as the hospital, the university and the Ouagadougou conference center, sniper fire, and mortar fire continue to pound the revolutionary forces. NTC forces were hoping to capture one of Gaddafi’s sons, who was reportedly located in the hospital, but he has yet to turn up. The city of Bani Walid is also under siege from NTC forces. These two centers for Gaddafi loyalists hold significance because they are the last main strongholds left, and after their capture, the NTC is expected to declare full Libyan liberation from Gaddafi.

The European Parliament has asked President Assad to step down. The Opposition in Syria went public by naming 70 of the 140 members currently holding seats in the opposition. The E.U. along with the United States has wanted Assad to step down since mid-August. They pressured him to reform and end the violence of the peaceful protests but no steps were taking to end the violence. Turkey a once strong ally of Syria has now also called for the Syria government to carry out reforms. With international and regional pressure on Assad it is only time until changes will be made in Syria.

The British Prime Minister and French President traveled to Tripoli to show support of the Libyan revolution. Anti-Gaddafi fighters have been looking to take one of Gaddafi’s last strongholds- Sirte. The visit shows that certain areas are much safer than they were due to the fact that the leaders felt secure enough to go.

Protestors stormed into Kuwait’s Parliament to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Sheik Nasser Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah. A member of the ruling family, Mohammed al-Ahmed al-Sabah is being accused of corruption. The Prime Minister denies the allegations. According to the Kuwait Interior Ministry the protesters injured at least five security guards and “led to the damage of public property[.]”

The governments of Montenegro and Macedonia have formally recognized Kosovo as independent following its secession from Serbia in February. Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina among ex-Yugoslav republics have yet to recognize Kosovo. Serbia, in response, expelled Montenegrin and Macedonian ambassadors. Roughly 50 countries have now recognized Kosovo’s independence, but, more than 140 have not.

The Kosovo government is sending police and custom officers to take control of two custom checkpoints on its northern border with Serbia. This move is backed by both the European Union and NATO. However, there is resistance coming from the Serbs in northern Kosovo.

Weeks after Kenyan military troops were deployed to Somalia to pursue the Somali militant group al-Shabab, there have been several retaliatory attacks in Kenya. The radical Islamic group has been responsible for three grenade attacks in and around Nairobi. The offensive is being led by Kenya after several murders, kidnappings, and other terrorist attacks occurred that were sponsored by the al-Shabab.

Japan and other Asian countries such as South Korea are beginning to feel the plight of the financial crisis in the United States. On Thursday the Sony Corporation revised their operating forecast for the fiscal year by eliminating 270 billion yen from the total. This total halves the normal annual profit that Sony Co. is predicted to gain. South Korea on the other hand is at a four year low in their economy.
This has put a major toll on the Japanese economy, especially because they are extremely involved in the trading of technology.

Japanese Chief of Staff for the Air Defence Force, General Toshio Tamogami, was fired after he published a controversial essay stating that Japan was not an aggressor nation before or during World War II. The statement contradicted one made by former Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama in 1995, in which Murayama expressed regret for the aggression of the Japanese during before and during the war. Tamogami’s statement angered and insulted many neighboring Asian countries like China and Taiwan who have outspokenly criticized Tamogami for his statements.

Japan and Taiwan had signed an agreement to allow a greater extent of free trade. Taiwan has access to send planes to ship in products to some major airports in Japan. With Japan being Taiwan’s second largest importer (with China being the first) as well for tourism Taiwan is set to a stable economic trade. Japan will gain an easier access to China’s market. The both countries (Japan and Taiwan) even though have no diplomatic ties since the seventies still maintain trading relations.

Italy is believed to be next in the economical crisis in Europe. The already weak economy is following closely in relation to that of Greece. Greece’s collapse is believed to be the first in a somewhat domino effect of larger economies collapse. Despite their relatively stable economy, high debt level will eventually cause Italy’s demise. The debt continues to rise even though the country has become less dependent on foreign assistance. A new deal was proposed to support the funding of economies in need, such as Greece. This plan is meant to decrease how much money is borrowed in order to ensure economic prosperity.

The euro debt crisis which started in Greece has threatened Italy now. Berlusconi is being pressured to step down from the public. He proposed austerity measures much like Greece had and I suppose due to this we should expect the same reaction. There is now stress as both Greece and Italy work tirelessly to get this debt crisis worked out.

In Libya four Italian journalists were kidnapped and held at gunpoint, while traveling to Tripoli. The journalist were approached by armed men and held captive in private homes. Libya military men did come in and take over the four journalists. The Italians were freed on Thursday and no one is releasing exact information on how the journalists were released from Libyan custody. Right after the journalist were released news was published that heads of Libya had a meeting concerning the concept of securing the release of billions of dollars in frozen Libyan assets.

Somali pirates hijacked Faina, a cargo ship heading for a Kenyan port with a cargo of 33 battle tanks and heavy weapons, on September 25 off coast of Somalia. The ship is now anchored off Somalia’s coast near the central town of Hobyo. To ensure its heavy weapons don’t fall into the hands of any insurgent groups linked to al-Qaeda, United States warships have surrounded Faina for weeks. French Marines patrolling the pirate-infested coast of Somalia have handed over nine Somali pirates they have captured and plan on prosecuting the pirates in the coming months.

An agreement was signed on Tuesday that would allow for the release of 25 year-old sergeant Gilad Shalit who was captured in a cross-border raid in 2006 in exchange for one thousand Palestinian prisoners; both sides see this as a victory for themselves. The negotiations were held in Egypt on Thursday under the mediation of Egyptian security and intelligence officials.

Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, urges a pullout of Israeli troops from the West Bank area. This pullout would allow for Palestinians to form a state the size of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Peace talks in the past have been unsuccessful due to many stumbling blocks. Olmert asserts that compromise over the territories is necessary to establish peace in the area. Skeptics, however, would like a concrete offer to be made and an agreement recorded on paper.

Israeli President, Shimon Peres, met with Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, to discuss peace plans for the Middle East. Egypt has served to mediate discussions between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas which included the ceasefire in Gaza. These talks have more recently included the possibility of a prisoner trade between Israel and Hamas. Though Israel is enthusiastic about the Saudi plan, President Peres has indicated that some negotiating is still to be done.

Israel’s Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, said in a recent interview that in order to make peace with the Palestinians, Israel must withdraw from nearly all of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and any other occupied land would have to be exchanged for the same amount of Israeli territory. Olmert also said that Israel must be prepared to give up the Golan Heights in Syria. Olmert’s statements confirmed his transformation from an extreme rightist who for decades opposed any territorial concessions to a peace-making leftist who admits he was “mistaken for 35 years” and now realizes that compromises must be made in order to instill peace. Many Israelis are skeptical about the Prime Minister’s recent exposure of his beliefs because, as he is about to step down from power after resigning to fight corruption charges, he has got nothing to lose. Some also wonder if his proposals are all talk and no action.

While Palestine’s application for statehood was sent to a committee for review, Israel approved its own plan for settlement expansion. Israel is planning to construct 1,100 new illegal homes in a neighborhood in East Beit-ul-Moqaddas (Jerusalem). Many, including the United States, Egypt, Britain, and China, have condemned Israel for its plan.

Gilad Schalit was an Israeli soldier captured five years ago. He has been held by Hamas, a group who controls Gaza. Over the years there have been negotiations to let him go. Finally with Egyptian help, Hamas agrees to let him go for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli.

Following Israel’s shutting off fuel on Monday in response to rocket attacks by Hamas, the Israeli government has agreed to allow some fuel to be taken to the single power plant in the Gaza Strip. The UN relief agency has pleaded with the Israelis to allow more food into the Gaza Strip, but Israel has refused, stating only fuel will be allowed in. The spokesman for Unrwa called the blockade a “physical and mental punishment of the population". Israel claims Hamas is orchestrating the crisis for political gains.

Palestine is applying for its statehood with the United Nations though is met with many obstacles. Israel does not want to give up the Gaza strip and is fighting for the territory. Obama has already vocally rejected the statehood of Palestine which means that America will veto the bid during the vote in the Security Council. The only chance it has is to get a 2/3rds vote in general UN committee.

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal praised a deal with Israel to release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Schalit, an Israeli soldier. Schalit was captured in a cross-border raid by Gaza based militants in 2006. Mashaal stated that 450 prisoners would be released within a week, while the rest of the prisoners would be released in the next 2 months. The agreement includes prisoners from east Jerusalem, Israeli Arabs, and all females and minors. It was also pointed out that 2/3 of the prisoners being exchanged for Schalit were serving long prison terms.

Just over a week after Israel and Palestine negotiated a prisoner exchange, Israel and Egypt are negotiating a prisoner exchange as well. Israel said on Thursday that it is getting ready to trade captured Egyptian nationals for an US-Israeli dual nationality citizen suspected of spying. Ilan Grapel was captured in Cairo in June and was suspected of trying to harm Egyptian economic and political interests. Israel denied all of the charges levied against Grapel. The deal, which is reported to be for 81 Egyptian prisoners, has not been finalized but is expected to be agreed on this week.

Israeli President Shimon Peres has met with the Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, to discuss Middle East peace. Peres has stated that Israel is open to an Arab peace plan aimed at bringing an end to hostilities with Arab nations. Peres further commented that “over the past century there hasn’t been any period where reaching peace was more possible than now. It would be a mistake to miss it.” Peres is supporting a peace proposal first put forward by Saudia Arabia in 2002 that discusses a negotiation for a broad peace settlement to include all Arab countries. Peres and Mubarak also discussed the fate of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and Israel’s ceasefire with the Gaza Strip. Egypt has been helping in negotiations between a potential prisoner exchange between Israel and the leaders of the Palestine Hamas movement. They are proposing a deal in which Hamas would release the Israeli in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

On November, 17th 2011 President Obama traveled to Australia to announce that the United States will eventually station 2500 marines in Australia’s Northern territory. Obama has stated that the occupation of the marines “would meet the demands of a lot of partners in the region". The move is viewed as America looking to stay relevant and competitive in a booming Asian economy, specifically in China. China has criticized the United States for “flexing its muscles over the South China Sea issue". America looks to refresh its ties with Australia with the move, as well as reminding China that they will be relevant and apart of the Asian boom.

On Friday in Baghdad’s Firdous Square, thousands of Iraqis protested a proposed troop deal that would allow the United States to maintain military numbers for an additional three years. The US military’s UN mandate for troops expires in December, and the agreement is a means to continue the work started more than six years ago in Iraq. However, the Shia leader and cleric Moqtada al-Sadr organized the protest to denounce the “agreement of humiliation” he claimed was being controlled by the United States, the “enemy of Islam.” Firdous Square was the location made infamous when US soldiers toppled a statue of Saddam Hussein there five years ago.

On November 18, Iraq announced that provisional elections are scheduled for January 31, 2009. The last provisional elections were held in 2005. In the upcoming elections, the volatile province of Tamim, located in northern Iraq, will be excluded from the process due to the fact that power sharing between factions is still a concern.

This is a massive step towards American and Iraqi cooperation and will follow the November 24 decision which will determine if American troops are welcome in the country for another three years. Ideally, the election will result in a wider representation of Sunnis and other religious groups, including Christians.

In a shopping street in Baghdad two car bombs exploded killing 6 and wounding 20. A suicide bomber in Basra killed three and wounded twenty on Tuesday. These instances are becoming more common as the inter-Shia conflict between the Al-Mahdi army, the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, and the Fadhila Party.

The Iraqi government has reached a very crucial decision time. In December, the UN mandate states that US troops are scheduled to leave the country. Yet, a plan has been proposed to extend the troop’s timeline. The Iraqi cabinet has passed the proposition, but it will still need approval from Parliament. Iraqi citizens has stage a protest of the proposition in Firdous Square. Parliament is set to vote next week.

After striking down the first proposal made by the United States, Iraq has amended parts of the Status of Forces agreement which currently provides the legal basis for United States troop presence in the country. The United States is not expected to accept the new terms of the pact. Nevertheless, discussion over the pact will continue between Iraq and the United States, with the goal of reaching an agreement before the end of this year.

The Iraqi three-member presidential council signed an important agreement on Thursday. This pact would allow American military troops to be in Iraq until December 31, 2011. American troops are currently allowed in Iraq due to a U.N. mandate, however this is due to expire at the end of 2008. The plan would also entail having American troops to start pulling out of Iraqi towns by July 2009. This plan was met by two suicide car bombs in the city of Fallujah killing at least two American soldiers. The plan still must be voted on by referendum in July by the Iraqi citizens.

Iraq has approved a troop deal making it legal for US troops to remain in Iraq through 2011. Iraq’s Presidential Council signed the agreement into law on Thursday, and it will go into effect on January 1st, 2009. There will; however, be a referendum during the middle of next year, where the Iraqi voters will have the option to invalidate the deal. The agreement comes amid decreased violence and increased cooperation between the various factions of Iraq.

Relations between the UK and Iran have hit the rocks, what the Iranian government called protesters stormed the UK embassy in Tehran and ransacked the premises and stole personal items and files, among other things. Immediately following this, the UK ordered closure of the Iranian embassy in London and for the Iranian embassy worked to be out of the UK within 48 hours. German followed suite and temporarily pulled out their ambassador in Iran in accordance with the UK and its goals to support them and safekeeping of their citizens. These attacks follow the imposition of further sanctions on the Iranian nuclear program.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran congratulated President-elect Barack Obama on his election win. No Iranian leader has done this since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Ahmadinejad said he hoped Obama would change US foreign policy to one of non-interventionism, especially with regards to the Middle East. He claims Americans are looking for him to restore America’s reputation in the world.

Just a few days ago, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) gave a report that claimed that Iran’s nuclear program may be geared towards the manufacture of nuclear weapons. After Iran’s first nuclear powerplant powered up recently, there has been a growing fear that the government may be using it to begin a nuclear weapons program. The fear and allegations have come from some states in the region, such as Israel, and several western powers. Iranian offcials have denied all the allegations that they are trying to produce nuclear weapons, and have said that these allegations are being made up so that the United States and its allies can justify some kind of military action against Iran.

Iranian diplomat, Hashmatullah Atharzadeh, was kidnapped Thursday morning when he was driving to the consulate in Peshawar. He was taken away by gunmen after his police guard was shot and killed. This has occurred two months after the Afghan ambassador was kidnapped by presumably the same gunmen. The police force in Peshawar suspects that the gunmen are members of Tehrik-e-Taleban Pakistan, an outlawed militant group.

In a recent UN General Assembly meeting in New York City, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran stated that he will tolerate and listen to the West’s claims about his country’s nuclear capabilities, but he will not relent in developing weapons actively. If Iran is developing nuclear weapons, the country is in violation of three UN resolutions that demand the termination of their nuclear capabilities itinerary.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) asked Iran for a full response after inquiring about its nuclear activities but President Ahmadinejad stated that the peaceful nuclear research and developments will not be halted due to “a few bullying powers.” Iran claims that the U.S. is using the IAEA in an effort to coerce Iran into carrying out illegally administered demands and that the Americans have hijacked the agency into the “anti-Iran campaign.”

Concerns continue to increase as more evidence of Iran’s nuclear program is brought to light. The major fear is that there is a distinct military purpose to the program. The United States and its allies attempt to negotiate with Iran to determine whether or not their intentions are peaceful ones. Diplomacy could no longer be an option if those opposed to the program continue to disagree about the actual authorization of the program.

Iran’s first nuclear power plant has just recently been connected to the power grid in Iran. This isn’t a new project however. This particular power plant, the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, was started back in the 1970’s but the project was abandoned after the Islamic revolution and wasn’t resumed until Iran was able to conclude a deal with Russia in the 1990’s to finish construction. On September 12, 2011, it was operating at forty percent capacity.

On Wednesday, Iran test fired its latest surface-to-surface missile with its head defense ministers present. This new missile called, the Sejil, has a range of two thousand kilometers which would make it able to hit south east Europe and more importantly Israel. The missile is also reported to use a solid-fuel mixture, which is more accurate than liquid fuel increasing the deadliness of the new weapon. Many nations, such as the United States and Israel, looked on the missile test with worrisome glances. However, Iran responded by saying that the missiles were for purely defensive purposes only. The Defense Minister of Iran commented that the missiles would be used, “Only to land on the heads of those enemies --- who want to make an aggression and invade the Islamic Republic.” This new missile system is another example of Iran’s continued desire to increase its defensive capabilities.

On Wednesday, Iran claimed to have successfully test fired a long-range missile. The missile reportedly has a range of 1,200 miles and is more accurate than other missiles Iran currently possesses. In addition, this missile is supposedly very fast, easy to store and easy to make ready for deployment. Iran has said that the missile will only be used in self-defense but it did not say from whom it could anticipate an attack. These missile testing do come, however, about a week after Iran complained of seeing US helicopters in its airspace. Iranian Defense Minister Najar stated that the missile will be used as a deterrent and a tool for security in the area.

Iran has recently test fired a surface to surface long-range missile. The missile has been claimed to be for self defense only. Yet, it has the ability to be an offensive threat. The missile can travel as far as two thousand kilometers and still maintain accuracy. The missile is composed of a solid-fuel mixture. Therefore it is different and better than the liquid-fuel mixtures in Iran’s arsenal.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran was in the process of developing a nuclear device until last year; however there are no credible sources saying that Tehran has ended the program and they could still potentially be working on the device. This report caused Israel to say they may strike Tehran because of previous tensions between Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Israel. Iran defended by threatening that any attacks “would be met by ‘iron fists’” since the reason for the nuclear program is for research and not conflicts, or so they say.

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has presented a message of goodwill and offered his congratulations to Barack Obama on his presidential win in the United States. Iran has very little to say about its relationship with the United State during the Bush administration, claiming that the Bush administration successfully imposed huge cost of wars worldwide, which in effect led to critical economic situation in the United States. Mr. Ahmadinejad expresses hopes that the United States will now be able to rebuild its international reputation and begin fair policy changes.

The Israel Air Force (IAF) held a foreign press tour to demonstrate its power and inter-workings to the rest of the world. This press tour just happened to coincide with the recent threat by Israel to launch a strike against suspected Iranian nuclear facilities. When asked questions by the press, IAF pilots refused to elaborate on any information regarding a strike on Iran. However, the threat of a strike has risen after the Israeli Atomic Energy Commission announced Iran would have enough highly enriched uranium by 2009 to develop a nuclear weapon.

Iran announced recently that two American hikers, Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, will be released on a $500,000 bail and sent home after being arrested in Iran a year ago. The two American hikers were arrested and charged in 2009 for illegally crossing the Iranian border and espionage. Originally, they were sentenced to eight years in Iranian prison. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has recently announced that both will be released on a $500,000 bail each and sent to the Swiss embassy in Tehran.

The Iranian Navy has announced that it is building multiple naval bases along its southeastern border. These defensive structures begin at the Strait of Hormuz and extend nearly to the Pakistani border along the Indian Sea. This announcement, as well as one celebrating the development of Iranian-made fighter jets, comes as the potential for an Iranian nuclear crisis receives more worldwide attention.

On Wednesday, Iran successfully tested new long-range missiles that had a range up to 1,200 miles and that were stated to have been fully developed in Iran. Iran assured that the new long-range missiles would only be used defensively and that they would only be used as in a deterrent policy for peace and security within the Middle Eastern region.

The pressure the United States and the West is bringing to bear on Iran to keep it from acquiring nuclear weapons is over. Not only does the Islamic Republic already have nuclear weapons from the old Soviet Union, but it has enough uranium for more. What’s worse, it has a delivery system. The West for nearly a decade has worried about Iran’s uranium advances, believing Iran is working on a nuclear bomb, though the government maintains its uranium is only for peaceful purposes.

Amid the massive controversey surrounding the Iranian nuclear program and the possibility of the production of nuclear weapons, I ran has just thrown more fuel on the fire. Tuesday, Iranian protestors stormed two UK diplomatic compounds, one being the embassy in Tehran. The protestors, who were voicing there anger over mounting sanctions by the UK, stormed the buildings tuesday and had several british diplomatic officals in their power. The protestors also had set fire to one of the compounds. The result has seen the UK expelling all Iranian diplomats from the UK. Iran responded likewise by sending the Uk diplomats back to london.

Iran claims to have successfully launched a new long-range surface-to-surface missile. Known as the Sejil, the missile is capable of hitting targets as far away as Europe. While Iran has stated that the development of the missile is for purely defensive purposes, the United States has grown concerned with this development and has pressed for the completion missile shield in Europe.

An Iranian diplomat was kidnapped and his driver killed by Pakistani gunmen in the northwestern city of Peshawar. This incident happened a day after an American aid worker and his driver were shot dead while traveling through the suburbs of Peshawar. Two months ago, a similar incident occurred; unknown Pakistani gunmen kidnapped Afghan consul-general, Abdul Khaliq Farahi, after killing his driver. Farahi is still missing. In recent months violence has surged in northwest Pakistan with a wave of attacks blamed on Islamist militants. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman condemned the kidnapping as a “terrorist attack."

Iran recently accused the United States of planning to attack Iran in order to thwart their nuclear power abilities. The nuclear program of Iran is thought to be able to compete with other programs in the developed world. Iran has made claims accusing Israel of being behind this plot as well, claiming that the State has recently been testing missiles capable of reaching Iran. Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov warned against attacking Iran as a precaution, stating that it could lead to more casualties than necessary. The accusations from Iran come after the annunciation of an investigation into the alleged efforts of Iran to produce nuclear bombs.

Continued Piracy in the Gulf of Aden has climaxed with the seizure of a Ukrainian ship loaded with heavy weapons. This seizure is the 61st of the year involving ships of varying nations and has brought the World’s two most prominent international actors into the region. Both the UN and NATO have increased their presence in the Gulf of Aden in order to ensure international law and maintain stable trade routes. The Gulf of Aden which lies off of the west coast is a key trading route connecting Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The arrival of this international force is aimed at bringing a sense of security to the region by deterring further attacks.

Prime Minister Gilani spoke against the interference of the United States within Pakistan, a statement he has conveyed to the United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The United States is wishing to search for traces of the Haqqani network. He warns that relations between the United States and Pakistan may be strained if the United States were to set its military into operation within the borders of Pakistan. He claims the United States is already losing the trust of the people of his country. He does not find it fit for the United States to raid a sovereign country.

Over the past year Inflation in Zimbabwe has grown to be one of the worst inflation issues in history. Independent economists say that inflation has risen 40 million percent (However economists within Zimbabwe say it is only 11.2 percent). Had the Zimbabwe government not altered the actual comparison of Zimbabwe bank notes to a dollar, it would be one dollar to one trillion. Many people have given up going to their jobs because their salary does not even pay for their bus fare to heir job, let alone put food on the table for their family. It has been compared to a Darwinian type of lifestyle, where only the strongest and cleverest will survive. People have resorted to selling anything that they grow in their gardens, or buying a pack of cigarettes and selling them individually for a profit in order to have some type of meal a day.
The government recently introduced a 10,000 and 20,000 dollar bank note in order to alleviate some of the financial tension on the people in Zimbabwe. However over 80 percent of the country is below the poverty line still and there is not a foreseeable end in sight.

Indonesia has stopped, or at least severely slowed down, the export of rice from Thailand. From an external perspective many countries are saying this is an attempt to bolster domestic sale of rice and to stockpile the supply. The Thai are not very happy about this, for obvious reason, and are looking into a peaceful and diplomatic resolution.

On November 26, 2008, a group of terrorists launched a three-day-long attack on Mumbai. More than 170 people were killed in the attacks, which were carried out in various locations across Mumbai by ten terrorists. Fueled by already tense relations between India and Pakistan, India has claimed suspicion of Pakistani involvement in the attacks from the beginning of the investigation. The only terrorist who was captured alive, Ajmal Amin Kamal, has been identified as Pakistani.

On Monday and Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India signed key agreements with European leaders as he traveled in France. The Indian agreement with Sarkozy of France over civilian nuclear cooperation and the affirmation of a “strategic relationship” between India and the European Union both opened doors for increasing trade and cooperation between Europe and the sub-continent.