[RED DEMOCRATICA] CFR.org Daily Brief, July 15, 2010

 

July 15, 2010 View this newsletter as a web page on CFR's website. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - BP Integrity Tests on Well Halted - Iranian Nuclear Scientist Goes Home - Uganda Wants Offensive Against Rebels - Argentina Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage Top of the Agenda: BP Integrity Tests on Well Halted BP received approval from the U.S. government to conduct integrity tests (CSM) on the leaking oil well in the Gulf of Mexico. If the two-day test is successful, BP will have shut off the source of the spill that has gushed for almost three months. In a series of six-hour intervals, engineers will shut down the five open valves flowing with oil and monitor pressure readings that indicate if they are creating new problems. Preparations for the test were delayed (NYT) Wednesday after a leak was found in one of three lines expected to channel oil to ships on the surface. The leak has been isolated and must repaired before BP can begin the test. A U.S. House panel voted to ban BP from obtaining new offshore drilling leases or permits for as many as seven years. Another measure would make it harder for oil companies (WSJ) with a history of violations to drill. Analysis: On Forbes.com, Gordon Chang says PetroChina's announcement that it was willing to assist BP with the spill is worrisome because of China's predatory resource policies. In Der Spiegel, Frank Dohman and Marco Evers say BP's loss of market value and potential asset sales is disastrous for Great Britain. In the wake of the Gulf spill, the United States should craft regional pacts with its neighbors to address pollution and liability issues arising from ever deeper oil and gas exploration, says expert Caitlyn Antrim. MIDDLE EAST: Iranian Nuclear Scientist Welcomed Home Iranian nuclear scientist Shahram Amiri (NYT), who U.S. officials say defected to the United States and then had second thoughts, arrived in Tehran to a hero's welcome. Upon arrival, he said he had no connection to Iran's nuclear program and was the victim of a U.S. conspiracy to wage "psychological warfare" against Iran. Yemen: Al-Qaeda is the primary suspect (Guardian) in today's coordinated attacks on state security buildings in south Yemen, though locals say a growing secessionist movement, difficult to disentangle from al-Qaeda activities, is the bigger threat. This Backgrounder examines terrorism in Yemen. PACIFIC RIM: China Growth Slows to 10.3% China, the world's third-largest economy, slowed from 11.9 percent growth (AP) in the first quarter to 10.3 percent in the second quarter, as the impact of its massive stimulus eases and the country clamps down on a credit boom. North Korea: Military officers from North Korea and the U.S.-led UN Command met for talks (AP) on the deadly sinking of a South Korean warship, though it was unclear what was discussed. SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA: Blast in Pakistan's Northwest Kills Five An apparent suicide bombing (AP) near a bus terminal in Pakistan's northwest Swat Valley killed five people and wounded at least fifty-eight others. Afghanistan: The Afghan government endorsed a U.S. plan to establish village security squads (WSJ) around the country, amid news of the death of eight U.S. soldiers in attacks across southern Afghanistan. AFRICA: Uganda Wants Stronger Fight Against Rebels Uganda is pushing for new rules of engagement (Reuters) that will allow African Union peacekeeping troops in Somalia to go on the offensive against al-Shabaab rebels who claimed responsibility for bomb attacks in Kampala last weekend. Congo: About forty thousand people have fled (BBC) their homes in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo following an army offensive against Ugandan rebels, according to British charity Oxfam. AMERICAS: Argentina Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage Despite church-led protests, Argentina will become the first South American country to allow gay couples (Guardian) to wed after its senate passed a same-sex marriage bill. Venezuela: Labor leaders and human rights groups say efforts of President Hugo Chávez's government (WashPost) to foster new unions has resulted in the shooting deaths of about seventy-five union members in the past two years, as the new unions--many of them pro-Chávez--and traditional unions battle it out. EUROPE: Greece Faces Seventh Major Strike Greece faced its seventh major strike (DeutscheWelle) against austerity measures, as government offices closed, hospitals worked with minimal staff, and Greek airspace was shut down. EU: The EU, which currently has only observer status at the UN, may gain the right to address the UN chamber (EUObserver) as individual countries do under draft reforms agreed to by member states.

EXPLORE CFR'S WEBSITE

Regions

Issues

Experts

Publications

About CFR

Find CFR on Twitter and Facebook.

		Privacy Policy The Council on Foreign Relations does not share email addresses with third parties. Council on Foreign Relations 58 East 68th Street New York, NY 10065 Tel. +1 212.434.9400 Fax: +1 212.434.9800 Learn about this and other newsletters offered by the Council on Foreign Relations. To pause your subscription, to switch between HTML and text-only versions of the newsletter, to change your email address, or to unsubscribe, click here.

---

Email list management powered by http://MailerMailer.com

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

Visit Your Group

Red Democratica 10 years "On line" (1998-2008)!
Http://reddemocratica.blogspot.com
Boletin Diario :
Http://reddemocratica01.blogspot.com
Foro Debate :
Http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eleccion

Ahora en FACEBOOK : Red Democratica

Http://www.caretas.com.pe/2000/1631/articulos/protesta.phtml
Http://www.caretas.com.pe/2000/1612/articulos/debate.phtml

Celebrando 10 anos "On Line"..2009

Keep the candle burning

I have a dream
http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/about_king/interactiveFrame.htm

FORUM TPSIPOL: RED DEMOCRATICA (1998-1999).
Informacion : Http://tpsipol.home-page.org

Para enviar un message , enviar a: eleccion@yahoogroups.com
Para suscribirse al Forum , enviar un mensaje a : eleccion-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Para salir del Forum, enviar un mensaje en blanco : eleccion-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

---

Get great advice about dogs and cats. Visit the Dog & Cat Answers Center.

---

Hobbies & Activities Zone: Find others who share your passions! Explore new interests.

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

.

__,_._,___