US
President Barack Obama signed into law a historic and contentious defense spending bill [2010 National Defense Authorization Act] Wednesday that includes a broad expansion of hate-crimes legislation to include crimes committed against people because of their sexual orientation [Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act]. The new ‘hate crimes bill’ expands the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. It is the first law in the history of the federal government to extend legal protections to transgender persons, requiring the FBI to track statistics on hate crimes against them for the first time.
Ecuador and Russia
The visiting Ecuadorean President to Moscow has signed seven cooperation agreements with his Russian counterpart in the fields of energy and civilian nuclear science. President Rafael Correa met with President Dmitry Medvedev at the Kremlin on Thursday where the two leaders inked a declaration on strategic cooperation, the Russian news agency, Itar-Tass reports. Russia has already secured its presence in Latin America by its transcontinental energy pipeline network and the defense agreements it has signed with the regional countries, including Venezuela.
Colombia and US
Bogota is on the verge of signing a military pact with Washington, granting the US access to Colombia’s bases, in what the two allies describe as an enhanced war on “narcoterrorism.” As the foremost ally of the US in the region, Colombia has been a major recipient of US aid, collecting around $6 billion in aid since 2000.
Somalia
Two recent attempts to kill Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed are assassination attacks on all Somalis, the top United Nations official for the strife-torn country said today. Extremists yesterday tried to assassinate the president as he was returning to Mogadishu. This followed a similar attempt last Thursday at Mogadishu airport as he boarded a plane for Uganda to attend an African summit.
Afghanistan and US
Karzai’s Brother A Spook? Did the military leak that the CIA is funding Karzai? Maj. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, a top military intelligence guy and a McChrystal honcho, basically accuses the CIA of supporting crime in Afghanistan. In other words, business as usual for the CIA. More here.
Poland and US
An American destroyer has reportedly fired live rounds at the northern Polish coast while disposed of the combat-ready mode it had assumed during joint naval drills. The 250-crew guided-missile destroyer, USS Ramage, fired three shots at the port city of Gdynia, said spokesman for the Polish Military Gendarmerie, Marcin Wiacek, ‘Russia Today’ reported on Wednesday.
Russia: Arctic Sea
Russia has lifted the arrest from the Arctic Sea vessel, which is due to be handed over to Malta shortly, spokesman for the Investigations Committee of the Prosecutor General’s Office Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass. A new crew has flown from Russia to Malta to replace the sailors on the cargo ship
Iran and Turkey
Iran and Turkey have signed two agreements that would further enhance the level of energy ties between the two neighboring countries. Iranian Oil Minister Masoud Mirkazemi and Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz signed a memorandum of understanding in the natural gas sector in Tehran on Wednesday.
Iran and US
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed legislation that would toughen sanctions on Iran over its nuclear work. The bill known as the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act gives President Obama more power to ban companies providing Iran with gasoline, diesel and other refined petroleum fuels. It would also target firms that help the country import gasoline.
UN: Cuba and US
For the 18th year in a row, the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday voted to condemn the 47-year embargo against Cuba by the United States. The draft resolution was passed by a vote of 187-3, with 2 abstentions. Only the United States, Israel and Palau voted against the measure. Micronesia and the Marshall Islands abstained.
UN: Honduras and Brazil
The interim government of Honduras has taken Brazil to court for allowing ousted President Manuel Zelaya to remain in its embassy. Mr Zelaya has been inside the embassy since he secretly returned from a three-month exile on 21 September. At the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Honduran officials said Mr Zelaya had threatened the “peace and internal public order of Honduras”. Brazil said the interim government had no authority to lodge such proceedings.
Pakistan and US
The United States has quietly shipped substantial military equipment in recent months to aid Pakistan’s fight against militants, officials of both nations said. The rushed U.S. supply, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, includes 10 Mi-17 troop transport helicopters, spare parts for Cobra helicopter gunships, night vision goggles, body armor and eavesdropping equipment, The New York Times reported.
UN: Israel and Ivory Coast
Israel has criticized a UN report which accuses Tel Aviv of involvement in illegal diamond trade from the Ivory Coast that could be helping re-arm rebels there.
UN: Israel, Lebanon, Italy and Spain
Israel’s request to extend Italy’s command of U.N. troops in South Lebanon may have sparked a diplomatic incident with Spain, officials said. Citing the sensitive situation in Lebanon, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu earlier this month, asked Italy to extend for at least six months the tour of its military commander, Gen. Claudio Graziano who heads up the United Nations Interim Forces in southern Lebanon, Haaretz said Thursday. Spain was to have been appointed the next commander, the newspaper said.
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Shorter Question Everything
US
President Barack Obama signed into law a historic and contentious defense spending bill [2010 National Defense Authorization Act] Wednesday that includes a broad expansion of hate-crimes legislation to include crimes committed against people because of their sexual orientation [Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act]. The new ‘hate crimes bill’ expands the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. It is the first law in the history of the federal government to extend legal protections to transgender persons, requiring the FBI to track statistics on hate crimes against them for the first time.
Ecuador and Russia
The visiting Ecuadorean President to Moscow has signed seven cooperation agreements with his Russian counterpart in the fields of energy and civilian nuclear science. President Rafael Correa met with President Dmitry Medvedev at the Kremlin on Thursday where the two leaders inked a declaration on strategic cooperation, the Russian news agency, Itar-Tass reports. Russia has already secured its presence in Latin America by its transcontinental energy pipeline network and the defense agreements it has signed with the regional countries, including Venezuela.
Colombia and US
Bogota is on the verge of signing a military pact with Washington, granting the US access to Colombia’s bases, in what the two allies describe as an enhanced war on “narcoterrorism.” As the foremost ally of the US in the region, Colombia has been a major recipient of US aid, collecting around $6 billion in aid since 2000.
Somalia
Two recent attempts to kill Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed are assassination attacks on all Somalis, the top United Nations official for the strife-torn country said today. Extremists yesterday tried to assassinate the president as he was returning to Mogadishu. This followed a similar attempt last Thursday at Mogadishu airport as he boarded a plane for Uganda to attend an African summit.
Afghanistan and US
Karzai’s Brother A Spook? Did the military leak that the CIA is funding Karzai? Maj. Gen. Michael T. Flynn, a top military intelligence guy and a McChrystal honcho, basically accuses the CIA of supporting crime in Afghanistan. In other words, business as usual for the CIA. More here.
Poland and US
An American destroyer has reportedly fired live rounds at the northern Polish coast while disposed of the combat-ready mode it had assumed during joint naval drills. The 250-crew guided-missile destroyer, USS Ramage, fired three shots at the port city of Gdynia, said spokesman for the Polish Military Gendarmerie, Marcin Wiacek, ‘Russia Today’ reported on Wednesday.
Russia: Arctic Sea
Russia has lifted the arrest from the Arctic Sea vessel, which is due to be handed over to Malta shortly, spokesman for the Investigations Committee of the Prosecutor General’s Office Vladimir Markin told Itar-Tass. A new crew has flown from Russia to Malta to replace the sailors on the cargo ship
Iran and Turkey
Iran and Turkey have signed two agreements that would further enhance the level of energy ties between the two neighboring countries. Iranian Oil Minister Masoud Mirkazemi and Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yildiz signed a memorandum of understanding in the natural gas sector in Tehran on Wednesday.
Iran and US
The US House Foreign Affairs Committee has passed legislation that would toughen sanctions on Iran over its nuclear work. The bill known as the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act gives President Obama more power to ban companies providing Iran with gasoline, diesel and other refined petroleum fuels. It would also target firms that help the country import gasoline.
UN: Cuba and US
For the 18th year in a row, the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday voted to condemn the 47-year embargo against Cuba by the United States. The draft resolution was passed by a vote of 187-3, with 2 abstentions. Only the United States, Israel and Palau voted against the measure. Micronesia and the Marshall Islands abstained.
UN: Honduras and Brazil
The interim government of Honduras has taken Brazil to court for allowing ousted President Manuel Zelaya to remain in its embassy. Mr Zelaya has been inside the embassy since he secretly returned from a three-month exile on 21 September. At the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Honduran officials said Mr Zelaya had threatened the “peace and internal public order of Honduras”. Brazil said the interim government had no authority to lodge such proceedings.
Pakistan and US
The United States has quietly shipped substantial military equipment in recent months to aid Pakistan’s fight against militants, officials of both nations said. The rushed U.S. supply, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars, includes 10 Mi-17 troop transport helicopters, spare parts for Cobra helicopter gunships, night vision goggles, body armor and eavesdropping equipment, The New York Times reported.
UN: Israel and Ivory Coast
Israel has criticized a UN report which accuses Tel Aviv of involvement in illegal diamond trade from the Ivory Coast that could be helping re-arm rebels there.
UN: Israel, Lebanon, Italy and Spain
Israel’s request to extend Italy’s command of U.N. troops in South Lebanon may have sparked a diplomatic incident with Spain, officials said. Citing the sensitive situation in Lebanon, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu earlier this month, asked Italy to extend for at least six months the tour of its military commander, Gen. Claudio Graziano who heads up the United Nations Interim Forces in southern Lebanon, Haaretz said Thursday. Spain was to have been appointed the next commander, the newspaper said.