National Security | News-Opinion
TOP NEWS: Nat’l Security / Foreign Affairs: August 20th, 2012
Excerpts and more top stories
CHINA/JAPAN: Anti-Japan Protests Erupt in China Over Disputed Island NYT
KEITH BRADSHER, MARTIN FACKLER and ANDREW JACOBS – As the protests spread over the weekend, Japanese activists landed on the island, further intensifying tensions between the two countries.
CHINA: China Defers Death Penalty for Disgraced Official’s Wife NYT
ANDREW JACOBS - Gu Kailai, the wife of Bo Xilai, received a suspended death sentence for the poisoning death of a British business associate. In the Chinese legal system, such a sentence is often commuted to life in prison.
EUROZONE/GREECE: Tension Over Aid to Greece Could Unsettle Markets NYT
EUROZONE/SPAIN: Spain Seeks ECB Commitment NYT
JONATHAN HOUSE - Spain would like to see the ECB commit to massive, open-ended sovereign-debt purchases before it asks for help financing itself, as expectations mount that the country will ask for a new bailout.
EUROZONE: Europe’s Downward Economic and Political Spiral Real Clear Markets OPINION
EUROZONE: ECB Plays Down Bonds Report WSJ
TOM FAIRNESS and TODD BUELL -The European Central Bank moved to play down reports that it was preparing the systematic intervention in some in sovereign bond markets to try to lower the yields on debt of troubled euro-zone states
SYRIA: United Nations observer mission in Syria ends BBC
EGYPT: Dennis Ross: Egypt’s new leaders must accept reality WP OPINION
It’s clear that the group the Brotherhood is wedded to its ideology and cannot admit anything that might call its basic philosophy into question. But the United States and others should not accommodate the Brotherhood’s alternative reality.
EGYPT: Don’t Fear All Islamists, Fear Salafis ROBIN WRIGHT, NYT OPINION
MIDDLE EAST: U.S Must Rethink the Middle East JIM HOAGLAND, WP OPINION
ISRAEL/IRAN: Why do Israel Media Keep Predicting War With Iran? TIME
TONI KARON -A frenetic pounding of the war drums appears designed to create the impression that Israel will attack Iran before the U.S. presidential election. Whether that’s Netanyahu’s real intent remains a mystery.
RUSSIA: Pussy Riot sentences split Russian society FT
CATHERINE BELTON and COURTNEY WEAVER- Result is provoking intense debate and causing a fissure among the people who are being forced to face up to politics after years
RUSSIA: For Russians, Corruption Is Just a Way of Life NYT
MISHA FRIEDMAN- Most Russians have grown so accustomed to a certain lawless way of life that they have come to view corruption as “Russia’s own special way.”
MARKETS/UK: CME Plans Exchange in London WSJ
JACOB BUNGE – CME Group said it was planning to launch a London-based derivatives exchange, in a move that would see it compete with rivals run by NYSE Euronext and Deutsche B?rse.
LIBOR/UK: U.K. Lawmakers Slam Regulators Over Libor WSJ
JASON DOUGLAS – U.K. lawmakers accused regulators of serious shortcomings in their failure to stop Barclays from manipulating a key interest rate, and told the central bank it was naive to think banks wouldn’t behave dishonestly in order to overstate their health.
ASSANGE/ECUADOR/UK: It’s Not About Assange NYT
ANITA ISAACS, OP-ED - Granting Mr. Assange asylum provides a politically timely reminder of President Correa’s leadership style at home – and his potential for leadership beyond Ecuador’s borders.
ASIA/ECONOMY: Direct Yuan-Yen Trading Finds Little Traction WSJ
TAKASHI MOCHIZUKI- Despite a high-profile launch in June, direct yuan-yen foreign exchange dealing has yet to catch on, with two-step transactions done through the U.S. dollar still accounting for the lion’s share of transactions.
ASIA/ECONOMY: Asia’s Shopping Passion Cools WSJ
ALEX FRANGOS - Asian consumers have kept their countries’ economies humming while exports to Europe and the U.S. have been a drag. Now there are signs consumer spending also is ticking down.
BELIZE/ECONOMY: Belize to Skip Payment If Lenders Don’t Relent WSJ
Belize, a Central American nation with an economy the size of Pine Bluff, Ark., is running out of money to pay its debts. But the tiny country is playing hardball with its lenders.
PAKISTAN: Imran Khan Must Be Doing Something Right - NYT
PANKAJ MISHRA – Does the former cricket superstar Imran Khan have what it takes to lead an angry and disillusioned nation?
SWEDEN: EUROZONE/SWEDEN: Riksbank Upbeat on Sweden Growth WSJ
ENDA CURRAN - Sweden’s central bank plans to lift its growth forecast as the Scandinavian economy continues to shake off the euro-zone crisis, a top central bank official.
SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa to Probe Mine Shooting WSJ
DEVON MAYLIE – Government will name task force after police open fire on striking workers at Platinum Producer
AFGHANISTAN: Taliban Keep Up Attacks on Officials in Afghanistan NYT
RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr. and SHARIFULLAH SAHAK – As NATO forces have stepped up raids on senior Taliban commanders and suspected militants, the Taliban have increased their attacks on NATO and government targets.
MORE SYRIA NEWS:
SYRIA: In Syria, group suspected of al-Qaeda links gaining prominence in war to topple Assad WP
SYRIA: On a Bleak Holiday, Assad Makes a Display of Piety NYT
SYRIA: Assad makes first appearance since bombing FT
MORE CHINA NEWS:
CHINA: Asia’s Roiling Sea NYT EDITORIAL
Washington should keep nudging China and its rivals to settle their South China Sea claims
CHINA: Ministry Backs China Nuclear Firm’s Listing WSJ
WAYNE MA and SARAH CHEN -China National Nuclear Power received final approval from the Ministry of Environmental Protection to move forward with its planned initial public offering
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