An Cosantóir

12 | World Strategic Picture Europe The EU Parliament voted for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. The reforms would include protecting stocks that are at risk and stopping the ���discard��� policy of dumping dead fish into the sea. Tensions between Russia and Georgia have started to ease after Russia agreed in principle to end its ban on imports of wine and mineral water from Georgia. Pope Benedict XVI announced that he would step down on February 28th. the announcement stunned the Catholic church as he is the first Pontiff to resign in 600 years. Kosovo marked its fifth year of independence from Serbia on 17 Feb. Serbia meanwhile wants to become an EU member, and the prime ministers of both countries have been holding regular meetings in recent months. The Americas Barrack Obama was inaugurated in Washington for a second presidential term. In his annual presidential state-of-the-union message to Congress, he announced that the USA and the EU would begin talks to create a transatlantic free-trade zone. The Pentagon reversed the long-standing policy of banning women from frontline service. It does not however intend for women to take on a large fighting role. A fibre-optic cable connecting Cuba to the internet seems to have been finally activated after the cable was completed in 2011. Asia In Delhi the trial began of five of the suspects accused of January���s rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman. The attack caused massive out cry for the lack of concern by the government over women���s safety. North Korea carried out its third test of a nuclear bomb. The test brought condemnation from around the world. Pyongyang said the test was in response to America���s ���reckless hostility���. In an attempt to redeem its reputation, the Pakistani town of Abbotabad, the town in which Osama bin Laden was in hiding for several years, has decided to build an amusement park. An Cosant��ir March 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie The former head of Italy���s intelligence agency was sentenced to ten years in prison for his part in the 2003 rendition, under the auspices of the CIA, to Egypt of a Muslim cleric who claims he was tortured. The Italian courts have sentence 22 CIA agents in absentia. Bulgaria concluded that Hezbullah, the Lebanese party/ militia was behind last July���s bombing of a bus near Burgas last July at a resort on the Black Sea. General John Allen was nominated by the White House as NATO���s commander in Europe. It���s claimed he has applied to retire from the military due to family health issues. Speaking in London, Argentina���s foreign minister predicted that the Malvinas (the Falklands) would be under Argentinean control within 20 years. The islanders are voting in a referendum in March whether or not to remain as a British overseas territory. The Argentinean minister warned that his country would respect the ���interests��� of the islanders but not their ���wishes���. The separatist campaign continues in Thailand. The Thailand army killed 16 militants The UN and who stormed a base Arab League near the border with envoy to Malaysia. Over 5,000 Syria, Lakhhave been killed since dar Brahimi, Muslim majority south told the UN launched the separat- Security Council that Syria ist campaign in 2004. is being destroyed ���bit by bit���. The UN refugee agency Tensions between estimates that over 700,000 Japan and China refuges have fled from Syria, increased after a Chiwhile a further two million nese destroyer locked have been displaced. its weapons radar onto a Japanese frigReports claim that the Israeli ate about 100km from Airforce attacked an arms the disputed islands of shipment in Syria bound for Senkaku/Diaoyu. Hezbullah in Lebanon. State The Middle East Africa France said its troops, along with Mali government forces, have chased jihadist and ethnic Tuareg rebels out of most of the north and will be withdrawing by March as it hands over to the UN led African peacekeepers. Nigerian militant group Ansaru says it kidnapped seven foreign workers in a raid that saw a security guard killed. Italian, British, Greek and Lebanese workers are thought to be among those being held after the attack in the northern state of Bauchi. The kidnapping of foreigners is common in the oilrich Niger Delta region, in the south of the country. media in Syria said a scientific research facility had been hit. In Egypt clashes occurred between opponents of the Islamist government and the security forces. Some 50 people were killed. Egypt���s president, Muhammad Morsi invited the opposition to engage in a ���national dialogue���. Qatar as one of the first governments to recognise the Syrian National Coalition as the legitimate government of Syria, and have now handed over control of the Syrian embassy in Doha to the Coalition.

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