An Cosantóir

10 | world strategic picture EUROPE After more than a year, Bosnia feuding politicians have formed a government. Political leaders from all sides hope that the development will ease the country's path to EU accession candidate status. New EU sanctions target Iran nuclear program, saying it will starve the country's nuclear program of funding. The sanc- tions freeze the assets of Iran's central bank in EU nations and ban the importation of Iranian oil to those countries. They also block EU countries from export- ing petrochemical equipment and technology, or trading diamonds and precious metals with Iran. AFRICA Boko Haram, a fundamen- talist Islamic group, claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in Nigeria, includ- ing one on Christmas Day that killed 40. Police claim hundreds of IEDs in soft drink cans had been found in the city of Kano, where violence raged last week. Four Kenyan officials, includ- ing Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, will stand trial on human rights violations that are alleged to have occurred after the 2007 election, the International Criminal Court ruled. More than 1,000 people were killed and 350,000 dis- placed, according to the Kenya Red Cross. THE AMERICA'S 38 Haitian migrants died when their over- crowded boat sank off the coast of Cuba. The Cuban Civil Defence res- cued 87 people, including four children and seven women. They have been moved to an interna- tional migrants' camp at Point Maisi. MIDDLE EAST Arab League observers arrived in Syria in an effort to persuade Bashar Asaad to withdraw his forces from towns, free politi- cal prisoners, and talk to the opposition. Clashes continued, some troops were withdrawn and some prisoners freed, but no talks were held. Dec 18 saw the last US Mexican authorities have captured Felipe Ca- brera Sarabia, the alleged security chief of 'Sinaloa' the country's biggest drug cartel. More than 40,000 people have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since Dec 2006. The South American trade block Mercosur (Common Southern Market: is an economic and political agreement among Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), announced it would ban any vessels flying the flag of the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) from entering its ports. Cuban President Raúl Castro pardoned over 2,900 prisoners, 86 of which were foreigners. The President said he would not be abolishing restrictions on foreign travel by Cubans. An Cosantóir February 2012 convoy to leave Iraq, end- ing nearly nine years of war that cost almost 4,500 US and tens of thousands of Iraqi lives. Still fragile it faces insurgents, sectar- ian tensions, and an Arab region in turmoil. ASIA North Korea's dictator since 1994, Kim Jong Il, died on Dec17 last of a suspected heart attack. His funeral was a massive communist fanfare of military splendour, in North Korea's capital Pyongyang. Taking the throne is his third son, Kim Jong Un (20's). His uncle, Jang Song Taek may prove to be very influential in his nuclear tipped regime. Myanmar celebrated its A dozen bombs went off across Baghdad on Dec 22, only a few days after the last American troops left Iraq. Ethnic tensions rose after Iraq's Shia Prime Minister, Nuri al-Maliki said that the Sunni Vice-Presi- dent Tariq al-Hashemi was charged with terrorism. Ten day Iranian naval exercises in the Gulf increased tensions with the West and pushed up oil prices. Fears that Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz, which provides an outlet for one fifth of the world's oil has caused the rise. Iran warned the US not to send an aircraft carrier back into the Gulf. 64th anniversary of indepen- dence from Britain. Just prior to the first visit of a British for- eign secretary since 1955, hun- dreds of prisoners were freed and sentences shortened for others. Democratic activists claimed most of these prison- ers were not political. America said it was not enough to merit lifting sanctions. A typhoon in the Philippines claimed over 1,200 lives. The navy, local fisherman, police and fire-fighters have joined forces in the hopes of finding more survivors. The country has packed more than 60,000 homeless citizens into schools and gymnasiums. Commodore Frank Baini- marama, Fiji's Prime Minister, announced the Pacific island would lift a state of emergen- cy and draft a new constitu- tion. Bainimarama came to power via a coup d'état in 2006.

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