Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

RFE/RL Headlines 1/13/2011 8:27:15 PM A daily digest of the English-language news and analysis written by the staff of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty RFE/RL is looking for guest bloggers, preferably writing from and about our broadcast region. If you're interested, drop us a line at webteam@rferl.org.

 

Features Azerbaijan Supply Agreement Pumps New Life Into EU's Energy Plans The European Union and Azerbaijan have signed a long-awaited agreement on natural-gas supplies in Baku that pumps new life into Brussels' energy plans. More   Despite Pubic Pledges Of Cooperation, Key Differences Remain Between U.S., Pakistan Despite the displays of good faith, long-time observers of U.S.-Pakistani relations say that the two sides have a long way to go to overcome their significant differences. More   Report Says Decline In Freedom Continues Across Former Soviet Union The latest "Freedom in The World" report by the U.S.-based rights watchdog Freedom House indicates that authoritarian regimes across a broad geographical range are stepping up their suppression of freedom. More   The Plight Of Afghanistan's Child Water Carriers The water carriers of Aqibi Silo are hardly the only child laborers in Kabul. But the fact that they are missing school to deliver water that should be delivered by public utilities outrages the people of their neighborhood. More   News Lavrov: Iran Invite No Substitute For Inspections Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said a recent offer from Iran to tour its nuclear facilities deserves consideration, but it could not replace international inspections or nuclear talks. More   Russia's Foreign Minister Praises Better Relations With West Russia's foreign minister has praised Moscow's improving relations with the West, saying they wouldn’t be affected by international condemnation over the conviction of former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. But he warned there can be no European security without Russia's inclusion as an "equal partner." More   Lithuania Takes OSCE Helm Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis declared media freedom a priority for his country's chairmanship of the OSCE. In a speech yesterday at the organization's headquarters in Vienna, Azubalis said, "...more than 1,100 journalists and media staff have been killed worldwide while pursuing their legitimate and valuable profession. This cannot continue." More   Troop Talks On Biden Agenda In Iraq U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is visiting Baghdad after stops in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as the United States tries to refocus its efforts against Al-Qaeda and other extremist groups around the world. More   No Travel For Belarus Candidate's Wife Milana Mikhalevich said security personnel in the central province of Baranovich halted her in the early morning hours as she was en route to Poland for a conference on the situation in Belarus. More   From Our Bureaus Kosovo's Independence Recognized By 74th Country West Africa's Guinea-Bissau has become the 74th country to recognize Kosovo's independence. More   Kyrgyz Official Says Extremists' Gun Used During Ethnic Clashes In Osh Kyrgyz Interior Minister Zarylbek Rysaliev says a gun confiscated from a group of alleged Islamic extremists last week was used during deadly ethnic clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan in June. More   OSCE Secretary-General Urged On Return Of Kazakh State Award Activists in Kazakhstan are calling on the secretary-general of the OSCE to return a high state award given to him by President Nursultan Nazarbaev if the Kazakh leader agrees to hold a national referendum to prolong his term. More   Kazakh Referendum Opponents Fined Five activists have been fined over a protest against a proposed referendum to extend President Nursultan Nazarbaev's rule, in which they staged a mock "burial of democracy." More   Ebadi: Crackdown Shows Govt 'Fear' Iran's Nobel peace laureate, Shirin Ebadi, says the ongoing crackdown on activists and lawyers shows the extent to which the regime fears human rights defenders. More   Warning Of New Russian-Georgian War A former member of the pro-Georgian South Ossetian leadership has warned that the Georgian leadership needs to embark immediately on talks with Russia to avert a new conflict. More   Tatarstan's Mufti Resigns Tatarstan's Spiritual Board of Muslims has accepted the resignation of the Russian republic's mufti, Gusman Iskhakov. More   Former Ukraine Minister Granted Asylum The Czech Republic has granted political asylum to former Ukrainian Economic Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn. More   Afghans Protest Iran Blockade Hundreds of protesters organized by the Afghanistan Solidarity Party have gathered in front of the Iranian Embassy in Kabul to protest that country's ongoing fuel blockade. More   Transmission Ramzan Kadyrov: Bring Me Snow! Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, not generally know for his rationality, has recently displayed increasingly erratic behavior, reportedly shipping 100 dump trucks of snow to Grozny for children to play in on New Year's Eve. More   The Rundown - January 13 News and views from RFE/RL's broadcast region. More   Watchdog Prominent Kazakh Opposition Journalist Resigns The chief editor of Kazakhstan's leading opposition newspaper, "Svoboda Slova" (Freedom of Speech), has resigned. More   Tangled Web The Lamest Edit Wars On Wikipedia Ever There’s a moment when a relationship goes wrong when you’re arguing about how to peel an orange, when one of you shouts, “It’s not about the **** orange!” More   Commentary New International Nuclear-Fuel Bank Likely To Find Few Customers The alternative of the nuclear fuel bank makes uranium-enrichment unnecessary for Iran’s economic development objectives. Yet Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has made it clear that the government has not halted enrichment. Iran’s choices draw greater attention to the irony of the fuel bank. More