IRAN
On Iran, Turn Rhetoric Into Results
Reza Marashi, The Huffington Post — September 30, 2011
For President Obama to peacefully defuse the Iran crisis, he must actively seek to do the right thing in the end — turn his compelling vision into practical policy, and rhetoric into results.
US threatens sanctions on China banks over Iran
AFP — September 28, 2011
A top US envoy said Wednesday that Washington could penalise China’s four biggest state banks if they were found doing business with an Iranian insurance firm in violation of US nuclear sanctions.
NORTH KOREA
North Korea Wants to Sell South Unused Fuel Rods: Sources
Global Security Newswire — September 30, 2011
North Korea requested that South Korea buy its unused nuclear fuel rods should it accept other nations’ demands for relaunching multilateral talks aimed at shuttering Pyongyang’s nuclear program, the Asahi Shimbun reported on Friday.
Ban urges N. Korea to work with UN on food crisis
AFP — September 29, 2011
UN leader Ban Ki-moon called on North Korea to be more open with UN agencies battling the country’s food crisis, during a meeting with a Pyongyang minister, a UN spokesman said Thursday.
PAKISTAN
Pakistan to US: Respect Sovereignty, Solidarity
Ayaz Gul, Voice of America — September 30, 2011
Pakistan’s spy chief has told top political leaders of the country that his agency maintains contacts with elements within the anti-American Haqqani network, but does not do so in order to wage a proxy war against the U.S. interests in neighboring Afghanistan, but for the purpose of seeking peace.
US uses jazz music to improve Pakistan relations
CBS — September 30, 2011
Carrots haven’t worked with Pakistan. Neither have sticks. Now the U.S. has enlisted the power of jazz music to improve relations with Pakistanis at a time when the important alliance has hit rock bottom.
LIBYA
Senate Delegation Positive About Security of Libyan WMD Materials
Global Security Newswire, September 30, 2011
Libya’s chemical warfare materials and recently discovered store of raw uranium are not in danger of being acquired by remnants of the former Qadhafi regime, according to a U.S. lawmaker who visited Tripoli on Thursday.
Libya officer at Tuareg-Arab talks in desert town
Reuters — September 30, 2011
The military chief of Libya’s new interim government attended a meeting on Friday between Tuareg tribesmen and local Arabs in the southwestern town of Ghadames aimed at patching up differences that have recently spilled over into violence.
