IRAN
U.N. report seen worsening fear over Iran nuclear plans
Reuters — October 24, 2011
The U.N. nuclear watchdog is expected to publish intelligence soon pointing to military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear activities but stopping short of saying explicitly that Tehran is trying to build atom bombs, Western diplomats say.
China urges IAEA to solve Iran nuclear issue through dialogue, negotiations
Xinhua — October 25, 2011
China adamantly believes that dialogue and negotiations are the proper ways to solve the Iranian nuclear issue, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Tuesday at a daily press briefing.
NORTH KOREA
US envoy: Progress in NKorea talks, but no deal on resuming full nuclear negotiations
The Associated Press — October 25, 2011
The U.S. envoy leading talks with North Korea on Pyongyang’s nuclear program says two days of meetings in Geneva have narrowed differences between the two sides.
‘South remains defenseless against North’s missile threats’
Lee Tae-hoon, Korea Times — October 25, 2011
Despite its continuous efforts to beef up air defense capabilities, officials acknowledge that South Korea remains highly vulnerable to growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. <
LIBYA
Muammar Gaddafi ‘buried in desert grave at dawn’
BBC News — October 25, 2011
The bodies of ex-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, his son Mutassim and a top aide have been buried in secret in the desert, Libyan officials say.
Qaddafi’s secret burial doesn’t end controversy over his death
Ariel Zirulnick, Christian Science Monitor — October 25, 2011
Muammar Qaddafi is now buried in an unmarked desert grave. The circumstances of his death have raised questions about the new government’s ability to respect human rights and prevent reprisals.
Opinion: A ‘new Libya’ must probe Gadhafi killing
Michael P. Scharf, CNN — October 25, 2011
Last week, Libya’s former leader, Moammar Gadhafi, was killed, apparently by rebel forces. When he was captured, he was by all accounts alive, with a gunshot to the arm.
UNITED STATES
US’s most powerful nuclear bomb being dismantled
Besty Blaney, Associated Press — October 25, 2011
The last of the nation’s most powerful nuclear bombs — a weapon hundreds of times stronger than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima — is being disassembled nearly half a century after it was put into service at the height of the Cold War.
Rick Perry proposes flat tax plan, corporate tax cut
The Guardian — October 25, 2011
Perry outlines “cut, balance and grow” plan that would lower the corporate rate and let Americans pay a flat income tax
