Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Update: 2/2/10-2/8/10

Vanderbilt Model UN Weekly Briefing

For 02/02/2010-02/08/2010

Written on 02/08/2010 at 7:30 pm

  • Iran: Iran’s President Moves Ahead on Uranium Processing
    • Scientists will begi enriching uranium in order to power a medical reactor
    • Just days ago, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad proclaimed that Iran might accept a Western exchange of its uranium for medial-reactor fuel that cannot be recognized
    • Even if Iran successfully produces the enriched uranium, it would have to manifacture it into specialized fuel rods for the reactor (which would take years)
    • The West is now considering placing even stronger options on Iran
  • Sri Lanka: Defeated Candidate in the Previous Election Arrested
    • Gen. Fonseka had contested the results and threatened to challenge them
    • The charges against him relate to the “violation” of rules preventing the discussion of political matters while being a member of the military
    • The General has also been accused of divulging sensitive information to the public and of plotting both a coup and an assassination of the president
  • Europe: France and Russia in warship deal
    • France has agreed to sell Russia an advanced warship, and is considering sending three others as well
    • Deal would increase Russia’s capacity to launch amphibious (suited for both land and water) offensives
    • Ex-Soviet states are alarmed, as this is the first deal of this sort between Russia and a Nato member
  • Ukraine: Pro-Moscow Yanukovych likely to win Ukranian Election
    • Yanukovych obtained a 3.2% lead over rival, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko
    • Results represent a comeback from Yanukovych’s defeat by the 2004 “Orange Revolution”
    • This represents the pro-Western Orange Revolution’s failure to deliver on their promises
  • Sudan: ICC Rejects Charges against Darfur Rebel
    • First Darfur war crimes suspect to face international judges has had the charges against him dropped
    • Bahar Idriss Abu Garda was accused of planning the killing of 12 AU peacekeepers
    • He has always denied being a part of the attacks on the peacekeepers
  • Australia: Australia Tightens Migrant Rules
    • The country will begin to focus immigration policy on skills
    • They will abolish the current list of 106 skills in demand and review a points test used to assess migrants
    • New policy will focus on health workers, as well as workers in engineering and mining

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