The Morning Brief - Lignet
Spain: As Economy Weakens,
Government Budget Off Course
Although Spain’s financial health has recovered significantly as a
result of the $48 billion EU bank bailout last summer, the lives of most
Spaniards have not improved and the overall condition of the economy
remains poor. As a result, the government of Prime Minister Mariano
Rajoy has difficult economic decisions to make in the near future,
including whether to seek another economic bailout, as we explain in
this special analysis.
How Hundreds of New Centrifuges Will Help Iran Make More Nukes,
Faster
A new report prepared by the International Atomic Energy Agency makes
clear that Iran is preparing a dramatic acceleration in its uranium
enrichment program through the installation of advanced centrifuges.
Based on the data in this report, LIGNET has raised its estimate of the
number of nuclear weapons Iran could potentially construct to eight if
its current stockpile of enriched uranium is enriched to weapons-grade,
a process that could take weeks to months.
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account status by clicking here.
Oil and Influence at Stake, Russia Spends Big on Post-Chávez Bet
Russia’s leadership is watching the situation in Venezuela closely.
Billions in oil investments and a budding rivalry with China hang in the
balance as Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez remains gravely ill and
reports of his prognosis are poor.
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Europe Will Be the Biggest Loser in Caspian Sea Oil Fight
The Trans-Caspian Pipeline could free Europe from its dependence on
Russia as a source of energy. But the pipeline will never be built if
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan cannot reach agreement on ownership of the
Caspian Sea oil reserves. Without the pipeline, Europe will be forever
tethered to Russia, and at its mercy as it needs its natural gas.
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Israel: Dead Australian Prisoner Linked To Mossad Operations
Against Iran
The mysterious suicide of alleged Mossad agent Ben Zygier in an Israeli
prison has made many observers wonder why he was jailed in the first
place. Israel’s government has said Zygier was guilty of a “grave” crime
against his country, but has refused to be more specific. LIGNET
believes that may be because Zygier was involved in clandestine
operations against Iran, perhaps including the assassination of some of
its nuclear scientists.
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UK Trade Trip to India Marks a Reversal of Roles
British Prime Minister David Cameron led the largest British trade
delegation in history on a trip to India last week to try to persuade
the former colony to open its fast-growing market to British exports.
But the UK no longer carries the kind of sway it once did in India, and
British companies will no doubt find themselves frustrated by India’s
famously complicated bureaucracy and by arcane laws that make it
difficult to do business.
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China’s Stranglehold on 'Rare Earths' Will Loosen
Geoff Hiscock, the author of “Earth Wars: The Battle for Global
Resources,” spoke with LIGNET about the increasing global competition
for water and food that is a natural byproduct of the rise of the middle
class in developing countries like China, India, Brazil, Indonesia,
Russia and other nations.
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account status by clicking here.
No End in Sight for Sudan-South Sudan Conflict
With efforts to resolve the conflict between Sudan and South Sudan going
nowhere, there is a continuing risk of an all-out war between the two
states. The fighting between government forces and rebels of both
countries is only the latest example of both governments’ refusal to
honor a series of recent peace agreements, as LIGNET explains.
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