The Morning Brief - Lignet
Mandatory Military Service Could Break Israel's Government
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing the first crisis of
his new governing coalition after it recommended eliminating the
exemption that has allowed ultra-Orthodox Jews to avoid serving in the
military. Navigating the country’s culture war is likely to be perilous
for Netanyahu as one wrong move could splinter the coalition and bring
down his government.
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Syria: Assad Makes Gains as Fight Spills into Lebanon
In a sudden turn-around, the Assad regime is reportedly gaining ground
across Syria thanks to an influx of Hezbollah fighters and military aid
from Russia and Iran. A French official said over the weekend that a
U.S.-Russia-backed Syria peace conference could still take place next
month, but this seems unlikely.
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Japan: How Abe's Crescent Strategy Will Benefit the US
In an exclusive interview with LIGNET, a senior adviser to Japanese
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe described how Japan is countering China’s
increasingly assertive foreign policy using diplomacy. The so-called
"crescent strategy" has one aim: to mitigate Chinese influence in Asia.
It appears to be working, and working to the advantage also of the
United States.
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‘Money Mules’ Pose a Serious Threat to Online Banking
The U.S. government is warning about a new type of cyber crime that uses
so-called “money mules” to either launder money or aid in a large-scale
theft that cannot easily be traced. The “mules” are often recruited
online by an offer of employment and end up having money stolen funds
move through their personal bank accounts. They often become the victims
of theft themselves.
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Will the Bank of England Follow
the Fed's Lead?
The appointment of a new governor of the Bank of England has prompted
speculation worldwide of a shake-up at the bank. The appointee is a
Canadian who favors an aggressive monetary policy to stimulate growth.
He may want the Bank of England to follow in the footsteps of the U.S.
Federal Reserve. But will he be able to make that happen?
Algerian Terror Boss Belmokhtar Taking on the World
One-eyed Muslim terrorist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar is on a roll after
masterminding two major terror operations in the Sahara this year, but
he is not motivated by the usual radical Islamist dogma. His steely
pragmatism combined with an indifference to religious ideology makes him
a different breed of terrorist. He may lack intellectual purity and
spiritualism, but he has no shortage of military prowess and tactical
genius.
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Russia-U.S. Espionage Burning Hotter Than Ever
An alleged U.S. spy caught with an incriminating wad of cash and
low-tech spy tools in Moscow is evidence that espionage between the two
states continues at a high level despite the end of the Cold War more
than two decades ago. While Moscow can be faulted for breaking unwritten
rules among spies by its effort to exploit this incident for publicity
purposes, the real issue here appears to be sloppy tradecraft by the
CIA.
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Can a Trading Bloc Help Latin America Outgrow Leftism?
The growing regional appeal of the new free trade bloc, the Pacific
Alliance, founded last year by Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru, has
the potential to undermine the radical leftism that is deeply engrained
among Latin American leaders. The push for greater integration has
already attracted a number of other countries and indications of further
success could pose a major threat to the prevailing anti-American
sentiment that has dominated the region for decades.
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Iran: Sanctions, Diplomacy Failing to Slow Nuclear Program
The latest report on the Iranian nuclear program by the International
Atomic Energy Agency indicates that Iran continues to make steady
progress in producing nuclear fuel in defiance of international
sanctions and new diplomacy. This includes developing advanced uranium
centrifuges and a heavy water reactor that Iran could use to
significantly increase its production of enriched uranium and to begin
to produce plutonium.
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No Change in North Korea, Despite Envoy’s Visit to China
In a largely symbolic gesture, a representative from North Korea
traveled to China this week to soothe leaders in Beijing who have become
increasingly annoyed by the antics of Kim Jong Un. China immediately
attempted to tie the hands of the visiting official by releasing a
statement claiming that North Korea had agreed to resume negotiations on
its nuclear program, without details on the exact format and what, if
any, preconditions would have to be met.
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Spain: Rajoy Risks Everything with School Cuts
Spain’s conservative government is facing protests and general strikes
as it works toward cutting funding for education. Tens of thousands of
students and teachers have taken to the streets, revealing the fragility
of the situation in Spain as it implements the tough austerity measures
required by its last-resort lenders.
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