Current+Events+JOY

Current Events - Olivia Edwards Headlines in Russia and Neighbouring countries:

__Moldova__ - __Biden says US backs EU ties for Moldova:__  http://www.rferl.org/content/Biden_Says_US_Backs_EU_Ties_For_Moldova/1858430.html **
 * BUCHAREST (Reuters) -- The United States has thrown its weight behind Moldova's aspirations to boost ties with the European Union, following an election that last month handed power to a Western-leaning government in Chisinau.** **Brussels announced last week that talks on a new cooperation agreement with the former Soviet republic would start soon....

__Ukraine -__ __Ukraine starts election campaign:__


 * UKRAINE'S presidential election campaign is being formally launched, amid hopes it could drag the country out of its political paralysis, according to** //[|**BBC**]//**. Opinion polls suggest the pro-Western President, Viktor Yushchenko, is unlikely even to make a run-off in the election, set for 17 January.**

__Poland -__ __Defense ministry to spend 60bln on modernization:__ 
 * The Ministry of Defense plans to spend about 60 billion zloty (12.3 billion euro) by the year 2018 to modernize Poland's armed forces. Minister of Defense Bogdan Klich announced a plan Monday to modernize the army within 14 programs: air defense systems, combat and cargo helicopters, naval modernization, espionage and unmanned aircraft, training simulators and equipment for soldiers are just some of the areas in which the Ministry plans to improve...**

__Norway -__ __Former minister criticized:__

** Former minister of health, Bjarne Haakon Hanssen is being criticized for accepting a new job at a public relations firm, together with his own closest co-worker from the Health Department. The two will together give advice to organizations and private companies that wish to influence decisions made in the health sector. **

__North Korea -__ __North Korea: Riling up the world for 6 decades:__

 **It's a small, isolated Asian country, yet North Korea has managed to dominate world headlines for decades. The communist state has sparked outrage with its space programs and nuclear ambitions, has earned scorn for its chilly relations with South Korea and the United States and has been condemned for its handling of human rights issues.**

__Mongolia -__ __Mongolia: Hospitable desert:__

**Driving through Mongolia** **you soon discover that the nomads - about 30 per cent of the population** **- have an open door policy. We've hardly left Ulaan Bataar, the ramshackle capital, when we pass a ger, Mongolia's version of the teepee, and a family emerges and waves us down. They want us to come in and have snack. And that's how it continues. Drop in, be fed and have some conversation (luckily we have a translator). All they like...**

__Lithuania -__ __Passions aroused in CIA prison:__

** VILNIUS - A frightful hobgoblin stalks throughout Lithuania. Lithuanians are haunted by the ghost of the alleged CIA prison for al Qaeda members. Those passions over the prison were fueled by statements by Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite. On Oct. 15, Grybauskaite rejected the idea of taking prisoners from Guantanamo. “There will be no decision on this issue until the shadow of the alleged CIA prison [for al Qaeda suspects] remains over Lithuania because it would be an additional risk for Lithuania,” Grybauskaite said at her briefing... **

__Latvia -__ __On the dole: Latvian's work on the unemployment blunder:__

** RIGA - Adversity sometimes brings out the best in people – and these are far from easy times in Latvia. The can-do spirit is epitomized by Signe Senfelde, a journalist who found a creative solution to being out of work. Senfelde was the editor of Labu apetiti (Bon Appetite), a popular gourmet magazine, until the publisher closed it down in January in a round of cost cutting and she found herself unemployed for the first time in 20 years... **

__Kazakhstan -__ __KPO to submit plan for third phase of Karachaganak development this year - CEO:__

**Karachaganak Petroleum Operating plans to submit to the Kazakh government this year a new development plan for the third phase of the Karachaganak gas and condensate field, BG Group CEO Frank Chapman said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters...**

__Georgia -__ __Hollywood takes over Tblisi for film about war with Russia:__

**Hollywood occupied downtown Tbilisi on October 20 to shoot scenes for a movie about the 2008 Georgia-Russia war. The government made available tanks to serve as props for the film, which stars one-time Oscar nominee Andy Garcia in the role of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.** **The Hollywood version of events seemed a lot more glamorous than the actual conflict last year. With scores of Georgians waving flags and posters declaring "Stop Russia," Garcia, as Saakashvili, in one scene delivered a fiery speech to supporters at a nighttime rally in front of parliament... **

__Finland -__ __Emotions run high in debate on Uranium mining in east of Finland:__

** Is it OK for people to show their emotions when defending their homes and residential areas? "Of course they can!" say residents of the eastern communities of Kontiolahti and Eno in the east of Finland, who have come out against proposals for mining uranium in the area... **

__Estonia -__ __Estonia could adopt the euro in 2011:__

**Estonia could end up adopting the euro in 2011 if it meets all of the European Union's single currency accession criteria next spring, it has been claimed. According to the country's central bank, the country is expected to return to growth in 2010 despite a forecast drop in gross domestic product (GDP) of 14 per cent for this year. The institution believes GDP will hit 1.4 per cent in 2010. "It is possible for Estonia to meet all the Maastricht criteria and to adopt the euro in 2011," the bank said...**

__China -__ __US, China huddle for high-level trade talks:__ **HANGZHOU, China (AFP) – The United States and** **China** **huddled Thursday for key talks on trade disputes, clean energy and** <span class="yshortcuts" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; cursor: pointer;">**climate change** **less than three weeks before a visit by US President** **Barack Obama** **. US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, Trade Representative Ron Kirk and** <span class="yshortcuts" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; cursor: pointer;">**Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack** **met for a second day with a team led by** <span class="yshortcuts" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: none; cursor: pointer;">**Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan** **in the eastern city of** **Hangzhou** **...**

__Belarus -__ __Belarus awards 3G radio spectrum to operators:__

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Two of Belarus' network operators are to be granted 3G radio spectrum, the local official news agency reported. The** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: verdana,Arial,sans-serif;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Belarusian Telegraph Agency** // <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> **(BelTA) reported that the working group for the State Commission for Radio Frequencies (SCRF) under the Belarus Security Council supported the initiative of the Information Technologies and Communications Ministry to allocate 5MHz of UMTS radio spectrum to MTS and Velcom (owned by Telekom Austria)...**

__Azerbaijan -__ __No constructive opposition in Azerbaijan: MP from ruling party:__

**“Azerbaijani opposition will fail to achieve success in the coming municipal elections,” member of the Azerbaijani parliament and member of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party Political Council Eldar Ibrahimov said.** **"The opposition is too ambitious and can not agree among themselves. The opposition even lacks candidates who would compete in the municipal elections,” he said...

All pictures from the following news source: <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: normal;">http://www.rferl.org/content **