International Organizations

China surpasses U.S. as EU’s top trade partner: MOC

By Xinhua

From Xinhua:  Trade between China and the European Union (EU) totaled 35.6 billion euros (49.4 billion U.S. dollars) in July, allowing China to overtake the United States as the EU’s largest trade partner

NATO troops and EU law enforcement close illegal Serb border crossing in Kosovo

By AFP

From AFP:  NATO peacekeepers and European Union law-enforcers in Kosovo on Thursday closed an illegal border crossing that ethnic Serbs in the Serb-dominated enclave in northern Kosovo had opened with Serbia, in the latest move in a tense standoff that began nearly three months ago.

NATO conducts annual Crisis Management Exercise (CMX)

By  NATO

From NATO:  NATO will conduct its annual Crisis Management Exercise (CMX) between 19 and 26 October 2011. The exercise is designed to practice Alliance crisis management procedures at the strategic political level and will involve civilian and military staffs in allied capitals, at NATO Headquarters, and in both Strategic Commands. Unlike a live exercise, however, no […]

What Europe Isn’t Doing to Stop Syria and Iran

By Benjamin Weinthal, the New Republic

Yulia Tymoshenko jailed after ‘political trial’ that risks making Ukraine a pariah

By Miriam Elder, the Guardian

From Miriam Elder, the Guardian:  Ukraine shut the book on its flirtation with democracy and European integration on Tuesday when it sentenced former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko to seven years in prison in a trial widely seen as a political witch-hunt.

Italy says US, UK forces free ship from pirates

By Alessandra Rizzo, the AP

From Alessandra Rizzo, the AP:  U.S. and British forces freed an Italian cargo ship on Tuesday that was attacked by pirates off Somalia and arrested the assailants, officials said.

Sarkozy accuses Russia and warns Turkey during Caucasus trip

By Emmanuel Jarry, Reuters

From Emmanuel Jarry, Reuters:  French President Nicolas Sarkozy accused Russia before a cheering crowd in Georgia on Friday of violating the ceasefire that ended the 2008 war in the Caucasus and assured his audience that the door to the European Union remains open.