United States and Canada

International naval forces unable to stop spread of Somali piracy

By the Economist

From the Economist:  According to the International Maritime Bureau, which posts live data on raids, Somali pirates hold 33 vessels and 758 hostages. In January alone the bureau recorded 35 attacks. The raiders took seven ships and 148 new hostages.

Irish newspaper discloses name of alleged Russian spy

By Mary Fitzgerald, the Irish Times

Senators call for NATO missile defense in Georgia

By Josh Rogin, the Cable

From Josh Rogin, the Cable:  Four Republican senators are calling on the Obama administration to place a sensitive missile defense-related radar site in Georgia, rather than in Turkey, as is currently planned. "We believe that the U.S. should deploy the most effective missile defenses possible – in partnership with our allies – that provide for […]

Sovereignty Intact Despite French Defense Pact: UK

By Reuters

United States to hold talks on tactical nuclear weapons with Russia

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  The United States expects to hold talks with Russia on tactical nuclear weapons (TNW) within a year after the New START arms reduction treaty comes into force, President Barack Obama said in a message to the Senate on Wednesday.

U.S. and E.U. Join to Show Support for Belarus Opposition

By Judy Dempsey, the New York Times

From Judy Dempsey, the New York Times:  The United States and the European Union joined Wednesday in Warsaw in a show of support for the democratic opposition in Belarus.

Ireland expels Russian spy

By the Irish Examiner

From the Irish Examiner:  A diplomat at the Russian Embassy in Dublin has been fired and asked to leave the country after an investigation revealed Russian involvement in the forgery of Irish passports.

Pakistan capable of overtaking Britain and France among world’s largest nuclear weapons powers

By David Sanger and Eric Schmitt, the New York Times

From David Sanger and Eric Schmitt, the New York Times:  New American intelligence assessments have concluded that Pakistan has steadily expanded its nuclear arsenal since President Obama came to office, and that it is building the capability to surge ahead in the production of nuclear-weapons material, putting it on a path to overtake Britain as […]

NATO Secretary General discusses 2011 priorities with US leaders

By NATO

From NATO:  The Secretary General met with the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and Defence Secretary, Robert Gates, as well as with other senior members of the US Administration, to discuss NATO priorities in 2011

U.S. and Europe Move Against Belarus’s Leader

By Michael Schwirtz, the New York Times

From Michael Schwirtz, the New York Times:  The United States and the European Union on Monday imposed sanctions against President Aleksandr G. Lukashenko and scores of other officials in Belarus for a broad crackdown on the opposition after the fraudulent presidential election late last year.