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Off the Radar News Roundup

Judah Grunstein | Bio | 05 Nov 2009

This is a new feature we're going to experiment with here on the blog, with the help of our intrepid editorial assistant, Kari Lipschutz. The idea is to catch significant news in the foreign English-language media, before it shows up in Western outlets. So, yes, it amounts to yet another news roundup. But we're going to try to justify it by delivering not so much breaking news as developing news. In the context of Chaos Theory and the Butterfly Effect, we're trying to catch the butterfly before it becomes a monsoon. So with that in mind, here goes:

- Is China intent on weaponizing space? Probably, (just like everyone else is). But the real news is that they're also intent on treating the subject delicately.

- It's admittedly a longshot, but the new Japanese government might replace its maritime support mission to the Afghanistan war with a Japanese liaison contingent in ISAF headquarters. Either way, $4 billion in development aid will probably be more decisive. Note how Japan, once again, is stepping up to the plate -- with cash -- in Afghanistan. Note, too, how the division of tasks that leaves Japan with the post-conflict humanitarian/development role is also strengthening its presence in the Gulf and Middle East.

- Seems like India's Maoists are willing to talk after all. Too bad their demands will in all likelihood torpedo any negotiations.

- Russia weighs in positively on Turkey-Armenia détente. It will be interesting to see whether there's a simultaneous, coordinated push to move the Armenia-Azerbaijan negotiations forward in the context of the Minsk Group.

- Where Russian troops occupy, Russian-style democracy must not be far behind.

- Nigeria moves to back up the Niger delta amnesty with development funds.

Researched by Kari Lipschutz.