Crossing the divide

December 13, 2013 - Daily News Briefing

Compromise has never been a rousing rallying cry.

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African peacekeepers fired into the air Thursday in Bangui, the Central African Republic’s chaotic capital, trying to disperse a huge mob bent on hunting down and killing Muslims taking refuge in a church compound. The unrest underscored the rage and uncertainty that remains in the capital despite the arrival of 1,600 French soldiers and patrols by regional African peacekeepers. The two forces are seeking to stabilize this impoverished, now lawless, country after more than 500 people were killed last week in sectarian bloodshed.

A review of Slovenia’s financial system showed Thursday that the small eurozone state will need to spend about €4.8 billion ($6.6 billion) to rescue its banks – a sum it can afford without the help of an international bailout. Slovenia was asked by the European Union to allow international auditors to conduct a stress test of its banks to determine how much money they would need to remain solvent. Had the sum been too high, Slovenia would have become the next member of the 17-country eurozone to seek outside help.

The Obama administration on Thursday targeted more than two dozen companies and individuals for evading international sanctions against Iran or supporting its nuclear program, a signal that the United States will continue to enforce existing sanctions while pursuing a diplomatic resolution with Tehran. The Treasury and State departments announced that the US was freezing assets and banning transactions of entities and individuals they claim are involved in the proliferation of material used for making weapons of mass destruction or are attempting to evade sanctions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a set of initiatives to crack down on Russian companies who register and pay taxes in offshore jurisdictions. Russian companies both small and large have for years registered in countries like Cyprus or Luxembourg to avoid Moscow’s heavy-handed regulation and unpredictable legal and tax practices. Putin said in a state-of-the-nation message on Thursday that the practice must end. Foreign-registered companies that operate in Russia and have Russian citizens as beneficiaries should be obliged to pay taxes in Russia.

Bangladesh’s Supreme Court cleared the way Thursday for the execution of an opposition leader convicted of war crimes, rejecting a last-minute appeal in a case that threatens to spark fresh violence ahead of national elections next month. The execution of Abdul Quader Mollah is likely to usher in a new wave of political violence ahead of national elections next month. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said the government would now decide when the execution will take place.

French President François Hollande has arrived in Brazil for a two-day state visit aimed at bolstering trade between the two countries. The creation of a free-trade zone between the European Union and the South American trade bloc Mercosur is also expected to be on the agenda.

Compiled from wire service reports

“The object of the Monitor is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.” – Mary Baker Eddy

The Daily News Briefing is published Monday through Friday by The Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, Massachusetts.

Compiled from wire service reports

“The object of the Monitor is to injure no man, but to bless all mankind.” – Mary Baker Eddy

The Daily News Briefing is published Monday through Friday by The Christian Science Publishing Society in Boston, Massachusetts.

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