Syria and Lybia
The French and Russian Foreign ministers met yesterday to discuss Syria. The French said that recent events were tantamount to crimes against humanity and that the Assad Regime should desist. Said shootings had prevented the head of the Arab league from visiting.
The Russians have called for a different solution to Lybia and that some of the sanctions may be counterproductive (possibly meaning that it could radicalise the population and potentially jeopardise Palestinian statehood)

Re Lybia the convoy south contains those who fought for what was then the lawfully recognised government. Whether they are allowed to dispose of the Gold from said regime (which could include some of the Gold the Uk sold off in 1999) as if mercenaries its their payment from Gadaffi is a matter for international lawyers and whichever state they surrender it to such as Niger or Burkina Faso. Avoid all emails pruporting to advertise ex Bank of England Gold, you could get ripped off.


The American perspective on Syria.
Further to whats written above the US have called for change to occur in Syria. Hence its a very difficult situation to assess from solely open source information on 24 hour news channels. Its therefore given the amount of discussion a matter for teh UN.

One other variable to note is that the Iranians have hooked up their first nuclear power plant to their national grid for civilian nuclear power. Given recent events in Japan if its regulated and is in a geological stable area, could this be something that could help Afghanistan and neighbouring states rebuild peacefully?