Moscow
Human chain: More than 30,000 people held hands in the freezing cold to form a 10-mile human chain around Moscow this week in the latest mass protest against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. The protests began in December after Putin’s party won a majority in parliament in an election widely seen as fraudulent. Putin, who was president for two terms from 2000 to 2008, is expected to prevail in elections next week, which would give him a third term, this one lasting six years. In what some called a conveniently timed announcement, the Kremlin said this week that authorities had foiled an assassination plot against Putin in January.
Pyongyang, North Korea
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Nuke inspectors to return: In a surprising breakthrough in negotiations, North Korea agreed this week to allow international inspectors to monitor its main nuclear reactor. The rogue nation kicked out the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2006 and then tested a nuclear bomb, hostile actions that led to years of tension and suspended negotiations. The deal announced this week includes a U.S. pledge to send food aid to the deeply impoverished country. North Korea has also agreed to suspend nuclear weapons tests and enrichment. “The United States still has profound concerns regarding North Korean behavior across a wide range of areas, but today’s announcement reflects important, if limited, progress in addressing some of these,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
Tokyo
Nuclear plants at risk: An in-depth investigation into the Fukushima nuclear accident has revealed the vulnerability of Japan’s nuclear plants to terrorist attacks. The report by an independent panel of experts, released this week, says the plant operator was extraordinarily lax about security measures, including who had access to the facility. “The weaknesses and defects with the electrical and cooling systems were exposed,” said Tetsuya Endo, a member of the panel and a former chairman of the board of governors at the International Atomic Energy Agency. “For terrorists, these are among the easiest targets.” The report also said that dozens of people died needlessly because the government was unprepared to evacuate nearby hospitals.
Abbottabad, Pakistan
Bin Laden house demolished: Pakistani security officials have demolished the compound in Abbottabad where Osama bin Laden was killed by Navy SEALs last year. The final sweep of the property turned up two English-language copies of the Bible, with some pages folded and certain passages marked, leading to speculation that bin Laden may have used the books to pass coded messages to al Qaida operatives. Also this week, WikiLeaks published emails hacked from the U.S. think tank Stratfor that show analysts believed Pakistani intelligence officials were in touch with people at the compound. Pakistan has denied any knowledge that the world’s most wanted terrorist was living one mile from its main military academy.
Cairo
Americans free to go: Seven Americans charged with fomenting unrest as employees of U.S.-backed pro-democracy groups were given permission to leave the country this week, easing the worst crisis in U.S.-Egyptian relations in a generation. Sam LaHood, the son of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, and six others had taken refuge in the U.S. Embassy in Cairo to avoid arrest; nine other Americans also charged had already left the country. Egyptian authorities have accused employees of several non-profit organizations, including Freedom House, the International Republican Institute, and the National Democratic Institute, of undermining Egyptian sovereignty and relying on unauthorized foreign financing. The charges against the Americans and 27 others have not been dropped, but the case has been adjourned until May. The case prompted the U.S. to threaten to withhold $1.3 billion in military aid to Egypt.
Mahé, Seychelles
Another Costa ship in trouble: A sister ship of the capsized Costa Concordia lost power this week and was adrift in waters of the Indian Ocean that are rife with Somali pirates. A fire in the generator room caused the Costa Allegra to lose all power to its engines, lights, and air-conditioning. The 636 passengers and 413 crew members sweltered for three days in 90-degree temperatures and tropical humidity, with limited flashlights for the many cabins belowdecks, as the ship was towed to the nearby Seychelles Islands. The mishap came six weeks after the Costa Concordia capsized in the Mediterranean, killing 25 people and leaving seven more presumed dead. Both ships are operated by Italy’s Costa Crociere SpA, which is owned by the Florida-based Carnival Corp.
