Asian powers will vie for influence in East Africa

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
East Africa ◽  
The United States ◽  
Current Interest ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secretary Of State

Subject Influence of Asian powers in Africa. Significance Before embarking on his ongoing visit to Africa, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson warned African nations to be wary of Chinese investments in the continent, which he alleged created dangerous "dependency". The United States is not alone in this concern. Over recent years, India and Japan have massively increased their development engagement with Africa, trying to keep up with China’s expanding programmes -- and offset its growing influence. Impacts While concessionary loans are affordable at current interest rates, debt problems could emerge if rates return to historic norms. Competition may also draw in Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Turkey, all of which are deepening their engagements in Africa. East Africa’s salience in ‘Indo-Pacific’ rivalries risks alienating Australia, which lacks the capacity to project power so far afield.

scholarly journals Genome Sequences of Two Bacillus Phages Isolated from Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (50) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoga A. Handoko ◽  
Agustin K. Wardani ◽  
Aji Sutrisno ◽  
Simon B. Widjanarko ◽  
Trever L. Thurgood ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Korea ◽  
The United States ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Content Type

Here, the genome sequences of two soil bacteriophages isolated from a red chili plantation in Indonesia are presented. The genome of vB_BspS_SplendidRed (42,859 bp) is highly similar to Bacillus phage Ray17 from the United States, while vB_BspM_MarvelLand (156,945 bp) is highly similar to Bacillus phage BC01 from South Korea.

Trump may destabilise Korean Peninsula

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Korean Peninsula ◽  
Presidential Elections ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
North And South ◽  
Trump Administration

Subject US relations with North and South Korea under the incoming Trump administration. Significance The period of transition to Donald Trump's presidency in the United States has displayed neglect and misunderstanding of Korean peninsula affairs, adding to risks for the region as it approaches a period of significant strategic challenge. Impacts Until Trump's team enunciates policy on the Koreas, responses to events will be unprepared and reactive. Trump's policy will influence presidential elections in South Korea, where left-of-centre candidates question the value of the US alliance. The Trump administration’s policy and communication via Twitter heightens risk of misunderstanding within the region.

Georgia seeks defence help in lieu of NATO accession

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
The United States ◽  
Political Commitment ◽  
Military Assistance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
South Ossetia ◽  
Secretary Of State ◽  
Military Forces

Subject Georgia's long wait for NATO accession. Significance The promise of NATO membership made to Georgia in 2008 was again deferred when the alliance held a summit in Warsaw on July 8-9. Georgia has made great efforts to meet the requirements for a Membership Action Plan (MAP), but no substantive progress on adopting one was achieved at the summit. Instead, NATO, while inviting Montenegro to join, offered Georgia expanded assistance to boost its defence capacity. US Secretary of State John Kerry underlined the offer of military assistance on a July 6 visit intended to reinforce Washington's political commitment to Tbilisi. Impacts Georgia will purchase a range of armaments from the United States and Europe. Russia will exploit growing public disillusionment to weaken pro-Western parties in the October elections. Moscow will maintain a firm grip on Abkhazia and South Ossetia, maintaining substantial military forces there.

Iran is set to become a formidable cyber actor

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cyber Warfare ◽  
New Wave ◽  
Primary Target ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Sector

Subject Iran's cyber capabilities. Significance Tehran has invested in its technology sector in recent years to become one of the world’s most cyber-capable nations. Though perhaps not on the same level as China and Russia, it is not far behind. Iranian hackers have carried out successful attacks in a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United States. Impacts Saudi Arabia is Iran’s primary target for cyber operations, followed by Saudi supporters such as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Iran will augment its own cyber warfare capabilities through proxies such as the 'Syrian Electronic Army'. US reversals over the nuclear deal may lead Iran to unleash a new wave of cyberattacks against US interests.

Israeli diplomacy will fail to quash Iran-Syria threat

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
The United States ◽  
Ballistic Missile ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Southern Zone ◽  
Military Presence ◽  
Post War

Significance Israel sees rising risks from developments in Syria, especially the implementation of four ‘de-escalation zones’ agreed on May 6 by Russia, Iran and Turkey after talks in Astana. Netanyahu is concerned that these -- especially the southern zone, implemented in cooperation with the United States and Jordan -- will entrench an Iranian military presence in post-war Syria, including in areas close to the Israeli border. Impacts Rising Iranian spending on its ballistic missile programme will exacerbate Israeli concerns. The eighth round of UN-mandated Syrian peace talks in Geneva this month will assume implementation of the de-escalation zones. Shared concerns over Iran will boost Israel’s ties with some Sunni Arab governments, especially Saudi Arabia. Turkey’s enhanced coordination with Iran will not undermine growing economic and energy ties with Israel.

Pyongyang provocations signal end of detente

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Korea ◽  
The United States ◽  
Peace Accord ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Military Exercises ◽  
Supreme Leader ◽  
Do So

Significance It had threatened to do so during a fortnight of ever more violent rhetoric against South Korea and its president, spearheaded by supreme leader Kim Jong-un’s sister, Kim Yo-jong. Pyongyang now threatens to nullify the 2018 peace accord by reactivating vacant border guard posts and holding military exercises near the Demilitarised Zone. Impacts President Donald Trump’s impulsiveness and a live dispute over history between Seoul and Tokyo hamper a coordinated response. Trump is unlikely to perceive yielding to pressure from Kim as something that will boost his chances of re-election. Tokyo’s recent suspension of a new missile defence project will reduce its ability to protect the United States from North Korean missiles. Increasing hostility between Washington and Beijing may reduce the latter’s willingness to put pressure on Pyongyang.

scholarly journals First Detection of TR34 L98H and TR46 Y121F T289A Cyp51 Mutations in Aspergillus fumigatus Isolates in the United States

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 168-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan P. Wiederhold ◽  
Veronica Garcia Gil ◽  
Felipe Gutierrez ◽  
Jonathan R. Lindner ◽  
Mohammad T. Albataineh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
East Africa ◽  
The United States ◽  
Azole Resistance ◽  
Content Type

Azole resistance inAspergillus fumigatusis an increasing problem. The TR34 L98H and TR46 Y121F T289A mutations that can occur in patients without previous azole exposure have been reported in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia. Here, we report the detection of both the TR34 L98H and TR46 Y121F T289A mutations in confirmedA. fumigatusisolates collected in institutions in the United States. These mutations, other mutations known to cause azole resistance, and azole MICs are reported here.

US aims to check Russia in Central Asia 'Great Game'

2015 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Rights Abuses ◽  
Secretary Of State ◽  
Central Asian ◽  
Great Game ◽  
Public Criticism

Subject US relations with Central Asia. Significance US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Central Asia in early November, in an effort to boost Washington's influence in a region that is increasingly dominated by Russia and also China. Central Asian states worry that the region has declined in importance for the United States, owing to Washington's overall drawdown of forces in Afghanistan. Impacts Over-reliance on remittances will pose major risk to Central Asian economies. Central Asian states will continue to try and extract concessions from United States, Russia and China. Washington will diminish its public criticism of human rights abuses in Central Asia but maintain pressure in private.

Talks will ease Kenya tensions but new upheavals loom

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Domestic Politics ◽  
Electoral Politics ◽  
The United States ◽  
Effective Pressure ◽  
Democratic Institutions ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Secretary Of State ◽  
Political Alliances ◽  
The Us

Significance The Kenyatta-Odinga meeting was related to a visit by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. However, it appears to have been driven more by domestic politics and a desire to outflank any potential alliance between Deputy President William Ruto and Odinga’s NASA allies. NASA is fragmenting, bringing more fluidity to political alliances and underscoring the inherent uncertainty of electoral politics in Kenya. Impacts Effective pressure by Western envoys (especially the United States) improves the prospects for continued de-escalation. Tillerson’s early end to his unremarkable tour underscores a lack of interest in key African partners and will further dilute US influence. US calls for strong democratic institutions may ring hollow against African perceptions of the US president’s dismissal of these at home.

Elections will sharpen US focus on Libya

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Policy ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
Relative Influence ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
External Actors

Subject The Trump administration's policy on the Libya conflict. Significance In recent weeks, the United States has pursued a more active foreign policy towards Libya. This is a departure from its position of the past eight years of ‘leading from the back’ on Libya and comes as US President Donald Trump faces an impeachment investigation and elections in November 2020. With the vote approaching, Trump's opponents have increasingly criticised his position on Moscow, drawing attention to the presence of Russian mercenaries in Libya. Impacts Ties with Egypt, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and the relative influence Russia has with them, will weigh on the administration’s thinking. The State Department may push more actively for a ceasefire when a conference of external actors in Libya takes place in Berlin. A ceasefire could fragment the forces fighting Haftar without robust external guarantees that his forces would not violate it.

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