France Reducing Embassy Staff in Tehran

France is temporarily decreasing its staff in Iran after a British embassy was attacked. The reason why they are doing this is for "security purposes." 25 Iranian diplomats and embassy employees arrived in Tehran Saturday morning after Iran was ordered to close its embassy in London. Relations between the countries have been strained in recent days after the United Kingdom levied new sanctions on Iran. The sanctions prompted the attack on the British Embassy.

Unclear Whether Iran Shot Down Drone

NATO'S International Security Assistance Force said that a United States drone was flying a mission towards the western border of Afghanistan which borders Iran and lost control of the drone. A U.S. official with knowledge of the accident said the crew operating the drone reported a loss of control before the drone went down. American officials have said that they have not flown over Iran at all. An unnamed Iranian military official called it a "clear example of aggression" and added that Iran is "fully ready to counter any aggression." Earlier this year, Iran's military made a similar claim, saying it downed a U.S. drone flying near its Fordo nuclear plant. Iran would retract that statement a few days later saying the accident was for training purposes.

Senate Agrees to Sanction Iran's Central Bank

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/02/world/meast/pol-iran-central-bank/index.html?hpt=imi_c2

The U.S Senate passed economic sanctions on Iran that has been opposed by the Obama administration. Many officials have said that the sanctions would cause more harm then good because it will raise the price of oil and we will have little impact on Iran's alleged nuclear ambitions. The amendment that the Senate passed would not allow organizations that do business with financial institutions in Iran, including the countries central bank, from holding financial accounts in the United States. With this amendment it will allow someone to study how oil prices would be effective in the United States. The EU has applied new sanctions to Iran as well.

Clinton to Continue Visit with Myanmar's Nobel Peace Iaureate

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/01/world/asia/myanmar-clinton-visit/index.html?hpt=wo_c1

U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton is visiting with Aung Sang Suu Ky in Myanmar. Suu Ky is planning on running in the upcoming parliamentary elections with her newly registered party the National League of Democracy. Clinton's visit to Myanmar marks the first visit from someone in the United States in 50 years. The reason why Clinton is visiting in Myanmar is to urge democratic reforms. Clinton has also visited with Myanmar's president Thein Stein and told him that if the country still continues to reform the country that the United States will help them economically and diplomatically. Stein would like to have a good relationship with bordering countries like India and China. The United States is being careful and realistic and if Myanmar continues towards democratic reform the United States will be willing to help out the country.

U.N. Rights Chief Warns of "Civil War" in Syria

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/02/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

The U.N. Rights Council held a special session on the issues that are going on in Syria right now. Syria might be facing a civil war if they do not stop their ruthless repression on peaceful demonstrations and on civilians. The U.N. High Commissioner said "In light of the manifest failure of the Syrian authorities to protect their citizens, the international community needs to take urgent and effective measures to protect the Syrian people." The government and military in Syria are going against the International Laws of protecting human rights and are killing peaceful demonstrators and civilians for going against what the government wants. The U.N. is urging the international community to stop "all acts of murder, torture, and other forms of violence immediately."

Turkey Threatens to cut Electricity as Syria is more Isolated

http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/15/world/meast/syria-isolation/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

In this article, Turkey is threatening to turn off the electricity that they are providing to Syria if Syria does not make changes to how they are treating anti-government protesters. This weekend the Arab League suspended their alliance from the league because of how the government is killing civilians and others for their pro-democracy demonstrations. The Arab League and Arab Human Rights organizations are wanting to bring in at least 500 observers to protect Syrian civilians and to observe what is going on in Syria. The EU has given 18 sanctions against Syria for "organizing violence against demonstrators."