Atlantic Council

More than four months after the hot phase of Russia’s war on Georgia, Russia continues to violate the European Union-brokered ceasefire agreements of August 12 and September 8. Russia agreed to return to pre-August 7 lines and to withdraw its forces from areas of Georgia adjacent to the separatist territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. It has done neither.

Just days ago, the BBC reported that the leaders of Yushchenko and Tymoshenko's respective parties had agreed to form a new governing coalition after the previous one collapsed in September.  But of course, doubts have already emerged about this arrangement.  Last Monday, Nikolas Gvosdev noted the fragile nature of the new "coalition." 

NATO and Russia are talking again for the first time since the August invasion of Georgia, AP reports.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and Dmitry Rogozin, Moscow's ambassador to the alliance, met over lunch Friday in the first high-level meeting after a four-month hiatus caused by the war.

Following weeks of disagreement with Brussels, and France and the UK in particular, the German government has agreed to a second stimulus package of nearly €40 ($55.5) billion.  Merkel faced a strong backlash throughout Europe in recent weeks from critics who felt the government was not responding adequately to Germany's economic downturn.  Her refusal to spend more on the crisis has also cost her domestic popularity. 

Alan Wood argues that it's time to rethink how we fight poverty in the developing world, shifting from aid to profit-based approaches. 

Quite a while ago, trade and development economist Peter Bauer (1915-2002) of the London School of Economics famously remarked that aid was a transfer of wealth from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.

Poland has drastically cut the number of workers eligible for early retirement, AP reports.

Under current law, workers in some professions can retire and receive a state pension after only 15 years of employment.

Reuters passes on word that "Russia will stop developing some strategic weapons if the United States drops plans for a missile shield in Europe, Interfax news agency quoted the commander of Russia's strategic missile forces as saying on Friday." Correspondent Oleg Shchedrov conjectures that, "The remarks may be another step in Moscow's efforts to build ties with the incoming U.S. administration but also reflect difficulties Russia faces in financing its ambitious military programs at a time of global economic crisis."

Standing in front of Sameba Cathedral in Tbilisi on a recent trip, I couldn’t help but be in awe of this striking building. The new church is a work in progress, abuzz with activity, and well attended by the city’s residents, including many of its young people.

NATO must "find a political voice or collapse," says Times of London defense editor Michael Evans.  "It has become so multi-tasked, so desperate to get involved in everything from cyber warfare to anti-piracy and missile defence, let alone a hugely draining and complex campaign in Afghanistan, that it has lost its way."

Once again, a crisis is brewing in Somalia, this time compounded by the global impact of piracy around its waters. And once again, it illustrates several dimensions of the global governance deficit arising from the challenge of weak and failing states, still, all too often, largely unmet.