SOUTH KOREA: Planned Rocket Launch

South Korea's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology announced the country's plan to launch its Korea Space Launch Vehicle-1 (KSLV-1). The launch is scheduled for 9 June between 16:30 and 18:40, however weather conditions may cause delays. The rocket will be launched at the Naro Space Center, 485 kilometers south of Seoul. The rocket is equiped with a Russian made first stage booster and a Korean made second stage booster.

RUSSIA: Polish President Dies in Plane Crash

On 10 April, Polish President Lech Kacynski and 97 other passengers were killed in a plane crash. The President and several dignitaries were in route to a ceremony commemorating the Katyn forest massacre, where 22,000 Polish officers were killed by Russin secret police. Also on board the plane was the deputy foreign minister, head of the National Security Office, and the deputy parliament speaker. The Polish Military suffered a significant loss of leadership, as the army chief of staff, navy chief commander, and heads of the air and land forces were also aboard the flight. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin held a video conference shortly after the crash offering to assist the family members of the dead with their physiological, psychological, and other needs.



ISRAEL: Netanyahu Cancels US Trip

On 8 April, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled a visit to the United States where he planned to attend a nuclear summit hosted by President Barack Obama.  According to BBC, Mr. Netanyahu made the decision after learning that Egypt and Turkey would also attend the summit to raise the issue of Israel's nuclear program. Israel's Intelligence and Atomic Energy Minister Dan Meridor will attend the summit in place of Mr. Netanyahu.

UNITED KINGDOM: Airline Merger

On 8 April, British Airways and Spanish airline, Iberia signed a merger agreement. The merger was provincially agreed on November 2009 and is expected to take effect by the end of this year. The move results in the creation of one of the world's largest airline group. The new company will be called International Airlines Group and will continue to operate as it has before the merger

SOMALIA: Al Shabab Raids UN Base

On 8 April, Al Shabab took control of a United Nations compound in southern Somalia. According to BBC, militants disarmed the guards at the base in Wajid. However, the World Food Program announced that the base was empty and the event would not affect its operations in the country. Al Shabab controls a majority of southern Somalia, while the UN backed government only controls a small portion of its capital, Mogadishu.