[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/09/art.amanpour.writer.jpg caption="Sr. Writer Tom Evans"]
Today, AMANPOUR. turns to Sri Lanka - to examine how, after 27 years of civil war, the country can come together and reconcile the ethnic tensions that were at the heart of the conflict. A month before the presidential elections in Sri Lanka, is there the political will for unity and reconciliation? And what can the international community do to ensure that tens of thousands of refugees will be resettled and their villages rebuilt? That’s not the only story in the news today. Here are some perspectives on some other headlines.
Tom Evans
Sr. Writer, AMANPOUR.
THAILAND – What will happen after the seizure of an aircraft loaded with weapons from N. Korea?
– Thai court orders crew of aircraft to be held for 12 days while authorities conduct investigation into aircraft and its cargo, after it stopped in Thailand for a refueling stop
– Crew of five, four from Kazakhstan and one from Belarus, say they were en route to Sri Lanka, but Sri Lanka says no arms shipments from N. Korea were scheduled
– Thai authorities trying to determine if aircraft was destined for Asia or Middle East
– Aircraft seized reportedly after a tip from U.S. which is trying to enforce sanctions against Pyongyang
QUESTION: How effective are U.N. sanctions targeting North Korean arms shipments, a key revenue earner for the Hermit Kingdom?
DUBAI – Will Abu Dhabi bailout stave off financial disaster for the Gulf emirate?
– Oil rich Abu Dhabi gives Dubai $10B in aid aimed at preventing it from defaulting on its debt
– Dubai’s credit worthiness severely damaged after chief state-owned conglomerate Dubai World asked for a standstill of $26B in debt last month, a standstill that sent shockwaves through the world’s financial markets
– In all, Dubai owes lenders more than $80B, including Dubai World’s debt
– Not immediately clear what if anything Abu Dhabi expects in return for bailing out Dubai. Will Dubai have to hand over assets like its airline to Abu Dhabi for example?
QUESTION: Are Dubai’s financial problems over, or has the Abu Dhabi bailout simply deferred the day of reckoning?
ITALY - How serious a blow POLITICALLY is the attack on Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi?
– Berlusconi to stay in hospital for another 36 hours for treatment to a broken nose and fractured teeth
– Man who attacked him, by throwing a replica of Milan’s cathedral at him, is charged with grievous bodily harm. Suspect reportedly has a history of mental illness
– Berlusconi has been rocked by allegations of corruption, is involved in a sex scandal, and is in the middle of a messy divorce from his wife
– New questions about security arrangements for Italian prime minister
QUESTION: Is attack a symbol of the political tensions over Berlusconi and the atmosphere of hate that has come to be associated with his premiership?
=
We'll see you at 3PM EST/2100 GMT for our program on Sri Lanka.