Amanpour

Tom's Take

[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/11/16/christianetom.jpg caption caption="Sr. Writer for Amanpour, Tom Evans, works on scripts with Christiane"]

Today, we will will wrap up the most pressing issues of the week. With Europe facing a deepening economic crisis, Christiane talks with Spanish foreign minister Miguel Moratinos about his country’s fiscal problems, protests in the streets, and Europe’s stumbling efforts to confront the world’s political and economic challenges as one. And as the world looks to Bonn for the next round of climate talks, we have a lively discussion with leading climate scientist James Hansen, New York Times Pulitzer prize winning columnist Thomas Friedman, and Bjorn Lomborg, author of the Skeptical Environmentalist. We talk to them about the climate change movement’s loss of footing since Copenhagen, “climategate”, and the resignation of UN climate chief Yvo de Boer.  Finally, Christiane talks with North Korea expert Sung-Yoon Lee about how the secretive regime could be preparing for a post-Kim Jong Il era. Now here are some perspectives on some of today's headlines.

Tom Evans
Sr. Writer, AMANPOUR.

AFGHANISTAN - Are today's bomb attacks in Kabul the Taliban's response to calls for "reintegration and reconciliation"?

– Deadly blasts in capital targeting foreigners kill at least 17 people and wound many others

– Those killed include at least eight Indians and one Pakistani

– Attacks come as U.S., British, Afghan troops continue offensive in Marjah area and   international and Afghan officials step up rhetoric on possible talks with Taliban

QUESTION: Are Taliban as united as they appear in their opposition to possible talks with the Karzai government in Afghanistan?
MYANMAR - Will the country's military rulers ever permit the release of detained opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi?

– Country's Supreme Court turns down an appeal by Suu Kyi to be released from house arrest after spending much of the past two decades in detention
– Suu Kyi has one more chance to get released, by appealing to a special court in the nation's capital Naypidaw
– Court's decision today comes despite talks between Suu Kyi and representatives of the junta ahead of elections sheduled for later this year

QUESTION: Are U.S. efforts to engage with the military government in Myanmar having any impact at all on the hard-line regime?

TURKEY - How strong is the evidence against alleged coup plotters who have been arrested?

– Authorities arrest 11 more suspects, taking total of those in detention over alleged coup plot to 31

– Scores of military leaders have been detained or charged as part of alleged "Sledgehammer" plot to plant bombs in mosques and destabilize Turkey's freely elected and Islamic-inspired government

– Generals have overthrown at least four civilian governments in past half century or so

QUESTION: What will the fallout of the arrests be for the direction of Turkey's government, its powerful military, and relations with other countries in the region and beyond?