New Laws Four Mr. Putin

With the auspices of the Duma, four vague but hardline laws have passed:

1) a blacklist of "harmful websites
2) re-criminalization of defamation
3) non-profit groups with foreign funding being labelled as "foreign agents"
4) big fines for organizers of illegal protestors.

Possibilities of Taliban Inclusion

According Anatel Lieven, a professor in the War Studies Department of King's College London, the Taliban may be willing to cut its ties to al-Qaeda for a stake in the politics of Afghanistan after the U.S> troops pull out, perhaps even to "US bases and military advisers after 2014" (FT). The question though, is how big of a stake do they want? And what exactly is the political landscape that the Talibans are imagining? Also, how will Karzai leave?

The Data Dump 07/29/12

- South Korea's second quarter growth the lowest since 2009: 2.4%.

- Barrick Gold, the biggest metal miner, announces projects that have been shelved after $3b is overspent on an South American project.

- TPG puts in a takeover bid for Billabong.

- Romney travels to Israel, London and then Poland.

- Draghi announces "Believe me, it will be enough"

- Small or middle sized banks are pushing to get cocos accepted as first-tier capital.