ONS: 02 October 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on October 2, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: The leader of Nigeria’s Boko Haram denied reports that the militant group was involved in peace talks with the government
AMERICAS: Peace talks between the Colombian government and the FARC were delayed one week
ASIA: The Japanese Coast Guard reported four Chinese government ships were in waters off of the disputed Senkaku Islands.
EUROPE: Preliminary results of Georgia’s parliamentary elections indicated an unexpected victory for the opposition party coalition.
MIDDLE EAST: Yemeni security forces killed four suspected al Qaeda militants in Aden.
TECHNOLOGY: The judge in the Apple vs. Samsung copyright case rescinded a ban on US sales of Samsung Galaxy phones.

TOP STORY

Syria: Government accused US of supporting terrorism, UN warned over chemical weapons, fighting continued

FM Moualem accused the US and allies of supporting terrorism by arming rebel groups in the country.
UN chief Ban Ki-Moon warned the government on the use of chemical weaponry.
Activists reported continued shelling across the country.
Coverage: Xinhua, VoA, Al Jazeera, NYT, AP

AFRICA

Egypt: Amnesty International called on the government to deal with a legacy of abuse by the police and military that continued after the ouster of President Mubarak. (AP)
Kenya: Suspected al Shabaab militants attacked a police post in Garissa. (Reuters)
Nigeria: The leader of Boko Haram denied reports that the militant group was involved in peace talks with the government. (Reuters)
Rwanda: The US called on the government to denounce the M23 rebel group in the Congo. (Reuters)
Somalia: Government troops deployed throughout the former rebel bastion of Kismayu. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: Barbadian FM Mcclean said the Caribbean Community and Common Market sub-region has “become a major transit and destination point for the trafficking of illicit drugs and firearms.” (Xinhua)
Colombia: Peace talks between the government and FARC were delayed one week. (AP)
Guatemala: Authorities arrested a suspected Sinaloa cartel member in Guatemala City. (EFE)
Venezuela: President Chavez vowed to enact a stronger drive towards socialism if re-elected. (AP)

ASIA

Region: The Japanese Coast Guard reported four Chinese government ships were in waters off of the disputed Senkaku Islands. (AFP)
Afghanistan: The ISAF reported a Haqqani leader suspected of supporting a suicide bombing was arrested in Logar province. (Xinhua)
Bangladesh: Security officials are on alert around official camps of Rohingya Muslims following weekend attacks on minority Buddhists and their temples in the area. (AP)
Korea, North: The government accused US policy of risking nuclear war. (Bloomberg)
Philippines: Government and MILF representatives resumed peace talks in Malaysia. (AFP)

EUROPE

Georgia: President Saakashvili conceded defeat in parliamentary elections, in which the opposition Georgian Dream took 53.19% of the vote compared to the ruling party’s 41.5%. (WSJ)
Greece: The government unveiled a draft budget designed to satisfy the troika of inspectors from the EC, the IMF and the ECB. (WSJ)
Spain: Analysts reported uncertainty over a possible bailout for the government. (Reuters)

MIDDLE EAST

Iran: A foreign ministry spokesman stated there was “no ground” for a restoration of US-Iranian relations. (Xinhua)
Iran: Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Yaalon stated sanctions were not preventing Iran’s nuclear program. (AFP)
Jordan: Clashes erupted between security forces and displaced Syrians in northern Jordan after dozens rioted over living conditions in the country’s only camp for Syrians. (DPA)
Yemen: Four suspected al Qaeda militants were killed in a clash with security forces in Aden. (Xinhua)
Yemen: DM Ahmed survived an assassination attempt. (Xinhua)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Smartphones: The judge in the Apple vs. Samsung copyright case rescinded a ban on US sales of Samsung Galaxy phones. (Ars Technica)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (03OCT)

END