ONS: 05 March 2013

by TRG Alerts Admin on March 5, 2013

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Egyptian President Morsi is considering the decision to give the military full control of the restive city of Port Said after days of deadly street clashes.
AMERICAS: The Colombian Navy seized 1.5 tons of cocaine off of the coast of the country’s northern Bolivar province with a street value of USD40 million.
ASIA: Malaysian security forces launched a second assault on the town occupied by the followers of a Philippine separatist leader. The ‘Sultan’ said his followers would fight to the last man.
EUROPE: The British government is set to announce plans to speed up withdrawal of its troops from Germany by 2016.
MIDDLE EAST: Lebanese President Suleiman and PM Miqati signed a decree calling for parliamentary elections on 09JUN in compliance with the 1960 constitution.
TECHNOLOGY: Google is preparing to launch a competitor to Amazon’s Prime service, offering same day delivery from a number of brick-and-mortar stores.

TOP STORY

Venezuela: President Chavez is suffering from a “new and severe” infection that has made breathing difficult while he undergoes further chemotherapy.

Opposition leaders have begun to plan political strategies in closed door sessions in preparation for a snap election.
VP Maduro has regularly commandeered TV broadcast channels to tout the success of the revolution and to vilify the opposition.
Communications Minister Villegas called on Chavez supporters, including militiamen, to be on “war footing.”
Coverage: AFP, Telegraph, BBC, WaPo, Guardian, WSJ, Daily Mail

AFRICA

Egypt: President Morsi is considering the decision to give the military full control of the restive city of Port Said after days of deadly street clashes. (AP)
Mali: Fifteen Islamist militants were killed in overnight clashes with French and Chadian forces in the northeastern Ametettai Valley. (AFP)
South Sudan: The army launched an offensive against forces loyal to rebel leader David Yau Yau, killing 28. (Reuters)
Zimbabwe: President Mugabe will not allow Westerners to observe the country’s constitutional referendum and general election later this year due to sanctions. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Colombia: The Navy seized 1.5 tons of cocaine off of the coast of the country’s northern Bolivar province with a street value of USD40 million. (Xinhua)
Cuba: A human rights group claimed over 500 people were arrested and detained last month for political reasons. (DPA)
Peru: The government and the UN agreed to jointly establish a center to stem the production and trade of illegal drugs in the region. (Xinhua)

ASIA

Indonesia: Police launched an investigation into dozens of officers over the alleged torture of militants after a video surfaced on YouTube. (AFP)
Korea, North: The US and China agreed on a new deal for further sanctions on the country that will be introduced to the UNSC for a vote. (WSJ)
Malaysia: The government launched a second assault on the town occupied by the followers of a Philippine separatist leader. The ‘Sultan’ said his followers would fight to the last man. (AFP)
Thailand: Insurgents in the country’s restive southern province of Yala burned tires, felled trees, and blocked roads in a move to increase political and social turbulence in the region. (Xinhua)

EUROPE

Bulgaria: The 10-year-old daughter of one of the country’s alleged cocaine trafficking kingpins was kidnapped as she was driven to school. (AFP)
Moldova: Parliament passed a vote of no confidence in the government led by PM Filat after weeks of feuds within the coalition. (Reuters)
Russia: Police seized nearly 600 pounds of illegal drugs in Krasnoyarsk Territory, resulting in 406 related criminal proceedings. (Itar-Tass)
United Kingdom: The government is set to announce plans to speed up withdrawal of its troops from Germany by 2016. (BBC)

MIDDLE EAST

Iraq: Attacks across the country killed two and wounded three, including a colonel injured in the northern Kurdish city of Irbil. (AP)
Lebanon: President Suleiman and PM Miqati signed a decree calling for parliamentary elections on 09JUN in compliance with the 1960 constitution. (Xinhua)
Syria: During a heated battle for control of the northern province of Raqqa, rebel forces captured the provincial governor and the provincial Ba’ath party secretary general. (AFP)
Yemen: President Hadi rejected efforts by clerics and tribal chiefs to broker a truce with AQAP, insisting they must first lay down their arms. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Google: The search giant is preparing to launch a competitor to Amazon’s Prime service, offering same day delivery from a number of brick-and-mortar stores. (TechCrunch)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (06MAR)

Global: US Secretary Kerry will finish his diplomatic tour of Europe and the Middle East.
Americas: OAS Inter-governmental meeting on terrorism in Washington, DC.
Egypt: Trial of 14 Egyptians and American Robert Becker for their work with United States-backed nonprofit groups.
Ghana: Independence from the UK celebrated – 1957.
Pakistan: End of anti-polio campaign in FATA, launched on 04FEB.

END