ONS: 06 July 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on July 6, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: The UNSC endorsed political efforts to end the uprising in Mali, but did not support military intervention.
AMERICAS: A recount of poll results in Mexico’s presidential election confirmed Enrique Nieto as the winner.
ASIA: Myanmar agreed to the appointment of Derek J. Mitchell as US ambassador to the country, signalling a re-establishment of diplomatic ties.
EUROPE: The ECB lowered interest rates in a bid to stimulate the economy and counteract the financial crisis.
MIDDLE EAST: Iran was reported to be losing at least $3 billion every month due to the impact of widened sanctions on its oil exports.
TECHNOLOGY: Google disputed claims by a Microsoft researcher that many Android phones have been infected by a botnet virus that turns them into spam generators.

TOP STORY

Talks on measures to end the crisis in Syria took place in Paris between representatives from over 100 countries.
China and Russia refused to attend the proceedings.
Opposition representatives requested a no-fly zone be established in the country.
A senior officer of Syria’s Republican Guard, Brig. Gen. Manaf Tlass, was reported to have defected from the country.
Coverage: Al-Jazeera, WaPo, NYT, WJS, BBC, AP-1, AP-2, Reuters

AFRICA

Region: Border security negotiations resumed between Sudan and South Sudan. (AFP)
DR Congo: Rebel and government soldiers clashed in the eastern part of the country; at least 600 Congolese soldiers fled to Uganda following a battle with rebels. (AFP, BBC, AP)
Eritrea: The US imposed sanctions on two government officials for ties to Al Shabaab. (Reuters)
Libya: Federalists protesting not being granted more seats for upcoming elections shut down two oil terminals in the country’s east. (AFP)
Mali: The UNSC endorsed political efforts to end the uprising in the country’s north, but did not support military intervention. (Reuters)
Nigeria: A court accused two men of having links to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. (AFP)
South Sudan: The UNSC renewed a peacekeeping mission for its second year. (Reuters)
Togo: Security forces dispersed protesters outside the French embassy. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: Venezuelan President Chavez withdrew his country’s military attaches from Paraguay. (AP)
Colombia: Five soldiers were caught carrying 603 kg of cocaine. (EFE)
Costa Rica: Authorities arrested a top-ranking member of Mexico’s Gulf cartel. (EFE)
Mexico: A recount of poll results in the country’s presidential election confirmed Enrique Nieto as the winner. (AP)

ASIA

Region: Indian and Pakistani diplomats reiterated a commitment to fight terrorism following two-days of negotiations. (Xinhua)
Afghanistan: The government will seek at least $4 billion in international aid at an upcoming summit in Tokyo. (AP)
Myanmar: The government agreed to the appointment of Derek J. Mitchell as US ambassador to the country, signalling a re-establishment of diplomatic ties. (Xinhua)
Pakistan: Customs officials stated that all supply containers headed to NATO forces in Afghanistan would be scanned for lethal weapons and munitions. (AFP)

EUROPE

Region: The ECB lowered interest rates in a bid to stimulate the economy and counteract the financial crisis. (Al Jazeera)
Finland: Finance Minister Urpilainen stated her country would rather leave the euro than pay the debts of other countries and stated her country would adopt a tough stance in bailout negotiations. (AFP)
Greece: The government stated it wanted to speed up pace of austerity measures and that the bailout terms required renegotiation. (WSJ)
Turkey: The government announced a military funeral would be held on Friday for the two pilots killed by Syrian anti-aircraft fire, a move likely to fuel tension between Ankara and Damascus. (WSJ)

MIDDLE EAST

Iran: The country was reported to be losing at least $3 billion every month due to the impact of widened sanctions on its oil exports. (Reuters)
Iraq: The government deployed troops, police and helicopters to protect Shiite pilgrims making an annual journey to the holy city of Karbala. (AP)
Lebanon: Security officials reported a failed assassination attempt on anti-Syrian politician Boutros Harb. (AFP)
Palestinian Territories: The Tunisian government called for a meeting of the Arab League to form a commission of inquiry into Yasser Arafat’s death. (Al Jazeera)
Syria: Activists reported at least 95 killed across the country and heavy shelling of Daraya by the army. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: Google disputed claims by a Microsoft researcher that many Android phones have been infected by a botnet virus that turns them into spam generators. (BBC)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (07JUL)

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