ONS: 15 June 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on June 15, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: The Somali government reported that 500 al shabaab fighters had defected.
AMERICAS: Colombia’s congress approved a law establishing a framework for peace talks with the FARC and the ELN.
ASIA: Afghanistan’s President Karzai called for more international support and cooperation for stability efforts in his country.
EUROPE: NATO SG Rasmussen stated the eurozone debt crisis posed no significant security risk to Europe.
MIDDLE EAST: Yemeni military forces captured Shaqra, the third southern city previously held by al Qaeda militants to fall this week.
TECHNOLOGY: Microsoft released a security update to Windows 7 in response to the Flame computer virus.

TOP STORY

The country’s supreme court ruled to dissolve parliament, only two days before presidential elections.
The court also approved the candidacy for president of former Mubarak PM Ahmed Shafik.
Opposition groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, condemned the ruling and called for protests.
Coverage: Reuters, CNN, Reuters-2, NYT, NYT-2, Al Jazeera

AFRICA

Region: The US military outsourced spying operations to private contractors to help process electronic intelligence collected from the airspace over Uganda, Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic. (WaPo)
Region: Sudan agreed to resume peace negotiations with South Sudan next week. (Reuters)
Somalia: The government reported 500 al Shabaab fighters defected to the government. (AP)
Uganda: UNSG Ban Ki-Moon warned the US-backed AU force hunting renegade warlord Joseph Kony lacked the resources to succeed. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: Costa Rican President Chinchilla and Colombian President Santos meet today in San José to launch free trade agreement negotiations. (EFE)
Argentina: President Fernandez called for negotiations with the UK over the status of the disputed Falklands Islands. (CNN)
Colombia: The congress approved a law establishing a framework for peace talks with the FARC and the ELN. (BBC)
Mexico: A crime reporter in Veracruz was found dead, an apparent victim of the Zetas cartel. (Reuters)

ASIA

Region: The UNHCR urged Bangladesh to provide a safe haven for people fleeing unrest in Myanmar’s Rakhine state after authorities refused entry to boatloads of refugees. (AFP)
Afghanistan: President Karzai called for more international support and cooperation for stability efforts in his country. (VoA)
China: The country’s intelligence network in the US was reportedly compromised by a ministry of state security official arrested this year. (Reuters)
India: Finance Minister Mukherjee will step down on 24JUN to run for president. (Reuters)
Pakistan: FM Khar reiterated calls for an apology from the US over the Salala air strike. (Reuters)

EUROPE

Region: NATO SG Rasmussen stated the eurozone debt crisis posed no significant security risk to Europe. (WSJ)
Russia: The poor performance by local authorities and the shadow economy are major factors stimulating the development of illegal armed groups in North Caucasus. (Interfax)
Turkey: Four PKK rebels were killed in clashes with security forces in the country’s south. (AFP)
Turkey: Authorities detained eight people suspected of ties with al Qaeda. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Iran: Oil Minister Qasemi warned sanctions would result in higher prices for Europe ahead of an upcoming OPEC meeting in Vienna. (AFP)
Lebanon: US Secretary Clinton reiterated US support to the “steps taken by the Lebanese government and the efforts of its army.” (Xinhua)
Syria: UN observers entering the town of Haffeh reported widespread destruction. (LA Times)
Syria: Russia denied it was selling new attack helicopters to Syria, stating it was only involved in repairing ones sold previously. (RFE\RL)
Yemen: The military captured Shaqra, the third southern city previously held by al Qaeda militants to fall this week. (Reuters)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: Microsoft released a security update to Windows 7 in response to the Flame computer virus. (SlashGear)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (16JUN)

Egypt: Second round of presidential elections between Mohammed Morsi and Ahmed Shafiq.

END