ONS: 16 March 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on March 16, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: The Eritrean government said it will not retaliate after Ethiopia attacked its territory.
AMERICAS: The Venezuelan military will deploy 15,000 soldiers to regions along the borders.
ASIA: The US denounced the DPRK’s plan to launch a long-range rocket to put a satellite into orbit.
EUROPE: The Moldovan parliament elected senior judge Timofti as president.
MIDDLE EAST: The GCC said the six Arab Gulf states will close their embassies in Syria in protest.
TECHNOLOGY: The NSA is building a $2 billion data collection, processing, and cryptography center.

TOP STORY

The crash killed twelve Turkish soldiers on board and four Afghan civilians on the ground.
ISAF said that the cause of the crash was still unknown.
The US military said the attack on Camp Bastion was more serious than initial accounts suggested.

The attack targeted a top American commander as US Defense Secretary Panetta was flying in for a visit.

AFRICA

Eritrea: The government said it will not retaliate after rival neighbor Ethiopia attacked its territory. (AFP)
Libya: Two British journalists detained by a Libyan militia last month will be released within 24 hours. (AFP)
Sudan, South: The UN envoy to South Sudan says traditional cattle raids between rival ethnic groups in Jonglei state have escalated with advanced weapons. (AP)
Uganda: The government warned the rebel ADF opened three military camps in eastern Congo and is actively recruiting in central Uganda. (AP)

AMERICAS

Region: Colombian President Santos announced Bolivian President Morales will participate in discussions on establishing alternatives in the fight against drugs. (Xinhua)
Cuba: Police evicted 13 dissidents from a church they had been occupying for two days demanding Pope Benedict XVI air a list of grievances. (AP)
Venezuela: The military will deploy 15,000 soldiers to regions along the borders in order to combat armed groups and drug trafficking. (AP)

ASIA

Region: Australian FM Carr backed away from comments that Canberra would impose sanctions on Papua New Guinea if it did not go to the polls. (AFP)
Afghanistan: Talks with the Afghan government about night raids by NATO troops will go ahead despite political roadblocks. (AP)
Korea, North: The US denounced as “highly provocative” the DPRK’s plan to launch a long-range rocket to put a satellite into orbit, in defiance of a UN ban. (AFP)
Pakistan: A remote-controlled bomb in Kurram Agency injured sixteen people. (Xinhua)

EUROPE

Region: German Chancellor Merkel indicated Finance Minister Schaeuble is to head the Eurogroup of eurozone finance ministers. (AFP)
Greece: The IMF said the Greek economy is expected to exit recession only by 2014. (AFP)
Hungary: PM Orban accused the EU of colonialist behavior, disrespecting his country’s sovereignty and meddling in its domestic affairs. (AP)
Moldova: The parliament elected Nicolae Timofti, a senior judge and lawyer, as President, ending a three year political stalemate. (AFP)
Portugal: EU Economy Commissioner Rehn said the country is “on the right path” to address its financial woes and obtain competitiveness. (Xinhua)

MIDDLE EAST

Bahrain: Shi’ite Muslims clashed with riot police across the country on the anniversary of a government crackdown. (Reuters)
Iraq: The Iraqi wing of al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack in Haditha that left 25 policemen dead. (AP)
Syria: The GCC said the six Arab Gulf states will close their embassies in Syria in protest at the year-long violence in the country. (Reuters)
Yemen: Suspected al Qaeda militants kidnapped a Swiss woman in Hodeida and are holding her in the province of Shabwa. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Intelligence: The NSA is building a $2 billion data collection, processing, and cryptography center. (Threat Level)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (17MAR)

END