ONS: 16 October 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on October 16, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: French DM Le Drian said an African intervention to oust islamist militants from the north of Mali will start “in a matter of weeks.”
AMERICAS: The Cuban foreign ministry said Cubans will no longer require an exit permit for foreign travel as of 14JAN13.
ASIA: Japan reported armed Chinese naval vessels in waters near the disputed islands.
EUROPE: Police in eastern France and Germany made 42 arrests in raids aimed at dismantling a network of Albanian heroin traffickers.
MIDDLE EAST: The US said Hezbollah is stepping up support for the Syrian government and has become part of President Assad’s “killing machine.”
TECHNOLOGY: The Kaspersky Lab said it found a program related to Flame dubbed “miniFlame” that can carry out more precise attacks on targets in the Middle East.

TOP STORY

The White House put special operations strike forces on standby and moved drones into position to operate in Africa.
Secretary Clinton told US media that she will take the blame for any shortcomings in the handling of the attack on the US mission in Benghazi.
The Pentagon and State Department are helping the Libyan government create a new commando force to combat Islamist extremists.
Libyan security forces started a large-scale search in Tripoli after a mass prison break.
Coverage: NYT, Xinhua, AFP, AP, WSJ, BBC

AFRICA

Region: AQIM appointed a new deputy and relieved Mokhtar Belmokhtar, one of two top commanders in northern Mali. (AFP)
Mali: French DM Le Drian said an African intervention to oust Islamist militants from the north of Mali will start “in a matter of weeks.” (AFP)
Nigeria: Gunfire and 15 separate explosions hit the northeastern city of Maiduguri, long under siege by Boko Haram. (AP)
Sierra Leone: A group of 28 EU long-term observers from 22 member states and Norway are to be deployed throughout the country. (Xinhua)
Sudan: A monitoring group said Sudanese security forces burned and looted a village in South Kordofan State in May and filmed the attack. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Argentina: President Fernandez dismissed Navy Chief of Staff Paz over Ghana’s seizure of an Argentine frigate. (Xinhua)
Chile: Protesters supporting Chile’s Mapuche Indians clashed with police, leaving sixteen people arrested and six police officers injured. (AFP)
Colombia: The chief of the FARC said all members of the group are “enthusiastic” about the coming round of peace talks. (Xinhua)
Cuba: The foreign ministry said Cubans will no longer require an exit permit for foreign travel as of 14JAN13. (AP)
Mexico: Interior Minister Poire said Mexico is making progress in its fight against drug cartels. (Reuters)

ASIA

Region: Japan reported armed Chinese naval vessels in waters near the disputed islands. (AFP)
Afghanistan: An intelligence agent carried out a suicide attack that killed two Americans and four Afghans on 13OCT, making it the latest in a series of “insider” attacks. (AFP)
India: US PACOM ADM Locklear III encouraged a closer defense relationship between the US and India. (AP)
India: The government will address a rise in cyberattacks by training up to 500,000 computer specialists over the next five years. (DPA)
Korea, South: The ROK and the US are scheduled to hold high-level security talks over coordination of policy toward the DPRK. (Xinhua)

EUROPE

Region: Police in eastern France and Germany made 42 arrests in raids aimed at dismantling a network of Albanian heroin traffickers. (AFP)
Region: British PM Cameron and German Chancellor Merkel said “more work was needed” to reach deal on a European banking union. (AFP)
Portugal: Eleven people were injured in protests over a new austerity budget. (DPA)
Serbia: President Nikolic said Serbia will abandon its goal of joining the EU if it insists that Belgrade recognize Kosovo’s independence. (AFP)
Turkey: PKK rebels kidnapped four people in southeastern Turkey. (Xinhua)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: The US said Hezbollah is stepping up support for the Syrian government and has become part of President Assad’s “killing machine.” (AP)
Syria: New EU sanctions banned all government ministers from travelling to the EU and froze all of their assets in the bloc. (DPA)
Syria: Government planes launched pre-dawn air raids on rebel positions around Maaret al-Numan. (AFP)
Yemen: Government forces derailed a terrorist operation by al Qaeda militants in Aden. (Xinhua)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: The Kaspersky Lab said it found a program related to Flame dubbed “miniFlame” that can carry out more precise attacks on targets in the Middle East. (Reuters)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (17OCT)

Global: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
Europe: European Peoples Party Congress held in Bucharest, Romania.
Russia: Humanitarian PACE reporter visits Russia on the status of the southern Caucasus region.
Saudi Arabia: Anniversary of oil embargo – 1973.
Yemen: Anniversary of the terrorist attack on the USS Cole at the Port of Aden – 2000.

END