ONS: 19 July 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on July 19, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Former Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman died in a hospital in the US.
AMERICAS: In Colombia, security forces clashed with indigenous protesters, killing one.
ASIA: Indian legislators began voting for president; former Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to win
EUROPE: In Russia, the Muslim leader of Tatarstan was wounded in a car bomb, while his deputy was killed in a separate attack.
MIDDLE EAST: In Syria, fighting continued throughout Damascus.
TECHNOLOGY: YouTube launched a tool to allow users to blur faces on uploaded videos.

TOP STORY

Five Israeli tourists, one Bulgarian driver and the suicide attacker were killed.
The suspected attacker was carrying a license issued in Michigan, US, according to the Bulgarian interior minister.
Israeli DM Barak blamed the attack on Hezbollah and Iran.
Coverage: NYT, AP, CNN

AFRICA

DR Congo: The security situation in North Kivu province in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo remains tense, according to the UN mission. (Xinhua)
Egypt: Former Vice President Suleiman died in a hospital in the US. (BBC)
Egypt: A security official said Islamist militants shot to death two soldiers in the Sinai Peninsula, close to the border with the Gaza Strip. (AP)
Kenya: Five people were wounded in a grenade attack at a restaurant in the town of Wajir. (Reuters)
Mali: Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) released three hostages, indicating their conditions had been met. (AFP)
Tanzania: A ferry sank off the coast of Zanzibar; more than 30 bodies have been recovered. (BBC)

AMERICAS

Colombia: Security forces clashed with indigenous protesters in Cauca, killing one. (Reuters)
Honduras: A key Colombian drug trafficker from the Urabenos was arrested. (UPI)
United States: Relatives of Anwar al Awlaki sued military officials for the use of drone strikes in Yemen. (BBC)

ASIA

Region: The UNHCR has facilitated the return of over 41,000 Afghan refugees from Pakistan so far this year with its voluntary repatriation activities. (Xinhua)
Afghanistan: Eight civilians were killed in an explosion in northern Faryab province. (AFP)
Australia: In his first public address, the new head of the Secret Intelligence Service, Nick Warner, warned of the “web of links between extremists” across the globe, a threat which remains “very real.” (AFP)
India: Legislators began voting for president; former Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to win. (BBC)

EUROPE

Montenegro: Nebojsa Kaludjerovic was appointed foreign minister. (AFP)
Russia: The Muslim leader of Tatarstan was wounded in a car bomb, while his deputy was killed in a separate attack. (BBC)
United Kingdom: DM Hammond insisted the UK remained a “capable power” despite defense cuts. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Iran: The US called on Iran to “release all political prisoners,” expressing concern for a Kurdish activist and a human rights defender. (AFP)
Lebanon: EU Ambassador to Lebanon Eichhorst asserted the EU commitment to the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Lebanon. (Xinhua)
Syria: Government forces shelled a number of neighborhoods in and around the capital. (AP)
Yemen: A security director of an Aden district was killed in a car bomb. (Xinhua)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: YouTube launched a tool to allow users to blur faces on uploaded videos. (Threat Level)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (20JUL)

Africa: Anniversary of the Ethiopian invasion of Somalia – 2006.
Asia: Anniversary of the Third Taiwan Straits Crisis – 1995.
Europe: Greek Cypriots mark ‘black day’ of Turkish invasion – 1974.
Europe: Eurogroup meets to tackle debt crisis.
Belarus: Anniversary of President Lukashenko coming to power – 1994.
Burma: Anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi being placed under house arrest – 1989.

END