ONS: 19 March 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on March 19, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Guinea Bisssau’s former head of military intelligence was killed.
AMERICAS: Colombia rejected a FARC condition for the release of hostages.
ASIA: Japanese DM Tanaka said he is considering ordering the SDF to destroy the DPRK’s rocket-mounted satellite should it pass over Japan.
EUROPE: French Interior Minister Gueant ordered tightened security around all Jewish schools after an attack in Toulouse that left four dead.
MIDDLE EAST: Technical experts from the UN and OIC are in Syria on a mission to assess the humanitarian impact of its year-long conflict.
TECHNOLOGY: The Pentagon is accelerating efforts to develop a new generation of cyber weapons

TOP STORY

Heavy firefights occurred between FSA rebels and security forces in Damascus.
State television reported three “terrorists” and one security force member killed.
Activists reported 50 security force members dead.
Fourteen people were killed in central Homs, with the government blaming ‘terrorists’.
Coverage: AFP, Xinhua, Reuters, AP, DPA

AFRICA

Guinea Bissau: The former head of military intelligence was killed near his residence in Bissau. (Reuters)
Libya: Amnesty International reported NATO failed to properly investigate or provide compensation for civilian deaths caused by its air strikes during operations in Libya. (Reuters)
Somalia: Mortar shells killed six civilians in a camp for displaced people near the presidential palace in Mogadishu. (AFP)
Sudan: The army accused rebels in South Kordofan of planning a wide-range attack backed by South Sudan. (Xinhua)

AMERICAS

Colombia: President Santos rejected a FARC demand that peace activists be allowed to visit imprisoned guerrillas as a condition for the release of hostages. (AFP)
Mexico: Police found the severed heads of ten people killed in a suspected outbreak of drug gang violence. (Reuters)
Mexico: Banners in Guanajuato purportedly signed by drug cartel The Knights Templar promised there will be no violence during the state by Pope Benedict XVI. (AP)

ASIA

Region: Japanese DM Tanaka said he is considering ordering the SDF to destroy the DPRK’s rocket-mounted satellite should it pass over Japan. (Kyodo)
Maldives: Police used tear gas to disrupt demonstrators preventing the new president from opening Parliament. (AP)
Indonesia: Counter-terrorism police killed five men suspected of planning a series of attacks on Bali. (Reuters)
East Timor: A second round of presidential elections are expected be held on 16APR. (AFP)

EUROPE

France: Interior Minister Gueant ordered tightened security around all French Jewish schools after an attack in Toulouse that left four dead. (AFP)
Germany: Public-service workers began strikes in a dispute over wages. (AP)
Germany: Activist Gauck was elected German president with 991 of 1,232 votes from a special assembly of MPs. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Turkey reported two Syrian generals crossed into Turkey to support rebel forces, bringing the total to nine. (AFP)
Syria: Technical experts from the UN and OIC are in Syria on a mission to assess the humanitarian impact of its year-long conflict. (AFP)
Syria: The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported Syria imported six times more weapons in 2007-2011 than in the previous five-year period. (AP)
Yemen: Authorities tightened security around Taez, a day after an American was killed in an attack claimed by Al Qaeda. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: The Pentagon is accelerating efforts to develop a new generation of cyber weapons capable of disrupting enemy military networks, even when those networks are not connected to the Internet. (Washington Post)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (20MAR)

Iraq: Anniversary of the start of the US invasion of Iraq – 2003.
Japan: Kuwaiti ruler al Sabah visits Japan.
Myanmar: Anniversary of the dissolution of the military junta – 2011.
Pakistan: The Supreme Court hears the “Balochistan law & order situation suo moto” case.

END