ONS: 20 July 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on July 20, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Egyptian President Mursi ordered the release of more than 500 people detained in last year’s protests.
AMERICAS: US Defense Secretary Panetta ordered the monitoring of media reports for intelligence leaks.
ASIA: China expressed “strong dissatisfaction” with Russia for its detention of 36 Chinese fishermen.
EUROPE: In Spain, tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated against austerity measures in Madrid.
MIDDLE EAST: Russia and China vetoed a UNSC resolution to enforce sanctions on the Assad regime.
TECHNOLOGY: The number of Internet users in China reached 538 million.

TOP STORY

United States: A shooting at a movie theater near Denver left at least 14 dead.

50 people were reported wounded.
The suspect was detained and is now in custody.
Police evacuated and searched the suspect’s apartment complex after he claimed to have explosives at his residence.
Coverage: BBC, LAT, AFP

AFRICA

Region: China, seeking to strengthen ties with African countries, pledged USD20 billion in loans in the next three years, doubling its earlier commitment. (UPI)
Egypt: President Mursi ordered the release of more than 500 people detained in last year’s protests. (AFP)
Nigeria: Five people were killed in two separate attacks by unknown gunmen. (AFP)
Republic of Congo: The dominant Congolese Labor Party (PCT) won 57 seats in the first round of legislative elections. (AFP)
Togo: Commerce Minister Kwesi Ahoomey-Zunu was named Prime Minister. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Brazil: Eighteen people were arrested in connection with the murder of indigenous leader Nisio Gomes. (BBC)
Mexico: Rightist and leftist parties jointly demanded authorities investigate an alleged money laundering in financing the campaign of president-elect Enrique Pena Nieto. (Xinhua)
United States: President Obama characterized cyber threats as “one of the most serious economic and national security challenges” for the US. (AFP)
United States: Defense Secretary Panetta ordered the monitoring of media reports for intelligence leaks. (Reuters)
United States: At his confirmation hearing to become SOUTHCOM commander, LTGEN John Kelly said he’s ready to face non-traditional security challenges caused largely by the drug trade, illicit trafficking, transnational organized crime, narco-terrorism and violent extremist organizations. (Miami Herald)

ASIA

Region: China expressed “strong dissatisfaction” with Russia for its detention of 36 Chinese fishermen. (Reuters)
Afghanistan: Five policemen were killed in a roadside bomb in the Uruzgan province. (BBC)
Japan: The Finance Ministry was hit by malware; the Ministry indicated information may have been leaked as a result. (Kyodo)
Pakistan: The US House of Representatives agreed to a $650 million cut from Pakistan military aid as Republicans sought to tamp down demands for still deeper reductions because of conservative anger at the Islamabad government. (Politico)

EUROPE

Region: Azerbaijan’s breakaway Nagorny-Karabakh region re-elected incumbent leader Bako Sahakyan for a second presidential term, the central elections commission said. (AFP)
Cyprus: The UNSC extended its peacekeeping force’s mission through 2013. (AP)
Russia: Four men were detained on suspicion of recent attacks on Muslim leaders in Tatarstan. (Reuters)
Russia: The Dagestan Interior Ministry indicated a terrorist attack had been foiled. (Interfax)
Spain: Tens of thousands of protesters demonstrated against austerity measures in Madrid; police fired rubber bullets in response. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: The UNHCR said up to 30,000 Syrians have fled into Lebanon over the past 48 hours. (AFP)
Region: Iraqi government officials said Syrian rebels wrested control of all four border checkpoints between Iraq and Syria, and that additional Iraqi forces were being sent to the border. (NYT)
Iran: A lawmaker says about half of the 290 members of Iran’s parliament are backing a bill favoring the closing of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. (AP)
Syria: The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a death toll of 302 in the past day, the deadliest day of the uprising thus far. (AFP)
Syria: Russia and China vetoed a UNSC resolution to enforce sanctions on the Assad regime. (Washington Post)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

China: The China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) said there are 538 million Internet users in the country. (AP)

WORLD

Volcano alert level raised from 0 to 1, indicating there are signs of volcanic activity.

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (21JUL)

END