KEY STORYLINES
- AFRICA: US Secretary Clinton announced she was setting up an official review of security at the US mission in Benghazi.
- AMERICAS: Mexican federal police on announced the arrest of the Gulf drug cartel’s purported No. 2 “El Tio”.
- ASIA: The last of the 33,000 ‘surge’ troops ordered into Afghanistan by President Obama over three years ago withdrew from the country.
- EUROPE: The Azerbaijani army is conducting large-scale military drills involving simultaneously the country’s ground, navy and air forces.
- MIDDLE EAST: Syrian President Assad said his regime will not fall and predicted the defeat of the armed opposition.
- TECHNOLOGY: NBC News reported that the Iranian government is behind cyber attacks this week that have targeted the websites of JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America.
TOP STORY
- Pakistan: Violent protests against Innocence of Muslims throughout the country.
- Pakistani police opened fire on rioters in Peshawar who were torching cinemas.
- An employee of a major cable channel, ARY, was shot in the chest and killed in the Peshawar riots.
- The government declared 21SEP a national holiday, encouraging peaceful protests so that citizens could declare their love of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Officials jammed mobile phone service in at least 15 cities across the country, hoping to thwart potential terrorist attacks, and closed gas stations.
- Near Islamabad, protesters set fire to a motorway toll booth.
- Coverage: WaPo, Reuters, AP, The Guardian, The Telegraph
AFRICA
- Ethiopia: New PM Desalegn took the oath of office, taking over power after the death of long-time ruler Meles Zenawi. (AFP)
- Libya: US Secretary Clinton announced she was setting up an official review of security at the US mission in Benghazi. (AFP)
- Nigeria: The Joint Task Force killed two Boko Haram commanders in Maiduguri. (AP)
- Tunisia: The leader of the ruling islamist party said hardline Salafists pose a threat to the country’s security. (AFP)
AMERICAS
- Brazil: Police have installed a ‘pacification force’ in the Rocinha slum in Rio de Janeiro. (AP)
- Colombia: The government reassured the country’s more conservative factions that it would not let the FARC use the upcoming peace talks to rearm. (Xinhua)
- Colombia: A judge revoked the acquittal of a guerrilla accused in the killings of three Americans in Colombia in 1999. (AP)
- Mexico: Federal police on announced the arrest of the Gulf drug cartel’s purported No. 2 “El Tio”. (EFE)
ASIA
- Afghanistan: The last of the 33,000 ‘surge’ troops ordered into Afghanistan by President Obama over three years ago withdrew from the country. (Reuters)
- China: A protest ship from Taiwan joined a dozen Chinese vessels in waters near contest islands. (AFP)
- Korean Peninsula: The ROK’s navy fired warning shots at fishing boats from the DPRK for violating a western maritime border. (AP)
- New Zealand: The US lifted a ban that prevented New Zealand naval ships visiting US ports or bases since the 1980s. (Reuters)
- Thailand: At least five people were killed and 40 wounded after a car bomb detonated in a packed market. (AFP)
EUROPE
- Azerbaijan: The army is conducting large-scale military drills involving simultaneously the country’s ground, navy and air forces. (Xinhua)
- Georgia: Thousands of Georgians demanded for the third day the prosecution of top Georgian officials fired over the prison abuse scandal. (AP)
- Serbia: The government said that it appointed Dejan Pavicevic as chief negotiator in talks with Kosovo. (DPA)
MIDDLE EAST
- Iran: The country’s top atomic energy official said in that because of foreign espionage, his government had sometimes provided false information to protect its nuclear program. (NYT)
- Iraq: Two Iraqi soldiers and two other people were killed in separate attacks in and near Baghdad. (Xinhua)
- Syria: Government troops backed by helicopter gunships clashed with rebels near an army barracks in Aleppo. (AFP)
- Syria: President Assad said his regime will not fall and predicted the defeat of the armed opposition. (AP)
TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Cybersecurity: NBC News reported that the Iranian government is behind cyber attacks this week that have targeted the websites of JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America. (NBC)
WORLD
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes (Atlantic): Tropical Storm Nadine
- Location: 200 miles SSW of the Azores
- Movement: SE at 8 mph
- Winds: 65 mph
- Map
- Hurricanes (Atlantic): 60% chance of tropical cyclone formation
- Location: 475 miles E of Bermuda
- Movement: WNW at 10 mph
- Map
- Hurricanes (Pacific): 50% of tropical cyclone formation
- Location: 375 miles S of Manzanillo, Mexico
- Movement: WNW at 10 mph
- Map
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Mt. Lokon, Indonesia.
- Eruption of volcanic materials. (Jakarta Post)
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (22SEP)
- Europe: Georgia hosts emergency situations response drill with NATO.
- Middle East: Anniversary of the beginning of the Iran-Iraq War – 1980.
- Bulgaria: Celebration of Independence Day – 1908.
- Colombia: Anniversary of the killing of Mono Jojoy – 2010.
- Malaysia: Tun Abdul Razak Bin Dato’ Hussein becomes Malaysia’s 2nd PM – 1970.
- Pakistan: President Zardari sets out to attend UN General Assembly in NYC, NY.
END
