KEY STORYLINES
- AFRICA: Libyan authorities seized more than 100 tanks from a militia in the Tarhuna region loyal to former leader Qaddafi.
- AMERICAS: The Colombian navy and US authorities confiscated approximately 2.3 tons of cocaine in the Caribbean and captured eight drug traffickers.
- ASIA: The US discussed the expansion of a missile defense system in Asia with Japan.
- EUROPE: Greek PM Samaras began a two-day trip to Berlin and Paris to discuss Greece and the euro.
- MIDDLE EAST: US Secretary Clinton called her Iraqi counterpart Zebari to discuss Syria and Iraq’s political situation.
- TECHNOLOGY: Google+ started to make available the custom URLs it first announced earlier this month to select users and brands.
TOP STORY
- Syria:International community considers responses to ongoing violence.
- Turkish and US officials held their first “operational planning” meeting aimed at ending President Assad’s regime.
- Iran will submit a proposal for ending the conflict to a Non-Aligned Movement summit in Tehran.
- UNSG Ban Ki- moon is expected to meet with the newly- appointed UN-Arab League joint special representative for Syria Lakdhar Brahimi, .
- France’s defense minister said the international community should consider enforcing a no-fly zone over parts of Syria.
- Coverage: AFP, AFP-2, Xinhua, AP
AFRICA
- Ethiopia: US President Obama pledged continued partnership with Ethiopia and urged the acting prime minister to boost support for regional security. (Xinhua)
- Libya: Authorities seized more than 100 tanks from a militia in the Tarhuna region loyal to former leader Qaddafi. (AFP)
- Libya: A conflict between two tribes in Zlitan left 12 dead and dozens injured. (AP)
- Nigeria: Gunmen invaded a mainly Christian village in Plateau State and killed two people. (AFP)
AMERICAS
- Region: Leaders and delegates of police from Central America, Mexico, Colombia and the Caribbean met in Managua to form a strategy against organized crime. (EFE)
- Region: The US and Mexico agreed to boost efforts to crack down on the production of methamphetamines by Mexican drug cartels. (AFP)
- Colombia: The Colombian navy and US authorities confiscated approximately 2.3 tons of cocaine in the Caribbean and captured eight drug traffickers. (Xinhua)
- Colombia: President Santos named energy minister Cardenas as his new finance minister. (Reuters)
ASIA
- Afghanistan: ISAF commander Gen. Allen said insider attacks by Afghans against US and coalition troops will not disrupt the strategy and will not require pulling back troops. (Bloomberg)
- Japan: The government suggested it could freeze its plan to buy ROK government bonds amid a deepening diplomatic rift over disputed islands. (AFP)
- Japan: The US discussed the expansion of a missile defense system in Asia with Japan. (AP)
- Kyrgyzstan: President Atambayev signed a decree formally disbanding the government after the ruling coalition collapsed. (AFP)
- Pakistan: Intelligence officials said an American drone killed 18 suspected militants. (AP)
EUROPE
- Region: Greek PM Samaras began a two-day trip to Berlin and Paris to discuss Greece and the euro. (AFP)
- Azerbaijan: The European Commission announced that it would provide further funding for reforming institutions in charge of the country’s relations with the EU. (Interfax)
- Belarus: A forthcoming media report claims that Germany trained members of Belarusian President Lukashenko’s security forces. (AFP)
- Russia: Greenpeace said that its activists stormed a floating oil rig in Russia’s Pechora Sea to protest oil drilling in the Arctic. (AP)
MIDDLE EAST
- Region: US Secretary Clinton called her Iraqi counterpart Zebari to discuss Syria and Iraq’s political situation. (Xinhua)
- Iran: The government’s envoy to the IAEA said that he expected “progress” in upcoming talks. (AFP)
- Lebanon: A young Sunni sheikh was killed in Tripoli as new clashes erupted between pro- and anti-Syrian factions. (AFP)
- Syria: An American freelance journalist has been missing in Syria for more than a week. (AFP)
TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Communications: Google+ started to make available the custom URLs it first announced earlier this month to select users and brands. (Mashable)
WORLD
- Cyclones: Typhoon 16W (Bolaven)
- Location: 410 NM SE of Kadena AB, Okinawa, Japan.
- Movement: NNW at 9 mph
- Winds: 132 mph
- Map
- Cyclones: Tropical Storm 15W (Tembin)
- Location: 180 NM SSW of Taipei, Taiwan
- Movement: WSW at 11 mph
- Winds: 69 mph
- Map
- Hurricanes (Atlantic): Tropical Storm Isaac
- Location: 115 miles SSE of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Movement: W at 15 mph
- Winds: 45 mph
- Map
- Hurricanes (Atlantic): Tropical Depression Joyce
- Location: 1200 miles E of the Leeward Islands
- Movement: NW at 14 mph
- Winds: 35 mph
- Map
- Hurricanes (Atlantic): 30% chance of tropical cyclone formation
- Location: Near the Cape Verde Islands
- Movement: WNW 15 mph
- Map
- Hurricanes (Pacific): 20% chance of tropical cyclone formation
- Location: S of the Coast of SE Mexico
- Movement: W at 15 mph
- Map
- Earthquakes: nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: nothing to report.
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (25AUG)
- Asia: Russia sends two naval vessels to the Kuril Islands in the Pacific.
- France: Paris is liberated as Germans surrender – 1944.
- Uruguay: Independence Day celebrated – 1825.
END
