ONS: 27 August 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on August 27, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: The Nigerian government reached out to Boko Haram through back-channel talks in a bid to end the insurgency.
AMERICAS: In Colombia, an alleged FARC car bomb explosion killed six people.
ASIA: The Philippine Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard started a three-day anti-piracy exercise in Manila Bay.
EUROPE: The Turkish government halted the flow of refugees at two key border crossings in response to a surge in refugee flows.
MIDDLE EAST: In Syria, a rebel Free Syrian Army group claimed it shot down an army helicopter in Damascus.
TECHNOLOGY: Saudi Aramco resumed operating its main internal computer networks after a virus infected about 30,000 of its workstations earlier this month.

TOP STORY

The Taliban beheaded seventeen party-goers in Helmand province as punishment.
NATO forces said an Afghan soldier turned his weapon on international troops, killing 2 coalition service members.
The Afghan government said 10 Afghan soldiers were killed in an attack on a checkpoint.
Four Afghan soldiers were wounded and six others were missing following the attack.
Coverage: AP, AP-2, AP-3, Reuters, AFP

AFRICA

Libya: Interior Minister Abd al Ali resigned due to criticism of his handling of a series of attacks. (Xinhua)
Nigeria: The government reached out to Boko Haram through back-channel talks in a bid to end the insurgency. (AFP)
Nigeria: The navy said it freed 28 local oil workers who were being held hostage by a criminal gang in the Niger Delta. (Reuters)
South Sudan: Rebels in South Sudan’s Jonglei state killed at least 24 soldiers. (AFP)
Togo: The security minister said authorities released 119 people who were detained during this week’s rallies. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Region: A 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred off the coast of El Salvador, with a tsunami alert being issued and subsequently canceled. (Reuters)
Brazil: The government is increasing efforts to combat trafficking along its borders with Bolivia, Peru, and Colombia. (AFP)
Colombia: An alleged FARC car bomb explosion killed six people. (Xinhua)

ASIA

Region: Taiwan’s special envoy to the APEC forum said he plans to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao. (AFP)
Region: The DPRK and Japan are to hold their first direct talks in four years this week. (AFP)
Region: The Philippine Coast Guard and Japan Coast Guard started a three-day anti-piracy exercise in Manila Bay. (Xinhua)
Pakistan: An official said two gunmen riding a motorcycle opened fire on a car carrying Shiite Muslims in southwestern Pakistan, killing three of them. (AP)

EUROPE

Russia: One police officer died and two were wounded in the bombing of a police vehicle in Chechnya. (Interfax)
Russia: Greenpeace activists attached themselves to the anchor of a Russian ship taking workers to the country’s first Arctic oil production base. (AFP)
Turkey: The government halted the flow of Syrian refugees at two key border crossings in response to a surge in refugees seeking sanctuary. (WaPo)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Israeli PM Netanyahu said he would hold the Lebanese government responsible for any future attack on Israel by the Hezbollah militant group. (Xinhua)
Iran: The country could allow representatives from nonaligned nations to visit a military site that the IAEA suspects has housed nuclear experiments. (AP)
Iraq: Gunmen killed an Iraqi border forces brigadier general in the town of Taji, north of Baghdad. (AFP)
Jordan: The UN appealed for USD54 million to help meet the growing needs of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees in Jordan, particularly children who “suffer most.” (AFP)
Saudi Arabia: Authorities announced they had foiled a “terror” plot by elements suspected of links to al Qaeda. (AFP)
Syria: A rebel Free Syrian Army group claimed it shot down an army helicopter in Damascus. (AFP)
Syria: Activists reported at least 14 more bodies have been found in the town of Daraya. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: Saudi Aramco resumed operating its main internal computer networks after a virus infected about 30,000 of its workstations earlier this month. (Reuters)
Cybersecurity: Cyber-robbers are using emails to con financial advisers into withdrawing cash out of their clients’ online investment accounts. (USA Today)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (28AUG)

END