ONS: 28 August 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on August 28, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: In Kenya rioters clashed with police in Mombasa for a second day after the killing of a radical cleric linked to al-Qaeda allied militants.
AMERICAS: Twelve Mexican federal police officers have been detained for their alleged role in shooting at a US embassy car and wounding two US government employees.
ASIA: Philippine, US and five other Southeast Asian countries’ naval forces commenced counter-terrorism training at the Malacca Strait, Sulu Sea and Subic Bay.
EUROPE: The Romanian parliament recognized a court decision that suspended President Basescu should return to office.
MIDDLE EAST: Egyptian Deputy FM Ramzi formally gave Iran the rotating presidency of the 120-nation group non aligned group.
TECHNOLOGY: Hackers attacked the official website of Kyrgyzstan’s government.

TOP STORY

Colombia: Government in consultation with the FARC and ELN on potential peace talks, 22 FARC rebels detained.

President Santos said that his government has been in contact with the FARC to agree on conditions for possible talks.
The FARC offered no immediate public reaction to Mr. Santos’ statement.
The government and FARC have agreed to open peace negotiations 05OCT in Norway and then shift the talks to Cuba.
The ELN said it is willing to hold unconditional peace talks but refuses to end its kidnapping, bomb attacks and extortion of foreign oil and mining companies before negotiations start.
Twenty-two suspected FARC rebels were captured in Antioquia.
Coverage: WSJ, AP, AFP, Reuters, EFE

AFRICA

Kenya: Rioters clashed with police in Mombasa for a second day after the killing of a radical cleric linked to al-Qaeda allied militants. (AFP)
Libya: The US resumed consular services at its embassy but continues to warn against all but essential travel to the country. (AP)
Somalia: The new parliament met to vote for the position of speaker. (AFP)
Somalia: Al Shebab militants called on Kenyan Muslims to “take all necessary measures” to protect their religion a day after the murder of a radical cleric. (AFP)
Sudan: The head of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee criticized the UN as Sudan seemed set to gain a seat on the Human Rights Council. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Mexico: Twelve Mexican federal police officers have been detained for their alleged role in shooting at a US embassy car and wounding two US government employees. (AFP)
Mexico: Four suspected Jalisco Nueva Generacion drug cartel members were arrested in the western state of Jalisco. (EFE)
Mexico: Eleven bodies were found over the weekend in the southern state of Guerrero. (EFE)

ASIA

Region: Navy forces from the Philippines, US and five other Southeast Asian countries commenced counter-terrorism training at the Malacca Strait, Sulu Sea and Subic Bay. (Xinhua)
Afghanistan: A suicide truck bombing in Kandahar killed four civilians and wounded the provincial police chief. (AFP)
Afghanistan: The Taliban denied any involvement in the beheadings of 17 civilians in the south of the country. (DPA)
Afghanistan: A NATO helicopter made a forced landing in the east of the country causing no fatalities. (Xinhua)
Burma: The government removed the names of more than 2,000 people from a government blacklist as part of its ongoing reform efforts. (AP)
China: Egypt’s president will meet his Chinese counterpart in Beijing to improve economic and diplomatic ties. (AFP)
Pakistan: AQ Khan, the former head of the nuclear program, launched his own political movement aimed at inspiring the youth vote, as the country gears up for an election. (Guardian)

EUROPE

Region: The Russian, Norwegian and US militaries agreed to hold the next naval exercises Pomor and Northern Eagle. (Itar-Tass)
Greece: A makeshift bomb exploded outside a National Bank of Greece branch in Athens. (Reuters)
Romania: The parliament recognized a court decision that suspended President Basescu should return to office. (Reuters)
Russia: Three militants were killed and two suspects detained in Ingushetia’s Malgobek region. (Itar-Tass)
Spain: The National Statistic Office said Spain’s recession is deepening and revealed the initial downturn was steeper and began earlier than first thought. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Current and former members of the IRGC said Iran is sending commanders from the IRGC and hundreds of foot soldiers to Syria. (WSJ)
Iran: Egyptian Deputy FM Ramzi formally gave Iran the rotating presidency of the 120-nation non-aligned movement. (AP)
Iran: The envoy to the IAEA said Iran “will never stop” its uranium enrichment activities. (AFP)
Iraq: The government executed 21 people convicted of terror-related charges. (AFP)
Lebanon: The UNHCR reported number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon rose to around 52,000 with a weekly increase of about 5,090. (Xinhua)
Syria: Government forces bombarded the eastern belt of Damascus following a day where 60 people were killed in the province. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: Hackers attacked the official website of Kyrgyzstan’s government. (Itar-Tass)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (29AUG)

Asia: Japan and North Korea hold face-to-face talks in Beijing, the first in four years.
Asia: Anniversary of the implementation of a Japanese treaty to annex Korea – 1910.
Asia: Under Secretary for International Affairs Brainard attends APEC finance ministers meeting in Moscow.
United States: Hurricane Katrina hits Louisiana – 2005.

END