ONS: 28 September 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on September 28, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Kenyan and Somali troops captured Kismayu, the last major stronghold of al Shabaab.
AMERICAS: Eight Colombian FARC rebels were reportedly killed by an airstrike in the country’s northwest.
ASIA: US and NATO coalition forces resumed the practice of joint patrols with Afghan forces.
EUROPE: In Spain, the Catalonian parliament in the country’s northeast approved a resolution foreseeing a vote on independence, while Spain vowed to do “whatever it can” to prevent it.
MIDDLE EAST: Syrian opposition forces reported heavy fighting in Aleppo.
TECHNOLOGY: The US FTC moved to establish tighter privacy protections for children online.

TOP STORY

Israeli PM Netanyahu gave a speech at the UN outlining a “red line” condition for Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran declared it had the right to retaliate against any attack.
Commentators analyzing the Netanyahu speech’s “red line” criteria reported it indicated military action is unlikely to take place this year.
Coverage: Reuters, BBC, NYT, Al Jazeera-1, Al Jazeera-2, Reuters-2

AFRICA

DR Congo: Gun and grenade attacks struck Goma, killing at least 12. (Reuters)
Libya: US Defense Secretary Panetta said terrorists had planned and carried out the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi. (AP)
Libya: The US withdrew more embassy staff from Tripoli due to security reasons. (AFP)
Mali: EU officials stated they were considering ways to assist the government in dealing with Islamist militants occupying the northern part of the country. (Reuters)
Rwanda: The country’s UN envoy rejected claims it was aiding rebel groups in the DR Congo. (Reuters)
Somalia: Kenyan and Somali troops captured Kismayu, the last major stronghold of al Shabaab. (Reuters)
Tunisia: President Marzouki vowed to crack down on Islamist extremists after they encouraged crowds to attack the US embassy in the capital Tunis. (AP)

AMERICAS

Brazil: Nearly 23,000 military police agents were deployed in a massive anti-crime operation across Sao Paulo. (AFP)
Colombia: Eight FARC rebels were reportedly killed by an airstrike in the country’s northwest. (EFE)
Colombia: The FARC and ELN issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to upcoming peace talks with the government. (Xinhua)
Guatemala: Authorities arrested a man suspected of running a Zetas cartel operation in the country’s northwest. (EFE)

ASIA

Region: China and Japan traded accusations over the disputed Senkaku Islands at the UN. (BBC)
Afghanistan: US and NATO coalition forces resumed the practice of joint patrols with Afghan forces. (AP)
Myanmar: Opposition leader Suu Kyi stated her country could not become a full democracy without an independent judiciary. (AP)
Pakistan: The country’s foreign ministry rejected a US report that it had given “tacit consent” to the use of drone strikes against militants. (Xinhua)
Pakistan: US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dempsey said a planned meeting between US and Pakistani military chiefs was postponed this week due to a wave of violent anti-American protests. (AFP)
Philippines: The US issued a security alert for Manila, warning its citizens they could be the target of an unspecified attack. (AFP)

EUROPE

Region: French Minister for European Affairs Cazeneuve said France is open to the idea of a new EU treaty to deepen integration if it is deemed necessary to improve economic governance in the bloc. (Reuters)
Cyprus: The country’s central bank said it would conduct stress tests on its chief lenders. (AP)
France: President Hollande’s administration will release its first budget, expected to set tough deficit reduction goals. (BBC)
Germany: Chancellor Merkel renewed a commitment to stabilizing the euro. (AP)
Spain: The parliament of the north-eastern Spanish region of Catalonia approved a resolution foreseeing a vote on independence, while Spain vowed to do “whatever it can” to prevent it. (DPA)
Turkey: PM Erdogan said Turkey could hold a fresh round of talks with Kurdish rebels but accused France and Germany of obstructing its efforts to solve the unrest. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Iraq: Twelve policemen were killed in clashes at a Tikrit prison seized by militants and later retaken by security forces. (AP)
Palestinian Territories: President Abbas stated he will seek an upgrade to Palestine’s UN status at the General Assembly. (Al Jazeera)
Syria: Opposition forces reported heavy fighting in Aleppo. (Reuters)
Syria: EU defense ministers ruled out the possibility of a military intervention in Syria and advocated a political solution to the crisis faced by the country. (Xinhua)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

United States: The FTC moved to establish tighter privacy protections for children online. (NYT)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (29SEP)

END