ONS: 31 July 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on July 31, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Uganda denied it was supporting the M23 rebel group in the DR Congo.
AMERICAS: In Mexico, a leader of Los Zetas cartel was arrested in the northern part of the country.
ASIA: The Taliban was reportedly pleased by the resumption of NATO supply convoys from Pakistan into Afghanistan.
EUROPE: Spanish and Italian borrowing costs eased following statements of support for the euro from key officials.
MIDDLE EAST: Iran sanctions have to have more time to work, according to US Defense Secretary Panetta.
TECHNOLOGY: Google announced it will upgrade the video chat function of Gmail to work like the “Hangout” system of Google+.

TOP STORY

Government forces intensified their assault on rebel holdouts in Aleppo as the offensive entered its fourth day.
Rebel and government forces fought a pitched battle outside an intelligence service compound.
The rebels claimed to be withstanding the assault.
Coverage: Al Jazeera, BBC, Reuters, Reuters-2, NYT

AFRICA

Region: Uganda denied it was supporting the M23 rebel group in the DR Congo. (Reuters)
Guinea-Bissau: The UNSC condemned Guinea-Bissau’s military coup plotters for maintaining their grip on the country and an increase in drug trafficking. (AP)
Nigeria: Gunmen attacked the home of Vice President Sambo. (Reuters)
Somalia: US authorities are cracking down on money transfers to the country. (Reuters)
Sudan: Rebels in the Blue Nile stated at least three civilians were killed by government airstrikes. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Colombia: US Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, said cocaine production in Colombia has declined by 25 percent in the last year. (AP)
Colombia: The navy seized a submarine carrying six tons of cocaine off the coast. (AFP)
Colombia: Four FARC guerrillas were killed in a clash with government forces in Bolivar department. (EFE)
Mexico: A leader of Los Zetas cartel was arrested in the northern part of the country. (EFE)
Venezuela: The country will be formally welcomed into Mercosur today. (Reuters)

ASIA

Region: The Taliban was reportedly pleased by the resumption of NATO supply convoys from Pakistan into Afghanistan, because it can extract illegal bribes from companies to avoid targeting them. (AP)
Region: Australian police seized half a billion dollars’ worth of crystal methamphetamine and heroin after smashing a Hong Kong-based international drugs syndicate. (AFP)
Afghanistan: Two NATO soldiers were killed in separate incidents. (AP)
China: The government criticized a US report that alleged a lack of religious freedom in the country released on Monday. (AP)
India: Two soldiers were killed by a roadside bombing in the northeastern part of the country. (AP)
Myanmar: A UN human rights envoy toured the site of recent ethnic clashes in the western part of the country. (AP)
Pakistan: Pakistan signed an agreement with the US on arrangements for NATO convoys supplying troops in Afghanistan. (AFP)

EUROPE

Region: Spanish and Italian borrowing costs eased following statements of support for the euro from key officials. (NYT)
Greece: The government will seek an extension of its bailout program as it assembles another round of austerity measures. (WSJ)
Russia: Growing online trade has encouraged drug traffickers to increasingly use mail services to deliver cocaine to their customers. (RIA Novosti)
Russia: Opposition activist blogger Alexei Navalny was charged with embezzlement, which he claimed was a spurious charge aimed at discrediting him. (BBC)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Over the past two months, the Pentagon has notified Congress of deals totaling more than USD 11.3 billion to Gulf ally states like Qatar and Kuwait. (AP)
Iran: US legislators reached an agreement on tightened sanctions against the country. (AP)
Iran: US Defense Secretary Panetta urged more time be allowed for sanctions against the country to work. (NYT)
Iraq: Gunmen killed a local TV journalist in the northern part of the country. (AP)
Yemen: Clashes between guards and gunmen wearing security uniforms were reported outside the Interior Ministry in Sanaa. (Xinhua)
Yemen: Authorities arrested suspected al Qaeda leader Abdul al-Rahman al-Baihani. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Google: The company announced it will upgrade the video chat function of Gmail to work like the “Hangout” system of Google+, allowing for greater social networking integration and multiple-person communications. (PCWorld)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (01AUG)

Global: Russia and India hold joint anti-terror exercises – Indra 2012.
Middle East: Anniversary of Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem – 1967.
Benin: Independence Day celebrated (France) – 1960.
Korea, North: Anniversary of the test-firing of Taepodong-1 ballistic missile – 1998.
Philippines: Anniversary of democracy heroine Corazon Aquino passing away – 2009.

END