ONS: 31 October 2012

by TRG Alerts Admin on October 31, 2012

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Sudan denied any connection between the aerial attack on one of its weapons factories last week and the arrival of two Iranian warships.
AMERICAS: In Argentina, Henry de Jesus Lopez, the alleged leader of the Colombian drug gang Urabenos, was arrested.
ASIA: Coalition security forces killed a Taliban leader named Sajid during an operation in Helmand province.
EUROPE: German Chancellor Merkel along with five major global financial organizations called for fiscal consolidation and structural reforms in the EU to restore global economic growth.
MIDDLE EAST: Israeli DM Barak stated Iran has temporarily abandoned its attempts to create a nuclear weapon.
TECHNOLOGY: Google introduced a new Emergency Resources service that includes maps with evacuation routes and shelters during events such as Hurricane Sandy.

TOP STORY

Activists claim the Syrian regime has transformed a military airport in Hama into a prison rife with torture practices.
Warplanes carried out five air raids around Saqba and Douma killing 30 civilians and 13 rebels.
Troops and rebels clashed in Idlib after rebels attacked military checkpoints near Jisr al-Shughur.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry blamed Turkey and Gulf states for the ongoing bloodshed, claiming they did not commit themselves to making the UN-backed ceasefire a success.
UN-AL Envoy Brahimi is meeting with the Chinese foreign minister today to discuss Chinese involvement in resolving the Syrian crisis.
Coverage: AFP, AP, Guardian, Xinhua

AFRICA

Ghana: The EU agreed to a USD97 million grant to assist Ghana achieve health and local government development in line with the Millennium Development Goals. (Xinhua)
Libya: Around 100 protesters stormed the parliament building and delayed the congressional vote on the new cabinet, complaining some of the nominated ministers had connections with the old Gadhafi regime. (AP)
Mali: DM Camera said war was inevitable in northern Mali to resolve the ongoing crisis. (Xinhua)
Somalia: Militants hurled a grenade into a busy market killing one person and wounding four others. (AFP)
Sudan: The country denied any connection between the aerial attack on one of its weapons factories last week and the arrival of two Iranian warships. (Xinhua)
Tunisia: Clashes between police and militants killed one person after Salafists attacked a police station in Tunis. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: Henry de Jesus Lopez, the alleged leader of the Colombian drug gang Urabenos, was arrested in Argentina. (BBC)
Argentina: Iran and Argentina ended their first round of negotiations about the 1994 bombing of the Israeli-Argentine Mutual Aid Association in which eight Iranians are suspected. (AFP)
Brazil: Some 600 heavily-armed members of the state military police battalion have been deployed in a Sao Paolo slum as part of a major anti-crime and drug operation following several murders and executions of police officers. (AFP)
United States: The National Guard arrived in Hoboken, New Jersey to aid residents after heavy flooding from Hurricane Sandy. (AP)

ASIA

Region: Japanese FM Gemba stated the “timing has not been ripe” for high-level talks with China regarding the territorial dispute in the East China Sea. (Kyodo)
Afghanistan: Coalition security forces killed a Taliban leader named Sajid during an operation in Helmand province. (Xinhua)
Afghanistan: An insurgent roadside bomb killed eight civilians in Helmand. (AFP)
China: Foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Chinese patrolling around the Diaoyu islands is legal and should not be criticized. (AP)
Indonesia: Security forces killed one terrorist suspect and arrested two others in a raid of hideouts in central Sulawesi. (AP)
Myanmar: The UN reported production of opium has increased in Myanmar due to an increase in demand across Asia. (AP)
Taiwan: The mainland spokesman asserted the need to safeguard sovereignty backing Chinese claims over the South China Sea islands. (Xinhua)

EUROPE

Region: German Chancellor Merkel along with five major global financial organizations called for fiscal consolidation and structural reforms in the EU to restore global economic growth. (WSJ)
France: Tax authorities filed a 1.3 billion euro claim against Google over compensation to media websites. (AFP)
Greece: Journalists went on strike, protesting austerity plans that will privatize public utilities and affect healthcare funds. (AP)
Russia: The upper house of parliament passed a controversial bill redefining high treason to include NGOs passing along harmful information. (AFP)
Turkey: PM Erdogan said the EU will lose Turkey if it is not granted membership by 2023. (Reuters)
Ukraine: PM Azarov asked international observers to specify the irregularities observed during the election on Sunday. (Interfax)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Israeli DM Barak stated Iran has temporarily abandoned attempts to create a nuclear weapon. (Telegraph)
Israel: Settlers built two new settlements in the West Bank in the first such development since 2005. (AFP)
Yemen: Unknown saboteurs blew up a pipeline linking gas fields in Yemen to a maritime terminal. (Reuters)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Communications: Google introduced a new Emergency Resources service that includes maps with evacuation routes and shelters during events such as Hurricane Sandy. (NYT)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (01NOV)

Africa: Civil society members attend international conference on transition in the Arab World in Tunis.
Americas: Japan holds its first talks with Mercosur in Brazil.
Algeria: Revolution day celebrated.
Nigeria: Anniversary of the beginning of violence between Christians and Muslims – 2008.
Pakistan: The Lahore High Court hears the party Jamat-ud-Dawa’s petition against US drone strikes.
Palestinian Territories: Bahrain Prince Khalifa visits the Gaza Strip to open two UN Relief and Works Agency schools.
Vietnam: Russian PM Medvedev visits Vietnam for talks on development and bilateral cooperation.
United States: Anniversary of terrorist attack attempt on two Chicago synagogues – 2010.

END