ONS: 05 April 2012

By TRG Alerts Admin

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Tuareg separatist rebels in northern Mali announced a cessation to military operations.
AMERICAS: Nine suspected Zetas cartel gunmen were killed in a clash with Mexican soldiers near Nuevo Laredo.
ASIA: Taliban gunmen killed at least eight Afghan police officers at an outpost in western Afghanistan.
EUROPE: Protests erupted in Athens after a man committed suicide over the country’s economic crisis outside parliament.
MIDDLE EAST: In Iraq, an explosion damaged the Kirkuk-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline.
TECHNOLOGY: The “Flashback” trojan virus was reported to have infected over 500,000 Mac computers worldwide.

TOP STORY

A UN spokesman reported the Syrian government claimed it had begun withdrawing its troops from some areas, as per an agreement brokered by Kofi Annan.
Activists reported security forces launching an assault on the Damascus suburb of Douma and clashes with rebels across the country.
Russia invited the Syrian FM and opposition representatives to Moscow for talks.
Coverage: AP, Reuters-1, NYT, Reuters-2

AFRICA

Region: South Sudan accused Sudan of launching a new set of airstrikes into a disputed border region. (Reuters)
Egypt: A delegation from the Muslim Brotherhood arrived in the US as part of a diplomatic effort. (Reuters)
Mali: The ruling military junta postponed a national convention designed to end the ongoing political crisis. (Reuters)
Mali: Tuareg separatist rebels in the north announced a cessation to military operations. (Reuters)
Nigeria: Boko Haram militants killed at least seven in Maidaguri. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Mexico: Nine suspected Zetas cartel gunmen were killed in a clash with soldiers near Nuevo Laredo. (AP)
Suriname: Lawmakers granted President Bouterse amnesty for crimes committed during his military dictatorship. (AP)
Venezuela: Hugo Chavez returned to the country after undergoing another round of cancer treatment in Cuba. (Reuters)

ASIA

Region: US, Japanese and South Korean intelligence services prepared to study the planned North Korean rocket launch. (AP)
Afghanistan: Taliban gunmen killed at least eight Afghan police officers at an outpost in western Afghanistan. (AFP)
China: Hacker group “Anonymous” hacked several Chinese government websites, replacing content with information on how to circumvent internet censorship. (Al Jazeera)
Myanmar: Members of the ruling USDP party said the party would need to reform itself in response to recent opposition party NLD victories. (Reuters)
Pakistan: A suicide bomber killed at least two and wounded five in Karachi. (AP)
Philippines: Al Qaeda linked militants ambushed and killed at least three government soldiers in southern Basilan. (AP)

EUROPE

Region: A weak Spanish bond auction sparked renewed fears of a debt crisis in Europe. (AP)
Greece: Protests erupted in Athens after a man committed suicide over the country’s economic crisis outside parliament. (BBC)
Russia: Security forces killed four suspected militants in the North Caucasus region of Kabardino-Balkariya. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: A rocket fired from the Sinai desert in Egypt struck the town of Eilat, but inflicted no casualties or damage. (Reuters)
Iran: US Secretary of State Clinton warned Tehran the time allowed for diplomatic efforts to resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear program was not “infinite.” (RFE\RL)
Iraq: An explosion damaged the Kirkuk-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline. (Reuters)
Yemen: Officials reported airstrikes killed at least 10 al Qaeda linked militants in southern Yemen. (Reuters)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: The “Flashback” trojan virus was reported to have infected over 500,000 Mac computers worldwide. (SlashGear)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (06APR)

END