ONS: 07 December 2012

By TRG Alerts Admin

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: In Ghana, polls opened in the presidential and parliamentary elections.
AMERICAS: The Mexican senate voted to scrap the public security ministry and transfer its federal police to the interior ministry.
ASIA: The US shifted warships into position to track and possibly defend against a planned DPRK rocket launch.
EUROPE: NATO moved forward with its plan to place Patriot missiles and troops along the Syrian border to protect Turkey from potential attacks.
MIDDLE EAST: The Syrian Army fired rockets into two Damascus suburbs and reinforced its positions around them.
TECHNOLOGY: A new version of the Zeus trojan has been used in attacks on over 30,000 electronic banking customers in Europe, infecting both their personal computers and smartphones.

TOP STORY

Backers and opponents of President Morsi planned to stage rival mass protests.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Pillay expressed alarm about the casualties resulting from protests over President Morsi’s draft constitution.
The opposition coalition rejected a dialogue proposed by President Morsi to defuse protests.
President Morsi vowed to push on with a 15DEC referendum on the controversial new constitution, saying “afterwards, there should be no obstacle and everyone must follow its will.”
Protesters set fire to the Muslim Brotherhood’s main headquarters in Cairo.
Coverage: AFP, AFP-2, AP, AP-2, BBC, Reuters

AFRICA

DR Congo: M23 rebels said peace talks with the government are likely to be delayed due to “logistical” reasons. (AFP)
Ghana: Polls opened in the presidential and parliamentary elections. (AFP)
Ivory Coast: A UN expert panel warned cross-border raids into western Ivory Coast have become more violent and better organized and “could have profound effects” on security in the border region near Liberia if they continue. (AP)
Libya: New evidence is emerging that Qatar supplied weapons to the country’s Islamic militants during the uprising. (NYT)
Tunisia: US Secretary Clinton is to travel to Tunisia the week of 10DEC to co-host a sub-ministerial meeting. (Xinhua)
Zimbabwe: President Mugabe is expected to rally the ZANU-PF party conference. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Argentina: The government condemned what it called “coordinated” charges of protectionism lodged against it by the US and EU at the WTO. (AFP)
Mexico: The senate voted to scrap the public security ministry and transfer its federal police to the interior ministry. (AFP)
United States: The US said it has conducted a “subcritical” nuclear test at an underground site. (AFP)
United States: President Obama tapped GEN Austin to become the next top US commander for the Middle East. (AP)

ASIA

Region: The Japanese Coastguard said four Chinese government ships sailed into the territorial waters of the disputed islands. (AFP)
Afghanistan: The wounded intelligence chief was moved to a US-run military hospital near Kabul where he is in a stable condition. (AFP)
China: The government rejected US charges that its policies in Tibet were leading Tibetans to self-immolate in protest. (AFP)
Korean Peninsula: The US shifted warships into position to track and possibly defend against a planned DPRK rocket launch. (Reuters)
Nepal: President Yadav granted six more days to the political parties to pick a new consensus PM. (Xinhua)
Philippines: The government said it had put off four-way talks due next week over rival claims to the South China Sea. (AFP)

EUROPE

Belarus: The EU is prepared for a rapprochement with Belarus if the Belarusian government makes considerable steps towards observing the principles of democracy. (Itar-Tass)
Italy: Police arrested a fugitive mafia boss living on the island of Bali. (AFP)
Russia: FM Lavrov said the country will respond to the adoption of the Magnitsky Act by denying entry-visas to those who violate human rights in the US. (Interfax)
Turkey: NATO moved forward with its plan to place Patriot missiles and troops along the Syrian border to protect Turkey from potential attacks. (AP)
United Kingdom: Police detained four suspected IRA members over the discovery of a bomb in a car in Londonderry ahead of a planned visit by US Secretary Clinton to Belfast. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Iran: IAEA Director General Amano urged Iran to allow inspection of Parchin military base where Iranian scientists are suspected of conducting secret nuclear-weapons research. (WaPo)
Iran: The Obama administration is set to extend waivers of US sanctions it has granted to major Asian petroleum consumers. (AP)
Jordan: UNSG Ban Ki-moon appealed for more aid to help hundreds of thousands of refugees who have fled the Syrian conflict. (AFP)
Syria: The Army fired rockets into two Damascus suburbs and reinforced its positions around them. (Reuters)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: A new version of the Zeus trojan has been used in attacks on over 30,000 electronic banking customers in Europe, infecting both their personal computers and smartphones. (Ars Technica)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (08DEC)

Global: Christian holiday celebrating the Immaculate Conception.
North America: Anniversary of President Clinton signing NAFTA into law – 1993.
Russia: Anniversary of President Reagan and USSR Chairman Gorbachev agreeing to reduce nuclear arsenals – 1987.
Russia: Anniversary of the end of the USSR – 1991.
Somalia: Anniversary of US Operation Restore Hope beginning – 1992.

END