ONS: 15 July 2013

By Admin

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: The International Maritime Bureau reported that pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden dropped to their lowest level since 2006.
AMERICAS: President Obama called for calm after the acquittal of George Zimmerman as thousands of civil rights demonstrators turned out at rallies.
ASIA: A Bangladeshi court found Ghulam Azam guilty of masterminding atrocities during the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.
EUROPE: The Russian government said it wants to exchange Russian spies jailed this month in Germany for at least one convict jailed in Russia on charges of spying for the West.
MIDDLE EAST: Shelling and air raids by Syrian government forces against a string of villages in Idlib killed at least 29 people.
TECHNOLOGY: South Korea’s defence ministry said it ordered its staff to install a smartphone application called “Mobile Management Device” that restricts key functions like the camera in a bid to prevent military leaks.

TOP STORY

Egypt: Senior US official visits country as government begins to take shape.
- US Deputy Secretary of State Burns will hold high-level talks with the government and military in Cairo
- Military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi delivered a televised speech in which he looked to justify the removal and detainment of former president Morsi.
- Interim PM Beblawi filled the finance minister and foreign minister posts.
- The government froze the assets of 14 islamist allies of ousted president Morsi.
- Militants killed at least three people and wounded 17 in an attack on workers in the North Sinai town of Al-Arish.
- Coverage: AFP, AP, NYT, Reuters, Reuters-2

AFRICA

Malawi: President Banda said Malawi will not accept any interim deal on a disputed boundary on Lake Malawi with Tanzania until the issue of sovereignty is settled. (Reuters)
Mali: French President Hollande said there is a “very strong” chance that a body found in northern Mali is that of a French hostage. (AFP)
Somalia: The International Maritime Bureau reported that pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden dropped to their lowest level since 2006. (DPA)
Sudan: Head of the African Union-UN mission Chambas said attackers who killed seven peacekeepers in Darfur were armed with anti-aircraft guns. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Colombia: A total of 3,436 kilos of marijuana were seized in separate operations in Magdalena province. (EFE)
Peru: A former lawmaker was arrested for alleged ties to drug traffickers and Shining Path rebels. (AFP)
United States: President Obama called for calm after the acquittal of George Zimmerman as thousands of civil rights demonstrators turned out at rallies. (Reuters)

ASIA

Afghanistan: An Afghan soldier held on suspicion of killing a NATO soldier from Slovakia escaped from prison with the help of a guard. (AFP)
Bangladesh: A Bangladeshi court found Ghulam Azam guilty of masterminding atrocities during the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan. (AFP)
Japan: PM Shinzo Abe’s government is to establish a task force to research nationalizing any unclaimed remote islands. (AFP)
Korean Peninsula: North and South Korea failed to reach agreement on reopening the jointly-run Kaesong industrial complex. (AFP)

EUROPE

France: Several dozen Greenpeace activists broke into a nuclear plant. (AFP)
Greece: Racially motivated attacks are increasing throughout the country amid the ongoing economic crisis. (AFP)
Russia: The government said it wants to exchange Russian spies jailed this month in Germany for at least one convict jailed in Russia on charges of spying for the West. (AFP)
United Kingdom: Clashes broke out between Protestant protesters and police for a third night in Belfast. (DPA)

MIDDLE EAST

Israel: PM Netanyahu said Iran is moving “closer and closer” to building a nuclear weapon and that Israel may have to act before the US. (AFP)
Palestinian Territories: Israeli PM Netanyahu telephoned Palestinian President Abbas and said he hoped the two sides could resume peace talks. (Reuters)
Syria: The UNSG’s special envoy for children and armed conflict, Leila Zerrougui, arrived in Syria for three days of meetings on the violence in the country. (AFP)
Syria: Shelling and air raids by government forces against a string of villages in Idlib killed at least 29 people. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: South Korea’s defence ministry said it ordered its staff to install a smartphone application called “Mobile Management Device” that restricts key functions like the camera in a bid to prevent military leaks. (AFP)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to report.
Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
Volcanoes: Tungurahua Volcano, Ecuador
- Major eruption of ash and rocks. (AP)
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Novel Coronavirus (Sars)
  - Cases: Global Number of Cases as of 11JUL: 81 (Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Italy, France, Germany, Jordan, Qatar, UAE, United Kingdom)
  - Deaths: Global Number of Deaths as of 11JUL: 45 (Saudi Arabia, France, United Kingdom)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-1

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (16JUN)

Europe: WTO trade policy review on the European Union will begin (to 18JUL).
Chile: Fiesta de la Tirana, a religious celebration in the northern Tarapaca region, will take place.
China and Russia: Anniversary of the two countries signing their first friendship treaty in more than half a century – 2001.
Iraq: Anniversary of Saddam Hussein taking over as president – 1979.
Pakistan: Peshawar High Court (PHC) will hear a petition seeking to reopen YouTube following its ban last year.
Transdniestria: Next session of the Permanent Conference on Political Issues in the Framework of the Negotiating Process for Transdniestrian Settlement will be held in Vienna (to 17JUL).
United States: Anniversary of the first atomic bomb being exploded by the US over the desert in New Mexico – 1945.

END