ONS: 20 June 2012

By TRG Alerts Admin

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: In Nigeria, Boko Haram launched attacks across Nigeria, leading to the imposition of a curfew in the city of Damaturu.
AMERICAS: Ecuador reported Wikileaks founder Julian Assange sought political asylum in its London embassy.
ASIA: The Pakistani Supreme Court ordered the dismissal of PM Gilani from office.
EUROPE: Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan traded accusations over a disputed, oil-rich portion of the Caspian Sea.
MIDDLE EAST: Yemeni security forces foiled a plot against foreign embassies.
TECHNOLOGY: Washington Post reports indicated that the Flame virus was developed by Israel and the US.

TOP STORY

Egypt: Conflicting reports circulated about Mubarak’s death.
- Middle East News Agency originally reported Mubarak clinically dead.
- Initially reports claimed Mubarak had died after suffering cardiac arrest and/or a stroke.
- His death was categorically denied by SCAF, while an Interior Ministry spokesman indicated he was in critical condition but alive on life support.
- Coverage: BBC, NYT, AP

AFRICA

Nigeria: Boko Haram launched attacks across the northeast, leading to the imposition of a curfew in the city of Damaturu. (Reuters)
Togo: Former PM Agbeyome Kodjo was detained temporarily in connection with anti-government protests from last week. (AFP)
Sudan: Clashes between protesters and police continued for a third day in Khartoum. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Colombia: The FARC released two construction workers kidnapped last week. (EFE)
Ecuador: Wikileaks founder Julian Assange sought political asylum in the country’s London embassy. (AP)
El Salvador: Mara leaders indicated that a permanent peace pact with the government was possible. (AP)

ASIA

Afghanistan: A suicide bomber attacked a joint Afghan-NATO patrol in Khost, killing twelve civilians. (BBC)
Pakistan: An “important” Al-Qaeda leader Naamen Meziche, a French national, was captured near the Pakistan-Iran border. (Reuters)
Pakistan: The Supreme Court ordered the dismissal of PM Yousuf Raza Gilani from office. (WaPo)
Myanmar: The latest bout of communal violence left three Buddhists dead, according to government officials. (AFP)

EUROPE

Region: Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan traded accusations over a disputed, oil-rich portion of the Caspian Sea. (AP)
France: A self-proclaimed Al-Qaeda militant took four people hostage in a bank in Toulouse. (BBC)
Turkey: Kurdish militants and Turkish troops clashed in the southeast with 20 militants killed in three separate clashes. (Reuters)

MIDDLE EAST

Iraq: A car bomb in Kirkuk targeting a local judge killed two. (AP)
Syria: Clashes in the northwest resulted in the death of 28 soldiers, along with 11 others. (AFP)
Yemen: The state news agency reported that security forces had foiled a plot against foreign embassies. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: The Flame virus was developed by Israel and the US, according to unnamed Western officials. (Washington Post)

WORLD

Cyclones: Tropical Storm Talim
- Location: 430 NM SW of Taipei
- Movement: 25 degrees at 14 knots
- Winds: 45 knots
- Map
Hurricanes (Atlantic): Tropical Storm Chris
- Location: 38.2N, 53.5W
- Movement: E at 15 knots
- Max Winds: 40 knots
Earthquakes: Aleutian Islands, Alaska
- Magnitude: 6.0
- Depth: 14 km
- Map
Volcanoes: Nothing to report

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (21JUN)

Egypt: New Egyptian president named.
El Salvador: Anniversary of gang members burning a bus in San Salvador – 2010.

END