ONS: 26 April 2012

By TRG Alerts Admin

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Clashes between Sudan and South Sudan decreased as South Sudan released a group of prisoners of war.
AMERICAS: Mexican gunmen killed four in Ciudad Juarez.
ASIA: Pakistani PM Gilani was convicted of contempt of court but not sentenced to prison.
EUROPE: A Greek debt restructuring deal with the private sector was concluded.
MIDDLE EAST: In Yemen, the US military and CIA were granted greater authority to use drone strikes.
TECHNOLOGY: Facebook partnered with security software companies to launch an “antivirus marketplace” website.
GLOBAL ISSUES: Former extremists and their victims teamed up with Google to form an anti-violence social network.

TOP STORY

Security forces pressed their assault on opposition activists and rebel troops.
The government blamed militants for a bomb blast in Hama that killed at least 16.
French FM Juppe stated military action should be considered to resolve the crisis.
Coverage: Reuters, CNN, AFP, AP

AFRICA

Region: Clashes between Sudan and South Sudan decreased as South Sudan released a group of prisoners of war. (Reuters)
Egypt: The state election committee reinstated the candidacy of former Mubarak PM Ahmed Shafiq. (Reuters)
Guinea Bissau: ECOWAS was reported to be planning to send at least 600 soldiers to the country to protect institutions and politicians. (Reuters)
Ivory Coast: Gunmen killed at least five in the western part of the country. (Reuters)
Mali: The interim government’s leadership named its cabinet members. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Brazil: US Defense Secretary Panetta praised Brazil’s emergence as a global power, urging the nation to become more involved in security efforts around the world by assisting in places like Africa. (AP)
Cuba: The opposition group, Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, reported the government was holding at least 50 political prisoners. (EFE)
Mexico: Gunmen killed four in Ciudad Juarez. (EFE)
Venezuela: Hugo Chavez returned from Cuba after another round of cancer treatment. (AP)

ASIA

Afghanistan: Taliban insurgents killed four police officers and abducted 16 at a post in northeast Afghanistan. (AP)
India: Maoist rebels released a state representative abducted last month in the eastern part of the country. (AFP)
Japan: The US said it was moving forward with Japan on a long-stalled deal over a military base but declined to say if an announcement would be ready for a summit next week. (AFP)
Pakistan: PM Gilani was convicted of contempt of court for refusing to reopen a corruption case against President Zardari, but Gilani was not sentenced to prison. (AP)
Pakistan: FM Khar said the US must stop drone strikes against militants inside Pakistan’s borders, but Washington is not listening. (Reuters)

EUROPE

Region: Russian General of the Army Makarov said Russia and NATO plan to hold several joint exercises in 2012, including “the Pomor marine search and rescue exercise in the North”. (Itar-Tass)
Region: EU President Van Rompuy said an agreement allowing Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU’s Schengen treaty should be reached in September. (AFP)
Greece: A debt restructuring deal with the private sector was concluded with a high participation rate. (Dow Jones)
Kosovo: Amnesty International urged the EU to investigate war crimes committed during the 1999 conflict. (DPA)
Ukraine: The EU voiced concern over the condition of imprisoned former PM Tymoshenko. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST AND IRAN

Bahrain: The US urged Bahrain to exercise restraint and allow peaceful protests, condemning a new outbreak of unrest. (AFP)
Iran: Four Revolutionary Guard soldiers were killed in a clash with Kurdish rebels. (AP)
Israel: IDF Chief of Staff LTG Gantz stated he did not believe Iran will build a nuclear weapon, contrary to statements by PM Netanyahu and DM Barak. (NYT)
Yemen: The Obama administration gave the military and CIA greater authority to use drone strikes against targets in Yemen. (WSJ)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Cybersecurity: Facebook partnered with some security software companies to launch an “antivirus marketplace” website. (PCWorld)

GLOBAL ISSUES

Reformed one-time violent extremists and their victims launched a social network, Against Violent Extremism, to halt the radicalization of youth and combat gang culture — with the backing of Internet giant Google. (AFP)

WORLD

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (27APR)

Global: ICJ holds elections to replace former judge Khasawneh.
Afghanistan: Anniversary of assassination attempt on President Hamid Karzai – 2008.
Czech Republic: Government faces no confidence vote.
Sierra Leone: Anniversary of Independence – 1961.
Togo: Anniversary of Independence – 1960.

END