Submariners World News SitRep

Egypt military blames Brotherhood for releasing poll results early

The ruling military council in Egypt has blamed the Muslim Brotherhood for raising tensions in the country by releasing election results early. The council says announcing the results before an official statement was “unjustified” and caused divisions plaguing the political situation, AP reports. Tens of thousands in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Friday supported the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate for president Mohamed Morsi.

France calls on Syrian army to desert en masse

The French Foreign Ministry called on Friday for the Syrian military to desert en masse. Paris addressed the armed forces a day after a Syrian air force colonel defected and landed his MiG fighter in Jordan. The defection “leads us to call on members of the Syrian army and security forces to continue these defections, these desertions,” spokesman Bernard Valero said, as cited by AFP. He called on the Syrian soldiers no longer to obey “the Damascus regime's criminal orders.”

London bus workers strike demanding Olympic bonuses

London bus workers have staged a one-day strike demanding a bonus for working during the Olympics. The workers want a $780 premium for working during the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, AP said. A High Court judge granted an injunction stopping a strike by workers at three bus companies, citing balloting irregularities. Staff at 17 other bus firms walked out on Friday, and only 24 per cent of buses were running on the network, which usually carries 6 million passengers a day.

Damascus says ‘terrorists’ kidnap and kill 25 in Aleppo province

Syrian state television reported that armed militants kidnapped and killed 25 people in Darat Azzah village in Aleppo province on Friday. “Armed terrorist groups committed a brutal massacre against 25 citizens in Darat Azzah,” the statement said, as cited by Reuters. More people were missing, according to the report.

Head of Syrian Olympic Committee denied visa for London Games

General Mowaffak Joumaa, the head of the Syrian Olympic Committee, has reportedly been refused a visa to travel to London for the Olympic Games. The application has been refused because of his links to President Bashar al-Assad's regime, the BBC said. The final decision was made at a recent meeting of senior officials from the Home Office, Foreign Office and Department of Culture, Media and Sport. The refusal must be ratified by the International Olympic Committee.

Gaza militants fire two rockets into Israel

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip fired two rockets that hit Israel on Friday, a military spokeswoman said. The rockets, which struck southern Israel, did not cause casualties or damage, AFP reports. On Thursday, 12 rockets and mortar rounds hit Israel, and another was intercepted by Israeli forces. Since Monday, 132 rockets and mortar rounds have been fired at Israel. A truce declared by the Hamas movement ruling Gaza on Friday entered its second day.

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Bolivian commandos stage mutiny over higher wages

About 30 members of an elite Bolivian police commando unit have mutinied along with their wives in La Paz on Thursday. They expelled their commanders and seized their barracks just 100 meters from Bolivia's presidential palace to demand higher wages, AP reports. The protesters want salaries on a par with soldiers and a pension equal to 100 per cent of their salaries. Bolivian police earn about $144 a month. They were not appeased by a 7 per cent wage increase this year. An additional 500 police across the capital have reportedly joined the protest.

Saddam Hussein’s ‘nephew’ seeks asylum in Austria – reports

A man claiming to be the fugitive nephew of late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has requested asylum in Austria. He was reportedly picked up by police in a routine identity check, media reports say. The 42-year-old, identified as Bashar N., and two other Iraqi men admitted they had flown to Austria with fake passports and that they are seeking asylum. One of the men later told Austrian police he was a nephew of Saddam Hussein. The man has been on a wanted list since 2006, AFP reports. The alleged nephew has been brought to a secret place as a protective measure.

Eight killed, 50 wounded in Baghdad market blasts

At least eight people were killed when two roadside bombs exploded in a market in Iraq's capital on Friday, police said. More than 50 people were wounded, Reuters reports. The attack was the latest in a wave of bombings this month that have targeted mainly Shiite Muslim pilgrims and religious sites.

UN says plans to set up field offices in Syria hampered by violence

Violence in Syria is hampering UN efforts to expand aid operations and help more than 1 million people, a UN official said on Friday. Robert Watkins, UN Development Program representative in Lebanon, said plans to set up field offices in four of the worst-hit areas in the country were facing obstacles. “Increasing violence has made it extremely difficult to establish the field presence,” Watkins told Reuters. Humanitarian deliveries continue, though not at the pace the UN hoped and “as required by the needs,” he added.

Nigerian troops arrest Christmas bombing suspect

Nigerian troops have arrested a suspect in the Christmas Day bombings that killed at least 44 people, state media say. Habibu Bama was arrested in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State, following a shootout with the military joint task force. He has been shot and wounded, AFP reports. Bama, a suspected member of Islamist group Boko Haram, had been wanted in connection with the deadly Christmas attack on a church in Madalla, near Abuja.

Pakistan to hold early polls as ruling party nominates Ashraf for PM

The ruling Pakistan People’s Party has said parliamentary elections will be held this year, earlier than expected. Also on Friday, the party nominated its senior leader Raja Parvez Ashraf for prime minister. The parliament is expected to vote on Ashraf's candidacy later in the evening. He is reportedly facing a probe by the National Accountability Court for alleged corruption in rental power projects during his tenure as power minister. The Supreme Court on Tuesday disqualified Yousuf Raza Gilani as prime minister as he failed to initiate a corruption probe against the president.

South Korea says war games with US meant to warn Pyongyang

South Korea and the US are holding live-fire drills meant as a “warning” against North Korean aggression. South Korea's Defense Ministry said the maneuvers are to deter a North Korean attack. Friday's one-day drills south of the Korean border involve fighter jets, attack helicopters, armored vehicles and 2,000 allied troops, AP reports. Pyongyang calls the drills preparation for war. Monday is the 62nd anniversary of the start of the three-year Korean War that ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

Vietnam rejects Chinese protest over island claim

­The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry has rejected a protest lodged by China to the Vietnamese ambassador over a new maritime law adopted by the Vietnamese National Assembly. The law reasserts Vietnam’s claim over the Spratly and Paracel islands in the South China Sea. Both countries claim the territories and station garrisons on the islands. A number of skirmishes have taken place between the two countries. Vietnam and China have traditionally been seen as adversaries, despite having very similar political systems that combines Communist party rule and the free market. The countries fought a bloody war over control of Kampuchea in 1979.

US Justice Department sues polygamy-practicing towns

­The US Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Hildale, Utah and Colorado City, Arizona, claiming that the towns’ Marshall’s Office and utility entities have and continue to violate the federal Fair Housing Act by denying residents that are not members of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS) housing, police protection, as well as access to public spaces and services. Most residents of the towns are members of FLDS, an offshoot Mormon sect that still practices polygamy. Its leader, Warren Jeffs, was arrested in 2008 on child sex and bigamy charges and has been in prison since. However, he is said to maintain considerable clout over the sect’s members. Mainstream Mormonism advocated polygamy until 1890, when it rejected the practice as a condition of Utah becoming a US state.

Assange: No guarantee Ecuador asylum bid will succeed

­Julian Assange said he does not know whether his plea for political asylum in Ecuador will be granted. Australia’s refusal to intervene in his planned extradition from the UK to Sweden was an "effective declaration of abandonment," Assange told ABC radio. "We had heard that the Ecuadoreans were sympathetic in relation to my struggles and the struggles of the organization with the United States," he said. He added, though, that there is no guarantee that his bid will be a success. Assange also said he didn't know when to expect a decision on his case.

Army court denies public access to Manning case

­The Army Court of Criminal Appeals at Fort Belvoir has denied a request for public access to Bradley Manning’s case records. The ruling was issued on Thursday. The petition seeking access to court records was filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights on behalf of WikiLeaks. The group is planning to appeal the ruling to the military's highest court. Manning is facing 22 charges related to leaking classified US government documents to WikiLeaks. Manning was arrested in May 2010 in Iraq, where he was working as intelligence analyst for the US Army.

Oil prices reach 18-month low

­Prices for August Brent crude reached $89.23 a barrel, dropping 3.7 per cent, the lowest showing for front month Brent since December 2010. This came against a backdrop of global stock drops, and commodity price drops. The dollar, in the meantime, grew and posted its biggest gain against foreign currencies in over three months. The bearish activity came a day after the US Federal Reserve announced it was continuing Operation Twist, a program aimed at stimulating investment by lowering long-term interest rates. Analysts say investors were disappointed as they had hoped for a more aggressive policy.

Moody’s downgrades 15 major banks

­Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded credit ratings of 15 large international banks, including Credit Suisse Group AG, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Barclays. “All of the banks affected by today’s actions have significant exposure to the volatility and risk of outsized losses inherent to capital-markets activities,” Moody’s Global Banking Managing Director Greg Bauer said in a statement. Moody’s said its review reflects the banks’ reliance on fragile confidence in funding markets and increased pressures from regulation and a difficult market environment. On February 15, the ratings company had said it was reviewing the grades of 17 banks.

Paraguayan President impeached by lower chamber of Parliament

­Fernando Lugo, the President of Paraguay, has been impeached by the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the National Congress. The opposition-controlled Chamber voted 76-1 to impeach Lugo for his role in a violent clash between landless farmers and police that left seventeen dead last week. The vote on whether to commence an impeachment trial is now headed for the country’s Senate. Both chambers are largely controlled by the opposition Colorado Party. Lugo, a former Roman Catholic bishop, became Paraguay’s first non-Colorado President in over half a century in 2008. Winning the election on a leftist platform, Lugo promised to redistribute land held by the rich few to landless farmers, a promise that critics say Lugo largely failed to implement.

US to provide Yemen with additional $52 million aid

­The United States government is planning to give $52 million in aid to Yemen, which is engulfed in an internal conflict with al-Qaeda, Raj Shah, the administrator of the US Agency for International Development, said. The money will be directed towards the southern provinces of Lahj, Abyan and Aden, the areas most affected by the conflict. A local branch of al-Qaeda has been controlling parts of areas in the south of the country since last year, when the Yemen was immersed in a civil war between supporters and opponents of then-President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Since Saleh left power in February this year, the United States has been supporting Yemen in its fight against al-Qaeda with drone strikes and aid money.

MIlitary News - June 18th SitRep

Submariners World News SitRep

Saudi Prince Salman appointed crown prince

Saudi Prince Salman has been appointed crown prince, heir apparent to 89-year-old King Abdullah, on Monday. The royal decree quoted by state TV said the monarch appointed Salman “crown prince and deputy prime minister” while keeping him on as defense minister. Prince Salman, 76, was largely believed to be the likely successor. Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul-Aziz, the hard-line interior minister, died on Saturday.

Kuwait's emir suspends parliament for 1 month

Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Monday suspended parliament sessions for one month. The move is intended to defuse tensions between the government and MPs. Earlier the cabinet approved a draft decree recommending to the emir to enforce the suspension, AFP said. Tensions have increased recently between the opposition-controlled parliament, elected over four months ago, and the government controlled by the Al-Sabah ruling family. Opposition MPs have accused some members of the government of irregularities.

Putin to visit Israel, Palestine, Jordan

President Vladimir Putin will make working visits to Israel, Palestine and Jordan on June 25-26, the Kremlin press service said on Monday. Invitations were received long ago, presidential aide Yury Ushakov said, as cited by Itar-Tass. Putin will discuss bilateral and regional problems with the states’ leaderships. Also, in Israel, Putin will take part in a ceremony to open a memorial in the town of Netanya to pay tribute to the Red Army victory over Nazi Germany. He will also take part in opening a Russian science and culture center in Bethlehem. In Jordan, the president will attend a ceremony of opening a place of receipt for Russian pilgrims.

Nepal protesters attack PM’s motorcade with stones

Hundreds of protesters demanding the resignation of Nepal's prime minister attacked his motorcade with stones on Monday. Supporters of the opposition Nepali Congress party attempted to block Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai's motorcade as it approached Kathmandu’s airport, AP said. Riot police blocked the protesters, who damaged two security vehicles. The protesters later clashed with the riot police. The opposition wants Bhattarai to step down and a new government to conduct elections later this year.

Egypt military ‘to hand over power’ to new president by end of June

The ruling military council in Egypt will hand over power to the newly-elected president at the end of June, a senior member of the ruling military council said on Monday. The official news agency quoted Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Assar as saying that the transfer of power will take place in a “grand ceremony.” He gave no exact date, AP said. The winner of the presidential runoff held this weekend will be officially announced on Thursday. The Muslim Brotherhood claimed early on Monday that its candidate, Mohammed Morsi, had defeated Ahmed Shafiq.

Russian warships to sail for Syria

Large Russian landing ships, Nikolai Filchenkov and Caesar Kunikov, are completing preparations for a special unscheduled mission to the Syrian port of Tartus in the Mediterranean Sea, a source Navy central headquarters told Interfax on Monday. Tartus hosts a Russian naval base. The ships will carry a large group of Black Sea Fleet marines. If necessary, the crews will be able to provide security for Russian citizens and evacuate part of equipment, the source said.

Greek winning party begins national coalition talks

­Antonis Samaras of the New Democracy party that narrowly won Greece's election, has begun talks to form a coalition, saying he wants to forge a "national consensus".

Samaras said he would seek changes in the terms of a bailout agreement reached with the EU and IMF. The second-place Syriza party has rejected the terms of the bailout and said it would remain in opposition.

German FM warns Greek reforms ‘not negotiable’

Germany expects the next Greek government to stick to the terms of the bailout agreement. Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said that the “substance of the reforms is not negotiable,” Reuters reports. “Whatever government is formed must stick to what has been agreed with Europe,” he said. But other German officials said Westerwelle's comments did not represent the broader government line. “It is clear to us that Greece should not be over-strained,” Deputy Finance Minister Steffen Kampeter said.

Israeli air strike kills 2 in northern Gaza Strip

The Israeli military has carried out an air strike against suspected Palestinian militants in the northern Gaza Strip. Palestinian medical officials in Gaza said on Monday two men were killed in the air strike as they were riding a motorcycle, AP reports. The Israeli military says they were wanted militants. The attack took place near the town of Beit Hanoun along the Israeli border shortly after militants infiltrated Israel from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula nearby.

Four killed, over 40 wounded in Pakistan bus attack

At least four people were killed and 40 others wounded as a car bomb tore into an IT university bus in Pakistan’s southwest on Monday. Most of the students are Shia Muslims, AFP said, citing police. An improvised-explosive device was planted in a car parked on the roadside near the bus on the outskirts of Quetta.

Military search for terrorists infiltrating Israel

Israeli military are searching for a terrorist group which reportedly infiltrated the country’s south on Monday. One Israeli was killed and another seriously wounded in a terror attack earlier in the day. At least two terrorists were killed in the clash. The military say three or four other terrorists could be in the area. Due to fears of terrorists, all schools there were closed, and residents were ordered to remain in homes.

Death toll from Nigeria attacks rises to 45

Suicide attacks on three churches and riots in northern Nigeria have killed at least 45 people, a rescue official said on Monday. He added the toll could rise further, AFP said. Bomb blasts struck three churches in northern Kaduna state within an hour on Sunday. Islamist group Boko Haram has been blamed for similar attacks. Following the blasts, Christian youths attacked motorists of Muslim appearance at the main motorway that leads to the capital Abuja.

China, Philippines end standoff over disputed islands

Beijing urged a further easing of tensions on Monday after the Philippines pulled back two vessels from a group of disputed rocks. The move ends a two-month standoff between the two states. “We hope there will continue to be an easing in the situation and hope bilateral cooperation will recover,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said, as cited by Reuters. He said that Chinese fishing boats in the area were heading back to port because of bad weather, the same reason given by Manila. Philippine coast guard ships had since April guarded the mouth of Scarborough Shoal.

Australian FM heads to Libya to press for release of ICC team

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr headed to Libya on Monday to press for the release of an International Criminal Court team. Australian Melinda Taylor and colleagues from Lebanon, Russia and Spain, were detained on June 7 as they helped the son of deceased dictator Muammar Gaddafi, Seif al-Islam, choose a defense lawyer. Libyan officials say Taylor was carrying a pen camera and attempting to give Seif a coded letter from his former right-hand man. The ICC wants to try Seif for crimes against humanity. “I am cautious about commenting on the specifics of the allegations, and have modest expectations from the talks today,” Carr said, as cited by AFP.

Bomb kills 4 students on bus in southwestern Pakistan

A motorcycle bomb ripped through a university bus in southwestern Pakistan on Monday, killing four students and injuring 50 people, Pakistani police said. The bombing targeted a bus belonging to the Baluchistan IT university, in the provincial capital Quetta, AP reports. No group has claimed responsibility, but security forces have held Baloch nationalists responsible for such bombings in the past.

Senior Yemen army general killed in suicide bomber attack

The commander of Yemen’s southern military region was killed in a suicide attack in Aden early on Monday, medics and a security official said. The bomber wearing an explosives belt targeted Major General Salem Ali Qatan as he was on his way to work, Reuters reports. The attack came as the army drove Al-Qaeda-linked militants from their strongholds in the area.

China's Shenzhou-9 docks with Tiangong-1 space station

China's Shenzhou-9 capsule with three astronauts, including a woman, on board, docked with the Tiangong-1 orbital station on Monday. The first Chinese docking was reportedly carried out as planned. The Shenzhou mission was launched on Saturday. It is expected to make a range of scientific experiments. Last year, unmanned Shenzhou-8 completed successful docking maneuvers at Tiangong.

Two people dead in gunfire attack along Israeli-Egypt border

­Israeli media reports one Israeli civilian and one militant shot dead in a gunfire exchange along the border with Egypt. Israeli military say militants infiltrated Israel early on Monday, opening anti-tank fire against Israeli civilians building a security fence along the border. An explosive device was also set off during the attack. The military did not confirm the Israeli death, though said there were "limited casualties." Other militants are believed to be at large and Israeli troops are searching for them.

Frankfurt stock exchange barricaded with sandbags

­Several hundred activists in Germany have built walls of sandbags outside the Frankfurt stock exchange, Europe's second-largest trading hub. Protesting against market speculation, they demanded the introduction of a financial tax on every transaction carried out on the money markets. The EU is set to decide on the much discussed tax, while many disagree as to how effective it is likely to be.

UN calls for evacuation of civilians from Homs

­The head of the UN observer mission to Syria has urged the Syrian authorities and the opposition to allow the evacuation of women, children and sick people from the besieged city of Homs, the hotbed of the anti-government uprising, AP reports. "The parties must reconsider their position and allow women, children, the elderly and the injured to leave conflict zones without any preconditions and ensure their safety," Maj. Gen. Robert Mood said in a statement. He stressed that attempts by the UN to remove civilians from the line of fire over the past week have been unsuccessful. "This requires willingness on both sides to respect and protect the human life of the Syrian people," he added. The statement comes after the UN announced that it is suspending its monitoring mission in Syria due to concern for the safety of its 300 observers there. Violence continues in the Middle Eastern nation, where more than 9,000 are believed to have died since the uprising started last year in the wake of the Arab Spring.

Magnitude 6.4 quake hits east of Japan’s main island

­A powerful earthquake has struck to the east of Japan’s Honshu island, some 116 kilometers north-east of Sendai at a depth of 31.8 kilometers. No further details are available at this point, but according to the USGS, the US Geological Survey, the earthquake hit on Monday at 05:32 am local time, which is Sunday 20:32 pm UTC.

Submariners World News SitRep

Egypt restores military’s right to arrest civilians

­Egypt’s justice minister has granted the military the power to arrest civilians, sparking fears it will lead to the return of emergency laws. The move will take effect on Thursday and remain in place at least until the new constitution is written. Previously, the army had had the right to arrest civilian citizens, but it was ended as decades-old emergency laws were lifted on May 31. The measure comes as tensions escalate in the country.

Clinton claims US provides ‘no military support’ to Syrian opposition

­Washington provides “no military support” to the Syrian opposition, US State Secretary Hillary Clinton has said at a joint press conference with the PM of India. “All of our support has been medical and humanitarian,” she added. Clinton has also clarified her recent comments regarding the relationship between Moscow and Damascus by saying it is clearly a concern for Washington. “The US has repeatedly urged the Russian government to cut these military ties completely and to suspend all further support and deliveries,” she said.

Russian football association fined $150,000 for fan violence at Euro 2012

­UEFA has fined the Russian Football association $150,000 dollars following charges of “improper conduct” leveled at its supporters. Russian football fans were filmed fighting with stadium stewards after a Euro 2012 match. They were also accused of crowd disturbances which included setting off and throwing fireworks and displaying vulgar banners. UEFA is also investigating allegations that Russian fans hurled racist epithets at a Czech player during a match between the two countries on Friday.

Red Cross aid workers injured in Syria blast

­Three aid workers have suffered minor injuries in northwest Syria as an explosion hit their convoy, says the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The incident took place on Wednesday, when the two Syrian Arab Red Crescent volunteers and one ICRC staff member were traveling among aid workers from Aleppo to Idlib. This is the first time Red Cross staffers have been injured since violence broke out in Syria over 12 months ago. The ICRC does not know if the convoy was targeted or who was responsible for the blast.

Plot by military exiles foiled in Cote d’Ivoire – officials

The authorities have foiled a plot by military exiles loyal to the former president to overthrow the country's government, Cote d’Ivoire's interior minister has announced. Hamed Bakayoko said in television statement that a group of officers in exile in Ghana had planned a military operation with the objective of destabilization, AP reports. He also showed a video late Tuesday that allegedly was seized from the plotters. The video reportedly was planned to broadcast on national television after a coup. The video, in particular, criticizes the extradition of former President Laurent Gbagbo to The Hague on war crimes charges.

Demand for Russia to put pressure on Syria a ‘provocation’ – Lavrov

The demand by some countries for Russia to put pressure on the Syrian government to end the violence is a provocation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday. “The violence should be stopped by everyone,” he said after talks with his Iranian counterpart Ali Akbar Salehi. “If one part of the world community perceives the Kofi Annan plan only as the demand that Russia somehow make the Syrian authorities stop shooting…this attempt is a provocation,” Lavrov stressed. He said the Annan plan was not being implemented. But he added that most of those who are saying the plan does not work “are largely inciting the irreconcilable opposition to continue their armed provocations.”

Iran to prepare its nuclear proposals for Moscow talks

Proposals from both Iran and the group of six world powers will be considered at the next round of talks in Moscow next week, Iran's top nuclear negotiator said Wednesday. Saeed Jalili stressed that not just the West's demand to halt Iran's highest level uranium enrichment will be on the table. He added the European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, has agreed the negotiations will include Iranian proposals, AP reports. The new round of talks is scheduled to begin on Monday.

Syria ‘in civil war’ – French FM

Syria is in a state of civil war, France's new Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Wednesday. He told reporters at a Paris news conference that “if you can’t call it a civil war, then there are no words to describe it,” AP reports. To stop “this civil war from worsening,” President Bashar al-Assad must leave power, Fabius said. After that, Syrian opposition groups must start a new government, the minister noted, adding that he will be in personal contact with the opposition inside Syria.

UNSC should react to detention of ICC official in Libya - Russian FM

Detaining officials of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Libyan authorities are violating a UN Security Council’s resolution, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday. He noted that the new authorities in Libya have yet to strengthen central power. This is not the case so far, and foreign citizens sometimes find themselves in a difficult situation. Lavrov mentioned Russian military contractors who were convicted for assisting the former regime, and an official of the ICC who was detained in Libya. The UNSC 1940 resolution demands that the Libyan authorities should cooperate with the ICC, Lavrov said, as cited by Interfax.

Yemen military kill 30 militants in air strikes

Three air strikes have targeted areas held by militants in the town of Azzan, killing at least 30 fighters and wounding dozens more, Yemeni military in Shabwa province said on Wednesday. The attacks came after the army recaptured the cities of Jaar and Zinjibar on Tuesday, forcing hundreds of Islamist fighters to flee. Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law), an offshoot of Al-Qaeda in Yemen, said US drones had launched five attacks in Azzan on Wednesday morning, Reuters said. The group denied any of its fighters had been killed or wounded.

More than 160 detained after Tunisia riots

At least 162 people have been arrested after days of rioting across Tunisia, the country’s officials said on Wednesday. Ultra-conservative Islamists known as Salafis attacked an art exhibition they deemed insulting to Islam in the Tunis suburb of La Marsa on Sunday. They also attacked police stations earlier this week. Fehmi el-Aouini, 22, died of wounds sustained during the protest pitting Salafis against police in the eastern city of Sousse. On Wednesday, the heads of the state, the constituent assembly and the government made a joint statement, condemning both “extremist groups that threaten freedoms” and “attacks on religion.”

Suu Kyi embarks on first Europe visit in 24 years

Leader of Myanmar's National League for Democracy Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday began her first European trip since 1988. She will address the annual meeting of the UN's International Labor Organization in Geneva on Thursday. In Oslo on Friday, Suu Kyi is formally to receive the Nobel Peace Prize that was awarded to her 21 years earlier, when she was detained by the military. The Myanmar democracy leader will also visit France, Ireland and Britain.

Syria regains control of Haffa - state TV

Syrian government forces have retaken control of a rebellious mountainous village, the state TV said on Wednesday. Security and order to the region of Haffa was restored after it had been "cleansed" from the "armed terrorist groups," the report said. The rebels had pulled out of the area overnight after intense fighting there and in nearby villages, AP reports. Haffa, 30 kilometers from President Bashar al-Assad's hometown of Kardaha in Latakia province, is one of areas where government forces are battling rebels for control.

Turkey to probe ex-President Ozal’s death

Turkey's presidential palace has said that the 1993 death of then-President Turgut Ozal was “suspicious” and should be probed. There has been no satisfactory investigation into allegations by some family members and lawmakers that Ozal might have been poisoned, the State Auditing Board’s report said on Wednesday, as cited by AP. The board is under the direct supervision of President Abdullah Gul. Doctors at the time said Ozal, who is of Kurdish origin, died of heart failure. Ozal pushed pro-Western policies and a moderate approach in an attempt to end a war by Kurdish rebels.

MIlitary Times SitRep for June 11th 2102

Military Times: SitRep Online for June 11, 2012

In this episode: The new Marine pack is approved set to be fully fielded in 2013, America's Got Talent contestant Sgt. Timothy Michael Poe's combat injury claims called into question, laser tattoo removal on the rise because of job related concerns.

Submariners World News SitRep

Malaysia navy rescues 26 after sailing boat sinks

Malaysia's navy has rescued 26 people after their sailing boat sank in stormy weather off Borneo island, an official said on Friday. Seven of the passengers are British, four American, two Japanese and one Dutch, while the crew included a German, an Irishman and 10 Thais, AFP reports. The boat sank early Thursday off Sabah state on Borneo island. A Malaysian navy vessel responding to the distress call rescued the people as they floated on a life raft and two inflatable dinghies, said Mohamad Izuar Zainuddin, an official with the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

Six militants killed in North Caucasus’ Dagestan

Six militants have been killed in a security operation in the town of Yuzhno-Sukhokumsk in the Russian North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan, a source in law enforcement says. The active phase of the operation was completed. “None of the officers was killed or injured,” the source told Interfax on Friday. The Russian National Antiterrorist Committee said earlier on Friday that members of the so-called  Kizlyar gang had been trapped inside an apartment in a five-storey residential building in Yuzhno-Sukhokumsk.

UAE readies oil export detour to avoid Strait of Hormuz

The United Arab Emirates is nearing completion of a pipeline through the sheikdom that will allow it to reroute the bulk of its oil exports around the Strait of Hormuz, AP said. The path at the mouth of the Gulf is now responsible for a fifth of the world's oil supply. Iran has threatened to close the waterway, which is patrolled by Iranian and US warships, in retaliation for Western sanctions. With the new pipeline, oil from fields in the Abu Dhabi desert will travel 380 kilometers overland and across the Hajar mountains to the fast-growing port of Fujairah on the edge of the Indian Ocean.

Japan mobilizes police to hunt for last suspect in Tokyo subway attack

Some 5,000 Japanese police were mobilized Friday to hunt for the last fugitive suspected in a doomsday cult's deadly nerve gas attack on Tokyo's subway 17 years ago, AP said. Katsuya Takahashi, 54, is on Japan's most wanted list for his suspected role in the attack, which killed 13 people and injured more than 6,000. Nearly 200 members of the Aum Shinrikyo cult have been convicted of the gas attack and other crimes. Thirteen people, including cult guru Shoko Asahara, are on death row.

China pledges to provide help to Afghanistan

Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai signed a joint declaration on Friday pledging wide-ranging cooperation. As they met in Beijing, Hu promised to provide “sincere and selfless help to the Afghanistan side,” AP said. The two states will exchange intelligence and strengthen cooperation against terrorism, illegal immigration, illegal arms and drug trafficking. The document hints at China’s enhanced influence with Kabul after the departure of most foreign troops at the end of 2014. On Thursday, Afghanistan became an observer state of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Police investigate reported meth lab inside Missouri Wal-Mart

­A Wal-Mart south of St. Louis, Missouri has been evacuated as police and firefighters investigate a reported active meth lab inside the store, local police say. Two people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Police initially received a call about a shoplifter and arrived on scene, where they reportedly discovered chemicals needed to produce methamphetamine. The store was then evacuated as a precaution. Police and firefighters are now expected to dismantle the lab and make sure no hazardous waste is left behind.

16 students killed in Bolivia bus crash

­At least 16 students were killed and 32 injured after a bus fell into a ravine in the Acerco Marka municipality of Bolivia, transit police chief Victorino Torres said. Torres noted that the number of fatalities could rise, as rescuers are still combing the wreckage and many of the injured are in critical condition. The exact cause of the accident was not disclosed by the police, though survivors said the driver tried to let another bus pass on the narrow mountain road.

Family of six killed in Florida plane crash

­A Kansas businessman, his wife and their four children were killed when their small, fixed-wing airplane crashed in a swampy area in central Florida, authorities said. The family was heading from the Bahamas to their home in Junction City, Kansas. They stopped for customs in Fort Pierce, Florida before taking off again and crashing soon afterwards. It was clear there were no survivors, the sheriff’s office said. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation into the cause of the accident.

Man files lawsuit over wife's death in Nigeria plane crash

­A man whose wife died an airplane crash in Nigeria has filed a lawsuit that blames the accident, at least in part, on US companies that designed, manufactured and sold the plane. Among those named in the lawsuit, which was filed in a US District Court, are Boeing Co., which bought the McDonnel-Douglas manufacturer of the plane, and engine-maker Pratt & Whitney. The Nigerian aviation ministry has said that the flight’s captain said both of the airplane’s engines had failed just moments before it crashed, killing all 153 aboard.

Former Fleetwood Mac member dead in apparent suicide

­American musician Bob Welch, a former member of blues-turned-pop-rock band Fleetwood Mac, has been found dead at his Nashville home by his wife. The cause of death was an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. A suicide note was also discovered on scene. Welch joined Fleetwood Mac in 1971 as a vocalist and guitarist. At the time, the band was mired in legal and personal disputes between its members, and Welch quit in 1974. He then formed rock power trio Paris, which disbanded in 1977. Afterwards, he continued releasing albums and singles as a solo artist.

41 people killed throughout Syria – opposition

­At least 41 people have been killed in a fresh wave of violence throughout Syria, says the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based opposition watchdog. Among the dead, 23 were reportedly civilians, 15 were army troops, and three were rebels. The deaths were allegedly brought on by shelling and shootings that took place in the Aleppo, Daraa Homs, Hama, Idlib and Latakia provinces. Two civilians were reportedly shot in the capital, Damascus. The reported violence comes a day after dozens of civilians were killed in a new massacre in the Hama province. It also comes on the same day that UN-Arab League envoy to the country Kofi Annan and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the UN General Assembly and Security Council on the latest grim developments in Syria.

Deal on Egyptian constitutional panel reached

­The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and representatives from 22 parties have reached a deal on the composition of a panel tasked with carving out Egypt’s new constitution, state media reported. The agreement stipulates that half of the panel’s 100 seats will belong to Islamists. The meeting was called by the SCAF's chairman and the country’s provisional head of state Marshall Hussein Tantawi. The Islamist-controlled parliament previously voted to set an Islamist-packed panel, sparking outrage from moderates and prompting a court to order it disbanded. Political forces then struggled to come to an acceptable agreement, though that proved to be a difficult task, with the SCAF warning that it would issue its own draft constitution if the parties failed to come up with a solution.

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Peru helicopter with foreign tourists missing

A helicopter with foreign tourists on board has gone missing in southern Peru. Police said on Thursday that 12 South Koreans and two Austrians may be on board, together with two Peruvian pilots. The helicopter reportedly left the Amazon region of Madre de Dios on Wednesday evening bound for Cusco. Media reports say the flight may have been hampered by cloudy weather.

UK government boycotts Euro 2012 in Ukraine

The British government will boycott the Euro 2012 football championship in Ukraine over the treatment of the jailed former PM Yulia Tymoshenko. The Foreign Office confirmed on Thursday that no ministers will attend England's three group stage matches. The UK government however “fully supports” England's participation in Euro 2012. Several EU governments also said they would not be attending games in Ukraine either. The Euro 2012 football championship begins in Ukraine and Poland on Friday.

Arafat moneyman sentenced in absentia to 15 years for corruption

The Palestinian anti-corruption court on Thursday sentenced in absentia the moneyman of the late leader Yasser Arafat for siphoning off millions of dollars in public funds. The court in the West Bank city of Ramallah found Mohammed Rashid guilty of embezzlement and money laundering, AP said. He was also fined $15 million and his properties were ordered confiscated. Rashid and his two associates were convicted of taking a total of $33.5 million from the foreign donor-financed Palestinian Investment Fund.

Lebanon judge charges Syrian troops in killing of Al-Jadeed TV cameraman

Military Prosecutor Judge Saqr Saqr on Thursday charged members of the Syrian army in the April killing of a Lebanese journalist. Ali Shaaban, 30, a cameraman for Al-Jadeed TV, was shot on April 9 while on assignment in the northern area of Wadi Khaled near the border with Syria. The vehicle carrying Shaaban and his two colleagues came under machine gunfire. The Pan Arab TV channel blamed the Syrian army for the killing. The case was referred to a military investigative judge in Lebanon.

Moscow says reports of Assad seeking asylum ‘ridiculous’

Media allegations that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has transferred his money to Russia and is seeking asylum are untrue, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. These “ridiculous reports” require no comment, spokesman Aleksandr Lukashevich noted. Some Western media outlets alleged earlier that al-Assad transferred around US$6 billion to Russian bank accounts and plans to seek asylum in Russia.

Saddam Hussein's personal secretary executed in Iraq

Saddam Hussein's personal secretary and bodyguard was executed by hanging on Thursday, the Iraqi Justice Ministry says. Abed Hamid Hmoud was among 15 defendants who were tried for their role in the crushing of a Shiite uprising after the 1991 Gulf War, AP said. The last previous execution of a former regime official took place in January 2010 when Saddam's cousin, known as Chemical Ali, was hanged.

Brindisi bomber confesses to bombing school – Italian police

Giovanni Vantaggio, an Italian businessman, has confessed to bombing a school in Brindisi, police say. The May 19 bomb blast killed a 16-year-old girl in southern Italy. It seems Vantaggio, 68, held a grudge against the judicial system, Prosecutor Cataldo Motta said on Thursday. Investigators are not entirely convinced about his motive.

UN observers arrive site of Hama massacre – report

An international observer delegation is currently visiting Mazraat al-Qubair in Hama following the massacre on Wednesday night, SANA news agency reports. The death toll of the overnight incident has thus far been impossible to determine, but the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights puts the confirmed death toll at 49 people.

Blast strikes Pakistani school – at least 6 dead

A bomb explosion has hit outside a school in Quetta, western Pakistan, killing six people, four of whom were children, according to local officials. The blast went off as a degree ceremony attended by hundreds of students was being conducted inside the building. At least 30 people were also injured in the explosion. Local media say the bomb was attached to a bicycle that was left outside the school gates.

Syria thwarts infiltration attempt by ‘terrorist group’ – reports

Syrian security forces have thwarted an infiltration attempt by a “terrorist group” from Lebanon, state-run SANA news agency said Thursday. The infiltration was reportedly prevented at dawn near the village of Idlin, Tal Kalakh, 5 kilometers from the northern Lebanese region of Wadi Khaled. Lebanese media say security forces wounded several members of the group while others fled back to Lebanon.

US patience with Pakistan ‘reaching limits’ – Panetta

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said on Thursday US officials are “reaching the limits” of their patience with Pakistan and urged the country to do more to root out the Al Qaeda-linked Haqqani terrorist network. “It is an increasing concern that the safe haven exists and that there are those — likely Haqqanis — who are making use of that to attack our forces,” Panetta said in Afghanistan on Thursday, as cited by AP. The Haqqani group has been blamed for several attacks on Americans in Afghanistan. Washington has given Pakistan billions of dollars in aid for its support in fighting Islamist militants.

Israel court upholds plan to deport South Sudanese

Jerusalem District Court on Thursday upheld the planned deportation of South Sudanese believed to have entered Israel illegally. The court rejected a petition by human rights groups that had delayed the Interior Ministry's April 1 deportation order. The ruling said the state was not obligated to extend de facto asylum to the estimated 1,500 migrants from South Sudan, Reuters reports. The petitioners were told they had not proven that deportees would face “risk to life.” Some 60,000 Africans have crossed into Israel through its desert border with Egypt. The government sees them as a big economic and demographic threat to Israel's population of 7.8 million.

Ten hurt as two buildings collapse in southern Italy

Two buildings collapsed in southern Italy on Thursday morning following an explosion caused by a gas leak. At least 10 people, including a child, were lightly injured, according to Conversano Mayor Giuseppe Lovascio. The injured were in surrounding buildings when the explosion occurred in the historic center of the town located south of the city of Bari in the Apulia region. One of the collapsed buildings was not occupied.

Karzai condemns NATO strike on Afghan civilians, cuts trip to China

Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Thursday condemned as unacceptable a NATO air strike that he says killed 18 civilians. “Attacks by NATO that cause life and property losses to civilians under no circumstances could be justified and are not acceptable,” he said of the attack on Wednesday in Logar province south of Kabul. The president was also “deeply grieved” over the deaths in a Kandahar suicide bombing on the same day, his office said. Karzai cut short a trip to Beijing to return home. US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is in Kabul to assess the war against the Taliban and plans for the US troop withdrawal.

UK’s Cameron urges world to do more to isolate Syria

British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Thursday the international community has to do more to isolate the Syrian regime after the latest “brutal and sickening” massacre. “We need to do much more to isolate Syria,” Cameron told reporters during a stop in Oslo. Syrian opposition activists say scores have died in what is described as a new massacre in the central Hama province. Cameron said that if the reports are true, it adds further proof that the Syrian regime is “completely illegitimate and cannot stand.”

Russia to get $9.1 billion as government updates privatization plan

The Russian government approved an updated privatization plan at a session on Thursday. The changes to the privatization program for the 2011-2013 period were adopted, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said. Specific timeframes and the volume of stock sales in companies will be determined by separate decisions, reducing government presence in competitive sectors of the economy. Several major energy and oil-production companies, including Rosneft, “should be removed from direct government control by 2016,” Medvedev said. Russia is planning to generate 300 billion roubles (about US$ 9.1 billion) in revenue from privatization this year, according to Economic Development Minister Andrei Belousov.

Italian police detain suspect for Brindisi school bombing

Italian police have detained a 68-year-old man for last month's bombing in front of a school in Brindisi, a port city in southern Italy. The man allegedly confessed to building and planting the bomb after several hours of questioning in the city of Lecce on Wednesday, Reuters said. Police described the detention as an “important and definitive breakthrough” in the investigation. The man’s motive was described as a "personal" vendetta and not a terrorist act. The May 19 bomb killed a 16-year-old girl and wounded 10 other people.

Israel approves construction of 850 homes in West Bank

Israel will build 850 new homes in the West Bank, including 300 in the Beit El settlement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the construction after parliament voted down, at his urging, a bill that would have legalized the Ulpana outpost, AP said. Israel's Supreme Court ordered the five apartment buildings in Ulpana removed by July 1 because they were built on privately held Palestinian land.

US official urges repeal of Jackson-Vanik amendment restricting Russia trade

US Trade Representative Ron Kirk has said the repeal of the Jackson-Vanik amendment that puts trade restrictions on Russia is a top priority for his office this year. The amendment adopted during the Cold War allows denial of most-favored-nation status to non-market countries that restrict emigration. The US has granted Russia annual waivers since 1994, but the amendment is still an irritant in bilateral relations. Some lawmakers propose instead of the amendment adoption of the so-called Magnitsky bill, aimed against a number of Russian officials. But Kirk said on Wednesday the two measures should not be linked, AP reports.

Panetta in Afghanistan to discuss increased Taliban attacks

US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday for talks with military leaders and with the Afghan defense minister, General Abdul Rahim Wardak. Panetta said the purpose of the trip was to hear an assessment from US General John Allen, the head of NATO coalition forces, about the ability to confront “threats from the Taliban and from the Haqqanis,” as cited by Reuters. Haqqani is an Al Qaeda-linked militant network. The Defense Secretary wants to find out more about the recent increase in the numbers of attacks in Afghanistan.

Russia may exchange convicted US spy for Bout – daily

­Russian authorities may consider exchanging convicted US spy Valery Mikhailov for Viktor Bout or Konstantin Yaroshenko, found guilty of conspiring to trade arms illegally and to smuggle drugs into the US respectively, Kommersant reports. A Russian court sentenced Mikhailov, an FSB colonel, to 18 years in prison for furnishing state secrets to the US. Bout was sentenced to 25 years for conspiring to sell weapons to Colombian FARC rebels. Yaroshenko was given a 20-year prison sentence for conspiring to smuggle a large shipment of cocaine into the US.

Clinton calls for new Syria sanctions

­US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called for new, additional sanctions to be imposed on the Syrian government. In a meeting in Turkey, she said the circle of countries implementing the sanctions had to be expanded to close off the regime’s economic lifelines. Clinton echoed Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner’s call to invoke, if necessary, tough UN Chapter 7 sanctions against Damascus, as called by the Arab League. Her statements came as the Friends of Syrian People International Working Group on sanctions assembled in Washington, DC, and after a new purported massacre in the Hama region.

French government issues draft decree to lower retirement age

­The French government has issued a draft decree that would see the country’s minimum retirement age lowered from 62 to 60, reversing a measure adopted under Nicolas Sarkozy’s presidency. The decree will only affect employees who entered the workforce at ages 18 to 19, and is set to take effect in November. It would also ease retirement requirements for mothers and victims of workplace accidents. The government says the costs are to be financed by a small rise in payroll charges paid by both employers and employees. The draft decree was issued ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary election, in which President Francois Hollande’s Socialist Party hopes to secure a majority. During the campaign, Hollande was critical of Sarkozy’s emphasis on austerity and instead stressed the importance of stimulating the economy.

Eight Colombian rebels killed – military

­The Colombian military says eight rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have been killed in a bombardment and clashes with army troops in the northern Antioquia state. Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon also reported that among the dead is a leader of the group. FARC has an estimated 9,000 guerrilla troops and has been fighting the government for decades. The rebels are notorious for their ambushes and hit-and-run attacks on security forces. Authorities also blame them for two bombings that killed 16 people in provincial towns in February.