Latest news
30 January 2013
The United States (US) has concluded an agreement with Niger, allowing it to use surveillance drones in the West African country, in order to increase surveillance missions on Islamist extremist groups. The Guardian reports that it is believed that the US only currently desires unarmed surveillance drones to be deployed to Niger, but the agreement could pave the way for armed drones in the future.
Source: The Guardian | US signs deal with Niger to operate military drones in west African state
30 January 2013
Italy’s highest criminal court has ruled that Italian radar systems did not adequately protect jets from stray missiles, and that Italy must compensate the victims’ families. It held that there was “abundantly” clear evidence that a stray missile caused an Italian passenger jet to crash into the Mediterranean Sea in 1980, resulting in the death of all 81 people aboard.
It remains unclear who fired the missile. One theory is that the jet was caught in the crossfire of a military aerial fight, with a Libyan plane possibly the target. French, U.S. and NATO officials have denied military activity in the skies that night.
Source: The Washington Post | Italian court: Missile caused 1980 Mediterranean plane crash; Italy must pay compensation
29 January 2013
An international donor conference to financially help the military operation in Mali opened today at the African Union (AU) headquarters. The conference hopes to raise funds to support the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) which will cost at least $460 million.
Source: Deutsche Welle | Mali donor conference opens
29 January 2013
Israeli officials have maintained that Israel could launch a pre-emptive strike if Syria transfers chemical weapons to Hezbollah or al-Qaeda groups. There is growing concern that the government in Syria might lose control over its chemical weapons due to the on-going struggle in the country. In a movement characterized by military officials as ‘routine’, the Israeli army has moved its Iron Dome rocket defense system to Haifa, close to the border with Lebanon.
Source: The New York Times | Israel Girds for Attacks as Syria Falls Apart
Source: The Huffington Post | Israel Syria Strike: Chemical Weapons Transfer Could Bring Israeli Military Attack, Official Warns
28 January 2013
The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has submitted a Congressionally mandated report identifying ten nations whose fishing vessels engaged in illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 2011 or 2012. The 10 states are Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Italy, Mexico, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Spain, Tanzania, and Venezuela. All ten nations identified in this year’s report had vessels that did not comply in 2011 and/or 2012 with conservation and management measures required under a regional fishery management organisation to which the US is a party. The report is part of the efforts of the United States to ensure that the US fishing industry is not undermined by unsustainable or illegal activities. The US will soon start consultations with each of the 10 nations to encourage them to take action to address IUU fishing and by-catch by their fishermen.
Source: Merco Press | US NOAA identifies 10 countries that conducted IUU fishing in 2011-12