An Cosantóir

10 | World Strategic Picture Asia Africa North Korea's successful launch of a satellite into orbit has raised concerns over the rogue state's advances in intercontinental ballistic technology. Algeria's prime minister, Abdelmalek Sellal, said 48 foreigners of eight nationalities and one Algerian worker were killed during the recent hostage crisis at a gas plant facility near the desert town of In Amenas. 32 of the militants have been killed. The four-day siege ended when Algerian troops recaptured the site. Five hostages are still missing. Mali region has been growing more and more unstable. The former French colony, and a republic since 1960 and who still retains close ties with France, is bordered by Algeria on the north. The French government has authorised its military to engage in combat against al-Qaeda-linked groups in the country two days after jihadists from al-Qaeda (in the Islamic Maghreb, the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa and Ansar Dine) stormed the central Malian town of Konna and routed government forces in early January. France has put an initial 500 troops on the ground with a further 2,000 en route. President Francois Bozizé of the Central African Republic said he would not resign after talks with rebels in nearby Gabon. South Africa sent troops to the Central African Republic to protect the regime after rebels were poised to take the capital, Bangui. The presidents of North and South Sudan met in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. They both pledged to abide by the terms of a peace deal they signed in September last. The UN warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Sudan's South Kordofan and Blue Nile provinces where rebels continue to fight government forces. Middle East At a meeting in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, more than 100 countries formally recognised Syria's opposition as the civil war-torn nation's legitimate government. Bashar Assad, Syria's president gave his first public speech in nearly seven months, he remaining defiant towards the rebels. However, in a rare diplomatic act over 2,100 rebel prisoners held by Syria were freed in exchange for 48 Iranian hostages taken prisoner by rebels last August. The UN announced that at least An Cosantóir Feb 2013 www.dfmagazine.ie South Korea's first female president, Park Geunhye, said she was willing to reopen dialogue with the North. In recent clashes between Pakistan and Indian over the disputed Kashmir region, two Indian and two Pakistani soldiers were killed. India has blamed Pakistan for a border incursion and Pakistan's military has accused the Indian army of killing its soldiers with "unprovoked The Americas After a couple died in their farmhouse following an arson attack by Mapuche Indian activists, Chile invoked an anti-terrorist law in the south of the country. Chuck Hagel was appointed as the United State's next secretary of defence. John Brennan, President Obama's top advisor on counterterrorism, was appointed as head of the CIA. Adam Lanza fatally shot 20 children and 6 adult staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the village of Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 60,000 people have died since violence erupted in March 2011. In a bid to implement a unity pact signed in 2011 between the two main Palestinian groups, Hamas and Fatah, President Muhammad Morsi of Egypt, mediated at recent talks in Cairo. firing" and a "ceasefire violation" in what is the worst crisis in relations since the Mumbai attacks of 2008. The region has been an area of tension since partition between the two countries in 1947. Japan said it would increase its defence spending after a decade of defence cuts. The move was sparked by growing tensions with China over disputed islands. 14th. Following recent gun attacks in the US, the White House kept up the pressure on gun control. New York has said that it will be implementing the most stringent gun control laws in the country. At least 20 FARC guerrillas were killed by Colombia's army in the latest operations against the group. Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela's vicepresident said that Hugo Chávez was too ill to be sworn in at his inauguration. He is currently in Havana, Cuba, undergoing treatment for cancer. Europe Thousands squeezed onto the streets of Diyarbakir, eastern Turkey to escort the bodies of the three PKK activists shot dead last week at their office in Paris. Many Kurds in Diyarbakir believe that the three activists were killed by forces trying to destroy peace talks between the Kurdish armed movement, the PKK, and the Turkish government. The talks began at the end of December - the first serious attempt at peace for 18 months. The European Union was awarded the Nobel peace prize in Norway in recognition of six decades of peace, reconciliation, democracy and human rights in Europe.

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