Login
Login

Portal:Current events/2012 March 21

{{Current events|year=2012|month=03|day=21|content=

;Armed conflict

  • Syrian uprising:
  • Syrian security forces continued to bombard a neighborhood in a neighborhood of Homs and at least 79 people were reported killed across Syria, including 42 in Homs. [http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/21/world/meast/syria-unrest/index.html?iref=obinsite (CNN)]
  • The United Nations Security Council adopts a statement supporting Kofi Annan's plan for ending violence in Syria. [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/03/201232114131971935.html (Al Jazeera)]
  • United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warns the Syrian government and President Bashar al-Assad to follow the United Nations peace plan "or face increasing pressure and isolation".[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17466453 (BBC)] [http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/21/world/meast/syria-clinton/index.html?hpt=imi_c2 (CNN)]
  • Rebelling government troops in Mali storm the state broadcaster in the capital Bamako. [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/03/2012321184549658627.html (Al Jazeera)]
  • The annual report of the Jerusalem-based B'Tselem organisation states that in 2011, 105 Palestinians were killed by Israeli security forces in the Gaza Strip, 37 of whom are listed as non-combatants, and that Palestinian militants killed 11 Israeli civilians, among them a couple and three of their children murdered in their home. [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/03/2012321125998938.html (Al Jazeera)][http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4205871,00.html (Ynet)]
  • Iraq is terrorised by unconfirmed reports of extremists crushing the skulls of emos with blocks of cement. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17450437 (BBC)]
  • A car bomb explodes in central Mogadishu, Somalia, injuring two people. [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/03/201232163719726975.html (Al Jazeera)]
  • French police engage in a shootout with Mohammed Merah, a suspect in recent shootings in Toulouse, with the suspect allegedly linked to al-Qa'ida. [http://www.france24.com/en/20120321-liveblog-france-toulouse-police-surround-suspect-school-soldier-shooting (France 24)] [http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2012/03/20123214219458757.html (Al Jazeera)] [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/shots-fired-as-police-raid-al-qaida-linked-french-gunman-in-toulouse/story-e6frg6so-1226306309049 (AFP via The Australian)] [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46027894#.T2lqJxG85XI (Reuters via MSNBC)]
  • Nigerian Army soldiers kill nine gunmen suspected of belonging to the Boko Haram Islamist group after they attack a police station and a bank. [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-21/nigerian-troops-kill-nine-suspected-islamist-gunmen-in-kano-1-.html (Bloomberg)]

;Business and economy

  • The Greek parliament votes in favour of an international bailout deal. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46801858#.T2kLMPXyB8E (AP via MSN)]

;Law and crime

  • Five former members of right-wing Guatemalan paramilitaries are sentenced to a total of 7,710 years in jail for their role in the 1982 Plan de Sánchez massacre. [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17454434 (BBC)] [http://www.france24.com/en/20120321-guatemala-soldiers-jailed-7710-years-massacre?ns_campaign=editorial&ns_source=RSS_public&ns_mchannel=RSS&ns_fee=0&ns_linkname=20120321_guatemala_soldiers_jailed_7710_years_massacre (AFP via France 24)]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

;Politics

  • Burma invites observers from ASEAN, the European Union and the United States to monitor next week's series of by-elections. [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/9157981/Burma-clears-way-for-international-observers-for-elections.html (The Daily Telegraph)]
  • George Osborne delivers the 2012 British budget cutting the top rate of income tax. [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2012/mar/21/budget-2012-live-george-osborne-speech (The Guardian)] [http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/britain-cuts-top-income-tax-rate-in-annual-budget-20120322-1vkr2.html (Sydney Morning Herald)]
  • Nick Smith resigns as New Zealand's Minister for the Environment, Minister for Climate Change Issues and Minister for Local Government due to improper conduct. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/top-new-zealand-politician-resigns-cabinet-post-amid-scandal-over-effort-to-help-friend/2012/03/20/gIQA5sHeQS_story.html (AP via Washington Post)]

;Sport

}}