Portal:Current events/2012 September 26

September 26, 2012 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war:
- Twin explosions near the headquarters of the Syrian Armed Forces in central Damascus kill at least four military guards. (Al Jazeera)
- Press TV correspondent Maya Nasser is killed by sniper fire while reporting from the scene of twin bomb blasts in Damascus. (The Guardian)
- Qatar calls for Arab intervention in Syria. (Al Jazeera)
- Local activists report a massacre of over 40 civilians by the Syrian army in the Damascus suburb of Thiabieh. (TIME)

Business and economy

Trade unions in Greece call a general strike in protest against continuing austerity measures. (BBC)

International relations

Russia and Japan schedule a sub-cabinet level meeting for October in Tokyo to discuss the Kuril Islands dispute. (Jiji Press via Yomiuri Shimbun)
Senkaku Islands dispute:
- Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda addresses the UNGA by stating that Japan is committed to a "peaceful solution" to its territorial disputes, but that it intends to "fulfill its responsibility" to protecting its sovereignty. (Yomiuri Shimbun) (NHK World)^{[permanent dead link‍]} (AP)
- China responds to Noda's speech by calling it "self-deceiving" and as a "challenge" to the post-war international order. (Xinhua)
- Anti-Japan protests are staged outside the UN. (NHK World)^{[permanent dead link‍]}
- ANA and JAL report that over 52,000 seats for flights between China and Japan have been canceled. (Kyodo News via Mainichi Shimbun)^{[permanent dead link‍]}
- Japanese businesses are asked to withdraw their exhibits from the forthcoming Western China International Fair in Chengdu. (Kyodo News via Mainichi Shimbun)^{[permanent dead link‍]}
- Japanese automakers suspend operations in China until after National Day and announce plans to cut output in the country. (Kyodo News)

Law and crime

Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev is charged with hooliganism and battery over a televised punch-up, with a possible five-year jail sentence in what he says is revenge for criticising President Vladimir Putin. (Reuters)
Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema is charged with money laundering at a court in South Africa. (IOL)
A court ruling allows Turkey to ban access to the film Innocence of Muslims. (Hurriyet Daily News)

Politics and elections