- Overnight News Summaries ,
- Tags: Africa, Bahrain, Canary Islands, Chad, China, Colombia, earthquake, Egypt, Egyptian, FARC, India, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico, Middle East, Protest, South China Sea, Spain, Tunisia, Yemen
- 04 Sep
KEY STORYLINES
- AFRICA: In Egypt, gunmen attacked an army post in the Sinai Peninsula a day after tanks were withdrawn from the area.
- AMERICAS: In Colombia, the leader of the FARC said the group will enter into peace talks with President Santos’s administration in Havana “without grudges or arrogance.”
- ASIA: NATO SG Rasmussen said the surge in attacks in Afghanistan against NATO-led foreign troops will not cause an early withdrawal.
- EUROPE: NATO SG Rasmussen is scheduled to visit Georgia on 06SEP.
- MIDDLE EAST: Hezbollah said Iran could strike US bases in the Middle East in response to any Israeli strike on its nuclear facilities.
- TECHNOLOGY: A founder of the popular file-sharing website Pirate Bay was arrested in Cambodia at the request of Sweden, where he faces a one-year prison term for violating copyright laws.
TOP STORY
- China: US Secretary Clinton in Beijing for South China Sea talks; Sino-Indian military exercises, DPRK nuclear program.
- Secretary Clinton heads to Beijing after talks in Indonesia as she voiced hope for progress in managing soaring tensions in the South China Sea.
- China’s state media warned the US to stop pursuing policies aimed at stemming Beijing’s growing political influence.
- Indian DM Antony announced joint military exercises between India and China will be resumed.
- The ROK’s top nuclear envoy will visit China this week to discuss ways to resume nuclear disarmament talks on the DPRK.
- Philippine officials praised US Secretary Clinton’s call for a peaceful resolution of territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
- Coverage: AFP, AFP-2, AFP-3, Xinhua, Reuters
AFRICA
- Burundi: An ex-leader of the former rebel National Liberation Forces claimed responsibility for a weekend attack near the capital and announced the creation of a new FNL faction. (AFP)
- Chad: FPR rebel chief Abdel Kader Baba Ladde surrendered to the Central African army. (AFP)
- Egypt: Two sailors were killed and two others wounded when Tunisian coastguards fired on an Egyptian fishing flotilla off the Kerkennah islands. (Xinhua)
- Egypt: Gunmen attacked an army post in the Sinai Peninsula a day after tanks were withdrawn from the area. (DPA)
AMERICAS
- Bolivia: A massive stash of what was believed to be weapons-grade uranium found in La Paz was found to contain just 68 grams of the radioactive material. (AFP)
- Colombia: DM Pinzon said authorities killed at least seven members of the FARC. (Xinhua)
- Colombia: The leader of the FARC said the group will enter into peace talks with President Santos’s administration in Havana “without grudges or arrogance.” (EFE)
- Colombia: Drug trafficker Griselda Blanco was shot and killed in Medellin. (BBC)
- Venezuela: Investigators found no evidence of an alleged massacre of as many as 80 people from the Yanomami indigenous group by illegal Brazilian gold miners. (AFP)
ASIA
- Afghanistan: At least seven civilians were injured in two successive blasts in Lashkar Gah. (Xinhua)
- Afghanistan: NATO SG Rasmussen said the surge in attacks against NATO-led foreign troops will not cause an early withdrawal. (Reuters)
- Philippines: The government said the peace talks with the MILF could enter the “final, crucial stages of negotiations.” (Xinhua)
- Philippines: Police implemented tighter security in public places and more intense street patrols following the discovery of bomb parts in Manila’s tourist district. (AP)
EUROPE
- Region: Four Bulgarians were arrested off Spain’s Canary Islands with close to 1,100 pounds of cocaine. (AFP)
- Georgia: NATO SG Rasmussen is scheduled to visit Tbilisi on 06SEP to see off Georgian troops deployed to Afghanistan. (Xinhua)
- Serbia: PM Dacic insisted the new government is committed to joining the EU and normalizing relations with its foe Kosovo. (DPA)
- Ukraine: President Yanukovych called for more efforts to promote press freedom throughout the country. (Xinhua)
- United Kingdom: Fifteen Northern Irish police officers were injured during a second consecutive night of sectarian rioting in north Belfast. (AFP)
- United Kingdom: PM Cameron began major government and cabinet changes. (AP)
MIDDLE EAST
- Bahrain: A court upheld jail terms against 13 leading opposition figures over charges of plotting to overthrow the monarchy. (AFP)
- Iran: Hezbollah said Iran could strike US bases in the Middle East in response to any Israeli strike on its nuclear facilities. (Reuters)
- Lebanon: PM Mikati said Beirut will urgently protest to Damascus over Syria’s violations of its territory, warning of “negative repercussions” on the stability of the border areas. (AFP)
- Syria: Red Cross chief Maurer held positive talks with President Assad on ways to get humanitarian aid to Syrians caught up in the civil war. (Reuters)
- Yemen: Hundreds of Yemenis rallied in Hadramout against US drone strikes in the country. (Xinhua)
- Yemen: Unknown assailants blew up a gas pipeline just days after it was repaired from previous sabotage. (AFP)
TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Communications: A founder of the popular file-sharing website Pirate Bay was arrested in Cambodia at the request of Sweden, where he faces a one-year prison term for violating copyright laws. (AP)
WORLD
- Cyclones: nothing to report.
- Hurricanes (Atlantic): Tropical Depression Thirteen
- Location: 1390 miles WNW of the Cape Verde Islands
- Movement: NW at 6 mph
- Winds: 35 mph
- Map
- Hurricanes (Atlantic): Tropical Storm Leslie
- Location: 585 miles South of Bermuda
- Movement: N at 5 mph
- Winds: 65 mph
- Map
- Hurricanes (Pacific): Tropical Depression John
- Location: 310 miles WSW of the southern tip of Baja California, Mexico
- Movement: NW at 13 mph
- Winds: 35 mph
- Map
- Earthquakes: South of Java, Indonesia
- Magnitude: 6.4
- Depth: 8.8 km
- Map
- Volcanoes: Mount Anak Krakatau, Indonesia
- The mountain is spewing volcanic ash and affecting the downtown area of Bandar Lampung. (Xinhua)
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (05SEP)
- Chile: Anniversary of the Seguro Obrero massacre – 1938.
- Pakistan: Anniversary of PanAm Flight 73 hijacked at Karachi International Airport – 1986.
- Pakistan: Lahore High Court orders President Zardari to stop political activity.
END