- Overnight News Summaries ,
- Tags: Africa, China, earthquake, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Muslim Brotherhood, Protest, protests, Russia, Tehran, virus, Yemen
- 05 Apr
KEY STORYLINES
- AFRICA: Tuareg separatist rebels in northern Mali announced a cessation to military operations.
- AMERICAS: Nine suspected Zetas cartel gunmen were killed in a clash with Mexican soldiers near Nuevo Laredo.
- ASIA: Taliban gunmen killed at least eight Afghan police officers at an outpost in western Afghanistan.
- EUROPE: Protests erupted in Athens after a man committed suicide over the country’s economic crisis outside parliament.
- MIDDLE EAST: In Iraq, an explosion damaged the Kirkuk-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline.
- TECHNOLOGY: The “Flashback” trojan virus was reported to have infected over 500,000 Mac computers worldwide.
TOP STORY
- Syria: Violence continued, despite diplomatic efforts
- A UN spokesman reported the Syrian government claimed it had begun withdrawing its troops from some areas, as per an agreement brokered by Kofi Annan.
- Activists reported security forces launching an assault on the Damascus suburb of Douma and clashes with rebels across the country.
- Russia invited the Syrian FM and opposition representatives to Moscow for talks.
- Coverage: AP, Reuters-1, NYT, Reuters-2
AFRICA
- Region: South Sudan accused Sudan of launching a new set of airstrikes into a disputed border region. (Reuters)
- Egypt: A delegation from the Muslim Brotherhood arrived in the US as part of a diplomatic effort. (Reuters)
- Mali: The ruling military junta postponed a national convention designed to end the ongoing political crisis. (Reuters)
- Mali: Tuareg separatist rebels in the north announced a cessation to military operations. (Reuters)
- Nigeria: Boko Haram militants killed at least seven in Maidaguri. (Reuters)
AMERICAS
- Mexico: Nine suspected Zetas cartel gunmen were killed in a clash with soldiers near Nuevo Laredo. (AP)
- Suriname: Lawmakers granted President Bouterse amnesty for crimes committed during his military dictatorship. (AP)
- Venezuela: Hugo Chavez returned to the country after undergoing another round of cancer treatment in Cuba. (Reuters)
ASIA
- Region: US, Japanese and South Korean intelligence services prepared to study the planned North Korean rocket launch. (AP)
- Afghanistan: Taliban gunmen killed at least eight Afghan police officers at an outpost in western Afghanistan. (AFP)
- China: Hacker group “Anonymous” hacked several Chinese government websites, replacing content with information on how to circumvent internet censorship. (Al Jazeera)
- Myanmar: Members of the ruling USDP party said the party would need to reform itself in response to recent opposition party NLD victories. (Reuters)
- Pakistan: A suicide bomber killed at least two and wounded five in Karachi. (AP)
- Philippines: Al Qaeda linked militants ambushed and killed at least three government soldiers in southern Basilan. (AP)
EUROPE
- Region: A weak Spanish bond auction sparked renewed fears of a debt crisis in Europe. (AP)
- Greece: Protests erupted in Athens after a man committed suicide over the country’s economic crisis outside parliament. (BBC)
- Russia: Security forces killed four suspected militants in the North Caucasus region of Kabardino-Balkariya. (AP)
MIDDLE EAST
- Region: A rocket fired from the Sinai desert in Egypt struck the town of Eilat, but inflicted no casualties or damage. (Reuters)
- Iran: US Secretary of State Clinton warned Tehran the time allowed for diplomatic efforts to resolve disputes over Iran’s nuclear program was not “infinite.” (RFE\RL)
- Iraq: An explosion damaged the Kirkuk-Ceyhan crude oil pipeline. (Reuters)
- Yemen: Officials reported airstrikes killed at least 10 al Qaeda linked militants in southern Yemen. (Reuters)
TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Cybersecurity: The “Flashback” trojan virus was reported to have infected over 500,000 Mac computers worldwide. (SlashGear)
WORLD
- Cyclones: Nothing to report
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (06APR)
- Italy: Anniversary of L’Aquila Earthquake – 2009.
- Rwanda: Anniversary of the start of the Rwandan Genocide – 1994.
END