- Overnight News Summaries ,
- Tags: Africa, Cairo, China, Colombia, earthquake, Egypt, friends, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, mobile, Protest, Russia, Tunisia, UAE, United States, virus, YouTube
- 15 Jul
KEY STORYLINES
- AFRICA: The International Maritime Bureau reported that pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden dropped to their lowest level since 2006.
- AMERICAS: President Obama called for calm after the acquittal of George Zimmerman as thousands of civil rights demonstrators turned out at rallies.
- ASIA: A Bangladeshi court found Ghulam Azam guilty of masterminding atrocities during the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan.
- EUROPE: The Russian government said it wants to exchange Russian spies jailed this month in Germany for at least one convict jailed in Russia on charges of spying for the West.
- MIDDLE EAST: Shelling and air raids by Syrian government forces against a string of villages in Idlib killed at least 29 people.
- TECHNOLOGY: South Korea’s defence ministry said it ordered its staff to install a smartphone application called “Mobile Management Device” that restricts key functions like the camera in a bid to prevent military leaks.
TOP STORY
- Egypt: Senior US official visits country as government begins to take shape.
- US Deputy Secretary of State Burns will hold high-level talks with the government and military in Cairo
- Military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi delivered a televised speech in which he looked to justify the removal and detainment of former president Morsi.
- Interim PM Beblawi filled the finance minister and foreign minister posts.
- The government froze the assets of 14 islamist allies of ousted president Morsi.
- Militants killed at least three people and wounded 17 in an attack on workers in the North Sinai town of Al-Arish.
- Coverage: AFP, AP, NYT, Reuters, Reuters-2
AFRICA
- Malawi: President Banda said Malawi will not accept any interim deal on a disputed boundary on Lake Malawi with Tanzania until the issue of sovereignty is settled. (Reuters)
- Mali: French President Hollande said there is a “very strong” chance that a body found in northern Mali is that of a French hostage. (AFP)
- Somalia: The International Maritime Bureau reported that pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden dropped to their lowest level since 2006. (DPA)
- Sudan: Head of the African Union-UN mission Chambas said attackers who killed seven peacekeepers in Darfur were armed with anti-aircraft guns. (AFP)
AMERICAS
- Colombia: A total of 3,436 kilos of marijuana were seized in separate operations in Magdalena province. (EFE)
- Peru: A former lawmaker was arrested for alleged ties to drug traffickers and Shining Path rebels. (AFP)
- United States: President Obama called for calm after the acquittal of George Zimmerman as thousands of civil rights demonstrators turned out at rallies. (Reuters)
ASIA
- Afghanistan: An Afghan soldier held on suspicion of killing a NATO soldier from Slovakia escaped from prison with the help of a guard. (AFP)
- Bangladesh: A Bangladeshi court found Ghulam Azam guilty of masterminding atrocities during the 1971 war of independence against Pakistan. (AFP)
- Japan: PM Shinzo Abe’s government is to establish a task force to research nationalizing any unclaimed remote islands. (AFP)
- Korean Peninsula: North and South Korea failed to reach agreement on reopening the jointly-run Kaesong industrial complex. (AFP)
EUROPE
- France: Several dozen Greenpeace activists broke into a nuclear plant. (AFP)
- Greece: Racially motivated attacks are increasing throughout the country amid the ongoing economic crisis. (AFP)
- Russia: The government said it wants to exchange Russian spies jailed this month in Germany for at least one convict jailed in Russia on charges of spying for the West. (AFP)
- United Kingdom: Clashes broke out between Protestant protesters and police for a third night in Belfast. (DPA)
MIDDLE EAST
- Israel: PM Netanyahu said Iran is moving “closer and closer” to building a nuclear weapon and that Israel may have to act before the US. (AFP)
- Palestinian Territories: Israeli PM Netanyahu telephoned Palestinian President Abbas and said he hoped the two sides could resume peace talks. (Reuters)
- Syria: The UNSG’s special envoy for children and armed conflict, Leila Zerrougui, arrived in Syria for three days of meetings on the violence in the country. (AFP)
- Syria: Shelling and air raids by government forces against a string of villages in Idlib killed at least 29 people. (AFP)
TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Cybersecurity: South Korea’s defence ministry said it ordered its staff to install a smartphone application called “Mobile Management Device” that restricts key functions like the camera in a bid to prevent military leaks. (AFP)
WORLD
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Tungurahua Volcano, Ecuador
- Major eruption of ash and rocks. (AP)
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Novel Coronavirus (Sars)
- Cases: Global Number of Cases as of 11JUL: 81 (Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Italy, France, Germany, Jordan, Qatar, UAE, United Kingdom)
- Deaths: Global Number of Deaths as of 11JUL: 45 (Saudi Arabia, France, United Kingdom)
- Sourcing: WHO, WHO-1
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (16JUN)
- Europe: WTO trade policy review on the European Union will begin (to 18JUL).
- Chile: Fiesta de la Tirana, a religious celebration in the northern Tarapaca region, will take place.
- China and Russia: Anniversary of the two countries signing their first friendship treaty in more than half a century – 2001.
- Iraq: Anniversary of Saddam Hussein taking over as president – 1979.
- Pakistan: Peshawar High Court (PHC) will hear a petition seeking to reopen YouTube following its ban last year.
- Transdniestria: Next session of the Permanent Conference on Political Issues in the Framework of the Negotiating Process for Transdniestrian Settlement will be held in Vienna (to 17JUL).
- United States: Anniversary of the first atomic bomb being exploded by the US over the desert in New Mexico – 1945.
END