• Overnight News Summaries ,
• Tags: Africa, China, Colombia, earthquake, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Middle East, North Korea, Protest, Russia, Tunisia, UAE, United States, virus
• 16 Dec

KEY STORYLINES

• AFRICA: Central African Republic Interim President Djotodia dismissed three members of the transitional government.
• AMERICAS: Chile’s Electoral Service (Servel) reported with 96 percent of votes counted in the presidential runoff, socialist candidate Michelle Bachelet was leading with 62.26 percent of the ballots
• ASIA: US Secretary Kerry announced the US will provide an additional USD32.5 million to help Southeast Asian nations protect territorial waters and secure navigational freedom.
• EUROPE: Ukraine’s ruling party demanded that PM Azarov to reformat the government by 90 percent.
• MIDDLE EAST: Israeli, Lebanese and UN military officers will meet to defuse tensions after a Lebanese soldier shot dead an Israeli soldier.
• TECHNOLOGY: Electronic and electrical gadgets that have reached the end of their life are expected to jump by a third in volume by 2017.

TOP STORY

• South Sudan: President declares curfew after attempted coup.
• President Kiir declared a curfew in Juba after overnight clashes between rival military factions.
• Foreign Minister Benjami blamed the coup attempt on soldiers and politicians loyal to former deputy president Machar, who was fired in July.
• President Kiir claimed that the government was now in control of the situation.
• UN Special Representative to South Sudan Johnson called for calm and said she pressed key leaders to stop the fighting.
• Coverage: AFP, AP, BBC, Reuters, WSJ

AFRICA

• Region: Counterterrorism experts reported that extremist groups in North and West Africa are still focused on fighting local conflicts, rather than targeting the West. (AFP)
• Central African Republic: Interim President Djotodia dismissed three members of the transitional government. (Reuters)
• Egypt: FM Fahmy held talks with Chinese VP Li Yuanchao on expanding bilateral ties. (Xinhua)

AMERICAS

• Region: Interpol issued an appeal to the public in the region to help track down 15 people suspected of belonging to international crime syndicates. (AFP)
• Chile: The country’s Electoral Service (Servel) reported with 96 percent of votes counted in the presidential runoff, socialist candidate Michelle Bachelet was leading with 62.26 percent of the ballots. (Xinhua)
• Colombia: The police precinct chief in La Vega was murdered by an unidentified assailant. (EFE)

ASIA

• Region: US Secretary Kerry announced the US will provide an additional USD32.5 million to help Southeast Asian nations protect territorial waters and secure navigational freedom. (AP)
• Afghanistan: Aid groups called for the government to ban election offices from schools and health clinics for next year’s presidential vote, over fears they could be targeted by militants. (AFP)
• Afghanistan: The last remaining Australian combat troops in the country began withdrawing as the international military base at Tarin Kowt closed. (AP)
• Bangladesh: Police fired on bomb-throwing Islamist protesters as five people died in clashes sparked by the execution of an Islamist leader for war crimes. (AFP)
• China: Police shot and killed 14 people during a riot near Kashgar in which two policemen were also killed. (Reuters)

EUROPE

• Germany: The country’s finance minister said the country will decide quickly on a replacement for a top European Central Bank official who is returning to domestic politics. (AP)
• Turkey: The country signed a deal with the EU to repatriate those who enter the bloc illegally from its territory in exchange for talks on visa-free travel for its citizens. (AFP)
• Ukraine: The ruling party demanded that PM Azarov to reformat the government by 90 percent. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

• Region: Israeli, Lebanese and UN military officers will meet to defuse tensions after a Lebanese soldier shot dead an Israeli soldier. (Reuters)
• Region: Democracy activists urged the Gulf Arab monarchies to undertake political reforms including the establishment of elected parliaments and constitutions. (AFP)
• Iraq: Militants car bombed the Tikrit city council headquarters and occupied the building, as violence across the country left 24 people dead. (AFP)
• Saudi Arabia: A leading Saudi prince demanded a place for his country at talks with Iran and criticized the US for its secret American-Iranian diplomacy. (WSJ)
• Syria: The UN reported that the number of Syrian refugees in the region will likely nearly double to 4.1 million over the next year. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

• Technology: Electronic and electrical gadgets that have reached the end of their life are expected to jump by a third in volume by 2017. (AFP)

WORLD

• Cyclones: Nothing to report.
• Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
• Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
• Volcanoes: Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy
• Eruption, ash plume leading to canceled flights. (AFP)
• Global Disease Outbreaks:

• Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)

• Cases: Global Number of Cases as of 02DEC: 163 (Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Italy, France, Germany, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, UAE, United Kingdom)
• Deaths: Global Number of Deaths as of 02DEC: 70 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE)

• Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (17DEC)

• Georgia and Russia: Fresh European Union talks (to 19DEC)
• North Korea: Anniversary of Kim Jong Il’s death – 2011
• Tunisia: Anniversary of Mohamed Bouaziz’s self-immolation and the Tunisian revolts – 2010
• United States: Wright Brothers’ Day

END