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• Tags: Africa, Asia, China, Communications, coup, earthquake, Ebola, Election, elections, EU, Europe, Iraq, ISIS, Islamic State, Japan, Kenya, Libya, Mali, Middle East, News, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, Syria, Turkey, UN, United States, Venezuela, virus, Yemen
• 17 Apr

KEY STORYLINES

• AFRICA: The African Union threatened to suspend Sudan following last week’s coup that saw Omar al-Bashir ousted by the military after nearly three decades in power.
• AMERICAS: The Lima Group called for the exit of foreign security and intelligence forces from Venezuela and reiterated its rejection of the use of military force in the crisis-stricken nation.
• ASIA: Pakistan’s minority Shite’s ended their days-long sit-in after successful talks with the government, which promised more steps to protect them in the southwestern city of Quetta.
• EUROPE: France’s President Macron postponed an important address to the nation that was to lay out his responses to the yellow vest crisis because of the fire at Notre Dame.
• MIDDLE EAST: Sudan ruling transitional military council’s deputy head said the Sudanese forces participating with the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthis in Yemen will remain there.
• TECHNOLOGY: China’s Huawei Technologies said it had secured 40 commercial contracts to build and operate 5G telecommunications infrastructure as of the end of March.

 

TOP STORY

 

• France: Notre Dame cathedral in Paris catches fire, sustains major damage.

 

• • The blaze began in the evening shortly after the building was closed to visitors for the day.
  • It appears that the fire started on scaffolding near the ceiling, as the cathedral was undergoing significant maintenance work.
  • Much of the roof, as well as the spire, collapsed as the building burned.
  • Firefighters prioritized the two iconic bell towers – which were feared to be at risk of collapse.
  • Much of the art and artifacts were successfully rescued.
  • No one was killed in the incident, although one firefighter was severely injured.
  • President Emmanuel Macron voiced to restore the iconic landmark, and millions of Euros have already been pledged towards restoration efforts.
  • Reporting: AFP, CBS, NYT, WaPo, BBC, AFP

 

AFRICA

 

• Region: The African Union threatened to suspend Sudan following last week’s coup that saw Omar al-Bashir ousted by the military after nearly three decades in power. (AFP)

 

• Somalia: The US military confirmed that it had killed Abdulhakim Dhuqub, the second-ranking Islamic State leader in the country, in an airstrike. (AFP)
• Sudan: Fourteen people have been killed during clashes in a camp for displaced peoples in the conflict-hit region of Darfur, the official news agency SUNA has reported. (AFP)

 

AMERICAS

 

• Region: The Lima Group called for the exit of foreign security and intelligence forces from Venezuela and reiterated its rejection of the use of military force in the crisis-stricken nation. (Reuters)

 

• Ecuador: Hacking attempts on government institutions have doubled since the country revoked WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s asylum at its London embassy last week, an official said. (Reuters)
• United States: President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo brushed aside North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s demand for Washington to show more flexibility in nuclear talks by year-end. (Reuters)

 

ASIA

 

• Afghanistan: Unidentified militants attacked and bombed another girls’ school in the second attack against education facilities in the western province of Farah within a day. (Xinhua)

 

• Japan: The economy minister said he had “frank and good” trade talks with his U.S. counterpart, but stressed that currency rates should be discussed in a different context, between finance ministers. (Reuters)
• New Zealand: The vice prime minister criticized the decision by the International Committee of the Red Cross to disclose the identity of a nurse abducted by the Islamic State in 2013 in Syria. (EFE)
• Pakistan: Minority Shite’s ended their days-long sit-in after successful talks with the government, which promised more steps to protect them in the southwestern city of Quetta. (AP)

 

EUROPE

 

• Region: A Moscow court found a Norwegian man guilty of espionage and sentenced him to 14 years in a high-security prison. (AP)

 

• France: President Emmanuel Macron postponed an important address to the nation that was to lay out his responses to the yellow vest crisis because of the fire at Notre Dame. (AP)
• United Kingdom: It’s up to Britain when it chooses to exit the European Union, the bloc’s chief executive said, adding that it was not his working assumption that Brexit could be reversed or extended beyond a new Oct. 31 deadline. (Reuters)

 

MIDDLE EAST

 

• Region: The United States imposed sanctions on financiers with bases in Belgium, Kenya and Turkey on charges they funneled money internationally for Islamic State. (AFP)

 

• Qatar: The foreign minister called for an effective arms embargo against eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar and for his troops to withdraw from areas they have recently occupied. (Reuters)
• Syria: Authorities stepped up fuel rationing as shortages became more severe in government-held areas, with an official blaming the shortfall on Western sanctions against the war-torn country. (DPA)
• Yemen: Sudan ruling transitional military council’s deputy head said the Sudanese forces participating with the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthis in Yemen will remain there. (Reuters)

 

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

• Technology: China’s Huawei Technologies said it had secured 40 commercial contracts to build and operate 5G telecommunications infrastructure as of the end of March. (Reuters)

 

 

WORLD

• • Cyclones: Nothing to report.
  • Hurricanes: Nothing to report.

 

• Earthquake: Nothing to report.

• Volcanoes: Nothing to report.

 

• Global Disease Outbreaks:

• • Ebola Virus Disease:
    • Ebola Virus Disease:
    • Confirmed Cases as of 13APR19: 1185 (DR Congo)
    • Suspected Cases as of 13APR19: 66 (DR Congo)
    • Deaths as of 13APR19: 803 (DR Congo)

• • • Sourcing: WHO

 

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (17 APR)

• American Samoa: Flag Day – 1960
• Austria: 176th (Extraordinary) Meeting of the OPEC Conference
• Gabon: Women’s Day – 1998
• Indonesia: Presidential and parliamentary elections
• Iraq: FAO Day – 2003
• Russia: Saudi Prince Sultan bin Salman to visit Moscow for talks on space cooperation
• Syria: Evacuation Day – 1946

 

END