• Overnight News Summaries ,
• Tags: Africa, Asia, Brazil, China, Communications, earthquake, Ebola, Egypt, EU, Europe, India, Iran, Islamic State, language, Mali, Mexico, Middle East, Muslim Brotherhood, North Korea, Opposition, Pakistan, Protest, protests, Russia, Syria, Taiwan, UN, United States, Venezuela, virus, Zambia
• 21 Feb

KEY STORYLINES

• AFRICA: A Malian government official, prefect Makan Doumbia, was rescued from suspected Islamist militants by the intelligence services after being kidnapped last may.
• AMERICAS:. Brazil announced it will deliver humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan border together with the US at the request of Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaidó.
• ASIA: Veteran North Korean diplomats are being sidelined from nuclear talks ahead of a second summit with the US as recent defections and allegations of spying undermine the trust of leader Kim Jong Un.
• EUROPE: Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow would respond to any US missile deployment in Europe by targeting host nations and the US itself.
• MIDDLE EAST: Egypt executed nine suspected Muslim Brotherhood members convicted of involvement in the 2015 assassination of the country’s top prosecutor, security officials said.
• TECHNOLOGY:  For the second time in six months, Microsoft has identified a Russian government-affiliated operation targeting prominent think tanks that have been critical of Russia.

 

TOP STORY

 

• India: Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia arrived in the country on regional tour, pledges large scale investment.

 

• • Mohammad bin Salman arrived directly after a visit to Pakistan, India’s archrival, where he approved billions in infrastructure investment.
  • Tensions between Pakistan and India are at a high, due to recent attacks against Indian troops in disputed Kashmir.
  • The Saudi prince is conducting a tour of asia, widely believed to be attempting to buy allies after his reputation in the West was destroyed by ordering the assassination of a dissident journalist.
  • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the unorthodox step of welcoming the Prince in person at the airport.
  • The Saudi prince said he saw opportunities for $100 billion worth of investment in the next two years, in addition to counterterrorism cooperation.
  • Reporting: AFP, Reuters, Reuters, Reuters

 

AFRICA

 

• Mali: A senior government official, prefect Makan Doumbia, was rescued from suspected Islamist militants by the intelligence services after being kidnapped last may. (AFP)

 

• Tanzania: China said it backs the government’s sentencing of a Chinese woman labeled the “ivory queen” to 15 years in jail for smuggling elephant tusks. (AP)
• Zambia: Police warned students from the country’s public universities against holding any protests regarding the government’s decision to scrap meal allowances. (Xinhua)

 

AMERICAS

 

• Region: Brazil announced it will deliver humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan border together with the US at the request of Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaidó. (Reuters)

 

• Mexico: Officials in the border state of Coahuila say an empty assembly plant used to house about 1,600 Central American migrants during the past two weeks has closed. (AP)
• United States: The White House announced plans to nominate Jeffrey Rosen for Deputy Attorney General, to replace the outgoing Rod Rosenstein. (Reuters)
• Venezuela: The opposition-controlled National Assembly voted to authorize the entry of humanitarian aid from the United States and other countries that President Nicolas Maduro’s government refuses to accept. (EFE)

 

ASIA

• China: Beijing is barring foreign travelers from Tibet over a period of several weeks that includes a pair of sensitive political anniversaries, and is imposing heavy security. (AP)
• North Korea: Veteran diplomats are being sidelined from nuclear talks ahead of a second summit with the US as recent defections and allegations of spying undermine the trust of leader Kim Jong Un. (Reuters)
• Pakistan: The anti-corruption body says it has arrested the speaker of a provincial assembly and member of an opposition party headed by former President Asif Ali Zardari. (AP)
• Taiwan: President Tsai Ing-wen said Taipei will not accept any peace deal with China unless Beijing rules out the use of force to unify the two. (Reuters)

 

EUROPE

 

• Region:  UK Prime Minister Theresa May makes another trip to Brussels, hoping European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker may prove more yielding than of late to salvage her Brexit deal. (Reuters)

• Italy: The far-right League party and its government coalition partner the populist 5-Star Movement denied reports they plan to join forces in the European Parliament. (Reuters)

 

• Russia: President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow would respond to any US missile deployment in Europe by targeting host nations and the US itself. (Reuters)
• United Kingdom: Three pro-EU lawmakers from the governing Conservatives quit over the “disastrous handling of Brexit”, in a blow to Prime Minister Theresa May’s attempts to unite her party. (Reuters)

 

MIDDLE EAST

 

• Region: The Palestinian Authority will no longer accept tax revenues collected on its behalf by Israel following its decision to trim the sum over the PA’s financial support of militants’ families. (Reuters)

 

• Egypt: Authorities executed nine suspected Muslim Brotherhood members convicted of involvement in the 2015 assassination of the country’s top prosecutor, security officials said. (AP)
• Iran: President Hassan Rouhani’s brother and close confidante has gone on trial, facing corruption allegations brought by hard-liners who dominate the country’s judiciary. (AP)
• Syria: A British teenager who joined the Islamic State group in the country in 2015 said she was shocked by a government decision to revoke her citizenship. (AFP)

 

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

 

• Technology: For the second time in six months, Microsoft has identified a Russian government-affiliated operation targeting prominent think tanks that have been critical of Russia. (WaPo)

 

 

WORLD

• • Cyclones:

 

• Tropical Cyclone Oma

 

• • • • Location: 268 NM W of Noumea, New Caledonia
      • Movement: S-SW at 4 mph
      • Wind: 80 mph
      • Map

 

• Tropical Storm Wutip

 

• • • • Location: 742 NM SE of Andersen AFB
      • Movement: W at 11 mph
      • Wind: 50 mph
      • Map
  • 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 18FEB19: 779 (DR Congo)
    • Suspected Cases as of 18FEB19: 65 (DR Congo)
    • Deaths as of 18FEB19: 537 (DR Congo)

• • • Sourcing: WHO

 

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (21 FEB)

• Global: International Mother Language Day – 2000
• Bangladesh: Language Movement Day – 1952
• Bhutan: Birthday of King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck – 2008
• Russia: Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
• Vanuatu: Father Walter Lini Day – 1999

 

END