- Overnight News Summaries ,
- Tags: Africa, China, Cuba, earthquake, Iraq, Japan, Libya, Mexico, Middle East, North Korea, Russia, Tunisia, UAE, virus, Yemen
- 21 Apr
KEY STORYLINES
- AFRICA: A car bomb in Somali capital of Mogadishu killed lawmaker Isak Mohamed and wounded another person.
- AMERICAS: Fresh violence erupted in Caracas between police and opponents of Venezuelan President Maduro.
- ASIA: North Korea said that an upcoming 23APR – 29APR Asian tour by US President Obama could escalate military tensions.
- EUROPE: Russian President Putin signed a decree to appoint Rear ADM Berezovsky as a Deputy Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and Rear ADM Smolyak as the Head of the Nakhimov Higher Naval Institute.
- MIDDLE EAST: Syrian Parliamentary speaker Mohammed Lahham said the country will hold presidential elections on 03JUN.
- TECHNOLOGY: A director at the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) said the fast development of internet finance in China is driving an increase in cases of illegal fund raising.
TOP STORY
- Ukraine: Tensions increase ahead of US VP Biden visit.
- US VP Biden will begin a two-day visit on Monday amid growing anxiety that Russia President Putin will press to grab more of eastern Ukraine.
- US VP Biden is set to meet with Ukraine’s interim PM Yatsenyuk, Parliament Speaker, acting President Turchynov and other key legislators.
- Ukrainian PM Yatsenyuk warned in an interview that Russia is undermining global stability and nuclear nonproliferation efforts amid the ongoing crisis.
- Russian FM Lavrov accused Ukraine of violating an accord reached in Geneva last week aimed at averting a wider conflict between the two neighbors.
- Coverage: AP, CNN, NYT, Reuters, WP
AFRICA
- Region: Rwandan Hutu rebels exiled in the eastern DR Congo condemned the arrest of a group accused of plotting a grenade attack against the government in Kigali. (AFP)
- Libya: A Jihadist group released a video showing a kidnapped hostage from the Tunisian embassy pleading with the authorities in Tunis to negotiate with his captors. (AFP)
- Somalia: A car bomb in Mogadishu killed lawmaker Isak Mohamed and another wounded another person. (AFP)
AMERICAS
- Region: Chinese FM Wang Yi was in Cuba in the first stop on a tour of four Latin American countries. (AFP)
- Mexico: Troops released a group of 60 migrants trying to reach the US who were being held captive in a home in the north of the country. (AFP)
- Venezuela: Fresh violence erupted in Caracas between police and opponents of President Maduro. (BBC)
ASIA
- Region: Japan warned that the seizure of a Japanese ship in Shanghai over pre-wartime debts threatened ties with China and could undermine the basis of their post-war diplomatic relationship.
- Afghanistan: Security forces arrested four militants, including a would-be suicide bomber, in the Jawzjan province. (Xinhua)
- Indonesia: The government called on regional governments to stop “shifting responsibility” for asylum-seeker. (AFP)
- Korea, North: The government said that an upcoming 23APR – 29APR Asian tour by US President Obama could escalate military tensions. (AFP)
- Philippines: Suspected communist guerrillas in paramilitary-style uniforms shot dead the mayor of Gonzaga. (AFP)
EUROPE
- Russia: Unidentified persons in Dagestan’s capital city Makhachkala shot and wounded a police officer. (Itar-Tass)
- Russia: President Putin signed a decree to appoint Rear ADM Berezovsky as a Deputy Commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and Rear ADM Smolyak as the Head of the Nakhimov Higher Naval Institute. (Interfax)
- United Kingdom: An explosion and fire in Gibraltar left some areas without power. (BBC)
MIDDLE EAST
- Iraq: A suicide bomber detonated a vehicle at a police checkpoint in the Suweirah area killing 10 and wounding 35 people. (AFP)
- Palestinian Territories: Militants in the Gaza Strip fired three rockets into Israel but caused no casualties or property damage. (AFP)
- Syria: Parliamentary speaker Mohammed Lahham said the country will hold presidential elections on 03JUN. (AP)
- Syria: State-run media reported that a pair of mortar shells hit near the parliament building in central Damascus, killing five people. (AP)
- Yemen: Three al-Qaeda suspects, including an alleged senior militant, were killed in a drone strike in the south of the country. (AFP)
TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Cybersecurity: A director at the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) said the fast development of internet finance in China is driving an increase in cases of illegal fund raising. (Reuters)
WORLD
- Cyclones: Tropical Cyclone 24S (Jack)
- Location: 346 NM SW of Cocos Island, Australia
- Movement: ESE at 12 mph
- Winds: 86 mph
- Map
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
- Cases: 242 (Guinea, Mali, Liberia, Sierra Leone)
- Deaths: 135 (Guinea, Liberia)
- Sourcing: WHO
- Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
- Cases: Global Number of Cases as of 17APR: 243 (Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Italy, France, Germany, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, UAE, United Kingdom)
- Deaths: Global Number of Deaths as of 17APR: 93 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman)
- Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (22APR)
- Asia Region: U.S. President Barack Obama is due to visit Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines
END