- Overnight News Summaries ,
- Tags: Africa, Bahrain, Ciudad Juarez, earthquake, Egypt, Facebook, India, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Mubarak, Protest, protests, Russia, Social network, virus, Yemen
- 26 Apr
KEY STORYLINES
- AFRICA: Clashes between Sudan and South Sudan decreased as South Sudan released a group of prisoners of war.
- AMERICAS: Mexican gunmen killed four in Ciudad Juarez.
- ASIA: Pakistani PM Gilani was convicted of contempt of court but not sentenced to prison.
- EUROPE: A Greek debt restructuring deal with the private sector was concluded.
- MIDDLE EAST: In Yemen, the US military and CIA were granted greater authority to use drone strikes.
- TECHNOLOGY: Facebook partnered with security software companies to launch an “antivirus marketplace” website.
- GLOBAL ISSUES: Former extremists and their victims teamed up with Google to form an anti-violence social network.
TOP STORY
- Syria: Fragile peace deal endangered
- Security forces pressed their assault on opposition activists and rebel troops.
- The government blamed militants for a bomb blast in Hama that killed at least 16.
- French FM Juppe stated military action should be considered to resolve the crisis.
- Coverage: Reuters, CNN, AFP, AP
AFRICA
- Region: Clashes between Sudan and South Sudan decreased as South Sudan released a group of prisoners of war. (Reuters)
- Egypt: The state election committee reinstated the candidacy of former Mubarak PM Ahmed Shafiq. (Reuters)
- Guinea Bissau: ECOWAS was reported to be planning to send at least 600 soldiers to the country to protect institutions and politicians. (Reuters)
- Ivory Coast: Gunmen killed at least five in the western part of the country. (Reuters)
- Mali: The interim government’s leadership named its cabinet members. (Reuters)
AMERICAS
- Brazil: US Defense Secretary Panetta praised Brazil’s emergence as a global power, urging the nation to become more involved in security efforts around the world by assisting in places like Africa. (AP)
- Cuba: The opposition group, Cuban Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation, reported the government was holding at least 50 political prisoners. (EFE)
- Mexico: Gunmen killed four in Ciudad Juarez. (EFE)
- Venezuela: Hugo Chavez returned from Cuba after another round of cancer treatment. (AP)
ASIA
- Afghanistan: Taliban insurgents killed four police officers and abducted 16 at a post in northeast Afghanistan. (AP)
- India: Maoist rebels released a state representative abducted last month in the eastern part of the country. (AFP)
- Japan: The US said it was moving forward with Japan on a long-stalled deal over a military base but declined to say if an announcement would be ready for a summit next week. (AFP)
- Pakistan: PM Gilani was convicted of contempt of court for refusing to reopen a corruption case against President Zardari, but Gilani was not sentenced to prison. (AP)
- Pakistan: FM Khar said the US must stop drone strikes against militants inside Pakistan’s borders, but Washington is not listening. (Reuters)
EUROPE
- Region: Russian General of the Army Makarov said Russia and NATO plan to hold several joint exercises in 2012, including “the Pomor marine search and rescue exercise in the North”. (Itar-Tass)
- Region: EU President Van Rompuy said an agreement allowing Bulgaria and Romania to join the EU’s Schengen treaty should be reached in September. (AFP)
- Greece: A debt restructuring deal with the private sector was concluded with a high participation rate. (Dow Jones)
- Kosovo: Amnesty International urged the EU to investigate war crimes committed during the 1999 conflict. (DPA)
- Ukraine: The EU voiced concern over the condition of imprisoned former PM Tymoshenko. (AFP)
MIDDLE EAST AND IRAN
- Bahrain: The US urged Bahrain to exercise restraint and allow peaceful protests, condemning a new outbreak of unrest. (AFP)
- Iran: Four Revolutionary Guard soldiers were killed in a clash with Kurdish rebels. (AP)
- Israel: IDF Chief of Staff LTG Gantz stated he did not believe Iran will build a nuclear weapon, contrary to statements by PM Netanyahu and DM Barak. (NYT)
- Yemen: The Obama administration gave the military and CIA greater authority to use drone strikes against targets in Yemen. (WSJ)
TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Cybersecurity: Facebook partnered with some security software companies to launch an “antivirus marketplace” website. (PCWorld)
GLOBAL ISSUES
- Reformed one-time violent extremists and their victims launched a social network, Against Violent Extremism, to halt the radicalization of youth and combat gang culture — with the backing of Internet giant Google. (AFP)
WORLD
- Cyclones: Nothing to report
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report
- Volcanoes: Shiveluch Volcano, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia
- 10.7 km high ash cloud. (Xinhua)
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (27APR)
- Global: ICJ holds elections to replace former judge Khasawneh.
- Afghanistan: Anniversary of assassination attempt on President Hamid Karzai – 2008.
- Czech Republic: Government faces no confidence vote.
- Sierra Leone: Anniversary of Independence – 1961.
- Togo: Anniversary of Independence – 1960.
END