ONS: 26 June 2019

By TRG Alerts Admin

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: An Egyptian jihadist captured in Libya and returned to Cairo was put on trial again over five terror attacks, including one for which he has already received a death sentence in absentia.
AMERICAS: Brazil’s Supreme Court rejected a request to free Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from prison while they consider whether Justice Minister Sergio Moro, who was the convicting judge, was biased.
ASIA: More than one thousand protesters marched to major foreign consulates in Hong Kong, urging leaders at the upcoming G20 summit to support the full scrapping of a controversial extradition bill.
EUROPE: NATO defense ministers gather in Brussels for two days of talks that will include defense spending within the alliance, its mission in Afghanistan, and Russia’s missile treaty violations.
MIDDLE EAST: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State said that an economic plan presented by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner for the Palestinian territories could succeed since it includes private sector and if “there is hope of peace”.
TECHNOLOGY: In a world first, Facebook has agreed to hand over the identification data of French users suspected of hate speech on its platform to judges.

TOP STORY

North Korea: Tensions over sanctions continue as diplomatic efforts seek a way forward.
- Pyongyang’s Foreign Ministry denounced the US for extending sanctions against the North’s nuclear efforts, calling them a challenge to diplomatic progress.
- Progress between the US and North Korea has been effectively stalled since the failed summit in Hanoi.
- North Korea again insisted that it will never “surrender” to US sanctions pressure.
- However, South Korean president Moon Jae In said that the two sides are continuing behind the scenes talks to hold a third Trump – Kim summit.
- Trump himself said that he will likely meet with Kim Jong Un again “at some point.”
- The US President will be in South Korea this weekend after the G20 summit.
- Reporting: Reuters, Reuters, Yonhap, Yonhap, AP

AFRICA

Region: An Egyptian jihadist captured in Libya and returned to Cairo was put on trial again over five terror attacks, including one for which he has already received a death sentence in absentia. (AFP)
Libya: An American Air Force veteran, who was accused of acting as a mercenary, has been freed after a six-week detention, in a murky episode that highlights the tangled nature of that country’s civil war. (WaPo)
Nigeria: Amnesty International said torture of civilians and suspects by security forces have persisted despite new legislation to curb such abuses. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Brazil: The Supreme Court rejected a request to free Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from prison while they consider whether Justice Minister Sergio Moro, who was the convicting judge, was biased. (AFP)
Colombia: A bomb attack caused crude oil from the Cano Limon pipeline to leak onto the ground and into a nearby ravine in rural Arauca province, state-run oil company Ecopetrol said. (Reuters)
Mexico: National Guard, accused of being heavy-handed in its efforts to curb migrant flows, employed a lighter touch on the US border after President Obrador said they did not have orders to detain migrants. (Reuters)

ASIA

China: U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that the trade deal between the United States and Beijing is “about 90%” complete, CNBC reported. (Reuters)
China: More than one thousand protesters marched to major foreign consulates in Hong Kong, urging leaders at the upcoming G20 summit to support the full scrapping of a controversial extradition bill. (Reuters)
India: The United States’ Secretary of State met Prime Minister Modi during a two-day visit to New Delhi in which the two countries are expected to reinforce their strategic alliances after commerce tensions. (EFE)

EUROPE

Region: NATO defense ministers gather in Brussels for two days of talks that will include defense spending within the alliance, its mission in Afghanistan, and Russia’s missile treaty violations. (RFE-RL)
Denmark: Social Democratic leader Mette Frederiksen finalized terms for a one-party minority government, making her the country’s youngest-ever Prime Minister. (Reuters)
Georgia: Thousands of protesters have rallied in the capital, Tbilisi, for the sixth consecutive day, demanding the resignation of the interior minister. (RFE-RL)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State said that an economic plan presented by White House senior adviser Jared Kushner for the Palestinian territories could succeed since it includes private sector and if “there is hope of peace”. (Reuters)
Region: Oman said it is planning to open a new diplomatic mission in the West Bank and that it sent a foreign ministry delegation to Ramallah. (Reuters)
Egypt: Eight people have been detained by authorities on accusations of belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood and helping to fund a plot to overthrow the state. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: In a world first, Facebook has agreed to hand over the identification data of French users suspected of hate speech on its platform to judges. (Reuters)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to report.
Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
Earthquakes:
- Magnitude: 6.2
  - Location: 5km SE of Aserrio de Gariche, Panama
  - Depth: 26.2 km
  - Map
- Magnitude: 6.4
  - Location: 102km E of Ust’-Kamchatsk Staryy, Russia
  - Depth: 10.0 km
  - Map
Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
Global Disease Outbreaks:

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (27 JUN)

Global: Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day – 2017
China: Africa-China Economic and Trade Expo in central Hunan Province
Djibouti: Independence Day – 1977
France: U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook to meet with senior British, French and German officials for Iran talks
Germany: General Council meeting of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt
Pakistan: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to meet with Prime Minister Imran Khan
South Korea: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salam to visit (to 28JUN)
Tajikistan: National Unity Day – 1997

END