- Overnight News Summaries ,
- Tags: Africa, Cairo, China, Colombia, earthquake, Egypt, Egyptian, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Mexico, Middle East, Protest, protests, Russia, Tunisia, UAE, virus
- 27 Apr
KEY STORYLINES
- AFRICA: Hundreds of Egyptian activists in Cairo demonstrated on Sunday against an anti-protest law.
- AMERICAS: Several thousand people took to the streets of Caracas and other cities throughout Venezuela to protest education reform plans and restrictions on the right to demonstrate.
- ASIA: South Korean Prime Minister Chung Hong-won announced his resignation Sunday morning, taking responsibility for the slow initial response to the ferry’s sinking that has left nearly 200 dead.
- EUROPE: Macedonians are set to elect a new president and parliament on Sunday.
- MIDDLE EAST: Palestinian President Abbas said he is still ready to extend peace talks with Israel, despite a recent breakdown in the process.
- TECHNOLOGY: The Obama administration is releasing a report next week exploring potential consumer discrimination due to “big data” algorithms that crunch through information gathered online.
TOP STORY
- Ukraine: Continued escalation entering ‘dangerous’ territory
- On Sunday U.S. President Obama said the US will be in a stronger position to deter Vladimir Putin once Putin sees the world is unified in sanctioning Russia.
- Fearing imminent invasion, Ukraine’s Deputy FM Lubkivsky said that Russian military maneuvers involving air and ground forces along the Ukraine border were a ‘very dangerous development.’
- Ukraine blames Moscow for “human shield” detentions, referring to the kidnapped monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in the country’s eastern region.
- The leader of separatist rebels holding OSCE monitors in Slaviansk said he was scheduled meet a delegation of mediators that aim to to negotiate the observers’ release.
- US Vice President Biden called the leaders of Hungary and the Czech Republic to reassure them of US support for NATO’s collective defense agreement.
- Coverage: AFP, Al-Awsat, AP, AP-2, Reuters
AFRICA
- Egypt: Hundreds of Egyptian activists in Cairo demonstrated on Saturday against an anti-protest law. (Reuters)
- South Sudan: US Secretary of State Kerry told President Kiir that he welcomed the release of four national leaders accused of rebellion and treason. (AFP)
- South Sudan: U.S. State Secretary Kerry on Saturday called on the government and opposition forces to stop military offensives and adhere to a ceasefire deal reached in January. (Xinhua)
AMERICAS
- Region: The Mexican Consulate in Phoenix strongly criticized plans for a “virtual fence” on the southern Arizona border, warning such state projects “negatively affect” US-Mexico relations. (EFE)
- Brazil: Street protests continue to rock Brazil while citizen journalists, frustrated by mainstream media coverage, are using digital tools to tell a different side of the story. (Guardian)
- Colombia: An explosion at a gold mine in Buritaca municipality killed four miners, while 65 others were poisoned by toxic gases. (EFE)
- Venezuela: Several thousand people took to the streets of Caracas and other cities on Saturday to protest education reform plans and restrictions on the right to demonstrate. (AFP)
ASIA
- Region: China released previously confidential Japanese wartime documents, including some about comfort women forced to serve in military brothels during World War II, state media reported. (Reuters)
- Afghanistan: Pro-Western candidate Abdullah Abdullah has emerged from Afghanistan’s presidential contest with the most votes, but still must compete in a runoff election. (WP)
- Japan: Japan and the US have found “common ground” to forge a two-way trade deal, but may not be able to resolve remaining sticking points in time for a mid-May meeting of top negotiators. (Reuters)
- South Korea: Prime Minister Chung Hong-won announced his resignation, taking responsibility for the slow initial response to a ferry’s sinking that has left nearly 200. (CNN)
EUROPE
- Region: The Turkish military said that one of its fighter jets was harassed by Greek jets over the Aegean Sea. (Xinhua)
- Germany: Thousands of Berliners blocked a group of right-wing extremists from staging an anti-immigrant march through the capital. (AP)
- Macedonia: Macedonians are set to elect a new president and parliament on Sunday. (Xinhua)
- Serbia: Outgoing Prime Minister and Leader of the Socialist Party Dacic said that he will be the foreign minister in the future Serbian government. (Xinhua)
MIDDLE EAST
- Region: Palestinian President Abbas has said he is still ready to extend peace talks with Israel, despite a recent breakdown in the process. (BBC)
- Syria: Concern over the fate of hundreds who have gone missing in the Syrian city of Raqa, run by ISIL, has fuelled a backlash against the jihadist group. (AFP)
- Iran: The Foreign Ministry welcomed a recent reconciliation deal between the Palestinian Islamic movement of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. (Xinhua)
- Israel: A group of lawmakers in the US Congress are pushing to add Israel to the US visa-waiver program, despite the country not meeting required standards. (WP)
TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Technology: The Obama administration is releasing a report next week exploring potential consumer discrimination due to “big data” algorithms that crunch through information gathered online. (Reuters)
WORLD
- Cyclones: Nothing to Report
- Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
- Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
- Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
- Cases: 242 (Guinea, Mali, Liberia, Sierra Leone)
- Deaths: 142 (Guinea, Liberia)
- Sourcing: WHO
- Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
- Cases: Global Number of Cases as of 24APR: 254 (Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Italy, France, Germany, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, UAE, United Kingdom)
- Deaths: Global Number of Deaths as of 24APR: 93 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman)
- Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (28APR)
- Afghanistan: Victory of the Muslim Nation, anniversary of fall of the Marxist government – 1989
- Iraq: 10th anniversary of Abu Ghraib prison scandal – 2004
- Japan: Anniversary of end of World War II with Japan – 1952
- South Africa: Freedom Day
END