02APR21 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: The G7 group has urged Eritrea to withdraw its troops from Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
AMERICAS: US President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan is set to meet with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea to discuss North Korea.
ASIA: At least 48 people have died after an eight-carriage train derailed in Taiwan.
EUROPE: Dutch caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte has survived a no-confidence vote.
MIDDLE EAST: US President Joe Biden has reportedly ordered the Pentagon to withdraw some military capabilities and forces from the Gulf region as part of a realignment away from the Middle East.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: The Biden administration said it will initiate a new effort to protect electric utilities, water districts, and other critical industries from cyber-attacks.

Top Story

Myanmar: Military shuts down internet amid coup protests.
- Myanmar’s ruling junta has shut down wireless broadband internet services in the country, as it continues to suppress the ongoing anti-junta protests in the country.
- The junta did not announce the shut down and gave no official explanation for its decision.
- Anti-coup activists and organizations are now sharing radio frequencies, offline resources, and providers of text messaging alerts to maintain their lines of communication and are urging the public to engage in “guerrilla strikes”.
- Hundreds of people in the country also participated in “flower strikes”, laying down flowers in public areas in memory of the people who have been killed by the military during the anti-junta protests.
- Meanwhile, ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi was charged with breaking an official secrets law, marking the most serious charges levied against her since her detention by the military.
- Reporting: AP, Reuters, DPA, BBC, Guardian

Africa

Region: The G7 group has urged Eritrea to withdraw its troops from Ethiopia’s Tigray region. (AFP)
Ethiopia: Newly surfaced video clips that allegedly show members of the military conducting a massacre in the country’s Tigray region have emerged. (BBC)
Guinea: A new Ebola case was detected in the southeastern town of Soulouta, resetting the country’s count toward being able to declare itself Ebola-free. (Reuters)
Niger: Mohamed Bazoum is set to be sworn-in as the country’s president in what will be a historic first-ever transition between elected presidents in the country’s history. (AFP)
Nigeria: Authorities said the country is relying on the African Union (AU) to receive up to 70 million doses of Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine due to concerns over delayed deliveries of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. (Reuters)

Americas

Cuba: Authorities have erected a giant concrete flag outside the US embassy in Havana. (AFP)
Mexico: Seven soldiers accused of playing a part in the 2014 army killings of 22 drug cartel suspects have been re-arrested. (AP)
United States: President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan is set to meet with his counterparts from Japan and South Korea to discuss North Korea. (AFP)

Asia

Region: Australia called upon Myanmar’s ruling junta to immediately release Australian economist Sean Turnell, who was serving as an adviser to the ousted Aung San Suu Kyi. (Reuters)
Bangladesh: A second fire in less than two weeks at refugee camps hosting Rohingya refugees has killed at least three people. (AFP)
India: The country reported its highest daily coronavirus cases in six months amid an ongoing second COVID-19 wave in the country. (Reuters)
Taiwan: At least 48 people have died after an eight-carriage train derailed in the country’s east. (DPA)

Europe

Region: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Moscow expects maritime traffic rules “to be strictly observed” in the area where the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is being built. (Reuters)
Region: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of massing troops on Ukraine’s border. (AFP)
Belgium: Police in Brussels used water cannons and teargas to disperse around 2,000 people who had gathered in defiance of the government’s coronavirus restrictions. (Deu tsche Welle)
Netherlands: Caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte has survived a no-confidence vote. (DPA)
United Kingdom: More than 70 lawmakers expressed their opposition to the government’s plans to introduce vaccine passports. (Reuters)

Middle East

Region: US President Joe Biden has reportedly ordered the Pentagon to withdraw some military capabilities and forces from the Gulf region as part of a realignment away from the Middle East. (WSJ)
Iran: The country’s officials are set to meet with their counterparts from China, Russia, France, Germany, and the UK to discuss a possible return of the US to the 2015 nuclear deal. (Reuters)
Syria: Human rights organizations in Russia have released a rare report criticizing Moscow’s direct participation in indiscriminate bombings of civilians and its backing of the Assad regime’s indulgence in war crimes. (Guardian)

Tech & Communications

Cybersecurity: The Biden administration said it will initiate a new effort to protect electric utilities, water districts, and other critical industries from cyber-attacks. (AP)

World

Cyclones: Nothing to report.
Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 02APR21)
  - Confirmed cases: 129,689,655
  - Total recovered cases: 73,512,281
  - Deaths: 2,829,457
  - Countries with confirmed cases: 192
  - Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 28MAR21)
  - Confirmed cases: 18
  - Deaths: 9
  - Sourcing: WHO
- Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (as of 28MAR21)
  - Confirmed cases: 12
  - Deaths: 6
  - Sourcing: WHO

Tomorrow’s Outlook (03APR21)

Global: Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will visit the United Arab Emirates, India, and Bangladesh. (to 09APR)
Global: Maintenance work will be carried out on the Russia to China Power of Siberia gas pipeline. (to 07APR)
Africa: DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi will host the foreign ministers of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan for talks on Ethiopia’s contentious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the river Nile. (to 05APR)
China: South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong will visit and meet with his counterpart Wang Yi.
France: The country will enter a new nationwide coronavirus lockdown.
Germany: The Querdenken group are expected to hold protests against the government’s coronavirus measures and restrictions.
United States: The government will extend its National Emergency with respect to South Sudan.

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