14APR22 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: The Kenyan government confirmed the deportation of Rubis Energy Kenya CEO Jean-Christian Bergeron amid a fuel shortage crisis.
AMERICAS: Colombian President Ivan Duque said there is evidence which seriously implicates the former soldiers being held in Haiti for the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.
ASIA: China refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, treading a diplomatic tightrope between backing its close ally and maintaining ties with the West by avoiding outright violations of sanctions placed on Russia.
EUROPE: French Presidential candidate Marine Le Pen rebuffed criticism by her rival Emmanuel Macron accusing her of retaining her “authoritarian” and extremist views.
MIDDLE EAST: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia invited Iran to negotiate on the border of an energy-rich offshore gas field.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: US officials announced the discovery of a new malware capable of attacking industrial facilities and sabotaging the energy industry.

Top Story

Ukraine: Russian Navy Evacuates Flagship, Ukraine Claims it was Hit by a Missile.
- The flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet Moskva was seriously damaged, and its crew evacuated following an explosion on board that Ukraine said was caused by a missile strike.
- The Russian Defense Ministry said its Black Sea flagship Moskva is still afloat after a fire set off ammunition explosions onboard.
- The governor of Odessa Maxim Marchenko said that Ukrainian forces hit the Moskva with Neptune missile strikes, but this has not yet been confirmed.
- Ukrainian Presidential Advisor Oleksiy Arestovych claimed that 510 Russian crew members were on board the ship during a television interview.
- Analysts said the damage done to the ship will not only materially impact Russia’s naval capabilities, but will also affect Russian morale, while boosting Ukraine’s.
- The Ukrainians claimed that a missile attack sank the Moskva ship while the Kremlin said that it suffered significant damage from a fire.
- Reuters, AFP, VOA, CNBC, BBC, WaPo

Africa

Ghana: At least eight people have been killed and a number of others injured after gunmen attacked Zacholi village in the northeast. (BBC)
Kenya: The government confirmed the deportation of Rubis Energy Kenya CEO Jean-Christian Bergeron amid a fuel shortage crisis. (BBC)
Mauritania: The government reported that two of its nationals were killed in an airstrike, attributed to Morocco, on the border with the disputed territory of Western Sahara. (AFP)
Rwanda: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a migration partnership with the country, prompting speculation that the deal will include sending migrants to Africa for processing. (NYT)
Somalia: Newly elected members of parliament are set to be sworn in following parliamentary elections that took months. (BBC)

Americas

Argentina: The government said the country’s monthly inflation rate soared to 6.7% in March, the highest level in two decades. (Reuters)
Brazil: President Jair Bolsonaro downplayed recent reports of the military’s purchase of Viagra, which drew both jokes and scrutiny from opposition lawmakers. (AFP)
Colombia: President Ivan Duque said there is evidence which seriously implicates the former soldiers being held in Haiti for the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. (AP)
Honduras: Officials stated that the capital of Tegucigalpa is facing an emergency shortage of potable water. (EFE)
United States: The State Department defended President Joe Biden’s claim that Russia is carrying out genocide in Ukraine. (AFP)

Asia

Australia: Police said four South Korean women died after their car collided with a truck only weeks after they arrived in the country on a working vacation. (AP)
China: Beijing refused to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, treading a diplomatic tightrope between backing its close ally and maintaining ties with the West by avoiding outright violations of sanctions placed on Russia. (AFP)
Hong Kong: The city will ease some social distancing measures later this month, allowing people to dine in at restaurants and lifting restrictions on private gatherings, as the number of COVID-19 infections declines. (AP)
Myanmar: Satellite images show widespread torching of villages in the central Sagaing region, confirming local media reports of the military’s campaign against armed opposition in the region. (Reuters)
Philippines: The death toll from landslides and floods in the aftermath of tropical storm Megi rose to 80. (AFP)

Europe

France: Presidential candidate Marine Le Pen rebuffed criticism by her rival Emmanuel Macron accusing her of retaining her “authoritarian” and extremist views. (Reuters)
Ireland: Foreign Minister Simon Coveney will visit Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba and defense minister Oleksii Reznikov. (AFP)
Russia: Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev warned NATO that if Sweden and Finland joined the US-led military alliance then Russia would have to bolster its defenses in the region. (Reuters)
Ukraine: A report by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) found “clear patterns” of human rights violations by Russian forces which may constitute war crimes. (NYT)
United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the navy would take over patrolling the Channel for migrants trying to cross from France. (AFP)

Middle East

Region: Kuwait and Saudi Arabia invited Iran to negotiate on the border of an energy-rich offshore gas field. (Reuters)
Region: Fifth Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said that Task Force 153 will patrol the waterway between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, through the Bab al-Mandeb Strait to the waters off the Yemen-Oman border. (Al-Monitor)
Iran: The country is starting to operate a new workshop at Natanz that will make parts for uranium-enrichment centrifuges with machines moved there from its now-closed Karaj facility. (Reuters)
Palestinian Territories: The Health Ministry said Israeli troops have shot and killed two people in the West Bank. (AP)
Yemen: The UN Security Council welcomed the peaceful transfer of power in Yemen from the president to a newly formed Presidential Leadership Council (PLC). (Xinhua)

Tech & Communications

Cybersecurity: US officials announced the discovery of a new malware capable of attacking industrial facilities and sabotaging the energy industry. (WaPo)

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 14APR22)
  - Confirmed cases: 501,970,999
  - Deaths: 6,190,360
  - Countries with confirmed cases: 192
  - Sourcing: John Hopkins University

Tomorrow’s Outlook (15APR22)

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