Overseas Security Advisory Council Daily News 2/5/2023

 

February 05, 2023

Today's Headlines OSAC's daily selection of global security news

Africa

East African regional leaders on Saturday renewed their call for an immediate ceasefire by all sides in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo that pits the country's military against a rebel group it has accused Rwanda of supporting.

More than 40 people have been killed in clashes between gunmen and vigilantes in Nigeria’s northern Katsina state, the latest violence ahead of parliamentary and presidential elections.

Pope Francis has said churches in South Sudan “cannot remain neutral” but must raise their voices against injustice and abuse of power, as he and two other Christian leaders conducted a peace mission to the world’s newest country.

East Asia & Pacific

The US has shot down a giant Chinese balloon that it says has been spying on key military sites across America.

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Eastern New Guinea region on Saturday, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.

Europe

Gale-force winds and snow storms cut power supplies to thousands of Czech households on Saturday and closed the main east-west highway in Slovakia, officials and local media said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday that the situation on the front lines in the east of the country was getting tougher and Russia was throwing more and more troops into battle.

Middle East & North Africa

Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered Saturday for a weekly demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu government’s proposed judicial overhauls, which opponents say threaten Israel’s democratic values.

Most wealthy Gulf Arab nations followed Saudi Arabia’s lead in recent years and ostracized crisis-hit Lebanon because of the growing influence of the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah. The exception was Qatar.

South & Central Asia

Indian police have arrested more than 2,000 men in a crackdown on illegal child marriages involving girls under the age of 18 in a northeastern state, officials said Saturday.

Pakistani police killed two commanders from a militant group in the country’s northwest, a local officer said Saturday.

Western Hemisphere

Only a few weeks after his supporters stormed the seat of his country’s government, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday expressed bafflement at how he could have lost October’s election, then smiled silently as a crowd of supporters ...

At least 13 people were reported dead as of Friday night as a result of the more than 150 wildfires burning across Chile that have destroyed homes and thousands of acres of forest while the South American country is in the midst of a scorching heat ...

It is a long and sometimes dangerous journey for truckers transporting the avocados destined for guacamole on tables and tailgates in the United States during the Super Bowl.

OSAC Analysis Unclassified OSAC analytical reports and other resources

Middle East & North Africa

Published: February 03, 2023

Tensions are escalating to new heights in Israel and the West Bank, as Israeli security forces continue one of their most intense security campaigns. This report reviews recent security events and their impact on the private sector.

South & Central Asia

Published: February 03, 2023

Increasing terrorist violence in Pakistan has prompted private sector concern over the extent to which the security-risk levels in Pakistan’s commercial hubs might be increasing. While most violence is concentrated in the western frontier provinces,...

Western Hemisphere

Ecuador / Haiti / Peru - Western Hemisphere Update: February 3
Published: February 03, 2023

OSAC is trying a new product format, a regular update about topline private sector security concerns in Latin America. For any feedback on content, cadence, etc., please contact OSAC’s Americas Team.

Consular Messages - Department of State travel advisories and alerts

Europe

The U.S. Government cautions its citizens of possible retaliatory attacks by terrorists in the wake of recent Quran burning incidents in Europe. 

Western Hemisphere

The U.S. Embassy advises all U.S. citizens to monitor the local news and media, including ONEMI’s website, for the latest information regarding the location of events.

Events - Upcoming OSAC meetings, webinars, and training courses

Global

OSAC ASC Members are invited to join this session which will review resources available through the ASC, members will share how the ASC has enhanced their work and assisted in sticky situations, while providing time for Q&A.

Event Start Date: March 15, 2023

Please RSVP to mcnicholsjv@state.gov or wartenberglg@state.gov RSVP with your contact information; Company Represented; Full name and Nationality Refreshments will be served.

OSAC's Energy Sector Committee (ESC) invites all ESC members to save the date for the upcoming ESC Spring Meeting at ExxonMobil Houston Campus in Spring, Texas on March 22 - 23, 2023.

The Europe Regional Committee (ERC) in partnership with the OSAC United Kingdom Country Chapter will be delivering a half day Crisis Management Workshop for Young Professionals in London on Wednesday, March 29, 2023. A full day Spring Conference and...

The Africa Regional Committee invites all Full Access Members to "Save the Date" for their Spring Conference taking place in South Africa, March 28 - 30, 2023.

Event Start Date: March 29, 2023

All OSAC ASC members are encouraged to "save the date" for our next in-person Health, Safety, and Security Seminar hosted by Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN on April 13 - 14.

East Asia & Pacific

On Wednesday, February 22, 2023, from 10:00 - 11:00 AM EST, OSAC's Pan-Asia Regional Committee (PARC) invites all OSAC Full-Access members to participate in a VIRTUAL discussion on climate security in Asia with Dr. Scott Moore of the University of P...

All current and prospective OSAC Pan-Asia Regional Committee (PARC) members are invited to attend a networking reception hosted at the Executive Order Bar & Lounge in San Francisco, CA on Wednesday, February 8th from 5:00 – 7:00pm PST.

OSAC members based in New Zealand are invited to attend OSAC New Zealand's country chapter relaunch on 23 February 2023.

Event Start Date: February 17, 2023

Manila country chapter members are invited to a hybrid meeting on 17FEB2023 from 2-4 pm local (GMT +8).

Middle East & North Africa

Event Start Date: March 15, 2023

The OSAC Iraq-Baghdad Chapter will meet in-person on Wednesday, March 15.

South & Central Asia

On Wednesday, February 22, 2023, from 10:00 - 11:00 AM EST, OSAC's Pan-Asia Regional Committee (PARC) invites all OSAC Full-Access members to participate in a VIRTUAL discussion on climate security in Asia with Dr. Scott Moore of the University of P...

All current and prospective OSAC Pan-Asia Regional Committee (PARC) members are invited to attend a networking reception hosted at the Executive Order Bar & Lounge in San Francisco, CA on Wednesday, February 8th from 5:00 – 7:00pm PST.

Western Hemisphere

OSAC's Latin America Regional Committee (LARC) invites all members to save the date for the LARC's Spring Conference in Miami, FL from March 7-9.

Event Start Date: February 08, 2023

All OSAC Ecuador – Guayaquil Chapter members are invited to attend an in-person meeting on Wednesday, February at 10:00 Guayaquil local.

Event Start Date: February 09, 2023

All OSAC Mexico – Tijuana Chapter members are invited to attend a hybrid Chapter revitalization meeting on Thursday, February 9 at 8:30 Tijuana local (11:30 Eastern).

Event Start Date: February 21, 2023

All OSAC Uruguay Chapter members are invited to attend a hybrid meeting on Tuesday, February 21 at 14:00 Uruguay local (12:00 Eastern).

The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of State or any affiliated organization(s). Nor have these opinions been approved or sanctioned by these organizations. This product is unclassified based on the definitions in E.O. 13526. OSAC’s full disclaimer and copyright policy is available on our site.



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