NIGERIA: Boko Haram attack against embassies thwarted

On Wednesday, Nigeria’s state security agency said it had thwarted plans by Boko Haram militants to attack the British and United States embassies in the country’s capital, Abuja. The statement reported that the group had “perfected plans,” but no further details on the prevented attacks were released. Six suspects were arrested in connection to the plot in late March. Comment: Last week, the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning for Nigeria, cautioning that Boko Haram had targeted government institutions. This announcement came on the same day as UNICEF reported a surge in the number of children, mostly girls, used by Boko Haram in suicide attacks, citing 17 children used in suicide attacks in 2017. Sources attribute the delay in releasing the alleged plot as due to risks associated with releasing information that could have jeopardized the investigations. (Al Jazeera, BBC, France24, The Guardian, Reuters)

SOUTH SUDAN/UGANDA: Insecurity forces thousands to flee to Uganda

Brasilia ARGENTINA: Macri faces first national workers strike

Last Thursday, President Mauricio Macri faced the first national strike of his administration, when labor unions coordinated a shut-down of the country’s major metropolitan centers to protest the government’s economic policies. The 24-hour strike started at midnight on Wednesday, halting all public transport, airports, customs, schools, universities, factories, and some government offices. Security Minister Patricia Bullrich ordered the national guard to remove the picketers from the Panamericana highway with pepper spray and water cannons, leaving seven injured and four arrested. Comment: The strike came as Macri welcomed hundreds of potential investors and foreign officials to the World Economic Forum in Buenos Aires. The protesters demanded wage increases in line with inflation, which was 40 percent last year and expected to be about 20 percent in 2017. (Clarín, La Nación, El País, Telesur 1, 2, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Reuters)

BRAZIL: Supreme Court authorizes new corruption investigation of top government officials

On Tuesday, Brazil’s Supreme Court revealed the names of several politicians to be investigated over their alleged involvement in a large-scale bribery scandal. The list of politicians includes one-third of sitting ministers and scores of top politicians for alleged corruption. The announcement threatens to destabilize President Michel Temer’s reform program to boost market confidence and attract foreign investment. Comment: The release of the list is part of a broader ongoing investigation known as Operation Car Wash, which has escalated public discontent over political corruption. Political analysists argue that this new set of corruption allegations will have negative consequences for the political coalitions and alliances facing the presidential election in 2018. (Folha de Sao Paulo, O Globo 1, 2, Al Jazeera, BBC, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal)

INDONESIA: Six suspected terrorists killed by police

MYANMAR: Three displacement camps to shut down

On Tuesday, Myanmar began shutting down three internal displacement camps in Rakhine state. The camps were set up as a result of the 2012 violence. The decision to close the camps came after the Rakhine Advisory Commission, led by former UN chief Kofi Annan, called on the government to dissolve them as part of a set of measures meant to diminish ethnic tensions in the country. According to regional news agencies, it is still uncertain where the inhabitants will be relocated. The majority of inhabitants are members of the Rohingya or Kaman Muslim minority groups. Comment: Myanmar has faced international condemnation over its treatment of minority groups, especially of the Rohingya population, who have been denied citizenship and face severe restrictions in movement, access to education, and healthcare. (Asia Times, Southeast Asia Globe, The Strait Times)

NORTH KOREA: Warning over U.S. Navy presence

North Korea has warned of “catastrophic consequences” and said it will defend itself “by powerful force of arms” in response to deployment of a US Navy strike group over the weekend. The US forces, comprised of an aircraft carrier and three other warships, has been diverted from a scheduled visit to Australia to the West Pacific. North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency quoted a foreign ministry spokesman, saying North Korea “is ready to react to any mode of war desired by the U.S.” Comment: North Korea ignored the UN resolution banning it from developing ballistic missile technology a number of times this year, with the latest test taking place just last week, on the eve of the United States – China summit. North Korea has justified the missile launches as response to the ongoing joint military exercises between U.S. and South Korean forces. (NK News, Asia Nikkei Review, Al Jazeera, BBC, The Guardian)

Researched/Written by Kanstantsin Ivanou

GERMANY/SERBIA: German leader praises Serbia’s handling of protests, encourages EU bid

On Wednesday, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel stated that Germany is ready to support Serbia joining the EU, calling Serbia an “anchor of stability” within the Balkans. Gabriel referred to the ongoing protests in Serbia as a part of democracy, and reinforced that developing positive relations with Kosovo was essential to joining the EU. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also supported the protests, calling them “an expression of Serbia’s democratic strength.” Comment: Thousands of Serbians have participated in protests for over a week demanding President Vucic’s resignation, accusing him of autocracy and election-rigging. President Vucic received 55 percent of the votes during the election, enough to prevent a runoff. (b92, DW, Reuters, AP)

REGIONAL: Finland hosts new EU-NATO disinformation center

On Tuesday, Britain, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Sweden, and the U.S. established the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats in Finland to combat foreign propaganda and misinformation campaigns. The operation will be managed by researchers from the participating countries and have an initial annual budget of USD 1.6 million, half of which will be provided by Finland. The center will coordinate with the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in Latvia and the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Estonia. Comment: All three NATO centers are stationed in countries that border Russia. Russia has been accused by several European countries of engaging in propaganda warfare. On February 22, Russia established an information warfare military task force. (NATO, Reuters, AP)

Researched/Written by Kenneth Davis

EGYPT: State of emergency declared

On Sunday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency after two bombings on Coptic Christian churches in Tanta and Alexandria killed dozens. The self-proclaimed Islamic state took responsibility for the attacks. President Sisi announced the state of emergency, which now must be approved by the House of Representatives, after a National Defense Council meeting. Under emergency law, police powers are expanded in regard to arrests, surveillance, seizures, and ability to limit freedom of movement. Comment: This is the second time Egypt has declared a state of emergency since independence. The first was after Mohammed Morsi was ousted in 2013, which was lifted in most of Egypt a few months later, with the exception of the North Sinai, where the self-proclaimed Islamic State Egyptian affiliates are based. Egypt was governed under state of emergency from 1981 to 2012. (Al Jazeera 1,2, Egyptian Streets, Mada Masr)

LIBYA: African migrants sold in slave market

SYRIA: U.S. strikes Syrian Army airbase

On Friday, the United States launched approximately 60 missiles at a government-controlled Syrian airbase, which President Donald Trump claimed was retaliation for the suspected chemical weapons attack in Idlib that killed dozens of civilians. Two U.S. warships in the Mediterranean Sea fired the missiles at the Shyrat airbase in Homs from which the U.S. believes the chemical weapons were launched. At least six people were killed in the strike. The Syrian government has stated the strike is a violation of international law and made the U.S. a “partner of terrorist groups.” The Russian government made similar remarks, stating that the strikes have inflicted “major damage on US-Russia ties.” Comment: The U.S. claims Russia was informed prior to the strike, which Russia denies. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov issued a warning to the U.S. to not repeat the strike during his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. This was the first direct U.S. military action taken against Assad’s forces since the conflict started seven years ago. (Al Jazeera 1, 2, 3, Press TV, CTV News)

Researched/Written by Raghda Karajah

BANGLADESH/INDIA: Government accepts investments and loans from India

On Monday, in a remote area of central India, more than 300 Maoist insurgents ambushed paramilitary forces deployed to guard the construction of a road through Sukma, a stronghold for the Maoists. Indian officials believe the attack aimed to thwart the construction of the road, which will provide security forces more mobility through the region. Comment: The attack is the most severe to be carried out by the rebels in the past seven years. Maoist rebels have been fighting against the government in the area for more than three decades claiming to protect the rights of tribal people and farmers who are opposed to the increased mining in the mineral-rich region. (Hindustan Times, Times of India, Al Jazeera)

INDIA: Eight killed in election violence in Kashmir

On Sunday, eight civilians died when Indian security forces fired bullets and pellets into crowds of protesters who swarmed polling stations near Srinigar. Thousands of protestors gathered at poling stations across the Budgam district in India-administered Kashmir, part of the voting boycott called by separatist leaders. The local elections were held to replace an empty parliamentary seat after a politician resigned over what he called the “anti people” agenda of the Indian government. Comment: Prior to polling, the Indian government deployed 20,000 additional troops in the area and shut down Internet access in attempts to secure a peaceful election. Srinigar, where the protests occurred, registered a low voter turnout of only 7 percent. (Hindustan Times, BBC, Reuters)

Researched/Written by Kaleigh Thomas