Overseas Security Advisory Council Daily News 2/27/2023

 

February 27, 2023

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

Africa

A separatist armed group claimed responsibility for the attack in Buea, in the English-speaking region, Reuters reports.

The United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) suspended flights in Congo's North Kivu and Ituri provinces following an attack on one of the service's helicopters last Friday.

Downpours lash Mozambique and Zimbabwe – meanwhile, unseasonably high and low temperatures hit east and west US

Nigerian presidential candidate Peter Obi, whose campaign attracted young people and urban voters fed up with corrupt politics, won most votes in the commercial hub of Lagos state, where Africa's biggest city is located.

East Asia & Pacific

The Albanese government has announced the creation of a new National Office for Cyber Security and is considering “radical” new laws giving the government greater responsibility for responding to cyber-attacks.

The United States warned China of serious consequences if it provided arms to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as Kyiv's top general visited the frontline town of Bakhmut where Ukrainian defenders were holding out against constant attacks.

An Australian-based archaeologist and two Papua New Guinea nationals have been released from captivity after being taken hostage by an armed group in a remote part of Papua New Guinea several days ago, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Sun...

A U.S. P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance military plane has flown through the Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's defence ministry said on Monday, the latest U.S. mission through the sensitive waterway separating Taiwan from China.

Europe

It started with energy but a cost of living crisis has now spread to all sectors and is affecting all of Europe and further afield. The problem has many components but the one that most concerns political leaders and affects households the most is f...

The United States warned China of serious consequences if it provided arms to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as Kyiv's top general visited the frontline town of Bakhmut where Ukrainian defenders were holding out against constant attacks.

Middle East & North Africa

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in Baghdad on Monday to denounce a draft elections law that would increase the size of the country’s electoral districts, potentially undermining independent candidates.

Israel sent hundreds more troops to the occupied West Bank on Monday, a day after a Palestinian gunman killed two Israelis and settlers rampaged through a Palestinian town, torching homes and vehicles in the worst such violence in decades.

South & Central Asia

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemns last week’s closure of the main opposition newspaper by the Bangladeshi government and the preceding two months of violence by ruling Awami League members against reporters who dare to cover subjects that are...

India's rapeseed production could remain steady in 2023 despite a record planting as yields were curtailed by frost and a heat-wave in key producing areas, farmers and industry officials told Reuters.

KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Splits within Nepal’s communist-dominated coalition plunged the Himalayan nation into crisis on Monday as a Marxist-Leninist party said it would withdraw support after the Maoist prime minister backed an opposition candidate fo...

Police in Sri Lanka fired tear gas and water cannons Sunday to disperse protesters angry over a decision to postpone local elections after the government said it cannot finance them because of the country's crippling economic crisis.

Western Hemisphere

Tens of thousands of people filled Mexico City’s vast main plaza Sunday to protest President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s electoral law changes they say threaten democracy and could mark a return to the past. The plaza is normally thought to hold n...

More than 100,000 Mexican residents crowded the Zocalo plaza near the presidential palace in Mexico City on Sunday to protest changes to the National Election Institute they charge would weaken the agency.

OSAC Analysis Unclassified OSAC analytical reports and other resources

Europe

Published: February 23, 2023

This is OSAC Ukraine situation report is released on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. It highlights pertinent health, safety, security, and logistical information to aid OSAC member...

Consular Messages - Department of State travel advisories and alerts

South & Central Asia

About 13,000 protesters have clashed with police near Hyde Park, resulting in 30-35 people being admitted to the General Hospital for injuries.

Reports indicate that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and several unions plan to protest march from Victoria Park to the Presidential Secretariat around 2 PM today (February 26). Around 4000 participants are expected.

Events - Upcoming OSAC meetings, webinars, and training courses

Global

The OSAC Academia Sector Committee cordially invites all ASC members to attend the Spring Health, Safety, & Security Seminar hosted by Vanderbilt University, April 13 - 14.

Event Start Date: March 01, 2023

All OSAC Somalia Chapter members are invited to attend meeting on Wednesday, 01MAR23 at 1300 local time. The meeting will focus local and regional ATFP issues and include a presentation from HALO Trust.

Please join the OSAC Council for a webinar on "How to Stop a Crisis" led by Michelle Newcome on 01 March 2023 at 11 a.m. ET.

The OSAC Energy Sector Committee (ESC) invites all ESC members to attend 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...

Event Start Date: March 29, 2023

Africa

The OSAC Africa Regional Committee cordially invites all Full-Access Members to attend a two-and-a-half day conference hosted at the Hilton Sandton in Johannesburg, South Africa.

East Asia & Pacific

All OSAC Pan-Asia Regional Committee (PARC) members are invited to attend the "Bouncing Back: Security in 2023 & Beyond" PARC Summit on April 26 - 27, 2023 at Bloomberg in Singapore.

Event Start Date: February 28, 2023

OSAC Manila country chapter members are invited to a virtual meeting on 28FEB2023 from 2-4 pm local.

Manila country chapter members are invited to a virtual country chapter meeting on 28FEB2023 from 2-4 pm local.

Europe

Event Start Date: March 15, 2023

Please join the OSAC Germany for a country chapter meeting on March 15, 2023.

Event Start Date: March 01, 2023

OSAC Milan - Italy Chapter will hold a hybrid Country Chapter Kickoff Meeting on Wednesday, March 1 at 9:00am local time.

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

All OSAC Pan-Asia Regional Committee (PARC) members are invited to attend the "Bouncing Back: Security in 2023 & Beyond" PARC Summit on April 26 - 27, 2023 at Bloomberg in Singapore.

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: March 06, 2023

Join OSAC Bahamas for a Chapter Revitalization meeting on Monday, March 6 at 3:00 PM ET!

Event Start Date: March 02, 2023

All OSAC Barbados Chapter members are invited to attend an in-person meeting on Thursday, March 2 at 14:00 Bridgetown local.

Join the OSAC Energy Sector Committee (ESC) on Tuesday, February 28, 2023, at 12:00 PM EST for the second session of the ESC's monthly "coffee chat" series. This session will highlight country-level threats in Mexico, how threats translate into spec...

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.

Comments