02NOV20 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: Senior Tanzanian opposition figure Freeman Mbowe was arrested by the police according to presidential candidate Tundu Lissu.
AMERICAS: The election campaigns of US President Donald Trump and his opponent former Vice President Joe Biden are set to visit crucial swing states, including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio, on the eve of the presidential election.
ASIA: A group of gunmen attacked Afghanistan’s Kabul University ahead of a book fair and injured at least six people in the process but the Taliban deny any involvement in the attack.
EUROPE: US whistleblower Edward Snowden said he applied for Russian citizenship to avoid being separated from his family.
MIDDLE EAST: Iran’s aging fleet of US and Russian-made fighter jets, as well as indigenous drones and other aircraft, started an annual drill according to state media.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Russian government-backed Twitter accounts reportedly nurtured the QAnon conspiracy theory in its initial stages earlier than previously thought.

Top Story

Asia: Philippines hit by the world’s strongest storm of the year.
- Authorities in the Philippines are rushing to assess the damage caused by Super Typhoon Goni, the world’s strongest storm of 2020 whose peak winds reached 195 mph.
- At least 16 people died due to the typhoon and thousands of homes left damaged across the Philippines, with the hardest hit region being the Catanduanes province, which was struck by the typhoon first.
- The Catanduanes island province was also temporarily cut off from all communications with the rest of the country due to the typhoon, but authorities say they have managed to reestablish contact with the province today.
- The typhoon largely missed capital city Manila but struck at least 125 other cities and towns across the country, displacing around 370,000 people in the process according to government officials.
- President Rodrigo Duterte is set to undertake an aerial inspection of the damage caused by the typhoon.
- Reporting: Reuters, BBC, AP, WaPo

Africa

Algeria: The public largely snubbed a referendum on the constitution aimed at ending the country’s Hirak protest movement. (AFP)
Angola: Authorities in Dubai say they don’t suspect foul play in the death of Isabel dos Santos’s husband, who are both been mired in corruption scandals. (AP)
Ivory Coast: Opposition leaders demanded a “civil transition” after the country’s recent presidential election that they boycotted due to the illegality of President Alassane Ouattara running for a third term in office. (BBC)
Tanzania: Senior opposition figure Freeman Mbowe was arrested by the police according to presidential candidate Tundu Lissu. (Reuters)

Americas

Region: Tropical Storm Eta is heading towards Central America, in what is becoming an almost record-breaking year for the Atlantic hurricane system. (AP)
Brazil: Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello’s two-day stint in hospital for dehydration ended. (AFP)
Colombia: Almost 2,000 former FARC rebels staged rallies in capital city Bogota to protest the murder of 236 former rebels since the signing of the 2016 peace agreement. (AFP)
United States: The election campaigns of President Donald Trump and his opponent former Vice President Joe Biden are set to visit crucial swing states, including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio, on the eve of the presidential election. (Reuters)

Asia

Afghanistan: A group of gunmen attacked Kabul University ahead of a book fair and injured at least six people in the process but the Taliban deny any involvement in the attack. (BBC)
Bangladesh: The country witnessed its largest anti-France demonstrations yet, as 50,000 people took to the streets of capital city Dhaka to protest French President Emmanuel Macron. (VOA)
Indonesia: Thousands of workers took to the streets across the country in protest of a new jobs law that critics say will weaken labor rights and corrode environmental protections. (AP)

Europe

France: The trial of the suspects of the 2015 Charlie Hebdo attacks were delayed by at least one week after three defendants tested positive for coronavirus. (AFP)
Georgia: The ruling Georgian Dream party claimed victory in the country’s recent parliamentary elections but the opposition alleged vote-rigging and staged a protest outside the Parliament building. (VOA)
Germany: The country entered a new four week-long coronavirus lockdown amid a surge in coronavirus infections. (DPA)
Russia: US whistleblower Edward Snowden said he applied for Russian citizenship to avoid being separated from his family. (Reuters)

Middle East

Iran: Tehran’s aging fleet of US and Russian-made fighter jets, as well as indigenous drones and other aircraft, started an annual drill according to state media reports. (AP)
Iraq: A fresh wave of anti-government protests in capital city Baghdad and the southern city of Basra descended into clashes. (AFP)
Israel: The military said it demolished the West Bank home of Khalil Dweikat who is accused of stabbing one of the country’s citizens in August. (AP)

Tech & Communications

Social Media: Russian government-backed Twitter accounts reportedly nurtured the QAnon conspiracy theory in its initial stages earlier than previously thought. (Reuters)

World

Cyclones:
- Super Typhoon Goni
  - Location: 562 nautical miles E of Da Nang, Vietnam
  - Wind: 35 mph
  - Movement: W-NW at 9 mph
  - Map
Hurricanes:
- Hurricane Eta
  - Location: 165 nautical miles E-NE of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua
  - Wind: 90 mph
  - Movement: W at 9 mph
  - Map
Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
Global Disease Outbreaks:

Tomorrow’s Outlook (03NOV20)

Global: The WHO will hold a meeting on coronavirus vaccines.
Africa: Sudan, Egypt, and Ethiopia will resume talks over Ethiopia’s GERD dam on the river Nile. (to 07NOV)
Europe: The Finance Ministers of Eurozone countries will virtually hold a Eurogroup meeting.
Europe: The OSCE Mediterranean Conference will be held virtually.
Australia: The country’s Reserve Bank will hold a board meeting.
China: Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam will reportedly visit. (to 05NOV)
Cyprus: President Nicos Anastasiades will meet with the Turkey-backed leader of North Cyprus Ersin Tatar for the first time.
Dominica: Independence Day – 1978
Germany: The process to decide Chancellor Angela Merkel’s successor as party leader of the country’s ruling Christian Democratic Union party will begin.
Germany: The Federal Administrative Court will rule on lawsuits related to the controversial Fehmarn tunnel project between the country and Denmark.
Greece: A new nationwide partial coronavirus lockdown will be imposed.
Libya: The 5+5 Joint Military Commission will meet within the country itself for the first time in the city of Ghadames. (to 04NOV)
Palau: Presidential and parliamentary elections will be held.
Panama: Independence Day/Separation Day – 1903
United States: Presidential, Congressional and gubernatorial elections will be held.

END