02NOV21 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: Human Rights Watch called for an independent probe into the deadly crackdown on protests that rocked Eswatini in June.
AMERICAS: A US nuclear submarine which was severely damaged last month in the South China Sea struck an uncharted seamount and not another vessel, the navy said.
ASIA: Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi was named secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after incumbent Akira Amari lost his legislative seat in Sunday’s elections.
EUROPE: Ukraine denied reports of a Russian military build-up near its eastern border that raised fears of a new escalation in fighting with separatists.
MIDDLE EAST: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tested positive for COVID-19 at a key moment in diplomatic efforts to restore the 2015 nuclear agreement.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: The US National Labor Relations Board announced a hearing on a petition by Amazon workers in Staten Island to unionize their warehouse.

Top Story

Afghanistan: Twin blasts reported near military hospital in Kabul.
- At least 15 people were killed and 34 wounded when two explosions followed by gunfire hit Afghanistan’s biggest military hospital in Kabul.
- Interior Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khosty wrote in a tweet that the blast went off at one of the gates to Sardar Mohammad Dawood Khan military hospital.
- Despite reports about a suicide attack, a Taliban official said the nature of the incident is not yet clear as investigations are underway.
- The Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP) has intensified its campaign of attacks against Taliban targets and Afghanistan’s Shiite minority in recent weeks, but there is no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.
- The explosions were the latest in a string of attacks in the weeks since the Taliban seized power in August.
- Reuters, AP, DPA, WSJ, AFP

Africa

Burkina Faso: Officials said Jihadists killed around 10 civilians in the country’s north, while four people were suspected to have been kidnapped. (AFP)
Eswatini: Human Rights Watch called for an independent probe into the deadly crackdown on protests that rocked Africa’s last absolute monarchy, in June. (AFP)
Ethiopia: Authorities in Addis Ababa urged residents to defend their neighborhoods after rebellious forces from Tigray region indicated they might advance on the city. (Reuters)
Sudan: UN Envoy Volker Perthes said that mediation efforts both in Khartoum and abroad are underway to find a solution for the country’s political transition. (AFP)

Americas

Mexico: National Guard officers opened fire when a pickup truck carrying migrants rammed a patrol vehicle while trying to avoid an immigration checkpoint, killing one. (AP)
Nicaragua: Facebook’s parent company Meta shut down a “troll farm” run by the government days before presidential elections are set to be held in the Central American country. (DPA)
United States: A nuclear submarine which was severely damaged last month in the South China Sea struck an uncharted seamount and not another vessel, the navy said. (AFP)
United States: The Department of Energy announced a $199 million grant to reduce emissions from cars and trucks. (Reuters)

Asia

China: Beijing said that President Xi Jinping was not given an opportunity to deliver a video address to the COP26 climate talks in Scotland and sent a written response instead. (Reuters)
Indonesia: The government decided to reduce the mandatory quarantine period for citizens and foreigners from five to three days. (Xinhua)
Japan: Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi was named secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party after incumbent Akira Amari lost his legislative seat in Sunday’s elections. (Reuters)
Myanmar: Former US diplomat and hostage negotiator Bill Richardson arrived in the country on a “private humanitarian mission.” (AFP)
Vietnam: The country’s delegation to COP26 in Glasgow announced a target of carbon emission neutrality by 2050. (Reuters)

Europe

France: A British scallop dredger seized by authorities is still being held at the port of Le Havre after a British minister said the vessel was released. (Reuters)
Germany: Conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) are coming together to search for a new leader, as it suffers the consequences of a poor election result in September. (DPA)
Romania: Prime Minister designate Nicolae Ciuca failed to form a new government, sending the country back into political crisis. (AFP)
Spain: Energy minister Teresa Ribera said the country has accumulated natural gas reserves equivalent to 43 days of consumption. (Reuters)
Ukraine: Kyiv denied reports of a Russian military build-up near its eastern border that raised fears of a new escalation in fighting with separatists. (AFP)

Middle East

Bahrain: The Gulf state approved the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use for children aged between 5 and 11 years. (Reuters)
Egypt: Ten peacekeepers from the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) were wounded by shots fired by the presidential guard in Bangui. (AFP)
Iran: Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian tested positive for COVID-19 at a key moment in diplomatic efforts to restore the 2015 nuclear agreement. (AFP)
Israel: The UK government apologized to energy minister Karine Elharrar who could not attend the COP26 summit because it was not wheelchair accessible. (BBC)

Tech & Communications

Technology: The US National Labor Relations Board announced a hearing on a petition by Amazon workers in Staten Island to unionize their warehouse. (Reuters)

World

Cyclones: Nothing to report
Hurricanes:
- Tropical Storm Wanda
  - Location: 35.0N 40.9W
  - Movement: ENE
  - Wind: 50 mph
  - Map
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes:
  - La Palma, Spain
    - Explosive activity continues
    - Erupting
    - Source
  - Global Disease Outbreaks:
    - COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 02NOV21)
      - Confirmed cases: 247,129,785
      - Deaths: 5,005,638
      - Countries with confirmed cases: 192
      - Sourcing: John Hopkins University

Tomorrow’s Outlook (03NOV21)

Event: Hudson Institute discussion on President Biden’s trade policy for Asia.
Event: Florida Democrats and Venezuelan community leaders discuss GOP Sen. Rubio’s ‘failure’ on immigration (virtual).
Denmark: Nordic Council Annual Meeting. (to 05NOV)
Dominica: Independence Day.
Ecuador: Independence Day of Cuenca.
France: Visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Japan: Culture Day.
Lebanon: Visit by UN Special Rapporteur Olivier De Schutter (to 12NOV)
Maldives: Victory Day.
Micronesia: Independence Day.
Panama: Separation Day.
Russia: Non-working week. (to 07NOV)
United Kingdom: Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow. (to 12NOV)
United States: Court hearing in sexual assault lawsuit against the UK’s Prince Andrew.
United States: Senate Foreign Relations Committee top secret briefing on cybersecurity.

END