Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The US urged a fair trial for “Hotel Rwanda” hero Paul Rusesabagina, after concerns grew over the mysterious manner of his arrest and return to Rwanda.
- AMERICAS: Tropical Storm Nana strengthened into a hurricane and is on a collision course with Belize, as people stock-up on food, water and construction materials in response.
- ASIA: Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil met with Taiwan’s leader Tsai Ing-wen and other top government officials.
- EUROPE: Prominent Slovakian businessman Marian Kocner was acquitted of ordering the 2018 murder of an investigative journalist and his fiancee, in a case that rocked Slovakia.
- MIDDLE EAST: Airstrikes presumed to have been carried out by Israel in Syria’s eastern region killed 16 Iran-backed fighters, just hours after Syria said it intercepted Israeli missiles fired at a central air base.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Europe’s Vega rocket was launched from French Guiana in its first mission since a failed launch last year, carrying 53 small satellites from 13 client countries with it.
Top Story
- United States: CDC tells states to prep for COVID-19 vaccine distribution by November.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told states to make preparations for distributing a coronavirus vaccine on November 01, or even earlier for high-risk and high-priority groups.
- CDC documents show two vaccines in contention, and although they only have been referred to as Vaccine A and Vaccine B in official documents, the technical details of the vaccines match the vaccines being tested by Moderna and Pfizer.
- The CDC also said the vaccines would either be approved as licensed vaccines or given emergency use authorization, and both would likely need to be administered twice.
- Reporting: NYT, Reuters, AP, WaPo, WSJ, CNN
Africa
- Ethiopia: The US suspended some aid to the country due to the “lack of progress” in the talks between the country and Egypt and Sudan over the disputed GERD project that is being completing on the Nile River. (AP)
- Libya: Russia reportedly increased its logistical support for the mercenary group, the Wagner Group, in the country. (Reuters)
- Rwanda: The US urged a fair trial for “Hotel Rwanda” hero Paul Rusesabagina, after concerns grew over the mysterious manner of his arrest and return to the country. (AFP)
Americas
- Belize: Tropical Storm Nana strengthened into a hurricane and is on a collision course with the country, as people stock-up on food, water and construction materials in response. (AP)
- Brazil: The Senate voted in favor of a bill that tightens safety rules and inspections for dams in the mining industry and sets-up fines of $187 million if companies fail to comply. (Reuters)
- Venezuela: Embattled President Nicolas Maduro’s forces released dozens of people imprisoned for political reasons after pardoning 110 government opponents, in a move that is being dismissed by the opposition as a ploy to counter criticism of the December 06 parliamentary elections. (DPA)
Asia
- Region: At least two reportedly died and thousands others left temporarily without power after Typhoon Maysak crashed into the Korean peninsula, bringing with it heavy rains and lashing winds to areas that only recently dealt with Typhoon Bavi. (Reuters)
- Taiwan: Czech Senate President Milos Vystrcil met with the country’s leader Tsai Ing-wen and other top government officials. (AP)
- Thailand: The police asked courts to accept their request to revoke the bail of two top leaders of the country’s growing anti-government protest movement. (AP)
Europe
- Region: Germany said there was “unequivocal proof” that Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Navalny a victim of attempted murder. (BBC)
- France: The government introduced a new $118 billion recovery plan that seeks to create jobs, save under-pressure businesses and pull the country out of its worst economic slump since World War II that it fell into due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (AP)
- Slovakia: Prominent businessman Marian Kocner was acquitted of ordering the 2018 murder of an investigative journalist and his fiancee, in a case that rocked the country. (AFP)
Middle East
- Region: Airstrikes presumed to have been carried out by Israel in Syria’s eastern region killed 16 Iran-backed fighters, just hours after Syria said it intercepted Israeli missiles fired at a central air base. (AFP)
- Region: The US Justice Department said it seized websites used by the Iran-backed terrorist organization Kataib Hezbollah to destabilize the political situation in Iraq. (UPI)
- Iraq: The government denied media reports that it was seeking an exemption from OPEC’s oil cuts pact for the first quarter of 2021. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Space: Europe’s Vega rocket was launched from French Guiana in its first mission since a failed launch last year, carrying 53 small satellites from 13 client countries with it. (AFP)
World
- Cyclones:
- Hurricanes:
- Hurricane Nana
- Location: 210 miles E-NE of Limon, Honduras
- Wind: 60 mph
- Movement: W at 16 mph
- Map
- Hurricane Nana
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 03SEP20: 26,056,777
- Total Recovered Cases as of 03SEP20: 17,312,020
- Deaths as of 03SEP20: 863,577
- Countries with Confirmed Cases: 188
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (11th Ebola outbreak figures from Equateur Province)
- Confirmed Cases as of 30AUG20: 103
- Probable Cases as of 30AUG20: 6
- Deaths as of 30AUG20: 47
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (04SEP20)
- Global: Senior Chinese foreign affairs official Yang Jiechi will visit Myanmar, Spain and Greece.
- Global: Defense Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to hold a meeting in Russia.
- Global: The foreign ministers of BRICS countries are set to hold a meeting.
- Belarus: Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya was invited to speak at the UN Security Council by Estonia.
- United States: The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo will meet at the White House.
- United States: The government will release unemployment data for August.
- Zimbabwe: The corruption trial of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko to be held.
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