Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The total number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in Africa reached 1,497,391, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced.
- AMERICAS: Thousands of protesters marched through central Mexico City in one of the biggest demonstrations against President Andrés Manuel López Obrador since he took office nearly two years ago.
- ASIA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo defended his record of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, asking for no “polemics” or “commotion” amid criticism that he is putting the economy over public health.
- EUROPE: Azerbaijani ground troops have started a fresh, large-scale attack on the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, according to Armenia’s Defence Ministry, which reported “heavy fighting” despite repeated international calls for a ceasefire.
- MIDDLE EAST: Police arrested more than 30 people in Tel Aviv in connection with demonstrations against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which have continued despite new restrictions on the right to protest
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: A former Chinese government official in his late twenties was in charge of choosing what content should be allowed on TikTok as the short-video app became successful globally, according to two people close to the company.
Top Story
- United States: The status of President Trump’s health remains unsure as exact details remain elusive.
- The White House notes that President Trump remains on the job despite his hospitalization for COVID-19, and there are no current plans for Vice President Pence to assume temporary presidential authority.
- President Donald Trump told Americans from Walter Reed hospital that the next few days will be the “real test” of his treatment for COVID-19.
- In the latest update from President Trump’s physician, Dr. Sean Conley, has said “while not yet out of the woods, the team remains cautiously optimistic” about the president’s condition.
- Another source familiar with the president’s treatment also confirmed that he had required supplemental oxygen Friday morning.
- Reporting: WaPo, Reuters. BBC, AP,
Africa
- Region: The total number of confirmed COVID-19 positive cases in Africa reached 1,497,391, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) announced. (Xinhua)
- Rwanda: The military said it had captured 19 members of a Burundian rebel group, Red Tabara, after entering the nation illegally. (Xinhua)
- Tunisia: Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi announced a series of new measures to limit the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the country. (Xinhua)
Americas
- Region: Hundreds of Honduran migrants who wished to head to the United States who entered Guatemala without registering are now being bused back to their country’s border by authorities who met them with an enormous roadblock. (AP)
- Bolivia: After a 10-day hunger strike, medical workers decided to increase pressure on the country’s legislature to pass a bill to allocate 10 percent of the state budget to the health sector. (Xinhua)
- Mexico: Thousands of protesters marched through central Mexico City in one of the biggest demonstrations against President Andrés Manuel López Obrador since he took office nearly two years ago. (Reuters)
Asia
- China: Beijing is set to expand the program that administers experimental COVID-19 vaccines as domestic developers seek to dominate global supplies. (FT)
- Hong Kong: The U.S. said it condemns the arrest of dozens of protesters in Hong Kong during demonstrations to protest China’s National Day earlier this week. (DPA)
- Indonesia: President Joko Widodo defended his record of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, asking for no “polemics” or “commotion” amid criticism that he is putting the economy over public health. (Reuters)
- South Korea: The nation will launch a national census this month, with census workers taking extra precautions amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Statistics Korea reported. (YNA)
Europe
- Region: Azerbaijani ground troops have started a fresh, large-scale attack on the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh territory, according to Armenia’s Defence Ministry, which reported “heavy fighting” despite repeated international calls for a ceasefire. (DPA)
- Germany: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany increased by 2,279 to 299,237, information from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases reported. (Reuters)
- United Kingdom: Home Secretary Priti Patel has declared her commitment to delivering the “biggest overhaul” of the UK’s asylum system in “decades.” (BBC)
Middle East
- Egypt: The nation recorded 109 new COVID-19 infections, bringing the total number of cases in the country since the start of the pandemic to 103,575, said the health ministry. (Xinhua)
- Israel: Police arrested more than 30 people in Tel Aviv during demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which have continued despite new restrictions on the right to protest. (DPA)
- Kuwait: The state-run Petroleum Corporation (KPC) has agreed on a 1 billion-dinar ($3.27 billion) loan with the National Bank (NBK), the bank said in a statement. (Reuters)
- Saudi Arabia: A limited number of pilgrims were allowed to travel to Islam’s holiest site in Mecca after the nation lifted pandemic restrictions that had been in place for months. (AP)
Tech & Communications
- Social Media: A former Chinese government official in his late twenties was in charge of choosing what content should be allowed on TikTok as the short-video app became successful globally, according to two people close to the company. (FT)
World
- Cyclones:
- Tropical Storm Gamma
- Location:22N 88.2W
- Movement: N
- Wind:50 mph
- Map
- Tropical Storm Gamma
- Hurricanes:
- Hurricane Marie:
- Location:20.1N 128.1W
- Movement: NW
- Wind:105 mph
- Map
- Hurricane Marie:
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 04OCT20: 34,928,536
- Total Recovered Cases as of 04OCT20: 24,321,314
- Deaths as of 04OCT20: 1,033,511
- 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 26SEP20: 118
- Probable Cases as of 26SEP20: 6
- Deaths as of 26SEP20: 50
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (05OCT20)
- Americas/Asia-Pacific: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo may visit Japan.
- The Czech Republic: The nation will begin a 30-day state of emergency.
- Eurasia/Europe: Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya to visit Germany, meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
- MENA/Europe: Turkey and Greece military delegations to meet at NATO headquarters in Brussels for the next round of de-escalation talks focused on the Eastern Mediterranean.
- Morocco: The country is to reopen schools for in-person classes in Casablanca after COVID-19 related closure.
- Pakistan: The nation closes 300,000-ton tender for wheat imports.
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