06DEC20 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: South Africa reported 4,932 additional COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 805,804, the country’s health ministry announced.
AMERICAS: “Directed” radio frequency is the most plausible explanation for mysterious symptoms experienced by diplomats stationed in U.S. embassies in Havana and elsewhere, a U.S. government report noted.
ASIA: Japan, France, and the United States will hold joint military drills on land and sea for the first time in May next year as the Chinese military steps up activity in the region, the Sankei newspaper reported.
EUROPE: Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has a “very strong view” that a trade deal can be reached between Britain and the European Union, Ireland’s Sunday Independent newspaper reported.
MIDDLE EAST: Saudi Arabia says the Gulf states must be consulted if a US nuclear agreement with Iran is revived, noting it is the only path towards a sustainable agreement.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: China’s Chang’e-5 lunar probe successfully completed a remote-controlled rendezvous and docking maneuver in lunar orbit, according to the National Space Administration.

Top Story

Venezuela: The nation prepares for parliamentary elections that are seen as a sham by the international community.
- Polling places in Venezuela open to elect members of the National Assembly in a vote endorsed by President Nicolás Maduro but rejected as a fraud by the nation’s most influential opposition politicians.
- Turnout is expected to be quite low, as the main opposition candidates have demanded the people to boycott the vote to deny the election legitimacy.
- The vote, heavily believed to be fraudulent, is almost certain to return congress to Maduro’s allies despite his government’s economic problems.
- National Assembly leader Juan Guaido’s mandate is due to expire on January 5th when the new assembly is due to take power; possibly leading to more civilian strife.
- Reporting: AP, CNN, Reuters, BBC

Africa

Ethiopia: The war in the northern Tigray region has severely hampered efforts to fight one of Africa’s worst COVID-19 outbreaks, as the fighting has displaced almost 1 million people and strained local humanitarian services to the breaking point. (AP)
South Africa: The nation reported 4,932 additional COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 805,804, the country’s health ministry announced. (Xinhua)
Tanzania: President John Magufuli announced the appointment of 21 new ministers and 23 deputy ministers. (Xinhua)

Americas

Cuba: “Directed” radio frequency is the most plausible explanation for mysterious symptoms experienced by diplomats stationed in U.S. embassies in Havana and elsewhere, a U.S. government report noted. (Reuters)
United States: At his first rally since Joe Biden won the US election last month, US President Donald Trump told a crowd in Valdosta in the state of Georgia that he considers himself the winner of the election and vowed to continue fighting the result. (DPA)
United States: A large part of Southern California, much of the San Francisco Bay area, and a large swath of the Central Valley are about to be placed under a new lockdown in an urgent attempt to reduce the rapid rise of COVID-19 cases. (AP)

Asia

Hong Kong: Former Hong Kong lawmaker Ted Hui stated that his local bank accounts appeared to have been frozen after he said he would seek exile in Britain to continue his pro-democratic activities. (Reuters)
Japan: The nation, along with France, and the United States will hold joint military drills on land and sea for the first time in May next year as the Chinese military steps up activity in the region, the Sankei newspaper reported. (Reuters)
Mongolia: The nation confirmed seven more COVID-19 cases after 14,019 tests have been conducted in the past 24 hours, the country’s National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) reported. (Xinhua)
South Korea: The daily number of COVID-19 cases bounced back to over 600, as authorities decided to raise social distancing measures to Level 2.5 in the greater Seoul area to curb the relentless surge in COVID-19 transmissions. (YNA)

Europe

Region: A Russian pipe-laying ship is beginning to resume construction of a natural-gas pipeline in the Baltic Sea that the United States, Ukraine, and other countries have strongly opposed. (RFE)
Region: Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney has a “very strong view” that a trade deal can be reached between Britain and the European Union, Ireland’s Sunday Independent newspaper reported. (Reuters)
Romania: Voters have started lining up for parliamentary elections. (DPA)
Russia: The nation reported a record high of 29,039 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the national total to 2,460,770 since the pandemic began. (Reuters)

Middle East

Region: Saudi Arabia says the Gulf states must be consulted if a US nuclear agreement with Iran is revived, noting it is the only path towards a sustainable agreement. (The Guardian)
Region: A prominent Saudi prince harshly criticized Israel at a Bahrain security summit that was remotely attended by Israel’s foreign minister. (AP)
Qatar: National stocks were up in early trade after weekend news that a resolution to a dispute with some of the country’s Arab neighbors seemed within reach. (Reuters)

Tech & Communications

Space: China’s Chang’e-5 lunar probe successfully completed a remote-controlled rendezvous and docking maneuver in lunar orbit, according to the National Space Administration. (DPA)

World

Cyclones:
- Tropical Storm Burevi
  - Location:9N 79.4E
  - Movement: WNW
  - Wind:35 mph
  - Map
Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
  - Confirmed Cases as of 06DEC20: 66,608,379
  - Total Recovered Cases as of 06DEC20: 42,841,043
  - Deaths as of 06DEC20: 1,529,969
  - Countries with Confirmed Cases: 191
  - Sourcing: John Hopkins University

Tomorrow’s Outlook (07DEC20)

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