07SEP21 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: Politicians from dozens of political parties campaigned for the last day, trying to reach out to millions of Moroccans despite social distancing measures a day before legislative, regional and local elections.
AMERICAS: Venezuela’s government and opposition found common ground on two fronts, including the country’s pandemic response, in a step towards ending a long-standing political crisis.
ASIA: South Korea’s military was closely watching North Korea amid signs the country was preparing to hold a new military parade to showcase its growing nuclear and missile capabilities.
EUROPE: Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel painted a rosy picture of her government’s record and set upon the possibility of a future left-wing administration.
MIDDLE EAST: The Taliban dispersed dozens of people protesting in Kabul against Pakistan’s involvement in Afghanistan’s affairs.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt bitcoin as its legal tender.

Top Story

United States: COVID-19 cases surpass 40 million over Labor Day weekend.
- The U.S. has exceeded 40 million Covid-19 cases since the start of the pandemic, as the fourth wave brought on by the delta variant continues to spread.
- According to Johns Hopkins University, Daily coronavirus infections are more than four times what the U.S. saw last year on Labor Day, a 316% increase.
- Vaccines are effective in preventing severe disease and death, but only 47% of Americans are still unvaccinated.
- As of Monday, there were more than 161,000 new coronavirus cases a day last week and about 100,000 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized nationwide.
- The U.S. is also averaging more than 1,500 deaths a day for the first time since March, and daily totals have risen fivefold since the beginning of August.
- NBC News, USA Today, NYT, China Daily, Market Watch

Africa

Guinea: The military promised a transitional government of national unity after ousting President Alpha Conde and dissolving his cabinet. (Reuters)
Morocco: Politicians from dozens of political parties campaigned for the last day, trying to reach out to millions of citizens despite social distancing measures a day before legislative, regional and local elections. (AP)
Nigeria: The country’s Center for Disease Control said the death toll from cholera since January has hit 2,141 among more than 65,000 suspected cases. (Xinhua)
Uganda: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that thirteen citizens have been evacuated from Afghanistan. (Xinhua)

Americas

Brazil: The country prepared for Independence Day demonstrations by supporters of President Jair Bolsonaro, who has called for a show of support for his attacks on the Supreme Court that are rattling Latin America’s largest democracy. (Reuters)
Bolivia: Police and witnesses said that at least 23 people, including three children, were killed after a bus plunged off a cliff in the central region. (AFP)
Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attacked his main rival Erin O’Toole for rambling on gun control and vaccine mandates as the campaign enters its final stretch ahead of the Sept. 20 election. (Reuters)
Venezuela: The government and opposition found common ground on two fronts, including the country’s pandemic response, in a step towards ending a long-standing political crisis. (AFP)

Asia

Region: South Korea’s military was closely watching North Korea amid signs the country was preparing to hold a new military parade to showcase its growing nuclear and missile capabilities. (AP)
China: State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will pay official visits to Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) from Sept. 10 to 15. (Xinhua)
Japan: The country has agreed to buy 150 million doses of Novavax’s COVID-19 vaccine. (AFP)
South Korea: Seoul has successfully launched a homegrown submarine-launched ballistic missile, as it seeks to build up its forces to defend itself from the North. (AFP)
Vietnam: A court found Le Van Tri guilty of “transmitting dangerous infectious diseases” to eight people, one of whom eventually died, and has been sentenced to five years in jail. (BBC)

Europe

Belarus: Maria Kolesnikova, one of the leaders of mass street protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, was sentenced to 11 years in prison. (Reuters)
Germany: Outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel painted a rosy picture of her government’s record and set upon the possibility of a future left-wing administration. (AP)
Italy: The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said the economy will grow by 5.9 percent in 2021 and return to the levels registered in 2019 by the first half of next year. (Xinhua)
Turkey: Ankara said there was “no need to rush” in recognizing the Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan, adding that the country was still holding talks about operating Kabul airport. (AFP)
United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson will address lawmakers on his plans to fix the country’s social care system, with many in his own party furious that he wants to pay for it by hiking taxes in a clear breach of his election pledges. (Reuters)

Middle East

Afghanistan: The Taliban dispersed dozens of people protesting in Kabul against Pakistan’s involvement in the country’s affairs. (AFP)
Israel: The army said it launched airstrikes on a Hamas military site in the Gaza Strip after balloons were sent into the country. (AP)
Qatar: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin opened talks in the country as they try to speed up evacuations from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. (AFP)
United Arab Emirates: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said there was a positive momentum in Ankara’s discussions with Abu Dhabi to end a years-long rift and that ties could come back on track if the momentum was maintained. (Reuters)

Tech & Communications

Technology: El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt bitcoin as its legal tender. (WSJ)

World

Tomorrow’s Outlook (08SEP21)

Event: Wilson Center discussion on Germany’s relations with China and Russia.
Event: CSIS discussion on military challenges to NATO enlargement.
Event: CSIS discussion on U.S.-ROK alliance with Dem Rep. Ami Bera and GOP Rep. Young Kim.
Global: G7 Interior and Security Ministers Meeting opens in London. (to 09SEP)
Armenia: Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan visiting Georgia.
Asia: Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn visiting South Korea to discuss bilateral ties/cooperation.
Europe: Eurofi Financial Forum in Slovenia. (to 10SEP)
Europe/Americas:S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to visit Germany and meet with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and visit Ramstein Air Base.
Israel: Rosh Hashanah.
Japan: Revised growth figures for second quarter of 2021 revealed.
Morocco: Parliamentary, Regional, and Municipal Elections.
North Macedonia: Independence Day.
South Korea: Gyeonggi province to host international summit on data sovereignty.

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