08NOV21 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: A rebel leader fighting the Ethiopian government said his troops are near the capital and preparing another attack, predicting the war would end “very soon” as diplomats rush to negotiate a ceasefire.
AMERICAS: Nicaraguan incumbent Daniel Ortega won re-election with 75 percent of votes securing a fourth consecutive five-year term for the long-term president.
ASIA: Japan reported no daily COVID-19 deaths for the first time in 15 months as infections decline rapidly.
EUROPE: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced pressure to appear before lawmakers debating the standards system, as days of sleaze and cronyism claims against his government intensified with new revelations.
MIDDLE EAST: A top Arab League official is in Beirut to explore ways to resolve an unprecedented diplomatic rift between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia that emerged following comments by the Lebanese information minister.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Tesla Inc shares fell 5.4% in premarket trading as investors prepared for its chief Elon Musk’s proposed sale of about a tenth of his holdings in the electric-car maker following his Twitter poll.

Top Story

China: 19th CPC Central Committee holds sixth plenary session.
- President Xi Jinping appears to be laying the foundation for a third term in power as top officials from the all-powerful Communist Party meet in Beijing this week.
- Around 400 members of the Communist party’s powerful Central Committee gathered in Beijing for the four-day plenary, which is being held behind closed doors.
- President Xi Jinping delivered a work report on behalf of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and made explanations on a draft resolution on the major achievements and historical experience of the CPC’s 100 years of endeavors.
- The draft resolution would be only the third time in the party’s 100-year history that such a document was adopted, after 1945 and 1981 securing President Xi’s grip on power in the lead up to the Communist Party Congress in 2022.
- The ‘historical resolution’ is likely to be less significant than the others and more about reaffirming Xi Jinping’s authority and policies.
- AP, AFP, Xinhua, DPA. SCMP

Africa

Ethiopia: A rebel leader fighting the government said his troops are near the capital and preparing another attack, predicting the war would end “very soon” as diplomats rush to negotiate a ceasefire. (AFP)
Mali: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on the Malian transitional authorities in response to their inability to meet the transition deadline of February 2022 for holding elections. (Xinhua)
Sierra Leone: President Julius Maada Bio declared three days of national mourning from Monday to Wednesday for the 108 lives lost in a fuel tanker explosion. (Xinhua)
Sudan: General Commander of the Armed Forces Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan reiterated his commitment to democratic transition in the country. (Xinhua)

Americas

Region: Dozens of crossings at the Mexico-United States border reopened to non-essential travel after a 20-month closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
Colombia: The Ministry of National Defense confirmed at least four soldiers were killed in an ambush carried out by members of the Gulf Clan near the municipality of Ituango. (Xinhua)
Ecuador: A plane-spotting radar to curtail drug trafficking was hit by a non-deadly explosion, according to authorities who said a “terrorist” attack could not be ruled out. (AFP)
Nicaragua: Incumbent Daniel Ortega won re-election with 75 percent of votes securing a fourth consecutive five-year term for the long-term president. (AFP)

Asia

Region: Leaders of the Asia-Pacific trade group APEC will focus on the region’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, emphasizing supply chain support and decarbonizing economies. (Reuters)
China: Satellite images show the country has built mock-ups of US warships in its northwestern desert, possibly to practice for a future naval clash. (AP)
Indonesia: The country plans to give booster shots to the general public after 50% of its population has been fully vaccinated. (Reuters)
Japan: The country reported no daily COVID-19 deaths for the first time in 15 months as infections decline rapidly. (AP)
Singapore: The High Court halted the imminent execution of a Malaysian man believed to be mentally disabled, amid pleas from the international community and rights groups. (WaPo)

Europe

France: Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said a police official was injured after being stabbed with a knife in Cannes, and his assailant has been “neutralized.” (AFP)
Germany: The country’s coronavirus infection rate has climbed to its highest recorded level yet as the “pandemic of the unvaccinated” gathers pace. (AP)
Poland: Authorities said hundreds of migrants in Belarus were heading to the border aiming to force their way into the country. (AFP)
Spain: Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares called the landslide reelection of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega to a fourth straight term “a farce”. (AFP)
United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced pressure to appear before lawmakers debating the standards system, as days of sleaze and cronyism claims against his government intensified with new revelations. (AFP)

Middle East

Region: A top Arab League official is in Beirut to explore ways to resolve an unprecedented diplomatic rift between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia that emerged following comments by the Lebanese information minister. (AP)
Iraq: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the assassination attempt against Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. (Xinhua)
Jordan: Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen and discussed efforts to achieve a political solution to the Syrian crisis. (Xinhua)
Kuwait: The government submitted its resignation to the ruling emir, a move that could help end a standoff with opposition lawmakers that has hindered fiscal reform. (Reuters)

Tech & Communications

Technology: Tesla Inc shares fell 5.4% in premarket trading as investors prepared for its chief Elon Musk’s proposed sale of about a tenth of his holdings in the electric-car maker following his Twitter poll. (Reuters)

World

Cyclones: Nothing to report
Hurricanes:
- Tropical Storm Sandra
  - Location: 14.1N 116.3W
  - Movement: WNW
  - Wind: 40 mph
  - Map
- Tropical Storm Terry
  - Location: 9.6N 105.1W
  - Movement: WNW
  - Wind: 40 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 08NOV21)
      - Confirmed cases: 249,990,033
      - Deaths: 5,051,993
      - Countries with confirmed cases: 192
      - Sourcing: John Hopkins University

Tomorrow’s Outlook (09NOV21)

Global: World Freedom Day.
Azerbaijan: Flag Day.
Cabo Verde: Jose Maria Neves inaugurated as president.
Cambodia: Independence Day.
Europe: ECOFIN meeting of EU finance ministers.
France: US Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman David Emhoff arrive in Paris. (to 13NOV)
Iceland: Reykjavik Global Forum for women leaders.
India: Nepalese army chief to visit India.
Kuwait: Fifth US-Kuwait Strategic Dialogue.
Kyrgyzstan: Days of History and Commemoration of Ancestors.
United Kingdom: Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow. (to 12NOV)
United States: US-Egypt Strategic Dialogue.
United States: State Department hosts Town Hall for Afghanistan Resettlement Stakeholders.

END