08SEP20 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: “Hotel Rwanda” hero Paul Rusesabagina’s representatives filed a complaint with the United Nations claiming that Rusesabagina faces an “immediate risk” of cruel treatment as he remains cut off from lawyers, consular officials and his family more than a week after he appeared in handcuffs in Rwanda.
AMERICAS: Thirty-seven (37) political parties in Venezuela joined an opposition pact, led by opposition leader and interim President Juan Guaido, rejecting the country’s illegitimate legislative elections in December.
ASIA: India and China blame each other for firing warning shots into the air in a new tussle along the disputed border.
EUROPE: Leading Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova was detained at the country’s border after she resisted an attempt by authorities’ to force her to leave the country.
MIDDLE EAST: Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group said its drones targeted Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport and shut down its operations for several hours.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: China launched its own initiative to address global data security issues, in what is being considered a counter to the US “clean network” program aimed at discouraging other countries from using technology from China.

Top Story

Asia: Two Australian journalists flown out of China amid diplomatic standoff.
- Two Australian journalists fled China after Chinese state security personnel paid them unannounced visits in the latest diplomatic standoff between Australia and China.
- The two journalists are Michael Smith of The Australian Financial Review, and Bill Birtles, a correspondent with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, with both seeking refuge at Australian diplomatic missions as officials negotiated their exit from China.
- Prior to the negotiations, the two reportedly were told by Chinese officials that they were not allowed to leave China until they answered questions about detained Australian news anchor Cheng Lei.
- Following the release of the two journalists, China’s Foreign Ministry said Cheng “is suspected of carrying out criminal activities endangering China’s national security”, in the first official government comments on Cheng’s arrest.
- Reporting: AFP, BBC, Reuters, WSJ, DPA, NYT, Deutsche Welle

Africa

Rwanda: “Hotel Rwanda” hero Paul Rusesabagina’s representatives filed a complaint with the United Nations claiming that Rusesabagina faces an “immediate risk” of cruel treatment as he remains cut off from lawyers, consular officials and his family more than a week after he appeared in handcuffs. (AP)
Somalia: Four of the country’s soldiers died, and one US service member was left injured following an al-Shabaab attack just west of the port town of Kismayo. (VOA)
South Africa: The country’s GDP shrunk by 51.0% quarter on quarter in the second quarter of 2020, marking a fourth economic contraction in a row. (Reuters)

Americas

Colombia: At least 11 people died in three separate group massacres in the country’s north, marking one of the deadliest days since the FARC and the government signed a peace accord in 2016. (AFP)
El Salvador: Prosecutors are investigating two prisons to find out if President Nayib Bukele’s administration negotiated with one of the country’s most powerful gangs to lower the murder rate and win their backing in mid-term elections in exchange for prison privileges. (AP)
Venezuela: Thirty-seven (37) political parties joined an opposition pact, led by opposition leader and interim President Juan Guaido, rejecting the country’s illegitimate legislative elections in December. (DPA)

Asia

Region: India and China blame each other for firing warning shots into the air in a new tussle along the disputed border. (AP)
Japan: The country’s ruling party opened its contest to pick Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s successor, with his former right-hand man, Yoshihide Suga, the top favorite to win. (AFP)
Myanmar: Leader Aung San Suu Kyi began her re-election campaign ahead of November’s election, promising victory at a scaled-down ceremony due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)

Europe

Region: Ireland lost the EU Trade Chief portfolio following Phil Hogan’s resignation, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen nominated Latvia’s Valdis Dombrovskis for the position. (DPA)
Region: Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny woke-up from an induced coma and his overall condition has improved since his poisoning, according to the doctors treating him in Germany. (BBC)
Belarus: Leading opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova was detained at the country’s border after she resisted an attempt by authorities’ to force her to leave the country. (AP)

Middle East

Region: Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group said its drones targeted Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport and shut down its operations for several hours. (Reuters)
Region: Cyprus deployed a team to Lebanon which will aid Lebanon’s government in stopping refugees, including those from Syria, from heading toward the Mediterranean island nation. ( AFP)
Israel: The number of daily new coronavirus infections in the country reached a new record high of 3,392 cases. (DPA)

Tech & Communications

Technology: China launched its own initiative to address global data security issues, in what is being considered a counter to the US “clean network” program aimed at discouraging other countries from using technology from China. (AP)

World

Tomorrow’s Outlook (09SEP20)

Global: The Employment Ministers of G20 countries will hold a virtual meeting. (to 10SEP)
Global: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will launch the UN and World Meteorological Organization’s ‘United in Science 2020’ report on climate change.
Americas: The CAF Development Bank of Latin America will hold its annual conference online. (to 11SEP)
Asia: ASEAN Foreign Ministers will hold a series of virtual meetings. (to 12SEP)
Hong Kong: The first hearing of 27 people accused of illegally gathering at the city’s Polytechnic University is scheduled to begin.
Russia: Foreign Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organization member-states will meet in Moscow. (to 10SEP)
United Kingdom: The government will create new legislation intended to overturn the return of border checks on the country’s border with Ireland.
United States: The US-China Economic and Security Review congressional commission will hold a virtual hearing.
United States: The House’s Foreign Affairs subcommittee will hold a hearing on Egypt.
United States: Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun will give a closed/top secret briefing on eastern Europe to the Senate’s Committee on Foreign Relations.

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