10NOV20 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

• AFRICA: The African Union urged an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between the Tigray region and the federal government while at least 30 of the country’s troops and a large group of refugees from the Tigray region crossed the border into neighboring Sudan.
• AMERICAS: Peru’s Congress’s decision to impeach President Martin Vizcarra over his response to the coronavirus pandemic and alleged corruption triggered a protest in the capital city Lima.
• ASIA: China denounced the US decision to impose new sanctions against four of its officials due to a rights crackdown in Hong Kong, saying the decision “grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs.”
• EUROPE: Unemployment jumped to 4.8% in Q3 of this year in the UK due to the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic.
• MIDDLE EAST: Veteran Palestinian negotiator Saab Erekat died at the age of 65 after weeks of being hospitalized due to the coronavirus.
• TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: The Chinese government published its draft rules aimed at preventing internet firm monopolies.

Top Story

• Europe: Armenia, Azerbaijan agree to end the fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh.
  • Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a pact with Russia to cease the fighting between ethnic Armenian forces and Baku over the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region that is internationally recognized as a part of Azerbaijan but has been administered by ethnic Armenians since 1994.
  • Azerbaijan will retain the territories it gained over the course of the fighting, including the key city of Shusha, while ethnic Armenians will have to surrender a host of other territories within the Nagorno-Karabakh region by 01 December under the deal.
  • Also included in the deal is an agreement to allow Russia to deploy its troops for peacekeeping in the separatist region.
  • Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said agreeing to the deal was “incredibly painful both for me and for our people”, with news of the deal sparking anger and protests in Armenia as protesters stormed the Armenian Parliament, beat up the Speaker and reportedly looted the PM’s office.
  • Meanwhile, Turkey, which has backed Azerbaijan during the conflict, hailed the “significant gains” made by Baku under the deal.
  • Reporting: BBC, AP, DPA, Reuters, NYT, AFP, WaPo

Africa

• Ethiopia: The African Union urged an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between the Tigray region and the federal government while at least 30 of the country’s troops and a large group of refugees from the Tigray region crossed the border into neighboring Sudan. (AP) 
• Mali: Former President Amadou Toumani Toure, who led the country to democracy for a ten-year spell before being ousted in a coup, died. (AFP)
• Mozambique: Militant Islamists beheaded more than 50 people in the country’s north, according to state media reports. (BBC)

Americas

• Region: Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei will request temporary humanitarian protection for Guatemalan citizens in the US because of the devastation caused by Storm Eta. (Reuters)
• Bolivia: Former President Evo Morales ended his exile from the country as he crossed over into the country from its border with Argentina. (BBC)
• Brazil: Health authorities suspended trials of China’s Sinovac coronavirus vaccine in the country after a “severe adverse event.” (WSJ)
• Peru: Congress’s decision to impeach President Martin Vizcarra over his response to the coronavirus pandemic and alleged corruption triggered a protest in the capital city Lima. (AP)
• United States: President Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper. (AP)

Asia  

• Afghanistan: The Taliban urged US President-elect Joe Biden to adhere to February’s US troop withdrawal agreement finalized by President Donald Trump’s administration. (Reuters)
• Cambodia: The US Embassy in the country expressed disappointment over the government’s demolition of a second US-funded military facility without any warning, as Phnom Penh continues to shift towards China for help in expanding a naval base. (AFP) 
• China: Beijing denounced the US decision to impose new sanctions against four of its officials due to a rights crackdown in Hong Kong, saying the decision “grossly interferes\
•  in China’s internal affairs.” (AP)
• Indonesia: Firebrand Muslim cleric Rizieq Shihab, leader of the Islamic Defenders Front, was greeted by thousands of supporters upon his return to the country from exile in Saudi Arabia. (AP)
• Japan: One of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s top advisors, Takeshi Niinami, said Tokyo should prepare for a “leaderless era” as the US turns inward and seek to expand its other strategic relationships. (Reuters)

Europe

• Italy: Stricter coronavirus measures and restrictions will be implemented across several of the country’s regions as it struggles to halt another wave of coronavirus infections. (DPA)
• Turkey: The government appointed former Deputy Prime Minister Lutfi Elvan as its new Finance Minister. (Bloomberg)
• Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelenskiy tested positive for the coronavirus. (VOA)
• United Kingdom: Unemployment jumped to 4.8% in Q3 of this year in the country due to the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic. (BBC)

Middle East

• Region: Veteran Palestinian negotiator Saab Erekat died at the age of 65 after weeks of being hospitalized due to the coronavirus. (AFP)
• Lebanon: The US Envoy to the country, Dorothy Shea, challenged the recently sanctioned Christian politician Gebran Bassil’s assertion of him rejecting the idea of severing ties with Hezbollah. (Reuters)
• Jordan: Voting started in the country’s parliamentary elections. (AP)
• Saudi Arabia: Riyadh’s ambassador to the UK said the government is considering clemency for imprisoned female activists ahead of this month’s G20 summit that Riyadh will host. (Guardian)

Tech & Communications

• Tech Regulations: The Chinese government published its draft rules aimed at preventing internet firm monopolies. (Reuters)

World

• Cyclones: 
  • Tropical Storm Vamco
    • Location: 413 nautical miles E of Manila, Philippines
    • Wind: 45 mph
    • Movement: W-NW at 5 mph
    • Map
• Hurricanes: 
  • Tropical Storm Eta
    • Location: 80 miles N-NW of Cuba
    • Wind: 50 mph
    • Movement: Immobile
    • Map
• Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
• Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
• Global Disease Outbreaks:

• • COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
    • Confirmed Cases as of 10NOV20: 50,913,451 
    • Total Recovered Cases as of 10NOV20: 33,289,404
    • Deaths as of 10NOV20: 1,263,089
    • Countries with Confirmed Cases: 190
    • Sourcing: John Hopkins University
  • Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (11th Ebola outbreak figures from Equateur Province)
    • Confirmed Cases as of 17OCT20: 119 
    • Probable Cases as of 17OCT20: 9 
    • Deaths as of 17OCT20: 53
    • Sourcing: WHO

Tomorrow’s Outlook (11NOV20)

• Global: The 102nd anniversary of the signing of the armistice agreement marking the end of WWI.
• Global: The Paris Peace Forum will be held virtually and will feature European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell among others. (to 13NOV)
• Global: The World Health Organization’s World Health Assembly will be conducted virtually. (to 14NOV)
• Americas: The 10th High-Level Forum on the Korea-Caribbean Partnership will be held in Seoul, South Korea.
• Asia: The 37th ASEAN Summit and related high-level summits will be held. (to 15NOV)
• Europe: The European Parliament will hold a plenary session. (to 13NOV)
• Europe: The European Central Bank’s annual Central Banking Forum will be held virtually. (to 12NOV)
• Middle East: Israel and Lebanon are expected to hold another series of discussions over a disputed maritime border.
• Middle East: The UN Security Council will discuss the situation in the region.
• Angola: Independence Day – 1975
• Angola: Anti-government protesters are expected to hold demonstrations against the government following a recent government crackdown on the protesters.
• Belize: Parliamentary elections will be held.
• China: The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress will meet.
• Italy: New coronavirus measures and restrictions will be implemented across the country.
• Rwanda: Felicien Kabuga, suspected of being a financier of the country’s 1994 genocide, will face a pre-trial hearing at The Hague.
• Syria: A Russian-organized conference on refugees from the country will be held in Damascus. (to 12NOV)
• Turkey: A court is expected to deliver a ruling on espionage charges for Yilmaz Sunar, who was an employee of the German Embassy in Ankara.
• United States: Veteran’s Day – 1954

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