Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Human Rights Watch has accused militias linked to Libya’s Tripoli-based government of using heavy weapons to disperse anti-corruption protests and of detaining, torturing and forcibly disappearing protesters.
- AMERICAS: Brazil’s Attorney General’s office has extended the “Operation Car Wash” corruption probe until January 31.
- ASIA: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked his ASEAN member-state counterparts to go beyond words and start acting against China’s “bullying” in the South China Sea, vowing US support if they did so.
- EUROPE: Poisoned Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s recovery continues to progress in Germany, as he is reportedly able to speak again.
- MIDDLE EAST: Iran’s military began an extensive annual three-day exercise near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Microsoft has reportedly alerted one of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s main campaign advisory firms that it had been targeted by suspected Russian state-backed hackers.
Top Story
- United States: Destructive wildfires are blazing through the Pacific Northwest.
- Oregon and Washington are currently battling unprecedented wildfires, as additional wildfires continue to blaze across California.
- Oregon Governor Kate Brown said the wildfires have “substantially destroyed” communities and warned of numerous fatalities.
- Currently, two fatalities from Oregon, one from Washington and three from California have been confirmed.
- The wildfires have all but wiped out communities in Washington state as well and burned through a record 2.5 million acres in California.
- Reporting: Reuters, NYT, AP, BBC
Africa
- Libya: Human Rights Watch has accused militias linked to the country’s Tripoli-based government of using heavy weapons to disperse anti-corruption protests and of detaining, torturing and forcibly disappearing protesters. (AP)
- Mali: Influential cleric Imam Mahmoud Dicko urged the country’s military junta to comply with ECOWAS’ demand to name a new civilian president and prime minister by September 15 to ease newly-imposed sanctions. (Reuters)
- South Africa: State-run power utility Eskom is on track to install six new steam generators at the Koeberg nuclear facility by 2021. (Reuters)
Americas
- Brazil: The Attorney General’s office has extended the “Operation Car Wash” corruption probe until January 31. (AFP)
- Peru: Opposition lawmakers have filed a censure motion in Congress in an attempt to oust Economy Minister María Antonieta Alva. (Reuters)
- United States: A Department of Homeland Security official claims in a newly released whistleblower complaint that he was pressured by senior officials to suppress facts in intelligence reports related to Russian interference in elections and the rising threat posed by white supremacists. (AP)
Asia
- Region: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asked his ASEAN member-state counterparts to go beyond words and start acting against China’s “bullying” in the South China Sea, vowing US support if they did so. (AP)
- China: The country traded attacks with the US over who best understands press freedom after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized the official newspaper of the country’s ruling Communist Party for refusing to carry an op-ed by the US ambassador Terry Branstad. (Reuters)
- Myanmar: Amnesty International said some of the country’s foreign and domestic business partners are likely supporting military units and leaders suspected of human rights abuses. (AP)
Europe
- Region: Poisoned Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny’s recovery continues to progress in Germany, as he is reportedly able to speak again. (Reuters)
- Belarus: In a statement issued by her lawyer, opposition politician Maria Kolesnikova said security officers put a bag over her head and threatened to kill her during their attempt to forcibly deport her to Ukraine earlier this week. (Reuters)
- United Kingdom: The EU and the country’s government are set to hold emergency Brexit discussions following Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s move to override key parts of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. (BBC)
Middle East
- Region: Palestinian leaders failed to persuade Arab League foreign ministers to condemn the recent normalization deal between Israel and the UAE but won support from Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud over Palestinian statehood. (Reuters)
- Iran: The military began an extensive annual three-day exercise near the strategic Strait of Hormuz. (AP)
- Iraq: The Netherlands will compensate a civilian survivor of a 2015 air strike on the country that its armed forces had conducted. (AFP)
Tech & Communications
- Cybersecurity: Microsoft has reportedly alerted one of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s main campaign advisory firms that it had been targeted by suspected Russian state-backed hackers. (Reuters)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 10SEP20: 27,871,271
- Total Recovered Cases as of 10SEP20: 18,780,806
- Deaths as of 10SEP20: 903,756
- Countries with Confirmed Cases: 188
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (11th Ebola outbreak figures from Equateur Province)
- Confirmed Cases as of 30AUG20: 103
- Probable Cases as of 30AUG20: 6
- Deaths as of 30AUG20: 47
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (11SEP20)
- Global: G20 Agriculture and Water Ministers will hold a virtual meeting. (to 12SEP)
- Global: The UN Security Council will hold a meeting on Myanmar.
- Americas: The CAF Development Bank of Latin America will hold its annual conference online.
- Asia: ASEAN Foreign Ministers will hold a series of virtual meetings. (to 12SEP)
- Europe: The Finance Ministers of Eurozone countries will hold a Eurogroup meeting.
- Europe: Belarusian, Russian, and Serbian armed forces will hold military exercises in Belarus. (to 15SEP)
- Europe: Finance Ministers of EU countries will hold informal talks in Berlin, Germany. (to 12SEP)
- Armenia: The country’s coronavirus related extended state of emergency is set to expire.
- Chile: The 47th anniversary of the 1973 Chilean coup that saw Augusto Pinochet take power in the country.
- Iran: The military will hold its annual war games near the Strait of Hormuz. (to 12SEP)
- Iran: The second round of parliamentary elections will be held.
- Libya: 8th anniversary of the attack on a US diplomatic compound that left the US Ambassador to Libya Ambassador Chris Stevens and three of his colleagues dead.
- United States: 19th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
- United States: A pre-trial hearing of the four former police officers involved in the death of George Floyd will be held.
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