Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Tanzania’s National Parks services say they are working to contain a fire that sparked on the continent’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro.
- AMERICAS: Brazilian drug crime boss André Oliveira Macedo went on the run after being released from prison briefly for an impending house arrest.
- ASIA: India’s financial capital Mumbai was left reeling after a rare power outage across the city, due to issues with “incoming supply to the main grid”.
- EUROPE: The Foreign Ministers of EU member states are set to meet and discuss a host of ongoing issues, including possible sanctions on Russia over the suspected poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
- MIDDLE EAST: The recent Israel-UAE normalization deal was approved by the Israeli Cabinet, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also announced that he and Abu Dhabi’s crown prince agreed to meet soon.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s petition calling for an inquiry into Rupert Murdoch’s media monopoly in Australia is signed by more than 100,000 people.
Top Story
- China: 9 million people to be tested for coronavirus after a new outbreak.
- Authorities in the city of Qingdao said they will test all nine million residents of the city for coronavirus over the next five days.
- The mass testing was announced after dozens of new coronavirus cases emerged and caused concerns of a new mass outbreak of the virus.
- All of the new cases have links to a hospital treating coronavirus patients arriving from outside China.
- China previously carried out mass testing in the city of Wuhan, the original epicenter of the global coronavirus pandemic, with Beijing reportedly bringing the virus under control, apart from sporadic and isolated outbreaks in cities.
- Reporting: AP, BBC, AFP, CNN
Africa
- Malawi: Doctors in the country say a lack of specialist support and a rise in unemployment caused a drastic rise in suicides in the country amid a coronavirus-induced economic downturn. (Guardian)
- Tanzania: The country’s National Parks services say they are working to contain a fire that sparked on the continent’s tallest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro. (Reuters)
- Tunisia: At least 11 migrants died during their attempt to cross the Mediterranean and into Italy after their boat sank off the country’s coast. (Reuters)
Americas
- Brazil: Drug crime boss André Oliveira Macedo went on the run after being released from prison briefly for an impending house arrest. (BBC)
- Mexico: Mexico City officials took down a controversial statue of Christopher Columbus in anticipation of protests against it. (DPA)
- United States: President Donald Trump said he was ready to return to the campaign trail, amid concerns and questions over his health following his recent bout with coronavirus. (AP)
Asia
- Region: Chinese security personnel said they uncovered a range of espionage cases and captured people who were spying on behalf of rival Taiwan. (AP)
- India: The country’s financial capital Mumbai was left reeling after a rare power outage across the city, due to issues with “incoming supply to the main grid”. (BBC)
- Kyrgyzstan: Pro-Russian President Sooronbai Jeenbekov renewed a state of emergency in the capital city Bishkek due to ongoing unrest after a disputed parliamentary election. (Reuters)
- Tajikistan: The country’s leader Emomali Rakhmon is on course for a win in the country’s presidential election in which he only faced token opposition. (AFP)
Europe
- Region: The recent Russia-brokered ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan failed to end fighting as both countries accused each other of attacks over the separatist territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. (AP)
- Region: The Foreign Ministers of EU member states are set to meet and discuss a host of ongoing issues, including possible sanctions on Russia over the suspected poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. (RFE-RL)
- Region: Turkey is set to deploy the Oruc Reis research vessel to the eastern Mediterranean once again, in a move likely to raise tensions between Ankara and Greece. (AFP)
- Germany: The Polarstern research vessel returned to its home port in Bremerhaven after a landmark year-long research expedition to the Arctic circle. (DPA)
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to impose a tiered system of coronavirus restrictions across parts of England amid a surge in cases. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Region: The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said Palestinians in Gaza are searching through garbage to find food as they face unprecedented levels of poverty. (Guardian)
- Iraq: Iran-backed militias in the country said they will halt their rocket attacks on US presence in the country on the condition that US-led coalition forces depart the country in line with a parliamentary resolution from earlier this year. (AP)
- Israel: The recent UAE normalization deal was approved by the Cabinet, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also announced that he and Abu Dhabi’s crown prince agreed to meet soon. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Media: Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s petition calling for an inquiry into Rupert Murdoch’s media monopoly in Australia is signed by more than 100,000 people. (BBC)
World
- Cyclones:
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 06OCT20: 35,511,291
- Total Recovered Cases as of 06OCT20: 24,770,288
- Deaths as of 06OCT20: 1,044,490
- 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 03OCT20: 119
- Probable Cases as of 03OCT20: 9
- Deaths as of 03OCT20: 53
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (13OCT20)
- Global: The IMF and World Bank will hold their joint annual meetings virtually. (to 18OCT)
- Global: The Finance Ministers of G7 countries will hold a teleconference.
- Global: The G24 Ministers and Governors Meeting will be held virtually.
- Global: The International Energy Agency will release its annual World Energy Outlook report.
- Global: The IMF will release its World Economic Outlook, as well as its Global Financial Stability Report.
- Global: The UN Security Council will hold meetings on the African Great Lakes region.
- Global: Transparency International will release its Exporting Corruption 2020 report.
- Global: The 71st International Astronautical Congress will be held virtually. (to 14OCT)
- Global: OPEC will release its Monthly Oil Market report.
- Global: The UN’s International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction – 2010
- Americas: Most charter flights between the US and Cuba will be suspended from this date.
- Europe: Ministers from EU countries will discuss the state of the ongoing Brexit negotiations.
- China: The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress will meet. (to 17OCT)
- China: The government is expected to release export data for both September as well as Q3 of this year.
- Germany: The country’s Central Bank will its Financial Stability Review report discussing the stability of the country’s financial system.
- Ireland: Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe will present the budget to parliament.
- Malaysia: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will meet the country’s ruling monarch Sultan Abdullah to discuss ending the country’s incumbent government and the formation of a new one to replace it.
- Poland: The Senate will deliberate over a controversial animal rights bill that has already been approved by the lower house of parliament.
- Thailand: The fourth anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s death will be marked amid a recent wave of anti-monarchy and anti-government protests.
- Ukraine: President Andrzej Duda will visit.
- United States: The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. (to 15OCT)
END