13DEC20 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: Jewish history and culture in Morocco will become part of the school curriculum — a “first” in the region and in the North African country, where Islam is the state religion.
AMERICAS: More than 16 million people have been confirmed to have caught COVID-19 in the United States since the start of the pandemic, according to the Johns Hopkins University.
ASIA: Indonesian police said they have arrested one of the leading members of the Al Qaeda-linked militant group Jemaah Islamiah who is said to be behind the 2002 bombings on the resort island of Bali that killed over 200 people.
EUROPE: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Germany increased by 20,200 to 1,320,716, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed.
MIDDLE EAST: Iran has summoned the ambassador of Germany, the current holder of the European Union’s rotating presidency, over EU criticism of the execution of an Iranian journalist, Iranian media stated.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Chinese authorities have detained a Chinese national working for the Bloomberg News bureau in Beijing on suspicion of endangering national security, the news agency, and China’s foreign ministry reported.

Top Story

Europe: Possibility for a no-deal Brexit increasing as Brexit talks near the end.
- The current deal offered by the European Union continues to be “unacceptable” to the UK, according to an unnamed government source.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to speak soon on their post-Brexit trade negotiations, the media reported.
- UK equity funds have shed more than $2bn over the past two months, showcasing the extent of investor unease as a no-deal Brexit becomes increasingly likely.
- There is still a long way to go on Brexit talks, Britain’s foreign minister Dominic Raab stated on Sunday as the United Kingdom and European Union confront a make-or-break decision on an elusive trade agreement.
- Reported: BBC, Reuters, FT. Reuters,

Africa

Ethiopia: The nation reported 515 additional COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 116,297, Health Minister Lia Tadesse tweeted. (Xinhua)
Morocco: Jewish history and culture in Morocco will become part of the school curriculum — a “first” in the region and in the North African country, where Islam is the state religion. (AFP)
South Africa: The nation reported 7,882 new COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 852,965, the country’s health department reported. (Xinhua)

Americas

Honduras: The nation added 335 COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the national total to 114,043, the health ministry tweeted on its official account. (Xinhua)
United States: Thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump returned to Washington for weekend protests to back his desperate efforts to subvert the election that he lost to Joe Biden. (AP)
United States: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms turned down an opportunity to serve in President-elect Joe Biden’s Cabinet, a spokesperson for the mayor reported. (AP)
United States: More than 16 million people have been confirmed to have caught COVID-19 in the nation since the start of the pandemic, according to the Johns Hopkins University. (DPA)

Asia

China: A space capsule bringing back the first moon rocks in more than four decades started its three-day return to Earth. (AP)
Indonesia: National police said they have arrested one of the prominent members of the Al Qaeda-linked militant group Jemaah Islamiah who is said to be behind the 2002 bombings on the resort island of Bali that killed over 200 people. (Reuters)
Kyrgyzstan: Many citizens were angered at rampant gender-based violence and impunity in the courts, illustrated by the recent acquittal of men accused in the repeated rape of a 13-year-old girl. (RFE)
South Korea: The nation’s single-day COVID-19 cases broke the 1,000-mark for the first time, prompting President Moon Jae-in to warn that the country will have to consider enforcing the toughest level of social distancing unless the current spread is curbed. (YNA)

Europe

Germany: Four-and-a-half years after the referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union, a decision is expected on whether both sides can agree on their future relationship. (DPA)
Germany: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country increased by 20,200 to 1,320,716, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases showed. (Reuters)
Russia: COVID-19 cases grew by 28,080 cases in the past day to 2,653,928, the anti-COVID-19 crisis center told reporters. (TASS)

Middle East

Iran: The country has summoned the ambassador of Germany, the current holder of the European Union’s rotating presidency, over EU criticism of the execution of an Iranian journalist, Iranian media stated. (Reuters)
United Arab Emirates: Dubai’s largest listed developer Emaar Properties has named Mohamed Alabbar, founder of the company and previously chairman of the board of directors, as managing director, and chosen Jamal Bin Theniyah as the new chairman. (Reuters)

Tech & Communications

Media: Chinese authorities have detained a Chinese national working for the Bloomberg News bureau in Beijing on suspicion of endangering national security, the news agency, and China’s foreign ministry reported. (Reuters)

World

Tomorrow’s Outlook (14DEC20)

Global: International Criminal Court holds its annual assembly
Global: U.N. Security Council meeting on Yemen (virtual)
Europe: Parliament plenary session opens
Europe: Russian foreign minister begins a two-day visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina
Egypt: Parliamentary elections second phase run-off results announced

END