Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Moroccan troops have launched an operation into no man’s land on the southern border of the Western Sahara to quell down pro-independence Polisario Front’s “provocations”.
- AMERICAS: A coalition of federal and state officials dismissed claims of election fraud in the recent US presidential election saying there was no evidence of votes being compromised or manipulated.
- ASIA: Official results released by Myanmar’s election commission show Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party securing enough seats in Parliament to return to power for a second five-year-term.
- EUROPE: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to embark on a trip to the region, visiting countries in that have all acknowledged US President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory.
- MIDDLE EAST: Saudi Arabia said it had foiled an attack involving unmanned boats loaded with explosives that were then pushed into the Red Sea by Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: The WHO has removed its Facebook censorship filters on the words “Taiwan” and “China” following a backlash on the internet but said the filters had been instituted because of an “onslaught” of cyber-attacks.
Top Story
- Global: China congratulates President-elect Biden after long silence.
- After days of silence, China has offered US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris its congratulations for their election victory.
- Beijing offered its congratulations just over 24 hours after President-elect Biden and his team spoke to US allies in Asia.
- The Chinese Foreign Ministry also said, “We respect the American people’s choice” but also added “we understand the U.S. election results will be confirmed based on U.S. law and procedure.”
- China had previously held off on issuing any congratulations, instead saying only that it had “noted” President-elect Biden’s claim of victory.
- Reporting: WaPo, BBC, AP, Reuters, AFP, NYT, DPA
Africa
- Region: Moroccan troops have launched an operation into no man’s land on the southern border of the Western Sahara to quell down pro-independence Polisario Front’s “provocations”. (AFP)
- Algeria: The country’s constitutional council announced that voters had approved the proposed constitutional reforms in the recent referendum, albeit with a record low voter turnout. (AFP)
- Ethiopia: The federal government has appointed a new local leader for the rebellious Tigray region amid an ongoing military offensive against the region. (Reuters)
- Mali: France says its forces have killed senior Al-Qaeda commander Bah ag Moussa, who was a leader of the militant group’s North Africa wing, in an operation in the country’s northeast. (Deutsche Welle)
- Zambia: The country is headed towards a default over its debt payments to Eurobond holders as the debt payment deadline approaches. (Reuters)
Americas
- Region: Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department visited the four women who alleged being mistreated by a gynecologist at a US detention center and said none of them had been deported. (AP)
- Belize: The opposition center-left PUP party has won the country’s general election with former Deputy Prime Minister Johnny Briceño set to become the country’s next Prime Minister. (BBC)
- Canada: Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino said the government will make it easier for Hong Kongers to study and work in the country following China’s imposition of new security rules on Hong Kong. (Reuters)
- Peru: Interim President Manuel Merino called for calm as he swore-in his Cabinet members amid ongoing protests sparked by the ouster of former President Martín Vizcarra. (Reuters)
- United States: A coalition of federal and state officials dismissed claims of election fraud in the recent presidential election saying there was no evidence of votes being compromised or manipulated. (AP)
Asia
- Region: China’s Foreign Ministry said Beijing will retaliate against any events and moves that undermine its core interests, after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Taiwan “has not been a part of China”. (Reuters)
- Australia: Health Minister Greg Hunt said early test results of a coronavirus vaccine being developed in the country were proving the vaccine to be safe. (DPA)
- Myanmar: Official results released by the country’s election commission show Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party securing enough seats in Parliament to return to power for a second five-year-term. (AP)
- Papua New Guinea: Prime Minister James Marape is set to face a no-confidence vote in Parliament after members of his own government rebelled and joined the opposition. (Guardian)
Europe
- Region: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to embark on a trip to Europe and the Middle East, visiting countries that have all acknowledged US President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory. (AP)
- Region: European and other world leaders insisted for coronavirus vaccines to be made available for everyone across the world once the vaccines are ready. (AFP)
- France: The country is set to hold ceremonies for the victims of the 2015 Bataclan terror attack that was carried out by Islamic State militants. (BBC)
- Germany: Health Minister Jens Spahn said it remained too early to provide an estimate of the how long the country’s new coronavirus restrictions will continue. (Reuters)
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s most powerful and influential advisor, Dominic Cummings, is reportedly set to resign before the end of the year. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Region: Saudi Arabia said it had foiled an attack involving unmanned boats loaded with explosives that were then pushed into the Red Sea by Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels. (AP)
- Bahrain: The US State Department acknowledged that a US military plane flew the terminally ill Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to the US for healthcare two months before his death. (AP)
- Saudi Arabian: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged to strike extremists with an “iron fist” after the Islamic State claimed responsibility for a bombing targeting foreign diplomats in the country. (AFP)
Tech & Communications
- Social Media: The WHO has removed its Facebook censorship filters on the words “Taiwan” and “China” following a backlash on the internet but said the filters had been instituted because of an “onslaught” of cyber-attacks. (Guardian)
World
- Cyclones:
- Typhoon Vamco
- Location: 149 nautical miles N-NW of Manila, Philippines
- Wind: 85 mph
- Movement: W at 12 mph
- Map
- Typhoon Vamco
- Hurricanes:
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 13NOV20: 52,850,543
- Total Recovered Cases as of 13NOV20: 34,219,802
- Deaths as of 13NOV20: 1,295,185
- Countries with Confirmed Cases: 191
- 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 (14NOV20)
- Global: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is expected to visit France and meet with Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, on the first leg of his Europe and Middle East tour which includes planned visits to Turkey, Georgia, Israel, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. (to 23NOV)
- Global: The World Health Organization’s World Health Assembly will be conducted virtually.
- Global: The UN’s World Diabetes Day – 2007
- Asia: The 37th ASEAN Summit and related high-level summits will be held. (to 15NOV)
- Europe: Turkish vessel Oruc Reis’s exploration mission in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea is set to expire, unless extended once again as it has been several times previously.
- Slovenia: Public transportation will be halted to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.
- United States: The government is expected to extend its national emergency with respect to Iran.
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