Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Guinea’s FNDC opposition coalition says more than 90 people died in a crackdown on the protests against President Alpha Conde’s controversial bid to win a third term in office.
- AMERICAS: US President Donald Trump held his first campaign rally since his coronavirus infection.
- ASIA: China’s imports rose by 13.2% in September compared to the same period last year, including an increase in imports from the US, while its exports also increased by 9.9% compared to the same period last year.
- EUROPE: The WTO is reportedly set to rule in favor of the European Union in its bid to impose tariffs on US goods in response to subsidies to the plane company Boeing.
- MIDDLE EAST: Syrian President Bashar Assad took a rare public trip as he traveled to the coastal Latakia province that was affected by wildfires in recent weeks.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Facebook launched a new policy that explicitly prohibits “any content that denies or distorts the Holocaust”.
Top Story
- Europe: Greece says no to talks with Turkey until survey ship is withdrawn.
- The Greek government said it will not hold any talks with Turkey until Ankara withdraws its Oruc Reis research vessel from Greece’s continental shelf waters.
- Greek Minister of State George Gerapetritis said Athens will “emphatically” raise the Oruc Reis issue at this week’s European Council meeting.
- German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass is scheduled to visit Greece today, where he will discuss the rising tensions between Athens and Ankara with the Greek government.
- Foreign Minister Mass already pledged “full solidarity” with both Greece and Cyprus in their dispute with Turkey, but also urged an “honest effort on all sides” to find a solution to the rising tensions in the Mediterranean.
- Reporting: AFP, AP, Reuters, DPA
Africa
- Guinea: The FNDC opposition coalition says more than 90 people died in a crackdown on the protests against President Alpha Conde’s controversial bid to win a third term in office. (AFP)
- Nigeria: A civilian and a police officer died during protests against police brutality in the city of Lagos, with some protesters accusing the police of using live ammunition against them. (BBC)
- Tunisia: The country’s trade deficit fell to $3.7 billion for the first time in nine (09) months due to declining imports and exports. (Reuters)
Americas
- Colombia: Thousands of indigenous people took to the streets of the city of Cali to demand an end to violence in the country. (AFP)
- Cuba: The government relaxed its coronavirus restrictions across the country, with the exception of capital city Havana, in a bid to spur its economy. (AP)
- Ecuador: The country’s largest indigenous organization accused authorities of crimes against humanity during last year’s protests over fuel prices, and filed a lawsuit against President Lenin Moreno and other officials over the matter. (AFP)
- Panama: International flights are now allowed to arrive and depart the country after almost seven (07) months of restrictions due to the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic. (VOA)
- United States: President Donald Trump held his first campaign rally since his coronavirus infection. (AP)
Asia
- Region: The US is reportedly set to move ahead with three (03) sales of advanced weaponry to Taiwan. (Reuters)
- Region: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government was investigating the recent media reports of China halting coal imports but urged caution saying it was “important not to get ahead of ourselves here”. (Guardian)
- Cambodia: The US Federal Bureau of Investigation reportedly plans to create an office at the national headquarters of the country’s police forces. (Reuters)
- China: The country’s imports rose by 13.2% in September compared to the same period last year, including an increase in imports from the US, while its exports also increased by 9.9% compared to the same period last year. (DPA)
- India: The country recorded its lowest daily increase of new coronavirus cases in two months. (DPA)
Europe
- Region: Armenia and Azerbaijan continue to trade accusations of violating a recently agreed ceasefire. (DPA)
- Region: The WTO is reportedly set to rule in favor of the European Union in its bid to impose tariffs on US goods in response to subsidies to the plane company Boeing. (Reuters)
- Belarus: The Interior Ministry said it will now allow police to use combat weapons in the streets if needed, as security forces and protesters demanding the resignation of President Alexander Lukashenko clashed once again. (Reuters)
- United Kingdom: The unemployment rate increased sharply in August, with the trend expected to continue due to the government’s salary-support scheme ending this month, as well as the new lockdowns across parts of the country. (AP)
Middle East
- Iran: Tehran said a drone from an unidentified source crashed near its border with Azerbaijan. (AFP)
- Israel: Rights group B’Tselem said Palestinian hunger striker Maher al-Akhras, who started his hunger strike after being arrested and placed under administrative detention without any charges over suspected militancy, is “on the verge of death”. (AFP)
- Syria: Syrian President Bashar Assad took a rare public trip as he traveled to the coastal Latakia province that was affected by wildfires in recent weeks. (AP)
Tech & Communications
- Social Media: Facebook launched a new policy that explicitly prohibits “any content that denies or distorts the Holocaust”. (BBC)
World
- Cyclones:
- Tropical Storm Nangka
- Location: 264 nautical miles Southwest of Hong Kong
- Wind: 50 mph
- Movement: W at 7 mph
- Map
- Tropical Storm Nangka
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 13OCT20: 37,838,286
- Total Recovered Cases as of 13OCT20: 26,299,485
- Deaths as of 13OCT20: 1,081,295
- 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 (14OCT20)
- Global: Freedom House will release its annual “Freedom on the Net” report.
- Global: The IMF and World Bank will hold their joint annual meetings virtually. (to 18OCT)
- Global: The 71st International Astronautical Congress will be held virtually.
- Global: G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors will hold a virtual meeting.
- Global: The UN Security Council will hold meetings on the Western Saharan region and Colombia.
- Asia: US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun will visit India and Bangladesh. (to 16OCT)
- Europe: The European Council and the European Parliament will resume EU budget negotiations following their suspension last week when European Parliament negotiators walked-out of ongoing negotiations.
- Middle East: Israel and Lebanon will hold UN & US mediated talks over the disputed maritime border between the two countries. (to 14NOV)
- China: The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress will meet. (to 17OCT)
- China: President Xi Jinping is scheduled to deliver a speech in Shenzhen to mark 40th anniversary of the establishment of the city’s Special Economic Zone.
- Kazakhstan: A Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft will launch and transport one US and two Russian astronauts to the International Space Station.
- Malaysia: New coronavirus restrictions will take effect across some regions of the country.
- Russia: Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio will visit and meet with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
- Thailand: A student-led protest demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha will be held in capital city Bangkok.
- United States: President Donald Trump will visit Iowa.
- United States: The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. (to 15OCT)
- United States: South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook will visit and meet with Defense Secretary Mark Esper to discuss North Korea and the transfer of wartime operational control.
- United States: The government will extend its National Emergency with respect to Syria.
END
