13OCT21 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: The International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Somalia in a maritime border dispute with Kenya, which strongly rejected the ruling.
AMERICAS: The United States is investigating new reported cases of “Havana Syndrome” among embassy staff in Bogotá.
ASIA: A Chinese official said Beijing’s increase in military exercises and warplane missions near Taiwan were necessary to defend the nation’s sovereignty and territory.
EUROPE: Slovakia’s central bank chief and European Central Bank governing council member Peter Kazimir has been charged with corruption.
MIDDLE EAST: EU Envoy Enrique Mora will visit Tehran to revive the nuclear deal between Iran and major powers.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, largely out of public view since late 2020, is reportedly meeting business associates in Hong Kong.

Top Story

Global: Kunming Declaration adopted at the 15th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity (COP15).
- Nearly 200 countries agreed in principle to intensify the fight against the dramatic and dangerous extinction of animal and plant species.
- Chinese Minister of Ecology and the Environment Huang Runqiu said, “The declaration will send a powerful signal, showing the world our determination to solve the problem of biodiversity loss, and our stronger actions on the issues discussed at this high-level meeting.”
- The declaration calls for “urgent and integrated action” to reflect biodiversity considerations in all sectors of the global economy but crucial issues like funding conservation in poorer countries and committing to biodiversity-friendly supply chains have been left out.
- The declaration does recognize that the main direct drivers of biodiversity loss remain “land/sea use change, overexploitation, climate change, pollution, and invasive alien species.”
- The agenda focused on a new post-2020 biodiversity framework, which will serve as the blueprint for future biodiversity conservation efforts.
- DPA, Xinhua, Reuters, CGTN, The Independent

Africa

Region: The International Court of Justice ruled in favor of Somalia in a maritime border dispute with Kenya, which strongly rejected the ruling. (AFP)
Kenya: US President Joe Biden will host President Uhuru Kenyatta for a meeting in Washington. (Reuters)
Somalia: The government rejected an African Union (AU) proposal for a joint stabilization mission with the United Nations (UN) to spearhead peacekeeping operations in the country. (Xinhua)
Sudan: Security services imposed a travel ban on members of a task force overseeing the country’s transition to democracy. (Reuters)

Americas

Colombia: The United States is investigating new reported cases of “Havana Syndrome” among embassy staff in Bogotá. (NYT)
Haiti: Civil society groups reacted negatively to the United States naming Kenneth Merten, former ambassador from 2009-2012, as chargé d’affaires in Port-au-Prince. (Mi ami Herald)
United States: The House of Representatives approved legislation to raise the national debt ceiling until December and sent it to President Biden. (NYT)
Venezuela: Raul Baduel, a former general and political prisoner since 2015, died of complications of COVID-19. (AFP)

Asia

China: An official said Beijing’s increase in military exercises and warplane missions near Taiwan were necessary to defend the nation’s sovereignty and territory. (AP)
New Zealand: Health authorities reported 55 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19, up from 43 a day earlier. (Reuters)
Philippines: The government said the death toll from tropical storm Kompasu has risen to 13 and nine people are missing. (Xinhua)
South Korea: The country established a panel to debate a strategy on how to “live with COVID-19” in the long-term. (Reuters)
Vietnam: The government has decided to cancel lockdowns applied for the past year and a half after the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) slumped in the third quarter. (DPA)

Europe

Azerbaijan: Baku and Tehran agreed to resolve a diplomatic crisis through dialogue weeks after ties soured over allegations Israel’s military was active in the country. (AFP)
Germany: An environment ministry spokesperson said the country continues to push for the European Union not to classify nuclear power as a sustainable energy source. (Reuters)
Slovakia: The country’s central bank chief and European Central Bank governing council member Peter Kazimir has been charged with corruption. (AFP)
Turkey: Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Ankara will “do what is necessary for its security” after a rise in cross-border attacks by the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia. (Reuters)
United Kingdom: The European Commission is due to unveil its proposed solutions to the row with London over Northern Ireland. (DPA)

Middle East

Iran: EU Envoy Enrique Mora will visit Tehran to revive the nuclear deal between the country and major powers. (AFP)
Iraq: Security forces said they arrested Sami Jassem al-Ajuz, finance chief of the Islamic State. (NYT)
Qatar: Foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said there is no clear path for unfreezing Afghan government funds. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabia: Investment minister Khalid al-Falih said the kingdom wants its economic output to reach 6.4 trillion riyals ($1.71 trillion). (Reuters)

Tech & Communications

Technology: Alibaba Group founder Jack Ma, largely out of public view since late 2020, is reportedly meeting business associates in Hong Kong. (Reuters)

World

Cyclones: Nothing to report
Hurricanes:
- Hurricane Pamela
  - Location: 22.8N 107.6W
  - Movement: NE
  - Wind: 75 mph
  - Map
- Tropical Storm Kompasu
  - Location: 19.2N 110.7E
  - Movement: W
  - Wind: 60 mph
  - Map
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes:
  - La Palma, Spain
    - Explosive activity continues
    - Erupting
    - Source
  - Global Disease Outbreaks:
    - COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 13OCT21)
      - Confirmed cases: 238,801,546
      - Deaths: 4,867,618
      - Countries with confirmed cases: 192
      - Sourcing: John Hopkins University

Tomorrow’s Outlook (14OCT21)

Global: World Standards Day.
Event: Policy Exchange hosts a virtual conversation with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on the ‘Western Alliance’.
China: World Biodiversity Summit, part two in Kunming, Yunnan.
China: UN Sustainable Transport Conference in Beijing.
Egypt: 40th anniversary of Hosni Mubarak coming to power.
Indonesia: Bali resort international airport reopens.
Japan: Prime Minister Fumio Kishida dissolves parliament’s lower house ahead of upcoming elections.
Japan: Court hearing for five plaintiffs who suffered human rights abuses in North Korea.
Lebanon: Visit by US Undersecretary of State Toria Nuland.
Myanmar: 30th anniversary of Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Aung San Suu Kyi.
Spain: German Chancellor Angela Merkel to be awarded Charles V European Award by King Felipe VI in Yuste, Caceres.
Tanzania: Nyerere Day.
Ukraine: Defenders of Ukraine Day.
United States: World Bank and IMF Annual Meeting in Washington DC. (to 17OCT)
United States: US-India Economic and Financial Partnership (EFP) meeting in Washington DC.
United States: President Biden hosts Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta at the White House.
United States: House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on Tunisia.
Yemen: Second Revolution Day.

END