Key Storylines
- AFRICA: President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa has benefited from being a member of the BRICS over the last decade.
- AMERICAS: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet made a statement denouncing the “intimidation and criminalization” of political prisoners in Venezuela and called for their release.
- ASIA: Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi held talks with Singaporean leader Lee Hsien Loong during a Southeast Asian tour seen as a pushback against Washington’s efforts to reassert its influence in the region.
- EUROPE: Russian President Vladimir Putin is going into self-isolation because of coronavirus cases among his inner circle.
- MIDDLE EAST: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett discussed the developments of bilateral relations in various fields, as well as the Palestinian issue.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Epic Games filed notice that it would appeal Friday’s ruling in its lawsuit with Apple, which found that Apple did not have an illegal monopoly.
Top Story
- Global: US, Japan, and South Korea nuclear envoys meet after North Korea cruise missile test
- The top nuclear envoys from Japan, the United States and South Korea held talks in Tokyo to revive stalled denuclearization talks a day after Pyongyang said it tested a new long-range cruise missile.
- In his meeting with Asian partners, U.S Envoy Sung Kim signaled that the United States has no hostile intent towards North Korea and hopes Pyongyang responds positively to offers for talks on its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
- Takehiro Funakoshi, head of the Japanese Foreign Ministry’s Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau, said, “Our cooperation becomes all the more important as North Korea advances furthermore in its nuclear and missile development.”
- South Korean Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Noh Kyu-dok said, “the South and the U.S. will explore creative ways to create an opening for dialogue with the North.”
- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also set to arrive in Seoul for talks with South Korean officials over bilateral relations and the stalled nuclear diplomacy with North Korea.
- Al Jazeera, Reuters, Kyodo News, Yonhap, AP
Africa
- Region: Tobacco industry watchdog STOP issued a report accusing British American Tobacco (BAT) of paying over US$600,000 in bribes in ten African countries over five years. (AFP)
- Algeria: Prime Minister Ayman Benabderrahmane said the country plans to increase investment in its oil and gas sector by $2.6 billion next year to boost production by 8.9 million tons of oil. (Reuters)
- Nigeria: At least 108 inmates who escaped from a prison in the central region have been recaptured. (AFP)
- South Africa: President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country has benefited from being a member of the BRICS over the last decade. (Xinhua)
Americas
- Haiti: The Office of Citizen Protection demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry as authorities seek to question him regarding the assassination of President Jovenel Moise. (AP)
- United States: California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom ended his campaign to retain his job in a recall election with a final push from President Joe Biden. (AP)
- United States: Hurricane Nicholas made landfall in Texas bringing heavy rain, widespread flooding, and power outages along the Gulf coast. (NPR)
- Venezuela: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet made a statement denouncing the “intimidation and criminalization” of political prisoners in the country and called for their release. (AFP)
Asia
- Region: Foreign minister Wang Yi held talks with Singaporean leader Lee Hsien Loong during a Southeast Asian tour seen as a pushback against Washington’s efforts to reassert its influence in the region. (AFP)
- Japan: Outgoing Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is expected to travel to Washington next week to join three other leaders from the Quad nations at an in-person summit of the grouping. (AP)
- Myanmar: Ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi returned to court to face charges of incitement and flouting Covid restrictions. (AFP)
- North Korea: State media reported successful tests of new long-range cruise missiles over the weekend, the first such testing activity in months. (AP)
- Pakistan: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on Islamabad to deny legitimacy to the Taliban unless they meet international demands. (AFP)
Europe
- Germany: during her visit to Serbia, Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Western Balkan nations have a long way to go to achieve membership in the European Union. (Reuters)
- Norway: Prime Minister Erna Solberg conceded defeat as the center-left opposition bloc was projected to have won Monday’s general election, beginning coalition talks. (Reuters)
- Russia: President Vladimir Putin is going into self-isolation because of coronavirus cases among his inner circle. (AP)
- United Kingdom: The country again delayed the implementation of some post-Brexit import controls, saying it would phase in checks next year rather than impose them now when industry supply chains are under distress. (Reuters)
- United Kingdom: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab was urged to block the appointment of a Rwandan diplomat in London for his alleged role in detaining a government critic. (BBC)
Middle East
- Region: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett discussed the developments of bilateral relations in various fields, as well as the Palestinian issue. (Xinhua)
- Afghanistan: Tolo News reported that at least 153 media outlets have been shut down since the country’s takeover by the Taliban. (TASS)
- Syria: Russian president Vladimir Putin and President Bashar al-Assad held talks in Moscow on the cooperation between their countries and how to continue operations on the ground in areas under rebel control. (AP)
- United Arab Emirates: The country wants to increase the value of economic activity with Israel to more than $1 trillion over the next 10 years, and work together on issues like healthcare, climate change, and energy. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Technology: Epic Games filed notice that it would appeal Friday’s ruling in its lawsuit with Apple, which found that Apple did not have an illegal monopoly. (AP)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report
- Hurricanes:
- Tropical Storm Nicholas
- Location: 29.3N 95.6W
- Movement: NNE
- Wind: 70 mph
- Map
- Tropical Storm Chanthu
- Location: 30.7N 124.3E
- Movement: SE
- Wind: 50 mph
- Map
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 14SEP21)
- Confirmed cases: 225,325,350
- Deaths: 4,640,966
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 14SEP21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (15SEP21)
- Global: UN General Assembly. (to 30SEP)
- Global: UN Security Council Meetings on Syria.
- Global: WHO to launch Snakebite Information and Data Platform.
- Global: International Day of Democracy.
- Event: German Marshall Fund discussion on democratic resilience in central and eastern Europe.
- Event: Brookings Institution discussion on ‘Accelerating COVID-19 vaccinations in Africa’.
- Asia: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visiting Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, and South Korea.
- Costa Rica: Independence Day.
- El Salvador: Independence Day.
- Europe: EU State of the Union Address by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
- Guatemala: Independence Day.
- Honduras: Independence Day.
- Hong Kong: Quarantine-free travel from China and Macau resumes.
- Kosovo: War Crimes trial begins for former liberation army commander.
- Libya: 10th anniversary of UK PM and French president addressing Libyans in Benghazi.
- Nicaragua: Independence Day.
- Judaism: Yom Kippur, beginning at sundown.
- Sweden: Court expected to issue verdict in auto industry spy case.
- Taiwan: Large-scale air raid drill as part of annual live-fire exercise.
- United Kingdom: Battle of Britain Day.
- United States: Secretary of State Antony Blinken to receive Foreign Ministers Gabrielius Landsbergis of Lithuania and Marise Payne of Australia.
- United States: National Hispanic Heritage month.
- Vatican City: Pope concludes Slovakia visit.
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