Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the federal government’s forces captured another town in the Tigray region, with the conflict now also spilling over into neighboring Eritrea and threatening to further destabilize the wider Horn of Africa region.
- AMERICAS: Interim Peruvian President Manuel Merino resigned after just five days in office following two deaths during the protests against his government.
- ASIA: International Olympics Committee Chief Thomas Bach, who is in Japan to meet with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, said he is “very confident” that the public will be able to attend the Tokyo Olympic games that were delayed until next year.
- EUROPE: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in self-isolation after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for the coronavirus.
- MIDDLE EAST: Veteran Syrian politician and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, who was a longtime fixture of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, died at the age of 79.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Algerian authorities arrested Anis Rahmani, who is the head of one of the country’s largest media groups.
Top Story
- United States: Coronavirus cases cross 11 million as pandemic escalates.
- Coronavirus cases in the country crossed 11 million according to the John Hopkins University, as hospitalizations reached record levels simultaneously.
- The total number of cases in the country crossed 10 million just one week back, with more than 1 in 400 Americans testing positive for the coronavirus since then.
- The Midwest is the region hardest hit by this latest wave of the coronavirus as North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Nebraska being some of the worst-affected states in the country.
- In response to this latest wave, the states of Michigan and Washington are the latest to have joined several other states in renewing their anti-coronavirus measures and restrictions.
- On average, the coronavirus is claiming the lives of more than 1,000 Americans each day, leaving the current overall death toll of the coronavirus pandemic at almost 250,000 deaths.
- Reporting: AP, Reuters, NYT, BBC
Africa
- Region: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the federal government’s forces captured another town in the Tigray region, with the conflict now also spilling over into neighboring Eritrea and threatening to further destabilize the wider Horn of Africa region. (Reuters)
- Libya: UN-led talks between the country’s two warring factions ended without the appointment of an interim administration but further talks have been planned to be held in around a week’s time. (AFP)
- Zambia: One of the country’s largest creditor group said the lack of engagement by the government had made it impossible for Eurobond holders to provide the government with any near-term debt relief. (Reuters)
Americas
- Region: Storm Iota is strengthening into a hurricane and is set to strike Central America just days after another storm struck the region. (CNN)
- Canada: The trial over Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou’s potential extradition to the US is set to resume with witness cross-examinations. (Reuters)
- Peru: Interim President Manuel Merino has resigned after just five days in office following two deaths during the protests against his government. (BBC)
- United States: President Donald Trump seemed to briefly acknowledge his election defeat before backtracking and saying he conceded “nothing” and promised to continue a court battle over the election results. (Reuters)
Asia
- Region: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said no meat products infected with the new coronavirus were exported to China after Beijing claimed they had detected the new coronavirus on some frozen beef imports. (Reuters)
- Indonesia: The Energy Ministry told Parliament that it was unlikely to proceed with its earlier plans to raise the bio-content of its palm oil-based biodiesel next year due to a lack of funding for the program. (Reuters)
- Japan: International Olympics Committee chief Thomas Bach, who is in the country to meet with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, said he is “very confident” that the public will be able to attend the Tokyo Olympic games that have been delayed until next year. (BBC)
- North Korea: Kim Jong Un called for stricter coronavirus measures as he made his first public appearance in 25 days at a politburo meeting of the country’s ruling Workers’ Party, according to state media reports. (UPI)
- Pakistan: Authorities have blocked a major road to the capital city Islamabad while a far-right religious group holds anti-France protests in the city. (AFP)
Europe
- Region: Turkey’s government has submitted a motion seeking approval to deploy its troops as peacekeepers to monitor the recent ceasefire agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. (AP)
- Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to meet with state leaders and discuss potential new coronavirus restrictions. (DPA)
- Moldova: The country’s election commission said the opposition pro-EU candidate Maia Sandu had won the recent presidential runoff with 56% of the vote. (Deutsche Welle)
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in self-isolation after coming into contact with someone who tested positive for the new coronavirus. (AP)
Middle East
- Region: The UAE’s Etihad Airways will launch daily flights from the UAE to Israel in March 2021 following the normalization of diplomatic ties between the two countries. (Reuters)
- Region: Qatar, and Tunisia, have proposed to hold a dialogue between the Western and Muslim worlds to prevent anti-Muslim backlashes following terrorist attacks. (AFP)
- Iran: The country has reported a record daily increase in new coronavirus cases and deaths. (Reuters)
- Syria: Veteran politician and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, who was a longtime fixture of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, has died at the age of 79. (AFP)
Tech & Communications
- Media: Algerian authorities have arrested Anis Rahmani, who is the head of one of the country’s largest media groups. (BBC)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes:
- Hurricane Iota
- Location: 25 miles NE of Isla de Provincia, Colombia
- Wind: 145 mph
- Movement: W at 9 mph
- Map
- Hurricane Iota
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 16NOV20: 54,451,804
- Total Recovered Cases as of 16NOV20: 35,018,852
- Deaths as of 16NOV20: 1,318,033
- 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
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (17NOV20)
- Global: Russian President Vladimir Putin will virtually host the 12th annual BRICS Summit.
- Global: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo with his Europe and Middle East tour which includes planned visits to France, Turkey, Georgia, Israel, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. (to 23NOV)
- Global: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, are expected to speak at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum. (to 19NOV)
- Europe: The European Affairs Ministers of EU member-states will meet virtually and discuss the potential inclusion to the EU of Albania, and North Macedonia, which Bulgaria is expected to oppose.
- Austria: A new coronavirus national lockdown will be implemented.
- Japan: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will visit be the first foreign leader to meet with new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. (to 18NOV)
- Japan: International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach will visit the Tokyo Olympic athletes village to determine the measures that can be taken for the delayed Olympics to be held next year.
- Papua New Guinea: The government is expected to introduce its 2021 budget.
- Russia: Senior British diplomats will visit and meet with First Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov.
- Sri Lanka: Prime Minister and Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa is scheduled to introduce his 2021 government budget to Parliament.
- South Africa: Former President Jacob Zuma will testify in front of an anti-corruption panel. (to 20NOV)
- United States: Facebook, Twitter CEOs will testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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