Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The US urged its nationals to leave Ethiopia immediately, warning that there will be no Afghanistan-style military evacuation.
- AMERICAS: US President Joe Biden signed his administration’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law.
- ASIA: Myanmar’s state election commission is prosecuting the country’s ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and 15 other senior political figures for alleged fraud in last November’s general election.
- EUROPE: British Police have released four men arrested under terrorism laws by detectives investigating a homemade bomb explosion in a Liverpool taxi.
- MIDDLE EAST: The UN Security Council congratulated the Iraqi government on its successful election and condemned attempts to discredit the results.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: The district attorney of Bernalillo County, New Mexico asked a court in California to force Facebook to comply with its subpoena account information related to a militia group which was banned from the platform in 2020.
Top Story
- Global: US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jingping meet in a virtual summit.
- US President Joe Biden and Chinese president Xi Jinping held their first face-to-face meeting virtually since Biden took office in January even though they have previously spoken twice by phone.
- China hailed the virtual meeting between the two world leaders, saying they had a candid and constructive exchange that sent a strong signal to the world.
- According to official accounts of the exchange, US President Joe Biden pressed his Chinese counterpart on human rights while Xi Jinping warned that China would respond to provocations on Taiwan.
- After three and a half hours of talks, there was no breakthrough, but the two leaders expressed a willingness to manage their differences in a way that avoids conflict between the world’s two great powers.
- Afghanistan, North Korea and Iran, as well as human rights, climate change, trade, and concerns over Taiwan were among the topics both presidents discussed.
- President Xi said “China and the United States should respect each other, co-exist in peace, and pursue win-win cooperation” to diffuse tensions.
- President Biden emphasized that “Our responsibility as leaders of China and the United States is to ensure that the competition between our countries does not veer into conflict, whether intended or unintended.”
- DPA, AP, Reuters, NYT, WSJ, Bloomberg, CNBC
Africa
- Ethiopia: The US urged its nationals to leave the country immediately, warning that there will be no Afghanistan-style military evacuation. (AFP)
- Libya: Commander Khalifa Haftar announced his candidacy for the country’s presidential elections next month. (AP)
- Nigeria: An inquiry panel reported that armed forces shot and killed anti-police brutality protesters last year, which the army denies. (BBC)
- Sudan: Al Jazeera Khartoum bureau chief El Musalmi El Kabbashi was released from detention after being arrested by security forces on Sunday. (Reuters)
- Uganda: Two explosions rocked Kampala, sparking chaos and confusion as people fled what is widely believed to be coordinated attacks. (WaPo)
Americas
- Bolivia: The opposition stepped up its demands on President Luis Arce with a call for the repeal of more laws after a week of protests. (AFP)
- Cuba: Planned nationwide protests failed to materialize as organizers were threatened with arrest and prevented from leaving their homes. (AP)
- United States: Federal authorities announced that unauthorized crossings of the Mexican border were down in October for the third straight month. (NYT)
- United States: President Joe Biden signed his administration’s $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law. (AP)
Asia
- Region: UN rapporteur Tomas Ojea Quintana criticized China for sending North Korean defectors back to their country, calling it a challenge to international law. (Yonhap)
- Region: A new survey by Transparency International found a majority of Pacific islanders say corruption is a problem in their governments. (AP)
- China: The country’s ambassador to the EU said Beijing will never change its position on Taiwan and will also not shift its view that the European Union must lift its sanctions if a new Sino-EU investment deal is to be ratified. (Reuters)
- Myanmar: The state election commission is prosecuting the country’s ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and 15 other senior political figures for alleged fraud in last November’s general election. (AP)
- Philippines: The son of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos has emerged as the frontrunner in the 2022 presidential race. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: A draft plan indicates the European Union is considering a joint rapid-deployment force of up to 5,000 troops able to intervene in crises without US assistance by 2025. (Reuters)
- Germany: Friedrich Merz has joined the race to become the new leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), making his third bid for the job in three years. (AP)
- Russia: EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced that new sanctions are being prepared against the mercenary Vagner Group, accused of acting as a paramilitary force in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Africa. (RFE/RL)
- Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky announced a cash incentive to those who receive both doses of COVID-19 vaccine. (AFP)
- United Kingdom: Police have released four men arrested under terrorism laws by detectives investigating a homemade bomb explosion in a Liverpool taxi. (AP)
Middle East
- Iraq: The UN Security Council congratulated the government on its successful election and condemned attempts to discredit the results. (AP)
- Iran: Parliament rejected President Ebrahim Raisi’s proposed education minister for a second time since he formed his cabinet in August. (Reuters)
- Israel: Former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s graft trial resumed with his ex-spin doctor due on the witness stand, but the defence has asked the highly anticipated testimony be delayed. (AFP)
- Syria: President Bashar al-Assad issued a decree eliminating the post of top Muslim cleric for the country and expanding the powers of a government ministry overseeing religious affairs. (AFP)
Tech & Communications
- Social Media: The district attorney of Bernalillo County, New Mexico asked a court in California to force Facebook to comply with its subpoena account information related to a militia group which was banned from the platform in 2020. (WaPo)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report
- Volcanoes:
- La Palma, Spain
- Explosive activity continues
- Erupting
- Source
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 16NOV21)
- Confirmed cases: 254,005,913
- Deaths: 5,110,287
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 16NOV21)
- La Palma, Spain
Tomorrow’s Outlook (17NOV21)
- Global: International Students’ Day.
- Africa: UN Security Council meetings on Somalia and the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA).
- Africa: US Secretary of State Blinken visiting Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal. (to 20NOV)
- Laos: Last day of National Assembly.
- Malaysia: UNWTO Regional Conference on the Empowerment of Women in Tourism in Asia and the Pacific.
- Marshall islands: Presidents Day.
- Middle East: US Special Envoy for Iran Rob Malley visiting United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. (to 20NOV)
- Singapore: Bloomberg New Economy Forum. (to 19NOV)
- Singapore: Visit by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. (to 18NOV)
- United States: Senate Foreign Relations hearing on Afghanistan.
- United States: House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on U.S. role in global COVID-19 vaccine equity.
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