Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The UN Security Council adopted a statement urging Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to resume negotiations on Ethiopia’s mega-dam project on the Blue Nile.
- AMERICAS: The United States extended a new economic aid package to Greenland, seeking to boost a military presence in the Arctic.
- ASIA: North Korean state media reported that missiles fired on Wednesday were a test of a new railway-borne missile system.
- EUROPE: Russian president Vladimir Putin urged citizens to vote in parliamentary elections later this week in which most vocal Kremlin critics have been barred from running.
- MIDDLE EAST: The Israeli navy has exponentially increased its presence in the Red Sea in the face of growing Iranian threats to the country’s shipping.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: SpaceX launched the Inspiration4 mission, the world’s first all-tourist spaceflight.
Top Story
- Indo-Pacific: UK, US and Australia launch historic security partnership pact
- The U.S., UK and Australia have announced a new security pact that will help equip Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.
- The three countries vowed to continue close cooperation in other areas such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and undersea capabilities.
- France accused U.S. President Joe Biden of stabbing it in the back after Paris was pushed aside from a defense deal that it had signed with Australia for submarines.
- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines “will help to safeguard the peace and security of the Indo-Pacific.”
- China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian accused the three countries of double standards and an “outdated cold war zero-sum mentality.”
- President Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison see the move as a response to China’s expanding economic power, military reach, and diplomatic influence.
- BBC, WSJ, Reuters, AFP, FT, WaPo
Africa
- Region: Emmanuel Macron announced the death of Adnan Abu al-Walid al-Sahrawi, leader of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, at the hands of French forces. (AP)
- Region: The UN Security Council adopted a statement urging Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan to resume negotiations on Ethiopia’s mega-dam project on the Blue Nile. (AFP)
- Burundi: UN investigators said the human rights situation in the East African country has “deteriorated” in the 15 months since President Evariste Ndayishimiye took office. (AFP)
- Guinea: The foreign minister of Ghana said the junta has set a number of conditions for releasing the deposed president ahead of a meeting where West African leaders are likely to consider sanctions. (AP)
- Nigeria: The air force said it is investigating reports that civilians were ‘erroneously killed’ in air strikes on Boko Haram jihadists in northern Yobe state. (AFP)
Americas
- Brazil: The Senate and Supreme Court nullified rules issued last week by President Bolsonaro which banned social networks from removing disinformation related to the upcoming presidential election. (NYT)
- Canada: Premier Jason Kenney of Alberta apologized for mishandling the pandemic as additional public health measures, including vaccine passports, were introduced. (Reuters)
- Cuba: A preliminary draft a new family code allowing same-sex marriage was released. (AP)
- Greenland: The United States extended a new economic aid package to the island, seeking to boost a military presence in the Arctic. (Reuters)
- Mexico: Gunmen who abducted 23 migrants from a hotel on Tuesday had planned to hold them for ransom but instead released them, according to prosecutors. (AP)
Asia
- China: Two were confirmed killed by a 6.0-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan Province. (Xinhua)
- Indonesia: A court ordered President Joko Widodo and other senior government officials to improve the hazardous air quality in Jakarta after finding them guilty of environmental negligence in a civil lawsuit. (Reuters)
- Japan: Vaccine minister Taro Kono said any new economic stimulus measures should prioritize spending on renewable energy and expansion of 5G networks nationwide. (Reuters)
- North Korea: State media reported that missiles fired on Wednesday were a test of a new railway-borne missile system. (Reuters)
- Philippines: Presidential legal council said that the country will not cooperate with an investigation by the International Criminal Court into possible crimes against humanity committed during the country’s “war on drugs.” (Reuters)
Europe
- Czech Republic: Hospitalized President Milos Zeman has undergone medical checks that have not revealed any problems or disease that would threaten his life. (AP)
- Germany: Federal prosecutors indicted four men on suspicion of supporting the Islamic extremist group Jabhat al-Nusra. (AP)
- Italy: The country’s anti-covid “green pass” will be obligatory for all employees, in a bid to boost vaccine rates ahead of the winter flu season. (AFP)
- Russia: President Vladimir Putin urged citizens to vote in parliamentary elections later this week in which most vocal Kremlin critics have been barred from running. (AFP)
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson is continuing to retool his ministerial team, after conducting a major cabinet reshuffle yesterday. (BBC)
Middle East
- Afghanistan: Abdul Ghani Baradar, co-founder of the Taliban and deputy prime minister of the interim government, vehemently denied reports of conflict among the group’s leadership. (WaPo)
- Iran: President Ebrahim Raisi will visit Tajikistan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit on his first foreign trip since taking office last month. (Reuters)
- Israel: The navy has exponentially increased its presence in the Red Sea in the face of growing Iranian threats to the country’s shipping. (WaPo)
- Lebanon: Hezbollah began bringing Iranian fuel into the country via Syria, a move the Shi’ite group says should ease a crippling energy crisis, but which skeptics say risks undermining U.S. sanctions. (Reuters)
- Yemen: At least 50 rebels and pro-government troops, including a high-ranking officer, have been killed in clashes in the central province of Al-Bayda. (AFP)
Tech & Communications
- Technology: SpaceX launched the Inspiration4 mission, the world’s first all-tourist spaceflight. (BBC)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report
- Hurricanes:
- Tropical Storm Chanthu
- Location: 31.1N 125.4E
- Movement: NNE
- Wind: 60 mph
- Map
- Earthquakes:
- Sichuan, China
- Magnitude: 6.0
- Depth: 10 km
- Map
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 16SEP21)
- Confirmed cases: 226,445,291
- Deaths: 4,661,153
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 16SEP21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (17SEP21)
- Global: UN General Assembly. (to 30SEP)
- Europe: EU Med Summit
- Greece: EU Med Group Summit in Athens.
- Italy: G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting in Florence. (to 18SEP)
- Japan: Start of official campaign period for ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership elections.
- Russia: Parliamentary and local elections. (to 19SEP)
- Tajikistan: Shanghai Cooperation Organization annual summit in Dushanbe.
- United Kingdom: G7 Heads of Parliament Conference in Chorley, Lancashire.
- United Kingdom: DSEi Defence Exhibition concludes.
- United States: President Biden hosts Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate meeting.
END
