Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed warned the country’s Tigray state that an ultimatum to the region’s rebel forces expired.
- AMERICAS: Lawmaker Francisco Sagasti was elected as Peru’s new interim President by Congress.
- ASIA: Japan and Australia reached a broad agreement on a bilateral defense pact to enable increased joint exercises and operations inside both Tokyo and Canberra’s territories.
- EUROPE: German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron’s idea of European strategic autonomy, saying Europe will need NATO and US help for decades before it is capable of building-up enough strategic autonomy.
- MIDDLE EAST: US President Donald Trump reportedly asked senior advisers for options to attack Iran’s main nuclear site in the coming weeks.
- GLOBAL ISSUES: The World Disasters Report published by the Red Cross claims that four out of five natural catastrophes in the last decade were caused by extreme weather and climate-related events and which resulted in 410,000 deaths across the world.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Russia rejected Microsoft’s claims of Moscow being responsible for cyber attacks on companies researching coronavirus vaccines and treatments.
Top Story
- Americas: Hurricane Iota makes landfall in Nicaragua.
- Hurricane Iota, the year’s strongest Atlantic hurricane, ripped through Nicaragua’s coast at almost the same location as Hurricane Eta did two weeks ago.
- The storm is expected to bring catastrophic winds, severe levels of rainfall, and flooding to the wider Central American region as well.
- Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei also warned rich countries that the Central American region would need help to prevent a potential new wave of migrants from the region due to the two hurricanes striking the region.
- Iota intensified earlier in the day into a Category 5 storm, but is now weakened into a Category 4 storm.
- Iota is only the second November hurricane to transform into a Category 5 storm, with the previous such storm being recorded back in 1932.
- Reporting: Reuters, NYT, BBC, AP, AFP, WaPo, WSJ
Africa
- Ethiopia: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed warned the Tigray state that an ultimatum to the region’s rebel forces expired. (Reuters)
- Rwanda: The widow of former President Juvenal Habyarimana decided to appeal against a French court’s decision to investigate claims of her involvement in the country’s 1994 genocide. (AFP)
- Somalia: The army says it arrested three al-Shabab leaders during operations in the country’s Middle and Lower Shabelle regions. (Xinhua)
Americas
- Colombia: The High Peace Commissioner’s office requested an extension under the Ottawa Treaty for removing landmines from across the country. (Reuters)
- Peru: Lawmaker Francisco Sagasti was elected the country’s new interim President by Congress. (BBC)
- United States: Multiple state governors and city mayors increased coronavirus measures and restrictions amid a record resurgence of the coronavirus. (AP)
Asia
- Region: Japan and Australia reached a broad agreement on a bilateral defense pact to enable increased joint exercises and operations inside both Tokyo and Canberra’s territories. (Reuters)
- Afghanistan: NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned that the organization could pay a heavy price for withdrawing from the country earlier than necessary after reports emerged of US President Donald Trump withdrawing a large portion of US troops from the country. (AFP)
- China: Beijing placed the Long March-5 in position for the launch of a mission to bring back materials from the moon for the first time in 40 years. (AP)
- Pakistan: Thousands of supporters of firebrand cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi ended their anti-France protest in capital city Islamabad after government ministers agreed to discuss their demands to cut diplomatic ties with France in Parliament. (AP)
- Thailand: Members of Parliament are deliberating over potential constitutional amendments, which is one of the central demands of the country’s student-led pro-democracy movement. (AP)
Europe
- Region: German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer dismissed French President Emmanuel Macron’s idea of European strategic autonomy, saying Europe will need NATO and US help for decades before it is capable of building-up enough strategic autonomy. (Reuters)
- Region: German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas expressed confidence in the chances of finding a solution to Poland and Hungary’s veto of the EU budget and coronavirus recovery fund. (AFP)
- Norway: The country’s gross domestic product expanded by 5.2% in Q3 as the economy bounced back from a coronavirus-induced recession. (Reuters)
- United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson reportedly called the devolution of powers to Scotland “a disaster”. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Region: OPEC and ally countries reportedly believe oil demand in 2021 will be weaker than previously expected. (Reuters)
- Region: Hamas and Palestine’s Fatah group leaders held discussions on ending internal division and achieving unity. (Xinhua)
- Iran: US President Donald Trump reportedly asked senior advisers for options to attack Tehran’s main nuclear site in the coming weeks. (NYT)
Global Issues
- Natural Disasters: The World Disasters Report published by the Red Cross claims that four out of five natural catastrophes in the last decade were caused by extreme weather and climate-related events and which resulted in 410,000 deaths across the world. (DPA)
Tech & Communications
- Cybersecurity: Russia rejected Microsoft’s claims of Moscow being responsible for cyber attacks on companies researching coronavirus vaccines and treatments. (AFP)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes:
- Hurricane Iota
- Location: 10 miles E-NE of Pia, Nicaragua
- Wind: 105 mph
- Movement: W at 8 mph
- Map
- Hurricane Iota
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 17NOV20: 55,108,151
- Total Recovered Cases as of 17NOV20: 35,416,766
- Deaths as of 17NOV20: 1,328,685
- Countries with Confirmed Cases: 191
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (18NOV20)
- 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)
- Americas: The trial of former Mexican General Salvador Cienfuegos, who was detained in the US over drug trafficking accusations, will formally begin in New York City.
- Europe: A French court is expected to issue a decision on Spain’s extradition request for Basque separatist group ETA’s member Josu Ternera.
- Europe: The European Council’s 9th World Forum for Democracy will begin virtually, and will continue for the next one year with a series of activities.
- Europe: Germany will take over the Council of Europe’s presidency from Greece.
- Europe: The European Court of Justice will issue a ruling on a complaint against Germany on VAT refund for foreign companies.
- Europe: The European Court of Justice will issue a ruling on extended parental leave for fathers.
- Middle East: The UN Security Council will hold briefings and consultations on the region.
- France: 5G networks are likely to begin commercial operations in the country. (to 30NOV)
- Israel: Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif al-Zayani will visit.
- Japan: The government will release trade statistics for October.
- Japan: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison will visit be the first foreign leader to meet with new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
- Latvia: Independence Day/Republic of Latvia Proclamation Day – 1918
- Lithuania: Polish President Andrzej Duda will visit and meet with President Gitanas Nauseda.
- Oman: National Day/Birthday of Sultan Qaboos – 1940
- South Africa: Former President Jacob Zuma will testify in front of an anti-corruption panel. (to 20NOV)
- United States: The plea hearing of Former Army Green Beret Peter Rafael Dzibinski Debbins, charged with espionage activity on behalf of Russia, is set to take place.
- United States: Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky will discuss his company’s coronavirus vaccine candidate at the Economic Club of Washington, DC.
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