19OCT21 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: The UN Climate Agency warned Africa’s eastern glaciers will vanish in two decades, 118 million people could face imminent drought, floods or extreme heat, and climate change could also shave 3% off continental GDP by mid-century.
AMERICAS: Ecuadorian General Luis Hernández replaced Fernando Donoso as Minister of Defense.
ASIA: A group of 10 naval vessels from China and Russia sailed through a strait separating Japan’s main island and its northern island of Hokkaido.
EUROPE: The Turkish foreign ministry summoned the ambassadors of 10 countries, including the United States, Germany, and France, over a statement calling for the release of jailed philanthropist Osman Kavala.
MIDDLE EAST: Qatar created an environment and climate change ministry and appointed Ali Bin Ahmad Al-Kuwari as finance minister.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Amazon announced plans to hire 150,000 temporary and seasonal workers for the holidays, offering $3,000 signing bonuses.

Top Story

North Korea: Pyongyang test-fires a submarine-launched ballistic missile.
- South Korea reported that Pyongyang fired an unidentified projectile into its eastern waters.
- The launch was detected after 10:17am local time and the missile traveled about 590 kilometers at a top altitude of around 60 km.
- The launch was reported by military officials in Japan and South Korea and comes after South Korean officials and US officials discussed the nuclear standoff on the Korean peninsula.
- The site where the ballistic missile was launched has a shipyard where North Korea is building a submarine capable of carrying ballistic missiles, suggesting that this launch was one of them, the first in two years.
- The US military condemned North Korea for a suspected ballistic missile launch and called on the country to “refrain from any further destabilizing acts.”
- WaPo, Yonhap, Reuters, Chosun Ilbo, AFP

Africa

Region: The UN Climate Agency warned Africa’s eastern glaciers will vanish in two decades, 118 million people could face imminent drought, floods or extreme heat, and climate change could also shave 3% off continental GDP by mid-century. (Reuters)
Angola: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wrapped up a visit to the country, the first leg of a three-nation African tour. (AFP)
Central African Republic: President Faustin Archange Touadera defended his decision to ask Russian instructors and Rwandan forces to help counter rebels threatening his government. (AP)
Tunisia: Former president Moncef Marzouki has emerged as a vocal critic of incumbent Kais Saied’s power grab but lacks the popularity to lead the opposition. (AFP)

Americas

Colombia: The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled the state was responsible for the rape and torture of journalist Jineth Bedoya in 2000. (AFP)
Ecuador: General Luis Hernández replaced Fernando Donoso as Minister of Defense. (AFP)
United States: Zalmay Kalilzad resigned as special envoy to Afghanistan and was replaced by his deputy, Thomas West. (BBC)
United States: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing to allow “mix and match” coronavirus vaccine boosting, in which people get a different additional shot to the dose they initially received. (AFP)

Asia

Region: A group of 10 naval vessels from China and Russia sailed through a strait separating Japan’s main island and its northern island of Hokkaido. (Reuters)
China: Special climate envoy Xie Zhenhua said Beijing attaches immense importance to tackling climate change, but an announcement has yet to be made on whether or not President Xi Jinping will attend the COP26 summit. (Reuters)
India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to northern state Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami over the phone on the situation in the state following rains and floods over the past few days that left five people dead. (Xinhua)
Myanmar: The ruling junta announced plans to release more than 5,600 political prisoners arrested in anti-military demonstrations earlier this year. (WaPo)
New Zealand: Health authorities recorded 94 new COVID-19 cases, the highest daily rise since April 2020. (DPA)

Europe

Denmark: A petition demanding that Copenhagen stop its controversial policy of revoking residency of some Syrian refugees got the required number of signatures to be submitted to parliament. (AFP)
Poland: Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused the EU of blackmail in a heated debate with European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen over the rule of law. (BBC)
Turkey: The foreign ministry summoned the ambassadors of 10 countries, including the United States, Germany, and France, over a statement calling for the release of jailed philanthropist Osman Kavala. (Reuters)
Ukraine: US defense secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Ukraine for talks aimed at underlining Washington’s support of Kyiv in its conflict with pro-Russia separatists. (AFP)
United Kingdom: Scientists are pressing the government to reimpose social restrictions and speed up booster vaccinations as coronavirus infection rates continue to increase. (AP)

Middle East

Iran: President Raisi says there are no conditions for talks to restore the 2015 nuclear deal, but Tehran expects the lifting of US sanctions in return. (Al Ja zeera)
Lebanon: Parliament voted to hold legislative elections on March 27, giving Prime Minister Najib Mikati’s government only a few months to try to secure an IMF recovery plan amid a deepening economic meltdown. (Reuters)
Qatar: The Gulf state created an environment and climate change ministry and appointed Ali Bin Ahmad Al-Kuwari as finance minister. (Reuters)
Yemen: UNICEF said that seven years of conflict in the country has killed or injured at least 10,000 children. (AFP)

Tech & Communications

Technology: Amazon announced plans to hire 150,000 temporary and seasonal workers for the holidays, offering $3,000 signing bonuses. (UPI)

World

Tomorrow’s Outlook (20OCT21)

Global: Ethics Day.
Africa: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to visit Angola, Nigeria, and Togo for talks on trade and economic development.
Colombia: Visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. (to 21OCT)
Guatemala: Revolution Day.
Kenya: Mashujaa Day.
Russia: Taliban officials to visit Moscow for multilateral talks.
Turkey: TRT World Forum.
United States: Tibet Fund Annual Gala in New York City.
United States: CHLI Annual Trade & International Affairs Symposium.

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