Key Storylines
- AFRICA: A Rwanda court is expected to rule on Monday in the case of a hotel manager portrayed as a hero in a Hollywood film about the genocide in 1994. Paul Rusesabagina was accused by Rwanda’s authorities of being the mastermind of terrorism from exile.
- AMERICAS: In a massive show of force that marks the beginning of what could be one of America’s swiftest, large-scale expulsions of migrants or refugees in decades, the U.S. is flying Haitians sheltered in the Texas border back to their country as they block others from crossing the border from Mexico.
- ASIA: A North Korea military think tank on Monday warned the development of South Korea’s recently tested submarine-launched ballistic missile could revive tensions at the border.
- EUROPE: Partial Russian election results on Monday showed that the country’s ruling party and supporter of President Putin, United Russia retained its parliamentary majority despite losing over a tenth of its support.
- MIDDLE EAST: Dozens of Afghan singers and musicians have fled to Pakistan due to fear of retaliation at the hands of the Taliban, who ban music under their hardline Islamist interpretation of Sharia law.
- TECH AND COMMUNICATIONS: As US politicians and regulators prepare to clampdown on “under the radar” deals, the world’s largest technology companies Apple, Facebook, Google, Amazon and Microsoft have snapped up smaller rivals in a buying wave at record speed this year.
Top Story
- Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing being knocked from office in elections
- Opinion polls show that no party will gain a majority of seats in the election on Monday, for the second straight time.
- This leaves two front-runners – Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or Conservative leader Erin O’Toole.
- Whoever wins will struggle to govern with a minority.
- The Liberals have the advantage for a win based on the slight edge of support the party currently registers in Canada’s most populous province, Ontario.
- Ontario, holds the largest number of seats — 121 — out of the 338 that comprise the House of Commons.
- At the other side of the political spectrum is the rise of the far-right populist People’s Party of Canada (PPC) which had no House seats at the dissolution of parliament.
- The PPC’s popularity however, has eclipsed the Green Party of Canada, which had two members of parliament.
- AP, NYT, Reuters, BBC, Xinhua
Africa
- Algeria: After mass protests in 2019, ousted longest-serving president Abdelaziz Bouteflika was given a state funeral on Sunday. The event received little of the attention given to such occasions in the past, despite senior officials’ attendance. (AlJazeera)
- Ethiopia: Witness accounts and internal documents reveal the first deaths cause by starvation since the country’s government imposed in June what the United Nations calls “a de facto humanitarian aid blockade.” (AP)
- Rwanda: A court is expected to rule on Monday in the case of a hotel manager portrayed as a hero in a Hollywood film about the genocide in 1994. Paul Rusesabagina was accused by Rwanda’s authorities of being the mastermind of terrorism from exile. (Reuters)
- South Africa: As the dollar rallied even as investors stayed cautious ahead of a week filled with local and global economic indicators, South Africa’s rand dropped in early Monday trade after losing ground this past week. (Reuters)
- Tunisia: Hundreds of Tunisians protested through central Tunis on Saturday demanding a return to parliamentary democracy after a July power grab by President Kais Saied. (France24)
Americas
- Region: In an attempt to warn of a new Cold War, the head of the UN asked the United States and China to mend their “completely dysfunctional” relationship before problems between the two powers spill over even further into the rest of the globe. (AP)
- Haiti: In a massive show of force that marks the beginning of what could be one of America’s swiftest, large-scale expulsions of migrants or refugees in decades, the U.S. is flying Haitians sheltered in the Texas border back to their country as they block others from crossing the border from Mexico. (AP)
- United States: President Biden setting up a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron in the following days hoping to put an end to a frantic stretch of public snubs and private exchanges between the two allies, U.S. officials said Sunday. (WaPo)
Asia
- Australia: In the midst of criticism over his decision to abandon a $40 billion submarine deal with France, PM, Scott Morrison departed for Washington DC for a meeting with leaders of the Quad grouping. (Reuters)
- China: Shares in Chinese and Hong Kong property groups fell to 19%, their lowest levels in eleven years as an escalating liquidity crisis at Evergrande appears to be spreading beyond the sector. (FT)
- Japan: A year after Japan’s longest-serving PM resigned due to health problems, he is backing Sanae Takaichi to lead the governing Liberal Democratic Party. If a majority of party members elect her before next month, she will almost certainly become Japan’s first female prime minister. (NYT)
- North Korea: A country’s military think tank on Monday warned the development of South Korea’s recently tested submarine-launched ballistic missile could revive tensions at the border. (Reuters)
Europe
- England: PM Boris Johnson insists that despite discomfort in Paris over the U.S.-U.K.-Australia submarine deal, the relationship between Britain and France remains “ineradicable.” (AP)
- Greece: The country’s Foreign Ministry instructed its ambassador in Ankara on Monday to lodge a protest with the Turkish government against what it claims to be illegal fishing by the Turks in Greek waters. (DPA)
- France: President Emmanuel Macron and Algerians who fought for France in their country’s war of independence will meet in an attempt to overcome a dark chapter in French colonial history. (AP)
- New Zealand: As part of their unusual zero-tolerance approach to the pandemic the nation’s largest city will remain in lockdown for at least two more weeks, with some restrictions eased from Tuesday. (AP)
- Russia: Partial election results on Monday showed that the country’s ruling party and supporter of President Putin, United Russia retained its parliamentary majority despite losing over a tenth of its support. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Afghanistan: Dozens of singers and musicians have fled to Pakistan due to fear of retaliation at the hands of the Taliban, who ban music under their hardline Islamist interpretation of Sharia law. (EFE)
- Israel: Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested through a video posted on Facebook that U.S. President Joe Biden fell asleep last month at the time of meeting Naftali Bennett, the new Israeli PM. (Reuters)
- Saudi Arabia: As major producers relaxed production cuts, the world’s largest oil exporter kept its position as China’s top crude supplier in August for nine months straight. (Reuters)
- Syria: Officials at Syrian vast al-Hol camp claim that more than 70 people have been slain this year as militants seek to enforce strictures and settle scores. (WaPo)
Tech & Communications
- As US politicians and regulators prepare to clampdown on “under the radar” deals, the world’s largest technology companies Apple, Facebook, Google, Amazon and Microsoft have snapped up smaller rivals in a buying wave at record speed this year. (FT)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report
- Hurricanes:
- Tropical Storm Chanthu
- Location: 19.5N 122.3E
- Movement: NNW
- Wind: 178 mph
- Map
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 20SEP21)
- Confirmed cases: 228,595,281
- Deaths: 4,693,036
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 20SEP21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (21SEP21)
- Global: UN General Assembly. (to 30SEP)
- Global: International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference Annual Regular Session
- Global: OECD Interim Economic Outlook Report, on the near-term prospects for the global economy
- Global: World Peace Day
- Armenia: Independence Day
- Belize: Independence Day
- Malta: Independence Day
- United Kingdom: IISS Armed Conflict Survey published
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