Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The UN’s envoy to Libya Stephanie Williams said the country’s warring factions agreed to open land and air transport routes across Libya.
- AMERICAS: São Paulo state Governor João Doria said the Brazilian federal government will allow the use of China’s CoronaVac vaccine as part of the country’s national immunization program.
- ASIA: At least 11 people died in Afghanistan after a stampede broke out in a stadium in the city of Jalalabad where thousands gathered to apply for visas at a nearby Pakistani consulate building.
- EUROPE: France is set to pay tributes to history teacher Samuel Paty, who was beheaded for showing cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed prompting a crackdown on radical Islam within the country.
- MIDDLE EAST: In a televised speech, Lebanon’s President Michel Aoun vowed to see through the nomination of a new Prime Minister and confront anyone who seeks to block reforms aimed at resolving the country’s economic crisis.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Australia’s consumer and competition watchdog is considering its own antitrust case against Google after the US Justice Department sued Google for abusing its dominance in the online search and advertising fields.
Top Story
- Nigeria: Lagos placed under lockdown after protesters fired on.
- An unknown number of people peacefully participating in anti-police brutality protests in the Nigerian city of Lagos were shot dead by security forces.
- Amnesty International said there was “credible but disturbing evidence” that security forces in the city of Lagos were responsible for the shootings.
- There is still no confirmed death toll of the incident currently, which took place after a curfew was imposed on the city of Lagos during the night.
- There are also some reports of gunfire continuing in the morning, and smoke being seen rising over the flashpoint area in Lagos where the incident took place the previous night.
- The police are reportedly installing barricades and roadblocks in Lagos, but that is not stopping anti-police brutality protesters from breaking curfew and taking to the streets once again.
- Reporting: Reuters, AP, AFP, BBC, NYT, WSJ, AP2
Africa
- Region: A UN-led international donors conference raised around $1.7 billion for the central Sahel countries of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. (VOA)
- Guinea: President Alpha Conde, who is running for a controversial third term in office, was ahead of the opposition in the preliminary results of the country’s presidential election. (Reuters)
- Libya: The UN’s envoy to the country Stephanie Williams said the country’s warring factions agreed to open land and air transport routes across the country. (DPA)
- South Africa: State-owned arms and aerospace firm Denel said it faced a $168 million funding gap for the next five years on key capabilities. (Reuters)
Americas
- Region: Brazil and the US signed an agreement creating closer trade links between the two countries, potentially including the US Export-Import Bank financing up to $1 billion of exports to Brasilia. (Reuters)
- Bolivia: President-elect Luis Arce said there was “no role” for former President Evo Morales in any new government. (Reuters)
- Brazil: São Paulo state Governor João Doria said the federal government will allow the use of China’s CoronaVac vaccine as part of the country’s national immunization program. (BBC)
- Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that the opposition’s push to create an anti-corruption committee to examine his family’s dealings and the government’s spending on the coronavirus pandemic could trigger a snap election. (AFP)
- United States: President Donald Trump reportedly spent a decade pursuing business projects in China, including forging a partnership with a Chinese government-controlled company. (AP)
Asia
- Region: India released a Chinese soldier it detained along the mountainous border with China earlier this week. (NYT)
- Afghanistan: At least 11 people died after a stampede broke out in a stadium in the city of Jalalabad where thousands gathered to apply for visas at a nearby Pakistani consulate building. (AFP)
- Australia: Police are probing an alleged transfer of Vatican funds to the country during the prosecution of former Vatican treasurer George Pell for child sex abuse and notified an anti-corruption body over the matter. (Reuters)
- Thailand: A small group of monarchists staged their own rally in Bangkok to counter the recent anti-monarchy protests in the country. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: European Council President Charles Michel told the UK that “you cannot have your cake and eat it too.” amid an intensifying standoff between the EU and London over Brexit negotiations. (AP)
- France: Tributes are set to be paid to history teacher Samuel Paty, who was beheaded for showing cartoons of the Prophet Mohamed prompting a crackdown on radical Islam within the country. (AFP)
- Poland: Academics and activists are protesting against the appointment of Przemyslaw Czarnek as the country’s next Education Minister, whom they consider to be a religious fundamentalist and a danger to the nation’s youth and universities. (AP)
- Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is set to face a no-confidence vote in Parliament that was put forward by the far-right Vox party. (AP)
Middle East
- Region: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s call for collective efforts to prevent war in the Persian Gulf won strong support from all UN Security Council members apart from the US, which urged that Iran be held responsible for supporting terrorists and destabilizing the region. (AP)
- Israel: The US will reportedly announce another normalization deal between the country and another Arab or Muslim country prior to the US elections, according to Regional Cooperation Minister Ofir Akunis. (Reuters)
- Lebanon: In a televised speech, President Michel Aoun vowed to see through the nomination of a new Prime Minister and confront anyone who seeks to block reforms aimed at resolving the country’s economic crisis. (Reuters)
- Saudi Arabia: Hatice Cengiz, the fiancee of the assassinated journalist Jamal Khashoggi filed a lawsuit against the country’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. (BBC)
Tech & Communications
- Tech Regulation: Australia’s consumer and competition watchdog is considering its own antitrust case against Google after the US Justice Department sued Google for abusing its dominance in the online search and advertising fields. (AP)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 21OCT20: 40,835,340
- Total Recovered Cases as of 21OCT20: 27,935,485
- Deaths as of 21OCT20: 1,125,656
- Countries with Confirmed Cases: 188
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (11th Ebola outbreak figures from Equateur Province)
- Confirmed Cases as of 17OCT20: 119
- Probable Cases as of 17OCT20: 9
- Deaths as of 17OCT20: 53
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (22OCT20)
- Global: The Defense Ministers of NATO countries will hold a virtual meeting. (to 23OCT)
- Global: The Financial Action Task Force will hold a plenary session. (to 23OCT)
- Global: The World Resources Institute will hold a high-level dialogue on financing for a sustainable ocean economy, featuring Jamaican Finance Minister Nigel Clarke.
- Global: The IMF is expected to hold press conferences on Africa, and Latin America.
- Africa: The UN Security Council will hold a meeting on Sudan, and South Sudan.
- Asia: The US, UK, EU, and UN will jointly hold a virtual donor conference on the Rohingya crisis.
- Europe: The European Parliament will announce the winner of the 2020 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.
- France: The government’s coronavirus tracing mobile app is scheduled to launch.
- Ireland: The country will be placed under a coronavirus lockdown.
- Lebanon: Parliamentary consultations over the country’s next Prime Minister are expected to resume.
- Poland: The government could announce new coronavirus measures and restrictions.
- Portugal: Parliament will vote and debate on a potential referendum on euthanasia. (to 23OCT)
- Russia: President Vladimir Putin will speak at the Valdai Discussion Club.
- Seychelles: Presidential and parliamentary elections will be held. (to 24OCT)
- Spain: A no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government that was tabled by the far-right Vox Party will be debated.
- Tunisia: French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will visit.
- Turkey: The Central Bank is expected to announce a decision on interest rates.
- United States: The second presidential candidate debate will be held in Nashville, TN.
- United States: The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination to the Supreme Court.
- United States: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will host the first US government conference on tackling online anti-semitism.
- Zimbabwe: President Emmerson Mnangagwa will deliver the state-of-the-nation address to Parliament.
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