22OCT20 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: The African Union Commission has strongly condemned the deadly violence that recently took place in the Nigerian city of Lagos, where anti-police brutality protests were being held.
AMERICAS: The Organization of American States’ electoral observer mission declared Bolivia’s recent presidential election transparent and Luis Arce’s incoming government legitimate.
ASIA: The US has approved arms sale worth around $1.8bn to Taiwan, including the sale of rocket launchers, sensors, and artillery weapons systems.
EUROPE: The Vatican and China have decided to extend a deal on the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in China for an additional two years.
MIDDLE EAST: Saad al-Hariri is reportedly set to be named as Lebanon’s Prime Minister once again.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: China has condemned a US decision to require more Chinese media outlets to register as foreign missions but gave no indication whether Beijing might retaliate.

Top Story

United States: Officials say Iran, Russia have obtained voter data ahead of election.
- The Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said Iran and Russia have both made attempts to interfere with the upcoming presidential election.
- The announcement took place at a hastily arranged press conference that also included FBI Director Chris Wray.
- Officials also warned that both Iran and Russia had obtained access to voter registration information.
- Officials also said that Iran had used the obtained information to send threatening, faked emails to voters and warned that Tehran has additional plans to influence voting.
- Following the announcement, Iran summoned the Swiss Ambassador in Iran, who represents US interests in the country since US-Iran ties were cut in 1979, over what Tehran called “baseless” US allegations.
- Reporting: AP, ABC, BBC, NYT, WSJ, Reuters, WaPo, AFP

Africa

Guinea: At least 6 people have died after protests took a deadly turn amid President Alpha Conde retaining a lead in provisional results of the recent presidential election in which President Conde controversially contested for a third term in office. (Reuters)
Mali: Former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who was ousted in a coup in August, has returned to the Sahel nation after leaving to seek medical treatment. (AFP)
Nigeria: The African Union Commission has strongly condemned the deadly violence that recently took place in the city of Lagos, where anti-police brutality protests were being held. (AFP)

Americas

Bolivia: The Organization of American States’ electoral observer mission declared the country’s recent presidential election transparent and Luis Arce’s incoming government legitimate. (AFP)
Brazil: President Jair Bolsonaro said the federal government will not buy China’s Sinovac’s COVID-19 vaccine a day after Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello said the vaccine would be included in the country’s immunization program. (Reuters)
Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau survived a confidence vote after a key opposition party backed his ruling Liberals, averting the chance of a snap election. (Reuters)
Mexico: Property owners will now be required to allow the public to access their land to reach beaches that do not have access roads. (AP)

Asia

Region: China signed an agreement with the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to share year-round data on the flow of its portion of the vital waterway amid concern that Chinese dams may be causing drought downstream in Southeast Asia. (Reuters)
India: New Delhi and the US are reportedly set to finalize a military pact on access to satellite data next week. (Reuters)
Taiwan: The US has approved arms sale worth around $1.8bn to the country, including the sale of rocket launchers, sensors, and artillery weapons systems. (BBC)
Thailand: The government has rolled back an emergency decree aimed at ending the ongoing anti-government and anti-monarchy protests after it had the opposite effect on the protests. (Reuters)

Europe

Region: The Greek navy issued a code orange alert, advising battleships to prepare for potential hostile actions from Turkey. (VOA)
Belgium: Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes has been admitted to intensive care due to COVID-19 related complications. (AFP)
France: Abdullakh Anzorov, the man who killed teacher Samuel Paty for showing images of the Prophet Mohammed in class, was reportedly in contact with a Russian-speaking jihadist in Syria. (AFP)
Germany: The country registered a record daily increase of 11,287 new Covid-19 infections since the outbreak of the global coronavirus pandemic. (AFP)
The Holy See: The Vatican and China have decided to extend a deal on the appointment of Roman Catholic bishops in China for an additional two years. (Reuters)

Middle East

Region: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he has not given up on getting the deeply divided countries in the Persian Gulf and their backers to engage in discussions. (AP)
Israel: The country has dispatched a rare delegation to Sudan to discuss diplomatic normalization between the two nations. (Reuters)
Lebanon: Saad al-Hariri is reportedly set to be named as the country’s Prime Minister once again. (Reuters)
Oman: The country’s Sultan Haitham has approved a medium-term fiscal plan to diversify government revenues and make its finances sustainable. (Reuters)

Tech & Communications

Media: China has condemned a US decision to require more Chinese media outlets to register as foreign missions but gave no indication whether Beijing might retaliate. (AP)

World

Tomorrow’s Outlook (23OCT20)

Global: The Defense Ministers of NATO countries will hold a virtual meeting.
Global: The Financial Action Task Force will hold a plenary session.
Europe: Environment Ministers of EU states will discuss a recently proposed European Climate Law and negotiate on greenhouse gas emission cuts.
China: President Xi Jinping will attend a meeting in Beijing to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the country’s entry into the Korean War.
Hungary: A student-led march against government control and reforms is expected to be held on what will also be the anniversary of the 1956 anti-Soviet uprising in the country.
Japan: British Trade Secretary Liz Truss will visit and sign a trade agreement between Tokyo and London.
Libya: Liberation Day – 2011
Portugal: Parliament will vote and debate on a potential referendum on euthanasia.
Russia: Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbayev will visit and meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (to 24OCT)
Russia: The Central Bank is expected to make an interest rates decision.
Seychelles: Presidential and parliamentary elections will be held. (to 24OCT)
Syria: UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen to potentially make a visit. (to 24OCT)
United States: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will separately meet with Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov.

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