23JAN21 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the continent reached 3,368,330 as of this moment, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported.
AMERICAS: Former U.S President Donald Trump in early January considered a plan to replace the acting attorney general with a different Justice Department lawyer who was more amenable to pursuing his unfounded claims of voter fraud according to several sources.
ASIA: India’s COVID-19 tally rose to 10,639,684 as 14,256 additional cases were registered during the past 24 hours, the latest data from the federal health ministry reported.
EUROPE: The EU is set to ask Britain for more time to complete their new trade deal despite the UK asking Brussels to press ahead quickly, with the issue becoming a fresh point of tension between the two sides.
MIDDLE EAST: Saudi Arabia stated it has intercepted an apparent missile or drone attack over its capital, Riyadh, amid the nation’s years-long war against neighboring Houthi rebels.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Italy’s data protection watchdog ordered TikTok to step up enforcement of its age restrictions after a young girl reportedly died from taking part in a social media challenge.

Top Story

Russia: The largest protests in years happen throughout the country demanding the release of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
- Dozens of people have been detained as a string of protests begin across Russia in support of Alexei Navalny.
- In the Siberian city of Khabarovsk, activists shared video footage of police officers beating demonstrators and forcing them into a van.
- Russia’s media watchdog Roskomnadzor this week reacted to news upcoming protests in support of Navalny by threatening social media networks with fines if they do not delete content inciting minors’ participation in protests.
- Dozens of influential Russians, including actors, musicians, journalists, writers, athletes, and popular bloggers, have come out with statements in support of Navalny, and some promised to attend the demonstrations.
- The U.S. Embassy published the locations and times of the protests, telling Americans to stay away, with Russia’s foreign ministry responding by calling this a “gross interference” in the country’s domestic affairs.
- The largest opposition rallies are expected in Moscow and St Petersburg, where police have already cordoned off the main squares in a move against the protests.
- Reporting: BBC, DPA, AFP, RFE, Reuters, The Guardian

Africa

Region: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on the continent reached 3,368,330 as of this moment, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) reported. (Xinhua)
Ethiopia: The Ministry of Health recorded a total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the East African country rose to 132,881 after 555 new cases were reported. (Xinhua)

Americas

Region: Cuba and Panama have both identified their first cases of the COVID-19 strain that emerged in South Africa, the health authorities in both countries announced. (DPA)
Region: Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced he and his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden discussed migration, the COVID-19 pandemic, and bilateral cooperation during their first phone call of the new American administration. (Reuters)
Canada: The federal government stated that its officials have met online with former diplomat Michael Kovrig, who has been held in China for more than two years in a case over an executive of the Chinese telecom company Huawei. (AP)
United States: Former President Donald Trump in early January considered a plan to replace the acting attorney general with a different Justice Department lawyer who was more amenable to pursuing his unfounded claims of voter fraud according to several sources. (WaPo)

Asia

China: The nation recorded a slight increase in new cases of COVID-19 as it marks the anniversary of the world’s first anti-pandemic lockdown, in the city of Wuhan where the disease emerged in late 2019. (Reuters)
Hong Kong: The city’s government declared its first lockdown in a bid to contain an ongoing outbreak of COVID-19 in one of the city’s poorest and most densely populated districts. (DPA)
India: The nation’s COVID-19 tally rose to 10,639,684 as 14,256 additional cases were registered during the past 24 hours, the latest data from the federal health ministry reported. (Xinhua)
North Korea: The top US intelligence officer for the nation has warned the country sees diplomacy only as a means to advance its nuclear weapons development, even as the new Biden Administration says it will attempt to bring Pyongyang back to talks. (The Guardian)

Europe

Region: The EU is set to ask Britain for more time to complete their new trade deal despite the UK asking Brussels to press ahead quickly, with the issue becoming a fresh point of tension between the two sides. (FT)
Belarus: The main opposition challenger in the disputed presidential election in the nation urged the United Nations to call for a halt to “violence and lawlessness” in the country, including media censorship, internet shutdowns, website blockages, and cancellation of accreditation for journalists. (AP)
Bulgaria: Kozloduy nuclear power plant reconnected one of its two 1,000 megawatts (MW) units late after a protection system shut it down following a routine technical operation earlier in the day, the plant reported. (Reuters)
Russia: The nation recorded 20,921 additional COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, including 2,668 in Moscow, taking the national total to 3,698,273. (Reuters)

Middle East

Israel: The Ministry of Health recorded 6,735 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the tally in the country to 589,028. (Xinhua)
Saudi Arabia: The kingdom stated it has intercepted an apparent missile or drone attack over its capital, Riyadh, amid the nation’s years-long war against neighboring Houthi rebels. (AP)
United Arab Emirates: The nation said it was in contact with Danish authorities to “clarify the details” of the concerns over COVID-19 testing that prompted them to suspend flights. (AFP)

Tech & Communications

Social Media: Italy’s data protection watchdog ordered TikTok to step up enforcement of its age restrictions after a young girl reportedly died from taking part in a social media challenge. (DPA)

World

Cyclones:
- Cyclone Eloise
  - Location:20.4S 34E
  - Movement: WSW
  - Wind:85 mph
  - Map
Hurricanes: Nothing to report
Earthquakes: Nothing to report
Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 23JAN21)
  - Confirmed cases: 98,248,708
  - Total recovered cases: 54,202,210
  - Deaths: 2,109,045
  - Countries with confirmed cases: 191
  - Sourcing: John Hopkins University

Tomorrow’s Outlook (24JAN21)

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