Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Ethiopia agreed to buy 1.5 million coronavirus testing kits that will be made in a factory in the country that was built by Chinese company the BGI Group.
- AMERICAS: The number of deaths in the US due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic surpassed the 200,000 mark, making it the highest coronavirus death toll in the world.
- ASIA: Only 30 whales stranded in Australia the Tasmanian coast remain alive, with 380 of the whales being confirmed dead, as rescue efforts continue.
- EUROPE: Belarus’ embattled President Alexander Lukashenko hastily held a swearing-in ceremony for another term in office, in an inauguration ceremony the opposition called illegitimate, as it called for more protests against Lukashenko’s 26-year rule.
- MIDDLE EAST: The first direct commercial flight between Israel and Bahrain landed in Bahrain, a week after the two countries signed a deal normalizing their relationship.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: China’s Huawei Technologies said the US was attacking its supply chains and called upon the US to reconsider trade restrictions it said were hurting suppliers across the world.
Top Story
- Europe: Russia’s Alexei Navalny discharged from hospital.
- Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was discharged from the German hospital where he was receiving treatment for 32 days following his suspected Novichok poisoning.
- The Russian politician, who is the most prominent opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was flown to Germany from Russia two days after he fell ill on a domestic Russian flight on 20 August.
- Navalny’s doctors said the politician could make a “complete recovery” from the suspected poisoning but added that it was “too early to gauge the potential long-term effects of his severe poisoning.”
- The German government previously said that tests in Germany, France and Sweden discovered that Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent.
- It remains unclear when, or if, Navalny will head back to Russia, but his recovery, as well as the upcoming analysis of Navalny’s bio-samples by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, are expected to make the EU increase the pressure on Russia over Navalny’s poisoning.
- Reporting: WaPo, DPA, WSJ, NYT, BBC, Reuters, AP, AFP, Guardian
Africa
- Region: The alliance between the ruling parties of South Africa and Zimbabwe is showing cracks after South Africa’s ANC party declared its interest in talking with the Zimbabwean opposition following repeated crackdowns by the Zimbabwe government. (FT)
- Angola: State prosecutors detained businessman Carlos Manuel de Sao Vicente, who is said to have close links with former President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, over corruption allegations as part of an anti-corruption drive largely aimed at the country’s former regime. (AFP)
- Ethiopia: The country agreed to buy 1.5 million coronavirus testing kits that will be made in a factory in the country that was built by Chinese company the BGI Group. (Reuters)
- Ivory Coast: The country’s ruling party said it will hold October’s elections regardless of whether the opposition decides to participate in them or not. (Reuters)
- Nigeria: President Muhammadu Buhari reportedly signed-off on a highly anticipated oil reform bill and could be presented to the Senate early next week. (Reuters)
Americas
- Region: Canadian citizen Pascale Cecile Veronique Ferrier, who was arrested over the weekend while reentering the US from Canada, pleaded not guilty in federal court in New York to posting a ricin-laced letter to US President Donald Trump. (WaPo)
- Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to deliver the so-called throne speech, during which he will outline his policies for the country post-coronavirus pandemic. (AFP)
- Colombia: A judge said that the country’s Supreme Court must establish whether the Attorney General’s office or a judge can decide the future of the house arrest order against former President Alvaro Uribe. (Reuters)
- Mexico: President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is reportedly mulling over energy reforms for next year if regulators are unable to strengthen the state oil firm Pemex and power company CFE using existing laws. (Reuters)
- United States: The number of deaths in the country due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic surpassed the 200,000 mark, making it the highest coronavirus death toll in the world. (AP)
Asia
- Australia: Only 30 whales stranded near the Tasmanian coast remain alive, with 380 of the whales being confirmed dead, as rescue efforts continue. (Guardian)
- China: Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong’s bid to have his disqualification from Hong Kong’s district elections overturned was rejected on procedural grounds by a Hong Kong court. (Reuters)
- Malaysia: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says he received backing from Parliament to create a new government that is “strong, stable and formidable.” (AP)
- Papua New Guinea: Former rebel military commander Ishmael Toroama was elected as the President of the autonomous Bougainville region and is set to lead talks seeking independence from the country. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: The European Commission is set to introduce its long-awaited migration and asylum policy reforms. (DPA)
- Region: An upcoming summit of EU leaders was postponed until 1 October after one of European Council President Charles Michel’s bodyguard tested positive for coronavirus. (BBC)
- Belarus: The embattled President Alexander Lukashenko hastily held a swearing-in ceremony for another term in office, in an inauguration ceremony the opposition called illegitimate, as it called for more protests against Lukashenko’s 26-year rule. (Reuters)
- Switzerland: Police cleared a two-day climate protest being held near the Parliament building, carrying away some of the protesters encamped at the protest site. (AFP)
Middle East
- Region: The first direct commercial flight between Israel and Bahrain landed in Bahrain, a week after the two countries signed a deal normalizing their relationship. (AP)
- Israel: The country registered a new record increase of daily new coronavirus cases, ahead of a government meeting on the country’s coronavirus lockdown. (AP)
- Lebanon: A massive explosion in the southern village of village of Ain Qana, a Hezbollah stronghold, reportedly resulted in the destruction of a Hezbollah arms depot. (BBC)
Tech & Communications
- Tech Regulation: China’s Huawei Technologies said the US was attacking its supply chains and called upon the US to reconsider trade restrictions it said were hurting suppliers across the world. (Reuters)
World
- Cyclones:
- Tropical Storm Dolphin
- Location: 205 nautical miles S-SW of Yokosuka, Japan
- Wind: 60 mph
- Movement: NE at 16 mph
- Map
- Tropical Storm Dolphin
- Hurricanes:
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes:
- Sangay, Ecuador
- Eruption has covered 80,000 hectares of farming land in the country.
- Source
- Sangay, Ecuador
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 23SEP20: 31,638,070
- Total Recovered Cases as of 23SEP20: 21,770,666
- Deaths as of 23SEP20: 971,483
- 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 19SEP20: 118
- Probable Cases as of 19SEP20: 6
- Deaths as of 19SEP20: 48
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (24SEP20)
- Global: The UN General Assembly’s high-level debate will be held. (to 29SEP)
- Global: The second round of consultations to appoint a new WTO chief will begin. (to 06OCT)
- Global: The Appeal of Conscience Foundation will hold its annual World Statesman of the Year award ceremony virtually.
- Global: The Oslo Freedom Forum will be held virtually featuring speakers including Uyghur journalist Gulchehra Hoja, Thai opposition leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, and exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Nathan Law. (to 25SEP)
- Global: The UN Security Council will hold a videoconference on global governance in a post-coronavirus world.
- Global: The UN’s World Maritime Day – Unknown
- Europe: Russian armed forces, as well as the militaries of Belarus, China, Armenia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Iran, to conduct military exercises in Russia’s Caucasus region. (to 26SEP)
- Europe: Polish President Andrzej Duda will visit Italy, marking his first foreign visit since his recent reelection, and meet with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. President Duda will also visit the Vatican City and meet with Pope Francis before ending his trip. (to 25SEP)
- Europe: The European Central Bank’s general council will hold a meeting.
- Europe: The internal market and industry Ministers of EU member-states will meet.
- China: The Defense Ministry is expected to hold a press conference.
- Falkland Islands: A referendum over the potential merger of the island’s electoral constituencies will be held.
- France: An appeals court is expected to rule on the ongoing investigation into alleged Libyan funding of former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s election campaign in 2007.
- Guinea-Bissau: Independence Day – 1973
- India: A farmer’s strike will reportedly be held. (to 26SEP)
- South Korea: New Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga reportedly plans to make his first call to President Moon Jae-in after taking office.
- Thailand: Public sector representatives, led by human rights NGO iLaw, are expected to deliver a petition signed by 70,000 people proposing constitutional amendments to Parliament. The legislature is then expected to discuss the petition for two days.
- United States: President Donald Trump will visit North Carolina, and Florida.
- United States: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will testify to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
- United States: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on US policy in the Middle East.
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