Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Rebel forces in Ethiopia’s Tigray region claimed to defeat a federal army division in battle as international concerns grew over the conflict in the country, with the US becoming the latest country to call for peace.
- AMERICAS: Mexican authorities arrested a suspect in the killing of nine members of a Mormon community in Mexico’s northern regions last year.
- ASIA: China hailed a success at its launch of a robotic spacecraft that will attempt bringing back lunar surface samples, in the first attempt by any country since the 1970s.
- EUROPE: French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said he will launch a probe into Paris police’s attempt to clear out a migrant camp in the city, adding that some of the images that showed police hitting demonstrators were “shocking”.
- MIDDLE EAST: Iran’s government said it expects foreign companies to return to Tehran if the US lifts sanctions under President-elect Joe Biden, adding that some firms already made tentative calls.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Microsoft, Google and Facebook reportedly asked Malaysia to allow non-Malaysian ships to conduct repair operations to underwater cables that lie within its territorial waters.
Top Story
- United States: Biden’s presidential transition allowed to proceed.
- The General Services Administration (GSA) acknowledged President-elect Joe Biden as the “apparent winner” of the US presidential election, paving the way for President-elect Biden’s team to begin the formal transition process.
- The move came as President Donald Trump said the federal agency must “do what needs to be done”, even though he vowed to continue contesting the election’s results.
- The announcement also took place as Michigan officially certified President-elect Biden’s election victory in the state.
- The GSA’s announcement means President-elect Biden team will now have access to security briefings, office space and government officials.
- President-elect Biden also revealed his foreign policy team, including Antony Blinken to be nominated as Secretary of State and John Kerry as a special presidential climate envoy, but a formal announcement of the nominations will take place later today.
- Reporting: Reuters, ABC, AP, NYT, BBC, WSJ
Africa
- Region: Abu Obaida Yusuf al-Annabi, an Algerian national and well-known veteran among the jihadist insurgencies, is the new apparent leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). (AFP)
- DR Congo: Former militia leader Ntabo Ntaberi was sentenced to life in prison for crimes against humanity, including mass rape. (BBC)
- Ethiopia: Rebel forces in Tigray claimed to defeat a federal army division in battle as international concerns grew over the conflict in the country, with the US becoming the latest country to call for peace. (Reuters)
- Nigeria: Six foreign nationals and one Nigerian national were sentenced to seven years in prison for siphoning approximately two thousand metric tones of crude oil from a loading facility in 2017. (Reuters)
- Uganda: The death toll from last week’s protests over the detention of opposition presidential hopeful and musician Bobi Wine rose to 45. (AP)
Americas
- Brazil: Police in Porto Alegre fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters marching against the death of a black man who was beaten to death by white guards at a supermarket in the city. (AFP)
- Cuba: Western Union closed all 407 locations across the country in response to recent US sanctions. (AP)
- Guatemala: Congress reversed course on a controversial new budget that triggered angry protests, including burning part of the Congress building over the weekend. (AP)
- Mexico: Authorities arrested a suspect in the killing of nine members of a Mormon community in the country’s northern regions last year. (BBC)
- United States: More than 3 million people passed through airports across the country over the weekend, making it the busiest weekend for air travel since March when the first coronavirus lockdowns were implemented. (Reuters)
Asia
- Afghanistan: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and other international senior officials are set to participate in a pledging conference for the country. (AP)
- China: Beijing hailed a success at its launch of a robotic spacecraft that will attempt bringing back lunar surface samples, in the first attempt by any country since the 1970s. (Reuters)
- Taiwan: President Tsai Ing-wen inaugurated a project that aims to domestically produce submarines for the country’s forces. (AP)
- Thailand: The police are set to deploy almost 6,000 officers to an upcoming anti-monarchy protest. (Reuters)
Europe
- France: Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said he will launch a probe into Paris police’s attempt to clear out a migrant camp in the city, adding that some of the images that showed police hitting demonstrators were “shocking”. (Reuters)
- Poland: Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau said Warsaw will wait and see how the political and legal situation develops in the US before it recognizes US President-elect Joe Biden. (Reuters)
- Russia: The Defense Ministry said one of its warships chased off the US Navy’s USS John S. McCain guided-missile destroyer after it entered the country’s territorial waters in the Sea of Japan. (Reuters)
- Spain: The country’s ruling monarch King Felipe VI is self-isolating after coming into contact with a person who tested positive for coronavirus. (AFP)
Middle East
- Region: Saudi Aramco said the strike by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on one of its facilities in the Saudi city of Jeddah that triggered an explosion and fire, was quickly extinguished. (AFP)
- Iran: The government said it expects foreign companies to return to Tehran if the US lifts sanctions under President-elect Joe Biden, adding that some firms already made tentative calls. (Reuters)
- Syria: Kurdish fighters and a group of Turkey-backed fighters clashed in some of the most intense fighting in weeks between the two sides, near the town of Ein Issa, leaving at least 11 people dead. (AP)
- United Arab Emirates: The country and Greece agreed to a strategic partnership, including an agreement to come aid the other if one country’s territorial integrity is threatened. (UPI)
Tech & Communications
- Tech Regulation: Microsoft, Google and Facebook reportedly asked Malaysia to allow non-Malaysian ships to conduct repair operations to underwater cables that lie within its territorial waters. (Reuters)
World
- Cyclones:
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 24NOV20: 59,225,734
- Total Recovered Cases as of 24NOV20: 37,954,816
- Deaths as of 24NOV20: 1,397,312
- Countries with Confirmed Cases: 191
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (25NOV20)
- Global: The UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – 2001
- Global: The Italian government will hold the Mediterranean Dialogues 2020, featuring the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Yemen, Kuwait, Niger, Burkina Faso, Malta, Italy, Tunisia, Russia, and Slovenia. (to 04DEC)
- Global: The Second Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions will be held virtually. (to 27NOV)
- Global: The WTO/UN Joint Advisory Group (JAG) of the International Trade Centre will hold its annual session.
- Global: The Institute for Economics and Peace will release its annual Global Terrorism Index.
- Europe: Ethnic Armenian forces are expected to hand over the Karvachar district to Azerbaijan.
- Belarus: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit and meet with President Alexander Lukashenko and Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei. (to 26NOV)
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: Statehood Day (only observed in the Bosnia & Herzegovina entity) – 1943
- China: Hong Kong executive Carrie Lam is expected to deliver her annual address to the city’s legislature.
- Cuba: The 4th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s death.
- Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet state leaders to discuss the potential tightening of coronavirus restrictions.
- Guinea: A government ban on mass rallies over coronavirus concerns will take effect on the same day of a planned opposition rally against President Alpha Conde.
- Japan: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit and meet with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
- Libya: UN-led talks over a future administration will be held between the country’s two warring parties.
- Luxembourg: Parliament will vote on proposed new coronavirus measures and restrictions.
- Malaysia: Parliament will vote on the government’s proposed annual budget.
- Namibia: Regional and local elections will be held.
- Pakistan: All schools, colleges, universities, and Islamic seminaries will be closed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. (to 10JAN)
- Russia: Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Allawi will visit and meet with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other government officials. (to 26NOV)
- Singapore: The government will release GDP data for Q3 of this year.
- Suriname: Independence Day – 1975
- Syria: The UN Security Council will hold a meeting on the country.
- Thailand: Anti-government anti-monarchy protests are expected in capital city Bangkok.
- Tunisia: The National Union of Tunisian Journalists will hold demonstrations and rallies over public media firm reforms. (to 26NOV)
- Tunisia: A general strike over the lack of development and employment opportunities is expected to be held in the country’s Beja governorate.
- United Kingdom: Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak will reveal a one-year plan for government spending aimed at tackling the coronavirus pandemic and protecting jobs amid the pandemic.
- United States: The Afghan Ambassador to the US Roya Rahmani will speak at an event held by the Atlantic Council think tank.
- United States: The government will release GDP data for Q3 of this year.
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