26AUG20 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

• AFRICA: Rwanda has issued an international arrest warrant for a former military official Aloys Ntiwiragabo, who is currently being investigated by France over his role in the country’s 1994 genocide.
• AMERICAS: Canadian Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi that the release of two of the country’s citizens currently detained in China is a “top priority” for Ottawa, during a meeting in Italy.
• ASIA: Afghan officials said flooding due to heavy seasonal rains in Afghanistan’s northern and eastern regions has killed at least 70 people and injured dozens of others.
• EUROPE: Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and France are conducting military exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean, amid rising tensions between Greece and Turkey.
• MIDDLE EAST: Fighting between the Emirati-backed separatists in Yemen’s south and Yemen’s internationally recognized government has resumed after the southern separatists suspended participation in negotiations to implement a Saudi-brokered peace deal.
• TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Thailand’s Minister of Digital Economy and Society Buddhipongse Punnakanta said the government will continue to take action against online content that breaks its laws, just two days after it forced Facebook to block a group that was critical of the country’s monarchy.

 Top Story

• Middle East: Israel attacks Hezbollah posts in Lebanon after taking fire.
  • Israel’s military said its attack helicopters hit observation posts of the militant Hezbollah group at Israel’s border with Lebanon overnight.
  • The military said it took the action after shots were fired at Israel’s military from Lebanon earlier in the day, adding that the incident did not result in any casualties.
  • Just hours before the incident, Lebanon rejected an Israeli call to reform a UN peacekeeping force patrolling the border before the UN Security Council votes on renewing the mandate of the peacekeeping force. 
  • Israeli authorities had also ordered residents of nearby communities to stay in their homes and temporarily closed roads near the border.
  • Following the military’s announcement, Israel’s Prime Minister warned Hezbollah “not to test Israel’s strength.” and that the militant group was endangering Lebanon due to its aggression.”
  • Reporting: AFP, WaPo, Reuters, AP, AFP2

Africa

• Ivory Coast: A court supported the country’s electoral commission’s decision to strike off former president Laurent Gbagbo from the electoral list for the next presidential election. (AFP)
• Republic of Congo: Authorities have jailed notorious poacher Guyvanho for 30 years over ivory trafficking and attempted murder charges, in what is being seen as a landmark case in the fight to hold wildlife criminals to account. (Reuters)
• Rwanda: The government has issued an international arrest warrant for a former military official Aloys Ntiwiragabo, who is currently being investigated by France over his role in the country’s 1994 genocide. (AFP)
• Uganda: Nearly 8,800 people have been displaced by floods following rising water levels in Ugandan lakes as a result of torrential rains. (Xinhua)

Americas

• Region: Hurricane Laura is now headed towards the US states of Texas and Louisiana, after having left at least 20 people dead in Cuba, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. (AP)
• Canada: Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne told China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi that the release of two of the country’s citizens currently detained in China is a “top priority” for Ottawa, during a meeting in Italy. (AFP)
• Chile: Campaigning for the referendum on amending the country’s Pinochet-era constitution has started. (AFP)
• United States: The family of Jacob Blake, who was shot in the back by police, said he was left paralyzed, as protesters and authorities clashed for a third night of civil unrest in Wisconsin. (Reuters) 

Asia  

• Region: Vietnam accused China of violating its sovereignty by conducting military drills in a disputed part of the South China Sea and said Beijing’s actions were “complicating” negotiations on establishing a code of conduct in the region. (Reuters)
• Afghanistan: Government officials said flooding due to heavy seasonal rains in the country’s northern and eastern regions has killed at least 70 people and injured dozens of others. (AP)
• China: Hong Kong police has reportedly arrested sixteen people, including two lawmakers, for staging anti-government protests in the city. (BBC)
• North Korea: State-media showed the country’s leader Kim Jong-Un chairing a top committee meeting issuing warnings about the coronavirus and Typhoon Bavi, following the recent international speculation over Kim’s health. (AFP)

Europe

• Region: Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and France are conducting military exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean, amid rising tensions between Greece and Turkey. (AFP)
• Belarus: Rights groups say authorities rounded-up dozens of protesters heading home from peaceful protests, ahead of Nobel Prize-winner Svetlana Alexievich’s expected questioning as part of a criminal investigation into an opposition council, two of whose leaders were jailed this week. (Reuters)
• Russia: Ivan Zhdanov, an ally of the opposition politician Alexei Navalny claimed that only President Vladimir Putin could have authorized the suspected poisoning of Navalny. (Reuters)

Middle East

• Iran: Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif praised the UN Security Council’s decision to dismiss a US request to trigger snapback sanctions on Tehran. (DPA)
• Saudi Arabia: The value of the country’s oil exports was down 55% year on year, a drop of $8.7 billion, according to government data. (Reuters)
• Yemen: Fighting between the Emirati-backed separatists in the country’s south and the country’s internationally recognized government has resumed after the southern separatists suspended participation in negotiations to implement a Saudi-brokered peace deal. (AP)

Tech & Communications

• Social Media: Thailand’s Minister of Digital Economy and Society Buddhipongse Punnakanta said the government will continue to take action against online content that breaks its laws, just two days after it forced Facebook to block a group that was critical of the country’s monarchy. (AP)

World

• Cyclones: 
  • Typhoon Bavi
    • Location: 176 nautical miles SW of Kunsan Air Base, South Korea
    • Wind: 110 mph
    • Movement: N at 12 mph
    • Map
• Hurricanes: 
  • Hurricane Laura
    • Location: 315 miles S-SE of Lake Charles, Louisiana
    • Wind: 110 mph
    • Movement: NW at 13 mph
    • Map
• Earthquakes: 
  • Papua New Guinea
    • Location: 141 km S-SW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
    • Magnitude: 6.1
    • Depth: 25.2 km
    • Map
• Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
• Global Disease Outbreaks:

• • COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
    • Confirmed Cases as of 26AUG20: 23,918,447 
    • Total Recovered Cases as of 26AUG20: 15,596,584
    • Deaths as of 26AUG20: 819,945 
    • 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 23AUG20: 98 
    • Probable Cases as of 23AUG20: 4 
    • Deaths as of 23AUG20: 44
    • Sourcing: WHO

Tomorrow’s Outlook (27AUG20)

• Africa: The African Development Bank will hold its annual meeting virtually.
• Asia: ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting to be held in Vietnam. (to 29AUG)
• Europe: The Defense Ministers of EU member-states will hold informal talks.
• Europe: The Foreign Ministers of EU member-states will hold informal talks. (to 28AUG)
• Europe: German Chancellor Angela Merkel will meet NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
• Europe: The European Parliament is expected to start budget deliberations.
• Europe: Greece, Cyprus, Italy, and France to hold military exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean. (to 28AUG)
• Europe: Romania and Moldova to commission the Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline.
• Europe: WHO will hold a press conference and discuss how Europe is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
• Austria: US Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun concludes trip to Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine, and Austria.
• China: The Ministry of Defense is expected to hold its monthly press conference.
• Colombia: Capital city Bogota’s coronavirus measures will end.
• Germany: Economy Minister Peter Altmaier is expected to speak about government aid to companies hit by the global coronavirus pandemic.
• Moldova: Independence Day – 1991
• Norway: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit the country. 
• Syria: The UN Security Council will hold a meeting and discuss recent developments in the country.
• United Arab Emirates: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will continue his travel to Israel, Sudan, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. (to 28AUG)
• United Kingdom: The country’s Liberal Democrats will announce their new leader.
• United States: President Donald Trump will give his acceptance speech for the Republican Party’s nomination for the upcoming election from the White House.
• United States: Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is expected to speak on monetary policy. 

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