26AUG21 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: President Hage Geingob called on Namibia to remain resilient in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic when they celebrate Heroes’ Day.
AMERICAS: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said Washington does not seek conflict with Beijing but will speak up on issues like the South China Sea.
ASIA: China said it is maintaining “normal communication” with the United States on trade.
EUROPE: British armed forces minister James Heappey said there is “very, very credible” intelligence that Islamic State militants are planning an imminent attack on people gathering at Kabul airport in an attempt to flee Afghanistan.
MIDDLE EAST: The US and UK have warned their citizens to stay away from Kabul airport and avoid travelling there due to security threats.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: The small Swiss town of Rolle was the victim of a ransomware attack, exposing the personal data of all 5,400 inhabitants.

Top Story

Global: Israeli Prime Minister visits U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House
- Prime Minister Naftali Bennett will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House to urge pressure on Iran’s nuclear program and shore up bipartisan support for Israel.
- The Prime Minister not only highlighted the two new administrations in Jerusalem and Washington, but also a “new spirit” of cooperation between the two countries.
- President Biden and Prime Minister Bennett will seek to reset the tone of the U.S.-Israeli relationship and find common ground on Iran despite differences on how to deal with its nuclear program.
- Before arriving in Washington, Bennett made it his top priority to persuade Biden not to return to the JCPOA, arguing Iran has already advanced in its uranium enrichment.
- According to a senior staffer to Prime Minister Bennett, The US administration recognizes that a return to the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran might not be possible, and as a result is open to Israeli approaches on containing Iran.
- AFP, Twitter, Reuters, WaPo, Times of Israel

Africa

Region: The World Health Organization said a third wave of COVID-19 cases in Africa has stabilized with 248,000 cases reported in the last week, while vaccines administered over the same period tripled to 13 million compared to the previous week. (Reuters)
Angola: The country received over 1 billion U.S. dollars from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) with immediate access as part of the efforts to combat effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Xinhua)
Namibia: President Hage Geingob called on his country to remain resilient in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic when they celebrate Heroes’ Day. (Xinhua)
Zimbabwe: The country is opening COVID-19 vaccinations to people aged 14 and older and is only permitting fully vaccinated people to eat in restaurants, to encourage more people to get vaccinated. (WaPo)

Americas

Region: The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) is launching a program to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines in Latin America and the Caribbean. (NYT)
Brazil: Senate president Rodrigo Pacheco said he would reject President Jair Bolsonaro’s request to impeach Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. (Reuters)
El Salvador: The government announced it will present a proposal this weekend to reform the constitution, including modifying presidential term limits. (Reuters)
Nicaragua: 12 indigenous community members were killed in an attack by settlers in Bosawas nature reserve. (AP)
United States: Vice President Kamala Harris said Washington does not seek conflict with Beijing but will speak up on issues like the South China Sea. (Reuters)

Asia

Australia: Two major hospitals in Sydney set up emergency outdoor tents to deal with a major increase in COVID-19 patients. (Reuters)
China: Beijing said it is maintaining “normal communication” with the United States on trade. (Reuters)
Japan: The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) reached a decision to hold its presidential election on Sept. 29 with campaigning set to begin on Sept. 17. (Xinhua)
New Zealand: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern defended her “Covid zero” elimination strategy amid fears an outbreak of the highly transmissible Delta variant has rendered her previous policy ineffective. (AFP)
North Korea: State media reported that the Supreme People’s Assembly, the country’s rubber-stamp parliament, will meet on September 28. (Reuters)

Europe

Region: The European Commission warned EU countries that decide to use COVID-19 vaccine booster shots may face increased legal risks because the additional dose has not yet been recommended by the EU drugs regulator. (Reuters)
France: An Afghan evacuee under surveillance for possible links to the Taliban was given a 10-month suspended sentence for leaving the hotel where he was restricted. (AP)
Russia: The country recorded its highest daily coronavirus death toll as it struggles with the highly transmissible Delta variant and slowing vaccination rates. (AFP)
Scotland: A court dropped the extradition case of a Catalan separatist politician wanted by Spain for “sedition”, saying it did not have jurisdiction. (AFP)
United Kingdom: Armed forces minister James Heappey said there is “very, very credible” intelligence that Islamic State militants are planning an imminent attack on people gathering at Kabul airport in an attempt to flee Afghanistan. (Reuters)

Middle East

Region: A senior Emirati official held talks with Qatar’s emir in Doha marking the first such visit in four years following a deal earlier this year to end the Gulf crisis. (Reuters)
Afghanistan: The US and UK have warned their citizens to stay away from Kabul airport and avoid travelling there due to security threats. (BBC)
Iran: President Ebrahim Raisi promised to improve the country’s sanction-hit economy and its Covid response, saying that the current situation “does not befit” the Islamic republic. (France24)
Israel: The country said it will be easing commercial restrictions on the Gaza Strip and expand entry of goods to the Palestinian enclave following days of heightened tensions. (WaPo)

Tech & Communications

Cybersecurity: The small Swiss town of Rolle was the victim of a ransomware attack, exposing the personal data of all 5,400 inhabitants. (AFP)

World

Tomorrow’s Outlook (27AUG21)

Event: CSIS discussion on safeguarding humanitarian action in Afghanistan.
Europe: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan visiting Bosnia and Montenegro. (to 28AUG)
Europe: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visiting Hungary, Austria, and Italy.
Germany: G20 Compact with Africa conference in Berlin.
Japan: 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games (to 05SEP)
Middle East: Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visiting Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Iran to discuss Afghanistan.
Moldova: Independence Day.
United States: Federal Reserve Economic Policy Symposium in Jackson Hole, WY. (to 28AUG)

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