27OCT21 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: Sudanese General Abdel Fatah al-Burhan denied the military had staged a coup and claimed the transitional government had been ousted to prevent civil war.
AMERICAS: Dozens were arrested in mass protests across Ecuador against President Guillermo Lasso’s decision to raise gasoline prices.
ASIA: China insisted that Taiwan has no right to join the United Nations after the United States called for the island to have greater involvement in the world body.
EUROPE: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expects to meet his US counterpart Joe Biden on the sidelines of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.
MIDDLE EAST: President Ebrahim Raisi said a cyberattack that shut down gas stations across Iran aimed to get “people angry by creating disorder and disruption.”
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: The US Federal Communications Commission revoked the authorization for China Telecom’s Americas subsidiary to operate in the US.

Top Story

Global: Julian Assange case back in court for US extradition appeal.
- The US is scheduled to ask Britain’s High Court to overturn a judge’s decision that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should not be sent to the United States to face espionage charges.
- James Lewis, a lawyer representing the US, told the Court of Appeal in London that a judge in a lower court had been wrong to rule that Assange could not be extradited because of a high risk he would commit suicide in a U.S. prison.
- A document outlining Lewis’s arguments said that “the United States has also provided an assurance that the United States will consent to Mr. Assange being transferred to Australia to serve any custodial sentence imposed on him.”
- Lawyers for Assange argue that he was fulfilling his duties as a journalist and is entitled to First Amendment freedom of speech protections over documents that exposed the wrongdoings of the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Assange is currently being held at London’s high-security Belmarsh Prison and is expected to attend the two-day hearing virtually.
- AP, Reuters, South China Morning Post, Free Press Journal, TIME,

Africa

Benin: The International Federation of the Red Cross said dozens of people have died over the past few weeks from flood related incidents. (BBC)
DR Congo: Denis Kadima was sworn in as head of the Independent National Electoral Commission after a long and disputed nomination process. (Reuters)
Libya: The National Oil Corporation said the Zawiya oil complex, the country’s only operational oil refinery, was “severely” damaged after gunmen battled for three hours around the complex. (AFP)
Sudan: General Abdel Fatah al-Burhan denied the military had staged a coup and claimed the transitional government had been ousted to prevent civil war. (Reuters)

Americas

Brazil: A Senate investigative committee approved a report calling for President Jair Bolsonaro to be indicted for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, including crimes against humanity. (Reuters)
Ecuador: Dozens were arrested in mass protests across the country against President Guillermo Lasso’s decision to raise gasoline prices. (Reuters)
Haiti: Gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cerizier demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry before he would allow fuel deliveries to resume in the capital. (Reuters)
Venezuela: Former Citgo president Jose Pereira, imprisoned in Caracas since 2017, suffered a mild heart attack ten days after his house arrest was revoked. (Reuters)

Asia

Region: US Defense officials warned that they have so far been unable to secure bases near Afghanistan, stymieing counterterrorism efforts in the country. (WaPo)
Australia: All fully-vaccinated citizens and permanent residents will be able to leave the country without a special exemption from November 1. (Reuters)
China: Beijing insisted that Taiwan has no right to join the United Nations after the United States called for the island to have greater involvement in the world body. (AFP)
India: A top court created a committee of experts to probe accusations that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government used Israeli military-grade spyware to monitor political opponents, journalists, and activists. (AP)
Philippines: The country will receive 300,000 courses of Merck and Co’s COVID-19 antiviral drug next month. (Reuters)

Europe

Germany: Parliament will not extend the “epidemic situation of national scope” when it expires next month but will keep specific measures in place to curb the spread of COVID-19. (AP)
Italy: Security is increasing in Rome ahead of a two-day summit of G20 leaders this weekend. (DPA)
Turkey: President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expects to meet his US counterpart Joe Biden on the sidelines of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow. (AFP)
Ukraine: Health minister Viktor Liashko urged more people to get vaccinated as COVID-19 deaths hit a daily record. (Reuters)
United Kingdom: Queen Elizabeth II cancelled her appearance at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow following a short hospital stay. (DPA)

Middle East

Iran: President Ebrahim Raisi said a cyberattack that shut down gas stations across the nation aimed to get “people angry by creating disorder and disruption.” (AP)
Israel: The United States strongly opposed the country’s plans for settlement expansion in the West Bank as damaging for peace prospects with the Palestinians. (Reuters)
Lebanon: Hundreds of supporters of the Christian Lebanese Forces party blocked roads to Samir Geagea’s residence as he failed to attend a hearing at army intelligence over fatal clashes in Beirut. (Reuters)
Saudi Arabia: The kingdom will provide Pakistan’s central bank $3 billion and oil on defer payments to help Islamabad overcome a deepening economic crisis. (DPA)

Tech & Communications

Communications: The US Federal Communications Commission revoked the authorization for China Telecom’s Americas subsidiary to operate in the US. (Reuters)

World

Cyclones: Nothing to report
Hurricanes:
- Typhoon Malou
  - Location: 21.3N 139.4W
  - Movement: NNE
  - Wind: 90 mph
  - Map
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes:
  - La Palma, Spain
    - Explosive activity continues
    - Erupting
    - Source
  - Global Disease Outbreaks:
    - COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 27OCT21)
      - Confirmed cases: 244,633,423
      - Deaths: 4,966,498
      - Countries with confirmed cases: 192
      - Sourcing: John Hopkins University

Tomorrow’s Outlook (28OCT21)

Africa: United Nations Security Council virtual debate on cooperation with the African Union (AU).
Asia: Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, virtual.
Asia: Annual Indo-Pacific Business Forum. (to 29OCT)
Brazil: 3rd anniversary of Jair Bolsonaro elected president.
Czech Republic: Independence Day.
Europe: EU economy and finance ministers to hold virtual meetings to discuss the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Greece: Visit by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (to 29OCT)
Greece: Ohi Day.
Italy: Visit by US President Joe Biden. (to 31OCT)
Moldova: EU-Republic of Moldova Association Council to discuss bilateral relations.
Russia: Moscow to enter COVID-19 lockdown. (to 07NOV)
Saudi Arabia: Future Investment Initiative Event.
Ukraine: Liberation Day.
United Kingdom: United States to appeal High Court ruling to refuse extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.
United States: House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on U.S. engagement in the Balkans.

END