Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Senegal’s President Macky Sall unexpectedly dissolved his government with immediate effect.
- AMERICAS: Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador criticized European countries for adopting strict lockdown procedures to control the spread of the coronavirus, calling them “an authoritarian urge by the authorities,”.
- ASIA: The Vietnamese army is searching for survivors in the aftermath of Typhoon Molave, one of the region’s strongest storms in decades that struck the country.
- EUROPE: European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is reportedly set to launch another coronavirus stimulus as countries throughout the continent face a second wave of new coronavirus cases.
- MIDDLE EAST: Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz will meet with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper to discuss Israel’s military advantage in the region.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: US government officials warned hospitals of potential cyberattacks by the same Russian hackers who are likely to target the upcoming election.
Top Story
- France: Three dead in suspected terrorist attack in church.
- Police say three people were stabbed to death in a suspected terrorist attack at a church in the city of Nice that stands less than half a mile away from the site of a 2016 truck attack on a Bastille Day crowd.
- The police also reported that one of the victims of the attack was beheaded and that the suspect was detained shortly after the attack took place.
- It is currently believed that the perpetrator was acting alone as the police are not searching for any accomplices.
- Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi said the current information about the attack pointed to a “terrorist attack at the heart of the Notre-Dame basilica”. The Mayor also said that the perpetrator was shouting “’Allahu Akbar’ when he was being treated at the scene”.
- France has been dealing with Islamist militants, many of whom are “lone wolf” assailants who operate alone, with the most recent attack prior to today taking place less than two weeks ago when a teacher was beheaded after he showed photos of the Prophet Muhammed to his class.
- Reporting: AP, AFP, DPA, BBC, Reuters, WaPo, WSJ, NYT
Africa
- Mali: Two suspected Islamists were sentenced to death by a court for killing more than two dozen people in attacks targeting foreigners in 2015. (VOA)
- Senegal: President Macky Sall unexpectedly dissolved his government with immediate effect. (DPA)
- Somalia: The US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft said Washington remained committed to partnering with other countries and using UN sanctions to counter the Al-Shabaab terrorist group’s financing. (AP)
- Tanzania: The opposition’s main presidential candidate Tundu Lissu said he would not recognize the results of the country’s presidential election due to “irregularities at all stages” of the election. (AFP)
Americas
- Canada: Huawei Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou’s lawyer accused police officer Winston Yep of lying about the circumstances during Meng’s arrest two years ago. (AP)
- Chile: An Australian court ruled that one of the country’s citizens currently living in Australia, who is suspected of involvement in Pinochet-era kidnappings, can be extradited to the country. (BBC)
- Mexico: President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador criticized European countries for adopting strict lockdown procedures to control the spread of the coronavirus, calling them “an authoritarian urge by the authorities,”. (Reuters)
- United States: The city of Philadelphia was placed under a curfew as the mayor called in the National Guard after consecutive nights of rioting that took place after the police shot to death a Black man whose family said he was in the midst of a mental health crisis. (WaPo)
- Venezuela: Embattled President Nicolas Maduro said the Amuay Refinery on the country’s northern Caribbean coast suffered a “terrorist attack” as he struggles to provide enough fuel to the people in country amid a historic political and economic crisis. (AP)
Asia
- Region: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lauded Indonesia’s efforts to safeguard its own waters against China’s claims in the South China Sea and said the US would find new ways to cooperate with Indonesia on the matter. (Reuters)
- China: Hong Kong teen activist Tony Chung was charged with secession under Beijing’s new national security law for the financial hub, just days after he was detained outside the city’s US consulate. (AFP)
- Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi took part in early voting in the country’s general elections that are set to be held amid a surge of coronavirus cases. (AP)
- Vietnam: The army is searching for survivors in the aftermath of Typhoon Molave, one of the region’s strongest storms in decades that struck the country. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is reportedly set to launch another coronavirus stimulus as countries throughout the continent face a second wave of new coronavirus cases. (DPA)
- Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel told Parliament to expect a “difficult winter” as the country recorded its biggest daily increase of new coronavirus cases. (AP)
- Poland: In an apparent break from the ranks of his party’s leadership, President Andrzej Duda said women have the right to abortion in case of congenitally damaged fetuses, following a week of protests against a de facto ban on abortion. (AP)
- Russia: Moscow has introduced a new UN Security Council resolution that could pose a risk to women’s rights in conflict zones by attempting to water down previously agreed commitments on human rights. (Guardian)
Middle East
- Region: Israel and Lebanon continued their discussions over disputed maritime borders for a second consecutive day. (AFP)
- Region: A UN anti-extremism body expressed “deep concern” over the growing tensions between the Muslim world and France relating to cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. (AFP)
- Israel: Defense Minister Benny Gantz will meet with US Defense Secretary Mark Esper to discuss the country’s military advantage in the region. (AFP)
- Saudi Arabia: The US Embassy in Riyadh lowered its missile and drone alert issued for the capital city Riyadh, but urged US citizens to remain vigilant. (Bloomberg)
Tech & Communications
- Cybersecurity: US government officials warned hospitals of potential cyberattacks by the same Russian hackers who are likely to target the upcoming election. (NYT)
World
- Cyclones:
- Hurricanes:
- Tropical Storm Zeta
- Location: 25 miles S-SE of Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Wind: 60 mph
- Movement: NE at 34 mph
- Map
- Tropical Storm Zeta
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
- Confirmed Cases as of 29OCT20: 44,551,634
- Total Recovered Cases as of 29OCT20: 30,078,002
- Deaths as of 29OCT20: 1,174,769
- Countries with Confirmed Cases: 190
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (11th Ebola outbreak figures from Equateur Province)
- Confirmed Cases as of 17OCT20: 119
- Probable Cases as of 17OCT20: 9
- Deaths as of 17OCT20: 53
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (30OCT20)
- Africa: The UN Security Council is expected to discuss the situation in Burundi, and the joint UN-African Union Mission in Darfur.
- Asia: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia.
- Europe: The Health Ministers of EU member-states will hold a virtual meeting to discuss WHO reforms.
- Europe: The EU will publish economic growth figures for Q3 2020, and the latest unemployment data.
- Gabon: The coronavirus-linked closure of places of worship will end.
- Germany: The government will publish economic growth figures for Q3 2020.
- Japan: The government will publish unemployment data.
- Kenya: The two suspects of the Al-Shabaab-linked Westgate terrorist attack will face a sentencing hearing.
- New Zealand: The preliminary results of two referendums held during the country’s recent elections will be announced.
- Slovakia: Mass coronavirus testing will be conducted in hotspots. (to 01NOV)
- Spain: Former Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz will appear in court over a finance scandal.
- Tajikistan: President Emomali Rahmon will be sworn-in for a fifth term in office.
- Turkey: The first Islamic prayers will be held at the Byzantine Chora Church, following its conversion to a mosque.
- United States: Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader will speak during a virtual event hosted by the Wilson Center think tank.
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