Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) stressed the need for an inclusive return to the country’s political process.
- AMERICAS: The United States’ top intelligence official has told lawmakers it will largely stop holding in-person briefings on election security, signaling that it does not trust lawmakers to keep the information secret.
- ASIA: Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga is expected to run in the ruling party leadership race to replace Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Kyodo news agency reported, citing an unnamed source.
- EUROPE: Voters in Montenegro are casting ballots in a tense election pitting the long-ruling pro-Western party against the opposition that desires closer ties with Serbia and Russia.
- MIDDLE EAST: Israel hopes to hold a signing ceremony in Washington for its normalization deal with the United Arab Emirates by mid-September, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet stated.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is focusing on its budding cloud business, which still has access to U.S. chips despite sanctions against the company, to secure its survival as a company, the Financial Times newspaper reported.
Top Story
- United States: Protest and fighting between Pro-BLM and Pro-Trump groups continue across the nation
- One person is dead after a shooting in downtown Portland Saturday night in the aftermath of fighting between pro-Trump and Black Lives Matter protesters, the city’s police department confirmed in a statement.
- Approximately 1,000 people joined a march in Kenosha, Wisconsin, chanting “Black Lives Matter” and “No Justice, No Peace” as U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to visit the affected city next week.
- Police said they are not releasing suspect information on the Portland shooting at this time and are asking anyone who was a witness or had the first-hand video of the shooting to contact investigators.
- Reporting: WaPo, Reuters, CNN,
Africa
- Libya: The United Nations Support Mission in the nation stressed the need for an inclusive return to the political process in the country. (Xinhua)
- Sudan: The government called for raising the negotiation on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) from the ministerial level to the head of state. (Xinhua)
- Tanzania: The ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi held a rally to mark the launch of President John Magufuli’s re-election bid in the country’s capital Dodoma. (Xinhua)
Americas
- Argentina: National health authorities said that 401,239 COVID-19 cases have been reported nationwide, with 8,353 deaths. (Xinhua)
- United States: President Donald Trump visited areas of Texas and Louisiana affected by Hurricane Laura. (DPA)
- United States: The United States’ top intelligence official has told lawmakers it will largely stop holding in-person briefings on election security, signaling that it does not trust lawmakers to keep the information secret. (The Guardian)
Asia
- India: The nation reported the biggest single-day jump in coronavirus infections of any nation in the COVID-19 pandemic, as the epicenter shifts to the South Asian country. (Reuters)
- Japan: Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga will join the race to replace Shinzo Abe as prime minister, Kyodo news agency reported, citing an unnamed source. (Reuters)
- New Zealand: Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, thanked Aucklanders who came out of lockdown for their commitment to suppressing the latest COVID-19 flare-up after two cases were confirmed in the city. (The Guardian)
- Taiwan: The president of the Czech Senate arrived in the nation on a visit that has caused sharp criticism from China. (AP)
Europe
- Germany: The Bundestag, or lower house of the parliament in Berlin, will step up its COVID-19-related security measures after the summer break because of its increasing number of infections. (DPA)
- Germany: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases increased by 785 to 241,771, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases reported. (Reuters)
- Montenegro: Voters in the nation are casting ballots in a tense election that is pitting the long-ruling pro-Western party against the opposition, which desires closer ties with Serbia and Russia. (AP)
- Russia: More than 211,500 people remain under medical supervision over a suspected COVID-19 infection, the sanitary watchdog reported. (TASS)
Middle East
- Region: Israel hopes to hold a signing ceremony in Washington for its normalization deal with the United Arab Emirates by mid-September, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet stated. (Reuters)
- Egypt: The nation reported 212 new COVID-19 cases, bringing total infections in the country to 98,497, the Health Ministry announced. (Xinhua)
- Israel: The army said it has retaliated against explosive balloons launched from Gaza by firing at Hamas facilities. (DPA)
Tech & Communications
- Telecommunications: Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is focusing on its budding cloud business, which still has access to U.S. chips despite sanctions against the company, to secure its survival as a company, the Financial Times newspaper reported. (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 30AUG20: 24,765,771
- Total Recovered Cases as of 30AUG20: 16,212,865
- Deaths as of 30AUG20: 837,700
- 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
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global
Tomorrow’s Outlook (31AUG20)
- Malaysia: National COVID-19 recovery movement control order to conclude.
- Philippines: COVID-19 enhanced community quarantine measures to expire in Metro Manila, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan.
- Romania: Parliament to hold a no-confidence vote against the government
- Europe/MENA: French President Emmanuel Macron to visit Lebanon.
- Lebanon: Parliamentary consultations to begin to decide on the next prime minister.
- MENA: Navtex for Turkish exploration with Oruc Reis vessel to end.
END