30NOV21 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: Uganda launched airstrikes targeting the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group in eastern DR Congo with Congolese forces.
AMERICAS: Barbados is set to replace Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and become a republic cutting centuries-old ties with the British crown.
ASIA: China said the omicron variant is a concern for organizers of the Beijing Winter Olympics, but it remains confident the games will be held as scheduled in February.
EUROPE: Swedish Prime minister Magdalena Andersson presented her one-party minority government with only a few changes compared to her previous Cabinet.
MIDDLE EAST: The United Arab Emirates approved Russia’s Sputnik Light vaccine as a universal booster shot against COVID-19.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Britain’s competition regulator has told Facebook owner Meta Platforms to sell Giphy after finding that the acquisition could harm social media users and UK advertisers.

Top Story

Global: Dutch Authorities find that the new Omicron Variant was circulating as far as 11 days ago.
- The Dutch health authority said it found the new omicron variant in two local cases going back as far as 11 days, showing it was already in western Europe’s heartland before the reports came out of South Africa last week.
- The chief executive of Moderna set off fresh alarm bells in financial markets with a warning that existing COVID-19 vaccines would be less effective against the new Omicron variant than they have been against Delta.
- The cases predate two flights from South Africa that carried passengers who tested positive for the omicron variant.
- The Netherlands’ RIVM health institute found omicron in samples dating from Nov. 19 and 23 while the WHO said South Africa first reported the variant to the U.N. healthy agency on Nov. 24.
- The Netherlands is one of many countries around the world to impose travel restrictions on countries in southern Africa in response to the new variant.
- AP, Reuters, The Hill, AP2, BBC

Africa

Ethiopia: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed urged Tigrayan rebels to surrender, claiming government forces were nearing victory just one week after he vowed to lead military operations at the front. (AFP)
Guinea: The military junta said deposed president Alpha Condé has been transferred to his wife’s home in the capital Conakry. (BBC)
Sudan: Activists have called for more protests across the country to denounce the 21 November political deal that reinstated Abdalla Hamdok as prime minister. (BBC)
Uganda: The country launched airstrikes targeting the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebel group in eastern DR Congo with Congolese forces. (AFP)

Americas

Barbados: The Caribbean island is set to replace Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and become a republic cutting centuries-old ties with the British crown. (Al J azeera)
Bolivia: A demonstration headed by President Luis Arce and former president Evo Morales, was joined by thousands when it entered the capital outskirts after a week of marching through the country. (DPA)
Chile: Parliament is set to approve a long-awaited bill to legalize same-sex marriage, joining other Latin American countries with similar laws. (AFP)
United States: Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that any new Russian “aggression” against Ukraine would result in a “serious” response. (AFP)

Asia

China: The country said the omicron variant is a concern for organizers of the Beijing Winter Olympics, but it remains confident the games will be held as scheduled in February. (AP)
Japan: The country confirmed its first case of the new omicron coronavirus variant. (AP)
Japan: The Constitutional Democratic Party elected Kenta Izumi as their new leader as they try to regroup following a disappointing electoral performance against the country’s long-ruling conservatives. (AFP)
Myanmar: A court is due to deliver the first verdicts in a trial against deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Dec. 6. (Reuters)
Pakistan: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the country offered to host a summit of foreign ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) next month to address the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. (AFP)

Europe

France: Far-right pundit Eric Zemmour will launch his presidential bid after recent polls showed his popularity falling after a rough few weeks. (AFP)
Germany: The country’s highest court rejected complaints against curfews and other restrictions imposed by federal legislation earlier this year in areas where COVID-19 was spreading quickly. (AP)
Portugal: President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa refused to sign for the second time a parliament-sanctioned bill allowing euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. (WaPo)
Sweden: Prime minister Magdalena Andersson presented her one-party minority government with only a few changes compared to her previous Cabinet. (AP)
Turkey: Authorities have arrested a prominent member of an opposition party over accusations that he engaged in “political and military espionage.” (AP)

Middle East

Afghanistan: The World Bank is finalizing a proposal to deliver up to $500 million from a frozen aid fund to humanitarian agencies. (Reuters)
Israel: The new coronavirus variant, Omicron, has been detected in two doctors, one of whom returned from a conference in London in the past week. (Reuters)
Kuwait: Several opposition figures have returned home from a decade of self-exile after getting amnesty from the ruling emir. (AP)
United Arab Emirates: The country approved Russia’s Sputnik Light vaccine as a universal booster shot against COVID-19. (Reuters)

Tech & Communications

Technology: Britain’s competition regulator has told Facebook owner Meta Platforms to sell Giphy after finding that the acquisition could harm social media users and UK advertisers. (Reuters)

World

Cyclones: Nothing to report
Hurricanes: Nothing to report
Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
Volcanoes:
- La Palma, Spain
  - Explosive activity continues
  - Erupting
  - Source
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
  - COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 30NOV21)
    - Confirmed cases: 262,312,703
    - Deaths: 5,211,147
    - Countries with confirmed cases: 192
    - Sourcing: John Hopkins University

Tomorrow’s Outlook (01DEC21)

Global: WTO Ministerial Conference. (to 03DEC)
Global: United Nations Security Council monthly presidency rotates from Mexico to Niger.
Global: OPEC countries meet to discuss oil production levels (virtual).
Event: Atlantic Council discussion on democracy and elections in Brazil.
Event: Army Secretary Wormuth keynotes CSIS event on China.
Belgium: Sustainable Future Summit.
Central African Republic: Republic Day.
Chad: Freedom and Democracy Day.
Europe: OECD Economic Outlook launched.
Europe: NATO Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting.
France: President Emmanuel Macron meets Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins.
Germany: European Central Bank’s Governing Council to hold non-monetary policy meeting in Frankfurt.
Indonesia: Indonesia to begin year-long tenure as chair of the Group of 20.
Kazakhstan: First President’s Day.
Latvia: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visit. (to 02DEC)
Philippines: All on-site workers required to be vaccinated or pay for testing.
Portugal: Restoration of Independence Day.
Romania: National Day.
Russia: Russia to commence first naval exercises with Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky to address parliament.
United Arab Emirates: Commemoration Day.

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