November 20, 2024
🇿🇦 South African officials are assessing safety for a potential rescue of illegal miners trapped underground. Authorities insist they are not trapped but avoiding arrest. Recent court ruling allows supplies to be delivered as fears grow for miners' health.
🇨🇳 China’s President Xi Jinping met Argentine President Javier Milei on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, as reported by Chinese state television CCTV.
🇨🇳 Chinese President Xi Jinping urges German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to assist in resolving EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles promptly, according to state television CCTV.
🇵🇸 Hamas and Gaza factions form armed force to combat gangs looting aid convoys amid rising thefts of scarce supplies in the region, according to local sources.
🇸🇩 Sudan’s armed forces chief criticizes factional strife in the ex-ruling National Congress Party, warning that attempts to reinstate an ally of former autocrat Omar al-Bashir threaten national unity amid the ongoing war against paramilitary forces.
🇺🇸 The White House announced the US will not change its nuclear posture in response to Russia lowering its threshold for a nuclear strike, stating it was not surprised by the decision.
🇩🇪 Chancellor Olaf Scholz regrets G20 communique’s lack of clarity on Russia’s role in the Ukraine war, especially on the 1,000th day of the invasion.
🇭🇷 Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovic announced that the presidential election will take place on Dec. 29. The official call for the vote will be made on Thursday.
🇮🇱 Netanyahu in Gaza states Hamas will no longer rule the enclave after the war. He claims Israel has successfully destroyed the Islamist group’s military capabilities.
🇬🇧 PM Keir Starmer affirms support for Ukraine amid “irresponsible” nuclear threats from Russia. He remains undeterred by President Putin’s lowered threshold for nuclear strikes.
🇦🇺🇹🇷 Australia and Turkey are in a standoff over hosting the 2026 UN climate change talks, with both countries determined to secure the opportunity. Neither side is willing to concede their bid.
🇧🇷 President Lula of Brazil cuts G20 discussions on Ukraine short, issuing the final statement a day early, leading to dissatisfaction among European delegates.
🇺🇸 Senior U.S. and Israeli officials will meet in early December to discuss civilian harm in the ongoing Gaza conflict. This meeting is part of a new channel initiated by Washington to address concerns over civilian casualties.
🇷🇺 Russian air defence units intercepted Ukrainian drones in six southern and central regions. Some damage reported on the ground, but no casualties confirmed, according to officials.
🇺🇸 The U.S. Department of State has approved a potential $100 million sale of military equipment and services to Ukraine, according to the Pentagon.
🇺🇸 U.S. State Dept approves potential sale of F-15K aircraft upgrade to South Korea for an estimated $6.2 billion, according to the Pentagon.
🇹🇷 Turkish President Erdogan stated that Turkey denied Israeli President Herzog access to its airspace for the COP climate summit in Azerbaijan, reflecting ongoing tensions between the two nations.
November 19, 2024
🇺🇦 President Zelenskiy announces a ‘resilience’ plan as Ukraine marks 1,000 days since the invasion, urging citizens to stay strong and revealing plans to significantly increase production of strike weapons.
🇶🇦 Qatar confirms that Hamas' political office in Doha has not been permanently closed, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari.
🇸🇩 U.S. envoy calls for more aid in Sudan, advocating for humanitarian corridors and pauses. Discussions with government leaders aim to expedite relief efforts in the war-affected region.