A summary of Key Events from this week's Daily Quick-Looks. Click on the headings or pictures below to be taken to the Quick-Look for that particular day, which also includes the day's other key events. All Quick-Looks can also be found on the Intelligence Stream.
12 October 2020: Paris Police Station Attacked
Security // BLUF: Up to 40 people armed with metal bars and deploying fireworks as projectiles attacked a police station in Champigny-sur-Marne, about 15 km southeast of central Paris.
The attackers had reportedly tried to force entry into the police station, but were unsuccessful.
There were no arrests made, however damage had been done to the building and cars.
While the motive for the attack was unreported, this is the third such attack in two years, with the police station being located near a housing estate known for drug trafficking. A scooter accident that was blamed on police was suggested as the reason for the attack, according to the mayor of Champigny.
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13 October 2020: US Moves Forward With Arms Sales To Taiwan
Security // BLUF: The White House will be moving forward with three separate arms deals with Taiwan, according to Reuters sources.
The deals will reportedly be for the self-propelled rocket platform known as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), long range air-to-ground missiles, and sensor pods for the F-16 fighter jet.
The arms deals come as China's increasingly aggressive posturing toward Taiwan has seen the US boost its involvement with and recognition of Taiwan on the international stage, along with its presence in the Taiwan Strait.
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14 October 2020: China, Russia Elected To UN Human Rights Council
Political // BLUF: China and Russia have been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council, while Saudi Arabia has missed out on a second term.
The picking of council members relies on a secret ballot in geographical groups.
China's human rights record has faced scrutiny recently, with the treatment of Uighur Muslims in the country’s Xinjiang region and suspicions of 'concentration camps for re-education', along with the treatment of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
“Saudi Arabia’s failure to win a seat on the Human Rights Council is a welcome reminder of the need for more competition in U.N. elections. Had there been additional candidates, China, Cuba and Russia might have lost too,” said Human Rights Watch U.N. director Louis Charbonneau.
The U.S. left the council in 2018, with current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying, “The U.N. General Assembly once again elected countries with abhorrent human rights records,” and, “These elections only further validate the U.S. decision to withdraw and use other venues and opportunities to protect and promote universal human rights.”
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15 October 2020: No Quick-Look Today
16 October 2020: Travel Bubble Between AUS and NZ
Security (Travel) // BLUF: Hundreds of New Zealand travelers have arrived in Australia as part of a international travel 'bubble' arrangement.
The deal allows for New Zealanders to travel quarantine free into New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
At this stage, the arrangement is only for New Zealanders to travel to Australia, with Australians being able to travel to New Zealand at a later, still undetermined date.
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Security, Political // BLUF: The US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien has commented that China's treatment of Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region is 'close to genocide'.
“If not a genocide, something close to it going on in Xinjiang,” said O’Brien.
The UN estimates that more than a million Muslims have been detained in Xianjing, with the detained reportedly kept in camps. Beijing has denied abuses at the camps and claims they are for vocational training and to help combat extremism.
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The reporting period for this Daily Quick-Look is the previous 24 hours (unless stated otherwise). This Daily Quick-Look is comprised of reports from agencies around the world, and are referenced where possible. Deciport LLC is in no way associated with any agency listed. This Daily Quick-Look is for information purposes only. This Daily Quick-Look is not intended for planning purposes. The comments that comprise the 'Why It Matters' do not represent the opinions, viewpoints or assessment of the agency from which the linked source report originated, and is intended to add context for the reader as part of a summary.