South Asia
Two Taliban fighters attacked a military base in Paktia, leading to the death of at least three Afghani government officials. The spokesperson for the Paktia provincial authorities said that both the attackers were killed by government security forces. [Al Jazeera]
During a virtual meeting, India urged the United Nations to permanently remove the Jammu and Kashmir conflict from discussion and refer to it as an “outdated agenda item”. The Indian representative also snubbed Pakistan’s attempts to portray itself as a contributor to international peace while being considered as a “fountainhead of international terror and the hub for terror syndicates”. [NDTV]
East and Southeast Asia
World-famous K-pop band BTS became the first South Korean artists to top the US Billboard’s main Hot 100 chart with their latest single “Dynamite.” Prime Minister Moon-Jae-in congratulated the 7-member boy-band and said, “the group has written a new chapter in K-pop history, and its splendid feat has further raised pride in the music genre.” [KBS World]
According to retired Gen. Vincent Brooks, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has neither passed down his key tasks nor delegated powers to his sister. Questioning intelligence reports from South Korea regarding the changing power structure, Brooks said, “the shakeup instead signals [that] aides loyal to the 36-year-old leader are taking on senior-level responsibilities.” [The Korea Herald]
The 17th Economic Ministers Consultations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India took place virtually last week and were chaired by Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry & Railways Piyush Goyal and Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh. The meeting was attended by the trade ministers of all 10 ASEAN member-states. [The Phnom Penh Post]
Europe
On Tuesday, Germany’s Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas, during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wangi Yi, called out China for their ill-treatment of the Uighur Muslim community and the imposition of the security law in Hong Kong. He also urged China to refrain from making “threats” against the Czech Republic over the Taiwan issue. [Al Jazeera]
During French President Emmanuel Macron’s second visit to Lebanon since the Beirut explosion, he met with President Michel Aoun and discussed the need for political reforms in its energy and banking sectors and its justice system. [DW]
Turkey has once again extended the mission of its exploration vessel Oruç Reis, this time until September 12. President Erdogan on Tuesday labeled the international community’s “efforts to descend on the riches of the Mediterranean, which are the rights of every country around it” as an “example of modern-day colonialism”. [Al Jazeera]
Thousands celebratorily took to the streets in Montenegro on Tuesday after the country’s pro-Serbian and pro-Russian opposition movement claimed victory in parliamentary elections. Though the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) won the biggest share of the vote, it missed the majority by one seat. [Euronews]
Latin America and the Caribbean
The Peruvian Attorney General’s Office launched a corruption investigation against former President Ollanta Humala for allegedly taking a $3 million bribe from Brazilian construction company Odebretch. [Telesur]
North America
The White House said on Tuesday that the US will not participate in an international effort to develop and distribute a COVID-19 vaccine because it does not want to be “constrained by multilateral organizations influenced by the corrupt World Health Organization and China”. The decision will keep the US isolated from more than 170 countries participating in the COVAX initiative to provide worldwide access to an effective vaccine. [CNN]
Facebook has said that it has dismantled a small network of accounts and pages that were a part of a Russian influence operation to target left-wing voters in the United States and the United Kingdom. The operation was centred around a pseudo media organization called Peace Data, which had links to the Russian Internet Research Agency. [Reuters]
Oceania
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg revealed that Australia is in the throes of its worst recession and since the end of World War II, with the economy contracting by 7%. Prime Minister Scott Morrison called it a “devastating day”. [news.com.au]
Sub-Saharan Africa
The newly re-elected president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, vowed to usher in a renewed focus on financial sustainability. He unveiled the institution’s ten-year agenda, wherein the top five goals, dubbed the ‘High Fives’, target hunger eradication, access to electricity, industrialisation, integration, and poverty alleviation. [Vanguard]
World News Monitor: 2 September, 2020
A quick look at events from around the globe.
September 2, 2020
Former Peruvian President Ollanta Humala is being investigated for corruption during his tenure. SOURCE: BRITANNICA