South Asia
On Saturday, the National Directorate of Security said that security forces in Afghanistan had killed Muhsin al-Masri, a senior leader of the al Qaeda, who also features in the American Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Most Wanted Terrorist list. Chris Miller, the head of the US National Counterterrorism Center, confirmed Masri’s death and celebrated the incident as symbolic of the group’s “diminishing effectiveness.” [Reuters]
During a virtual conference hosted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, along with the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, several international donors came together and pledged $600 million in aid for the Rohingya Muslims. The US, UK, and EU pledged $200 million, $60 million, and $113 million, respectively. [Al Jazeera]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
After foreign ministers from both sides met in Washington over the weekend for mediated talks, Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to a “humanitarian ceasefire” in the conflict-ridden Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. The truce took effect from 8 am local time on Monday. [Al Jazeera]
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon and General Frank McKenzie, the chief of the US Central Command, met on Thursday to discuss the prospects of bilateral cooperation between the two sides in regional security to address global challenges. They also shared views on the latest developments in the ongoing Afghan peace talks. [ASIA-Plus]
East and Southeast Asia
Malaysia’s King, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah on Sunday rejected PM Muhyiddin’s suggestion to impose emergency measures on the country, but offered the embattled leader verbal support amidst ongoing political turmoil. Though the PM claims his plan was aimed to address the COVID-19 pandemic without any distractions, his opponents accused him of using the crisis as an excuse to stay in power despite losing majority support in the parliament. [The Straits Times]
Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes in the Philippines on Sunday, as Typhoon Molave made landfall in the nation, bringing heavy rains and strong winds. [Channel News Asia]
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Taipei on Sunday, calling on China to release 12 Hong Kongers arrested at sea by mainland authorities in late August. [Reuters]
Anti-government demonstrators in Thailand have vowed to continue protesting after PM Prayut Chan-o-cha ignored their deadline to resign. [Bangkok Post]
Europe
On Sunday, far-right protesters in Rome, who were demonstrating against the newly imposed COVID-19 restrictions and curfews, clashed with Italian police forces. Consequently, seven demonstrators were arrested. [France 24]
A media investigation report by the German platform Der Spiegel said that Frontex, Europe’s border management agency, was responsible for several illegal “push-backs” or returns of migrants arriving at Greek coasts from Turkey. The investigation relied on satellite images and eyewitness testimonies. [Al Jazeera]
The Russian Emergencies Ministry has launched a search and rescue mission for three missing crew members from a Russian oil tanker that was hit by a blast in the Sea of Azov on Saturday. Maritime officials have said that the explosion must have been activated by leftover flammable vapours from previous cargo on the vessel. [Associated Press]
After polls closed on 25 October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the nation’s fair and free electoral process, insisting that Kyiv is moving in the right direction after holding a local vote that is considered as one of the most historic and consequential polls in the modern history of the state. [RFE/RL]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Chileans have finished voting in a referendum on whether to do away with the country’s current constitution—which was drafted under former dictator Augusto Pinochet—due to long-lasting protests over inequality and corruption. At the same time, citizens are also voting on whether such an overhaul should be overseen by a combination of congressional representatives and citizens, or only citizens. [The Guardian]
Over the weekend, Colombia joined Brazil in becoming the second Latin American country to record over 1 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus. The country continues to see roughly 8,000 new cases per day, and has thus far seen 30,000 deaths. [Merco Press]
After spending close to a year under house arrest at the Spanish ambassador’s residence in Venezuela, opposition leader Leopoldo López left for Spain to be reunited with his family. He was arrested in 2014 under trumped-up charges by the Maduro regime, and was allowed to remain under house arrest from 2017 onwards. [Al Jazeera]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Israel’s Energy Minister said on Sunday that Qatar’s moves to advance the sale of F-35 fighter aircraft from Washington may be possible despite Israeli rejection of the deal. [Reuters]
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara will not be refusing Russian-made S-400 missile systems, despite the United States’ strong opposition to the sale. Reiterating that the US has still not delivered F-35 jets that have been paid for, Erdogan said Washington was free to slap any sanctions on Ankara but that his government would buy equipment from whomever it wishes to. [TASS]
In response to US President Donald Trump’s remarks to the Sudanese premier on Friday, where he said that “They [Egypt] will end up blowing up the [Grand Ethiopian Renaissance] dam” if a resolution to the issue is not arrived at soon, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said that his country denounces “occasional statements of belligerent threats to have Ethiopia succumb to unfair terms”. [Al Jazeera]
North America
The US Republican-controlled Senate voted 51-48 on Sunday to limit debate on the nomination of conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the US Supreme Court, moving closer toward a final confirmation vote, which will take place on Monday. Filling a Supreme Court vacancy this close to the general election has been universally opposed by the Democrats. [Reuters]
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) has been ratified by 50 UN member states, and will go into effect on January 22, 2020. It has been deeply criticized by the US and other major nuclear powers, who claim that it is “dangerous” to the landmark Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). [UN News]
Oceania
It recently emerged that 13 Australian women were subjected to ‘invasive’ physical searches in the Doha airport in Qatar this month after airport staff found an abandoned premature baby in a bathroom. Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne described the treatment of the women as “grossly disturbing” and “concerning”. She said that both the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Federal Police have taken note of the incident and that the government has begun dialogue with the Qatari ambassador to Australian and authorities in Qatar to gain a full report. [Sydney Morning Herald]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Tensions between Cameroon’s Anglophone minority and its Francophone majority have once again escalated after eight students were fatally shot by unidentified assailants. The incident has been condemned by international actors, including the United States, the African Union, France, and the European Union, who have all called for the government to hold the perpetrators accountable. [The Africa Report]
Opposition candidate and Anglican priest Wavel Ramkalawan defeated incumbent President Danny Faure in Seychelles' presidential election, giving the opposition its first victory since 1997. He gathered 54.9% of the votes, compared to 43.5% for Faure. [Africa Feeds]
Despite opposition candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo proclaiming victory, Guinean President Alpha Condé has now been declared the victor of the country's recently concluded election by electoral authorities. The opposition, however, alleges vote-rigging. [Africa News]
World News Monitor: 26 October, 2020
A quick look at events from around the globe.
October 26, 2020
SOURCE: ECONOMIC TIMES