South Asia
Following a two-year legal battle by an environmental watchdog, Sri Lanka is going to return 242 containers of hazardous waste back to the United Kingdom. [SCMP]
During a lecture on the All India Radio, Indian External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, said that India’s relations with China are under “severe stress.” Further, he said that any attempts by the Chinese side to alter the status quo of the Line of Actual Control would be “unacceptable” to India. [NDTV]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Azerbaijan is determined to fight until the end of the Nagorno- Karabakh war. With the growing support of Turkey, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev pledged to defend his country’s forces until the end. As a response, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashiyan asked Russia to extend their support. [aljazeera]
Three days after the deadliest earthquake hit Turkey, the death toll increased to 81. With a magnitude of 6.9, the earthquake was centered in the Aegean Sea, northeast of Samos. The quivers were felt across western Turkey, as well as in Athens, Greece. [middle-east-online]
East and Southeast Asia
Super typhoon Goni made landfall in the Philippines on Saturday, killing at least 10, and affected more than 30 million people. Equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane, Goni is the strongest typhoon to hit anywhere in the world so far this year. [The Straits Times]
China began its census on Sunday, with approximately 7 million community workers and volunteers driving the two-month data collection effort. It is expected to take two years to fully compile the data. [Channel News Asia]
Thousands of Thai royalists gathered outside the Grand Palace in Bangkok on Sunday, to show their support for the crown, in the face of growing protests that have called for the reform of the monarchy as well as the removal of the government. King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida even stepped out to greet their supporters and expressed “love” for the protesters as well. [AP News]
Europe
A priest was injured following a shooting outside a church in Lyon, France. While the French police had initially detained a suspect, he was later released after the authorities found no substantial evidence of his involvement in the incident. [BBC]
As pollution levels surge in Europe, the European Commission announced its plan to take legal action against France for violating the limit imposed by the European Union on particulate matter pollution. [Reuters]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Mexico and Argentina have delayed a meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank until after the conclusion of the US Presidential election. The 14-member body is currently waiting on the US to appoint vice presidents to the Bank from Honduras, Ecuador, and Paraguay. [MercoPress]
The United Kingdom has stepped in to effectively put an end to the sale of FA-Fighting Eagle fighter jets from South Korean manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to Argentina by refusing to supply parts for their manufacture. The UK is currently embroiled in a decade-long dispute with Argentina over the Falkland Islands. [Janes]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Israel praised Dominican Republic’s consideration for moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The declaration was made shortly after the new President Lusi Abinader came into power. Prior to the Dominican Republic, many other Latin American countries have moved their embassy to Jerusalem. [reuters]
On Sunday, Israel started COVID -19 human trials, if successful, the vaccine will be available to the general public by the end of the summer. Initially, eight volunteers will take part, following which the trials will be expanded to 960 people in December. [gulfnews]
North America
The US State Department confirmed on Saturday that Philipe Nathan Walton, a US citizen who was abducted in Niger earlier that week was rescued in a US military operation in northern Nigeria. [Al Jazeera]
Several retail pharmacy chains in the US have agreed to participate in a federal government plan by serving as COVID-19 vaccination sites. The companies include CVS Health Corp, Walmart Inc, Kroger Co, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc, and Costco Wholesale Corp, who will all receive the vaccine free of charge, to help expand and accelerate the public’s access to the drugs as supplies increase. [Wall Street Journal]
Quebec City police confirmed on Sunday that they had apprehended a man who stabbed two people to death and injured five others on Halloween night, dressed in a medieval outfit and brandishing a sword. [CBC]
Following a New York Times report that claimed that the US had been expelling foreign migrant children to Mexico in breach of joint accords, Mexican authorities said on Sunday that they would look into the matter, but currently had no record of any unaccompanied minors entering the country’s borders. [Reuters]
Oceania
Australia Post CEO Christine Holgate has resigned from her post under pressure from Prime Minister Scott Morrison after it emerged that she had spent exorbitant amounts on luxurious gifts for both herself and high-ranking executives. [news.com.au]
Newly re-elected Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, revealed her Cabinet for her second term and said that her administration’s biggest and immediate focus would be on public health and economic recovery amid the coronavirus pandemic. [Newsroom]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Tanzanian President John Magufuli was declared the victor of the recently concluded election, with 12.5 million votes, over 10 million more than the nearest challenger, Tundu Lissu. Lissu, however, has described the election as ‘fraudulent’ and warned that Tanzania is going down the same path as Zimbabwe. There have been reports of pre-filled ballots, ballot stuffing, and opposition polling agents being denied entry into voting stations. [The Africa Report]
The opposition in the Ivory Coast has alleged that at least 12 people have been killed so far after voting got underway for the country's presidential election. Until now, two opposition candidates have boycotted the election in protest against President Ouattara’s decision to seek a third five-year term in office. There are ongoing protests around the country against what critics are calling an ‘electoral coup’ and unconstitutional. [Africa Feeds]