South Asia
In a move that deepens Bangladesh’s effort to strengthen its friendship with India, and resist pressures by China and Pakistan, Bangladesh decided to set up a memorial to commemorate the Indian soldiers that were martyred in the struggle for Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. [Economic Times]
Saudi Arabia has not delivered oil to Pakistan since May, after the expiry of its deal for deferred payment with Pakistan. Pakistan is trying hard to renew the deal, but the government of Saudi Arabia has not responded to the requests yet. [India Today]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Residents in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent have protested the administration’s plans to merge the city with its surrounding region, citing fears over property losses and children’s access to education. [RFE/RL]
After upsetting Baku by selling arms to its adversaries in Armenia, Serbian President Alexander Vucic spoke to his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev over a phone call in a bid to repair the “strategic partnership” and “friendship” shared between the two countries. Vucic also invited Aliyev for an official visit and has sent an envoy to set up the meeting. [The Defense Post]
East and Southeast Asia
Like Israel’s Iron Dome, South Korea is preparing to develop its own interceptor system in the next five years. The system aims to protect Seoul’s capital area and infrastructure from North Korea’s long-range artillery threats. South Korea will also develop long-range air-to-surface and air-to-ship guided missiles to be loaded on the indigenous fighter jets. [The Korea Herald]
The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has conducted amphibious landing and maritime exercises over the past week. The PLA exercises are said to be in response to America’s “provocative military activities” near Taiwan and in the South China Sea. Amidst growing bilateral tensions, China’s defence minister held talks with his American counterpart to discuss “bilateral military exchanges in the next phase”. [The Global Times/ Xinhua Net]
Europe
Following concerns raised by human rights groups regarding the use of arms by Saudi Arabia in perpetrating violence in Yemen, Belgium has suspended its arms export licenses with the Saudi Arabia National Guard. [Al Jazeera]
Officials report that France and Germany exited negotiations on reforming the World Health Organisation. This was a result of America’s attempt to intervene and lead the talks despite exiting the organisation last month. [Reuters]
Some 3,000 demonstrators gathered in Russia’s southeastern city of Khabarovsk for a fifth consecutive week to demand a fair trial for Sergei Furgal, the region’s governor. Furgal was arrested earlier last month on suspicion of involvement in murders and taken to jail in Moscow, but protestors believe the charges to be politically motivated. [Al Jazeera]
Thousands of people protested in Warsaw on Saturday, waving rainbow flags and chanting “Give us Margot back!” and “Rainbow does not insult you!” outside Warsaw’s Palace of Culture. They were demanding the release of an LGBT activist accused of hanging rainbow banners over statues and damaging an anti-abortion campaigner’s van. [Reuters]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Argentina is allegedly planning an aggressive change to its Falklands policy, by re-registering its claim to the islands in the Organization of the American States, reimposing legal threats against oil companies operating in the region, and pressing the European Union to force the United Kingdom to remove the Falklands from its list of overseas territories. [Merco Press]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his unity government partner Benny Gantz have agreed to back a bill allowing the government to extend its budget approval until mid-December. The Knesset is set for a preliminary vote for this on Wednesday. If passed, the extra time would avert the need for another election. [Haaretz]
Following the Beirut blast, Lebanon’s Information Minister, Environment Minister, and most recently Justice Minister Marie Claude Najm have all resigned after massive civilian-led anti-government protests. Najm has called for an early election to manage the country’s immense crisis. [Arab News]
To increase the digital global outreach of his country, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has opened official Twitter accounts in Hindi, Arabic, Urdu, French, Spanish, Russian, apart from Persian and English. [Hindustan Times]
On Friday, the US District Court in the District of Columbia issued a summons for Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman after a lawsuit filed by ex-Saudi intelligence official Saad al-Jabri accusing MBS of plotting his murder. [Al Jazeera]
North America
US President Donald Trump has taken executive action extending economic relief to millions of Americans hit by the COVID-19 pandemic as talks between senior government officials and top Democrats collapsed on Friday. [CNN]
Oceania
Victoria recorded its deadliest pandemic day, with 19 deaths, but its lowest single-day increase in cases in 12 days with 322 infections. Meanwhile, New Zealand marked 100 consecutive days with no new cases of the coronavirus. [Sydney Morning Herald, Newshub]
Sub-Saharan Africa
After weeks of speculation, Côte d'Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara publicly announced his intention to run for a third term, reneging on his earlier promise to step aside. He said he was doing so to “respond favorably to the call of my fellow citizens”. [The Africa Report]
World News Monitor: 10 August, 2020
A quick look at events from around the globe.
August 10, 2020
