South Asia
At the Third Assembly of the International Solar Alliance, India and France were re-elected as co-presidents for a two-year term. Additionally, the group also elected vice-presidents for the four regions of the alliance—the Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe and Others, and Latin America and the Caribbean. [The Hindu]
The International Monetary Fund predicted that Bangladesh’s per capita Gross Domestic Product would “overtake” India’s by 2021. According to the organisation’s World Economic Outlook report, India’s per capita GDP will drop by 10.3%, bringing it to the lowest in four years. [India Today]
Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar met with his Portuguese counterpart Santos Silva to discuss cooperation between the two countries in a post-COVID economy. Both sides reiterated their commitment to multilateralism and agreed to collaborate on “regional and global issues”. [Hindustan Times]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Earlier today, Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov stepped down from his post in an attempt to end the political crisis that has engulfed the country after protestors stormed parliament following a disputed election result. In his statement, Jeenbekov said staying in power was not “worth the integrity of our country and agreement in society.” [Economic Times]
During a Wednesday phone call, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh situation, wherein they “ called for the activation of the political process, namely based on the progress reached within the OSCE Minsk Group.” [TASS]
East and Southeast Asia
Tens of thousands of protesters in Bangkok marched from the Democracy monument to the Government House on Wednesday and vowed to stay there for at least three days to pressure PM Prayut Chan-o-cha into resigning. [Bangkok Post]
South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-Kun held independent meetings with the ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to discuss issues relating to bilateral cooperation. [The Korea Herald]
Chinese President Xi Jinping gave a key speech on Wednesday at an event commemorating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Shenzhen special economic zone. The leader used the remarks not only to outline his government’s plans to improve the business environment in the country but also expressed his wish for increased exchanges with Hong Kong and Macao “to increase their sense of belonging to the motherland.” [Channel News Asia]
Europe
The latest poll conducted by Ipsos MORI reported that the support for Scotland’s independence from the United Kingdom has risen to a record high of 58%. In 2014, during a referendum, 55% Scots voted against the proposal to leave the bloc. [Reuters]
A massive Tallboy bomb weighing 12,000 pounds that was dropped by the British Royal Air Force in Poland during the Second World War exploded underwater after it was recently discovered by the Polish navy in a canal. Attempts to defuse the bomb were underway since Monday, and 750 residents were evacuated from the surrounding area. [CNN]
Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced a draft parliamentary bill on the formation and status of the State Council, an advisory body that would expand on the concept of a “united system of public governance.” The bill proposes a Council headed by the President which will include the Prime Minister, the Federation Council and State Duma speakers, regional heads, and the chief of staff, as well as political party representatives at the discretion of the President. It forbids foreign nationals and residents and those holding foreign bank accounts from being a part of the council. [TASS]
Latin America and the Caribbean
The United Nations envoy to Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, shed light on how former combatants in the country are still being killed “in alarming numbers”, despite the signing of the 2016 peace accord between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the government. This year alone, 50 ex-combatants have been killed. The UN has registered 224 killings, 20 disappearances, and 53 attempted murders of former FARC fighters since 2016. [Associated Press]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Regional enemies Israel and Lebanon launched their first round of US and UN-mediated talks regarding their disputed sea border issue in a short meeting on Wednesday that was described by the Lebanese side as being “the first step on a thousand-mile journey”. [Reuters]
Israel’s West Bank Civil Administration on Wednesday announced that it has approved 1,313 settler homes in the occupied territory, eroding hopes for wider Arab-Israel peace deals and angering Palestinians. The move came less than a month after PM Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to suspend West Bank annexation plans as part of its Abraham Accords with the UAE and Bahrain. [DW]
Turkish Presidential Spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin said that Ankara is open to cooperating with Egypt if Cairo shows “a willingness to act with a positive agenda on regional issues”, particularly Palestine, Libya, and the Eastern Mediterranean. [Middle East Monitor]
North America
Officials from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) have warned of intensifying wildfire threat across the state, amid hot, dry conditions and heavy winds. [Reuters]
The US Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Trump administration to halt the 2020 census count a month earlier than planned, igniting concerns about inaccurate results and undercounting, especially of racial minorities. [CNN]
Judge Amy Coney Barrett faced questions on key issues on the third day of Senate hearings on Wednesday, as lawmakers pressed her on how her judicial philosophy in terms of originalism and textualism would guide her rulings. [CBS News]
Oceania
Hundreds of Russian and Ukrainian fisherman are flying into New Zealand to help the country's deep-sea fishing industry, which is heavily reliant on overseas workers but has been severely handicapped by coronavirus-induced travel restrictions. The government has been working to provide exceptions for jobs that cannot be filled by locals. [Stuff]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Tanzanian authorities are working to contain a fire at Africa’s highest peak, Mount Kilimanjaro. Pascal Shelutete, a spokesperson for Tanzania National Parks, did not reveal the extent of damage to vegetation or wildlife or the cause. However, there are rumours that it may have been due to a campfire lit by tourists. Hundreds of firefighters have been accompanied by over 500 volunteers in a bid to put the fire out. [Africa News; Sky News]
World News Monitor: 15 October, 2020
A quick look at events from around the globe.
October 15, 2020
Volunteers struggle to put out fires at Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania SOURCE: AL JAZEERA