South Asia
After Pakistan claimed that the Munir Akram, its Permanent Representative to the United Nations, had addressed the Security Council during the discussion over the Report of the Secretary-General on Threats to International Peace and Security posed by Terrorism Actions, India wrote to the UNSC to put on record that this claim was false as the meeting was not open to non-members of the UNSC. Further, India also gave a “point-by-point” reply to the arguments that Pakistan claimed to have made at the meeting. [Times of India]
Over 70 people were killed and hundreds of homes were destroyed due to floods in Kabul on Wednesday. The spokesperson for Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani said that authorities were working towards providing emergency relief to those affected. [Tribune India]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon—the longest-serving premier of the country, having ruled since 1992—has been nominated yet again to run for the country’s upcoming 11 October election, putting to rest rumours that he would be bowing out of the vote to pave the way for his son, Mayor of Dushanbe Rustam Emomali, to run for the presidency. [Eurasianet]
East and Southeast Asia
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met the head of the US Space Force, Gen. John Raymond, today. The allies agreed to enhance bilateral defence cooperation in outer space, where regional rivals China and Russia are building up their capabilities. [The Manichi]
The US government issued a cyber alert warning of North Korean hackers targeting banks in other countries. The federal authorities said that “North Korean government cyber actors” were using malware to gain illicit access to “banks in multiple countries” to initiate fraudulent money transfers. [Reuters]
Fourteen people died in a suicide bombing attack on Jolo Island, southern Philippines earlier this week. Two female suicide attackers carried out the double bombing, injuring 75, including security forces, government officials and civilians. Officials claim the militants worked for Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf group. [CNA]
Europe
Phil Hogan, the UK’s Trade Commission for the European Union, resigned from his post over growing criticism surrounding the Golfgate scandal. The controversy emerged after over 80 individuals attended an event in Galway, Ireland on August 19. Allegedly, Hogan was an attendee, thus violating COVID-19 restrictions. [Euronews]
The Belarusian Supreme Court has rejected an appeal lodged by opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya to annul the results of the disputed August 9 vote. Mass protests have continued across the country, as authorities have sought to ramp up the pressure on the opposition by detaining several activists and summoning others for questioning. [Al Jazeera]
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday called for an investigation into Russian opposition leader and Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny’s illness, arguing that the medical reports of a toxic substance in his body were credible. [Reuters]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Venezuela’s Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Jorge Valero, said that United States is the “biggest violator of human rights in the world”, criticizing its decision to withdraw from the WHO and its ongoing dispute with China. He said that American unilateralism paves the way for a Third World War. [Telesur]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Iran has agreed to allow the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), access to inspect two suspected nuclear sites in the country. The agreement was reached during a special visit of IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi to the country, as Tehran was previously refusing to comply with the body’s requests. [CGTN]
Israel’s Chargé d’Affaires in Turkey, Roey Gilad, has alleged that his country has “proof” that Turkey has provided passports and ID cards to Hamas members. Hamas, a fundamentalist Islamic outfit that operates out of Gaza, is recognized as a terrorist organization by the United States, Israel, European Union, and Canada, among others. [The Jerusalem Post]
In his meeting with United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed support for a lasting ceasefire and de-escalation in the Libyan conflict as well as the importance of Gulf unity in countering Iran’s regional influence. [Reuters]
North America
US officials have said that they have found no evidence of any foreign country trying to undermine mail-in voting ahead of the November presidential election. Although intelligence and law enforcement officials are looking into disinformation campaigns employed by US adversaries to interfere in US politics, authorities stated that these efforts do not appear to target mail-in balloting, which is expected to surge this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic. [Reuters]
US President Donald Trump has called for himself and his Democratic opponent Joe Biden to be tested for drug use before their first debate next month, arguing that he had noticed a sudden improvement in Biden’s debate performance during the Democratic primaries. [Washington Examiner]
Oceania
Australian PM Scott Morrison's administration is set to introduce legislation asking parliament to allow the government to withdraw from agreements with foreign states. Of the 42 agreements in question, 27 are related to China, with a particular focus on Victoria's involvement in the East Asian giant's Belt and Road Initiative. [Sky News]
Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 people in an attack on a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand last year, was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called on Australia to take Tarrant into its criminal justice system so as to let the wounds of New Zealanders heal. [CNN]
Sub-Saharan Africa
The Ivory Coast government has barred ex-President Laurent Gbagbo from contesting for the presidency in the upcoming elections due to a criminal conviction from 2019. The incumbent President Alassane Ouattara, on the other hand, will run for a third consecutive five-year term, despite earlier promising to honour term limits. [Africa Feeds]
World News Monitor: 27 August, 2020
A quick look at events from around the globe.
August 27, 2020
Emomali Rahmon is Tajikistan’s longest-serving leader and has been in power since 1992. SOURCE: WIKIWAND