South Asia
Twenty-four were killed during an explosion triggered by a pipeline leakage in a mosque in Bangladesh. Authorities are yet to comment on the cause of the accident. [Aljazeera]
Seven Dutch companies signed Memorandums of Understanding with the Andhra Pradesh state government to assist farmers in the food processing sector. The meeting was attended by the representatives of the Dutch companies and Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy. [Times of India]
During Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s meeting with his Iranian counterpart General Amir Hatami, the two leaders discussed plans to strengthen bilateral cooperation on “regional security issues.” They also spoke about the need to secure “peace and stability” in Afghanistan. [The Hindu]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
A Tajik lawyer from the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) was reportedly questioned by security officers after he announced his bid for President. [Asia- PLUS]
Three rapporteurs from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) shared their concerns over a sentence handed to Azerbaijani opposition leader Tofiq Yaqublu on “hooliganism” charges, urging authorities to review the case. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
A US surveillance aircraft is said to have flown over from Seoul to gather intelligence on North Korea, ahead of the North’s founding day. [The Korea Herald]
North Korean dictator Kim Jong- Un visited the typhoon-hit areas in South Hamgyong Province. During the visit, the supreme leader fired a top official whom he blamed for not “coping” with the typhoon. [Korea JoongAng Daily]
Citing security reasons Myanmar’s military suggested the Union Election Commission refrain from holding general elections, in November, in the Wa self-administered zone and Rakhine State. [Mizzima]
Europe
Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was appointed as the United Kingdom’s trade adviser. He was previously criticised by several members of the opposition for his conservative stands on homosexuality, environmental issues, and gender rights. [Reuters]
In an interview with the Mail on Sunday, the United Kingdom’s chief negotiator for Brexit talks, David Frost, said that the UK was not “scared” of a no-deal Brexit and that it was prepared to exit the European Union as scheduled,“come what may”. Michel Barnier, the EU’s negotiator, has previously criticised the UK for their lack of flexibility during the Brexit negotiations. [BBC]
According to a new study published by The Lancet on Friday, the Russian COVID- 19 vaccines, called Sputnik V, showed all of its 76 participants developing antibodies with no serious side effects in the early-stage trials. The journal, however, claimed that larger and longer-term trials would be required to determine the efficacy of the drug. [Scroll]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro described NGOs who criticize his environmental policy and accuse him of “setting fire to the Amazon” as a “cancer”. Fires in the rainforest are higher than at the same time last year despite Bolsonaro issuing a temporary ban on the practice. [MercoPress]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
More than 200 COVID-19 cases have been recorded amongst United Nations staff members in Syria. Several workers have been hospitalised and medically evacuated. [Reuters]
Over a phone call, Saudi Arabia’s King Salman told US President Donald Trump that he was intent on a ‘fair and permanent’ resolution to the Palestinian issue as per the Arab Peace Initiative. [Jerusalem Post]
On Sunday, two weeks after Libya’s warring administrations announced a ceasefire, their delegates met in Morocco for peace talks. [Al Jazeera]
North America
US President Donald Trump on Friday refused to condemn Russia over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny saying that, though the case was “tragic”, there was “ no proof”. Instead, Trump directed the focus on China, whom he said was a “bigger threat to the world”. [BBC]
Oceania
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison criticized Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews’ announcement that lockdown restrictions could be extended for months. He said that he will reconsider offering further financial assistance to the state. [The Australian]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Four days after independent newspaper Canal de Moçambique published an article on “unethical procurement” by senior government officials and government allies, its office was petrol-bombed. [Inter Press Service]
The National Commission for Human Rights reported that armed forces in Niger killed at least 71 civilians during a counterinsurgency mission against terrorists earlier this year after finding six massive unmarked graves. A further 102 civilians were reported as missing between March 27 and April 2. [Africa News]
World News Monitor: 7 September, 2020
A quick look at events from around the globe.
September 7, 2020
SOURCE: RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS AND INFORMATION SERVICE