A family of seven people who lost their homes during the Labor Day fires in the state tests positive for COVID-19. (Fox13news) (CNN)
Alessandro Cardelli and Mirko Dolcini are sworn in Captains Regent of San Marino. Cardelli becomes the world's youngest head of state. (San Marino RTV)
Belgium's court of appeal recognizes the genealogical DNA test result of Delphine Boël as the daughter of King Albert II, thereby instating her to the title of Princess of Belgium with the predicate "Her Royal Highness". Having been recognized as the illegitimate daughter of Albert, Boël was given the honorific Jonkvrouw, the lowest rank within the Belgian titled nobility, prior to the decision. (AFP via The Straits Times)
British businessman and TV show host Zef Eisenberg is killed in a crash while attempting a new land speed record at RAF Elvington in Yorkshire, England. (CNN)
COVID-19 pandemic in Washington (state), 2020 Washington wildfires A family of seven people who lost their homes during the Labor Day fires in the state tests positive for COVID-19. (Fox13news) (CNN)
Eight people are killed and ten others are injured as a series of wildfires sweeps through part of eastern Ukraine. (Reuters)
Italy reports 2,548 new cases in the past 24 hours, partly due to higher swab tests that were conducted. It is the biggest daily jump of cases in five months and the first time the country has reported more than 2,000 cases since April. (Anadolu Agency)
The Tokyo Stock Exchange halts all trading for the day after it suffered one of the worst technical glitches in its history. It is undecided if it will reopen on Friday. The Nikkei 225 and TOPIX were also impacted, as they rely on the same system. (DW)
Turkey issues a statement dismissing the demands for a ceasefire from the United States, France, and Russia. (BBC News)
Belarus–European Union relations, European Union–Turkey relations, International reactions to the 2020 Belarusian presidential election and protests The European Council agrees on sanctions against Belarus. Opposition by Cyprus is lifted by also agreeing on a warning to Turkey. (Reuters) (The Washington Post)
Islam in France President Emmanuel Macron announces a crackdown on "Islamist separatism" in Muslim communities in France, saying a bill tackling Islamist separatism would be sent to parliament early next year. Among the measures, will include a ban on foreign imams, restrictions on home schooling, and the creation of an "Institute of Islamology" to tackle Islamic fundamentalism. (Reuters)
President Emmanuel Macron announces a crackdown on "Islamist separatism" in Muslim communities in France, saying a bill tackling Islamist separatism would be sent to parliament early next year. Among the measures, will include a ban on foreign imams, restrictions on home schooling, and the creation of an "Institute of Islamology" to tackle Islamic fundamentalism. (Reuters)
Cambodia–United States relations The Pentagon says it is "concerned" about reports that Cambodia has demolished a U.S.-funded facility at the Ream Naval Base, which could be linked to Chinese military and economic pressure on the country. The Center for Strategic and International Studies says the Cambodian government appears to have razed the building last month. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Spain COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid The perimeter confinement of Europe's worst hot spot, in Madrid, ordered by the Ministry of Health, begins for two weeks. President of the Community of Madrid Isabel Díaz Ayuso takes legal action against the resolution. (ABC Australia) (El País) COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia Slovenia reports 238 new cases, an all-time daily high. (RTVSLO)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid The perimeter confinement of Europe's worst hot spot, in Madrid, ordered by the Ministry of Health, begins for two weeks. President of the Community of Madrid Isabel Díaz Ayuso takes legal action against the resolution. (ABC Australia) (El País)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid The perimeter confinement of Europe's worst hot spot, in Madrid, ordered by the Ministry of Health, begins for two weeks. President of the Community of Madrid Isabel Díaz Ayuso takes legal action against the resolution. (ABC Australia) (El País)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C. White House COVID-19 outbreak President Donald Trump announces that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and are in quarantine. (BBC News) On the advice of his physician and "out of an abundance of caution", Trump is flown to the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. (BBC News) Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel tests positive for COVID-19, hours after President Trump revealed that he tested positive. (Detroit Free Press)
COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia Tunisia reports 1,308 new confirmed cases on Wednesday, the health ministry says. This is a new record high since the beginning of the pandemic, prompting the government to impose a nightly curfew in Sousse and Monastir governorates. (Reuters)
The European Council agrees on sanctions against Belarus. Opposition by Cyprus is lifted by also agreeing on a warning to Turkey. (Reuters) (The Washington Post)
The Pentagon says it is "concerned" about reports that Cambodia has demolished a U.S.-funded facility at the Ream Naval Base, which could be linked to Chinese military and economic pressure on the country. The Center for Strategic and International Studies says the Cambodian government appears to have razed the building last month. (Reuters)
The perimeter confinement of Europe's worst hot spot, in Madrid, ordered by the Ministry of Health, begins for two weeks. President of the Community of Madrid Isabel Díaz Ayuso takes legal action against the resolution. (ABC Australia) (El País)
Tunisia reports 1,308 new confirmed cases on Wednesday, the health ministry says. This is a new record high since the beginning of the pandemic, prompting the government to impose a nightly curfew in Sousse and Monastir governorates. (Reuters)
AstraZeneca announces that they would resume vaccine trials in Japan. (Japan Today)
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern finalise plans for a trans-Tasman "travel bubble". Australia will permit the entry of travellers from New Zealand into New South Wales and the Northern Territory if they have stayed in New Zealand for at least two weeks effective October 16. New Zealand, however, has not reciprocated any lifting of travel restrictions for Australian travellers. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, Australia–New Zealand relations Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern finalise plans for a trans-Tasman "travel bubble". Australia will permit the entry of travellers from New Zealand into New South Wales and the Northern Territory if they have stayed in New Zealand for at least two weeks effective October 16. New Zealand, however, has not reciprocated any lifting of travel restrictions for Australian travellers. (The Guardian)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reported 287 new cases on Friday, all of which were found in the country and not among travellers from overseas. It is the highest number of reported cases in the country since the beginning of the outbreak. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in Slovenia Slovenia reports 238 new cases, an all-time daily high. (RTVSLO)
COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca announces that they would resume vaccine trials in Japan. (Japan Today)
Discoveries of exoplanets Scientists reveal the image of Beta Pictoris c (β Pic c), an exoplanet that is located 63 light years away. (ScienceAlert)
Malaysia reported 287 new cases on Friday, all of which were found in the country and not among travellers from overseas. It is the highest number of reported cases in the country since the beginning of the outbreak. (Bloomberg)
Scientists reveal the image of Beta Pictoris c (β Pic c), an exoplanet that is located 63 light years away. (ScienceAlert)
Slovenia reports 238 new cases, an all-time daily high. (RTVSLO)
SpaceX announces that they aborted a launch of a GPS Block III satellite two seconds before taking off. (CNET)
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev criticizes international mediators calling for a ceasefire, saying the war won't end until Armenian forces withdraw from the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh. (Daily Sabah)
October 2020 Afghanistan attacks A car bombing near the district governor’s compound in Shinwar District, Nangarhar Province, kills at least 15 people and wounds another 30. Gunmen tried to enter the district governor’s compound but were killed by security forces. (TOLOnews)
War in Afghanistan October 2020 Afghanistan attacks A car bombing near the district governor’s compound in Shinwar District, Nangarhar Province, kills at least 15 people and wounds another 30. Gunmen tried to enter the district governor’s compound but were killed by security forces. (TOLOnews)
War in Darfur The transitional government of Sudan signs a peace deal with the main rebel groups fighting in the conflict. The Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, which had refused to engage in previous talks, joined this time. The U.S. Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan, Donald Booth, hails the deal as a "historic achievement". (Reuters)
2020 Green Party of Canada leadership election The former 2019 federal Green Party candidate for Toronto Centre and older sister of Canadian actress Ngozi Paul, Annamie Paul, is elected as the new leader of the federal Green Party. (CBC)
A car bombing near the district governor’s compound in Shinwar District, Nangarhar Province, kills at least 15 people and wounds another 30. Gunmen tried to enter the district governor’s compound but were killed by security forces. (TOLOnews)
Azerbaijan says its troops have captured Suqovuşan (Madaghis), Talış, Mehdili, Aşağı Maralyan, Şəybəy, Quycaq and Aşağı Əbdürrəhmanlı following clashes with Armenian and Artsakh forces. President Ilham Aliyev tweets "Madagiz is ours. Karabakh is Azerbaijan!". (APA)
White House COVID-19 outbreak U.S. Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin tests positive for COVID-19, joining U.S. Senators Thom Tillis from North Carolina and Mike Lee from Utah as high-profile politicians infected with COVID-19 who attended recent events with President Donald Trump. (CNN) Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also tests positive for COVID-19 and checks himself into the Morristown Medical Center. (Reuters) (Bloomberg.com)
2020 in archaeology Egypt unveils 59 coffins of priests and clerks from the 26th dynasty nearly 2,500 years ago. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil COVID-19 vaccination in Brazil São Paulo State governor João Doria asks health regulator Anvisa for approval to use COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac, a major step in what could be one of the first vaccination programs in the Americas. In late July, São Paulo was one of the first sites of Phase III clinical trials for Sinovac. Doria plans to begin inoculating the population of São Paulo by mid-December, which is one of the world’s most ambitious schedules. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in France France reports 16,972 new cases in the past 24 hours, setting a new record for the country since the beginning of the pandemic. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in India India surpasses 100,000 COVID-19 deaths, becoming the third country to reach that milestone behind the United States and Brazil. (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy Italy reports 2,844 new cases in the last 24 hours as swab tests conducted by the country remain steady at over 100,000. It is the highest number of reported cases since April, when the country was still in lockdown. (Anadolu Agency)
COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal Portugal reports 963 new daily cases, bringing the cumulative total to 78,247 confirmed cases and 1,995 deaths. Ever since the end of national lockdown in May, this has been the seventh time that the country has registered some record increases in new cases, with all other six records occurring during the month of September. (DGS)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Solomon Islands Solomon Islands records its first case, a student who arrived from the Philippines. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom reports 12,872 new cases, a record number of reported cases since the start of the pandemic; however, the Department of Health and Social Care says that there has been a delay in publishing a number of cases due to a technical glitch, which has now been resolved, meaning the total reported over the coming days will include some additional cases in the period between September 24 and October 1. (ITV)
COVID-19 vaccination in Brazil São Paulo State governor João Doria asks health regulator Anvisa for approval to use COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac, a major step in what could be one of the first vaccination programs in the Americas. In late July, São Paulo was one of the first sites of Phase III clinical trials for Sinovac. Doria plans to begin inoculating the population of São Paulo by mid-December, which is one of the world’s most ambitious schedules. (Reuters)
Egypt unveils 59 coffins of priests and clerks from the 26th dynasty nearly 2,500 years ago. (Reuters)
Flash flooding in Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia, causes hundreds of people to evacuate, with waters reaching as high as two meters. (Antara)
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie also tests positive for COVID-19 and checks himself into the Morristown Medical Center. (Reuters) (Bloomberg.com)
France reports 16,972 new cases in the past 24 hours, setting a new record for the country since the beginning of the pandemic. (Reuters)
French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah is temporarily released from prison in Tehran but with an electronic tag. Adelkhah had been detained since June 2019 and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in May 2020 for "conspiring against national security". (AFP via RFI)
Iran says ten shells have fallen inside Iranian territory as fighting rages between Armenia and Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh. More than 35 stray mortar shells have hit Iran since the recent fighting began, causing damage to housing units and the injury of a child. (Almasdar News)
Irreecha The Oromo people celebrate the Irreecha thanksgiving festival amid political tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Washington Post)
Italy reports 2,844 new cases in the last 24 hours as swab tests conducted by the country remain steady at over 100,000. It is the highest number of reported cases since April, when the country was still in lockdown. (Anadolu Agency)
Jordan's Prime Minister Omar Al-Razzaz resigns. King Abdullah asks him to stay on as a caretaker premier until the king appoints a successor. (US News & World Report)
List of foreign nationals detained in Iran French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah is temporarily released from prison in Tehran but with an electronic tag. Adelkhah had been detained since June 2019 and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment in May 2020 for "conspiring against national security". (AFP via RFI)
One person is killed and another missing after heavy floods affect the Piedmont region in Italy, while a firefighter is killed by a tree in Aosta Valley. Twenty-one other people go missing but are rescued alive. (Il Fatto Quotidiano)
Opposition politicians call for the resignation of Carabineros General Director Mario Rozas and announce an impeachment to the Ministry of Interior due to several incidents against protesters. Also, they announce they will reject the annual budget for Carabineros unless changes are implemented. (La Tercera)
Portugal reports 963 new daily cases, bringing the cumulative total to 78,247 confirmed cases and 1,995 deaths. Ever since the end of national lockdown in May, this has been the seventh time that the country has registered some record increases in new cases, with all other six records occurring during the month of September. (DGS)
São Paulo State governor João Doria asks health regulator Anvisa for approval to use COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac, a major step in what could be one of the first vaccination programs in the Americas. In late July, São Paulo was one of the first sites of Phase III clinical trials for Sinovac. Doria plans to begin inoculating the population of São Paulo by mid-December, which is one of the world’s most ambitious schedules. (Reuters)
Solomon Islands records its first case, a student who arrived from the Philippines. (The Straits Times)
The former 2019 federal Green Party candidate for Toronto Centre and older sister of Canadian actress Ngozi Paul, Annamie Paul, is elected as the new leader of the federal Green Party. (CBC)
The officer is under arrest and charged with attempted murder by the National Public Prosecutor. (La Tercera)
The Oromo people celebrate the Irreecha thanksgiving festival amid political tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Washington Post)
The United Kingdom reports 12,872 new cases, a record number of reported cases since the start of the pandemic; however, the Department of Health and Social Care says that there has been a delay in publishing a number of cases due to a technical glitch, which has now been resolved, meaning the total reported over the coming days will include some additional cases in the period between September 24 and October 1. (ITV)
October 2020 Kyrgyz parliamentary election Parliamentary elections are being held in Kyrgyzstan amidst an economic crisis. (Reuters)
Parliamentary elections are being held in Kyrgyzstan amidst an economic crisis. (Reuters)
The Artsakh capital Stepanakert is struck with MLRS missiles resulting in heavy casualties and leaving the city without power. Artsakh President Arayik Harutyunyan warns major cities in Azerbaijan are now "legitimate targets of the defence army" following the strikes on Stepanakert. (Eurasianet) (BBC News)
2020 New Caledonian independence referendum New Caledonians reject independence from France with 53.26% of votes, according to final results. Turnout is reportedly high. President Emmanuel Macron welcomes the result as a "sign of confidence in the republic". (BBC News)
An attack by an Islamic extremist kills one tourist and injures the other. The suspect was later arrested. (Reuters)
New Caledonians reject independence from France with 53.26% of votes, according to final results. Turnout is reportedly high. President Emmanuel Macron welcomes the result as a "sign of confidence in the republic". (BBC News)
