Portal:Current events/2020 August 29

August 29, 2020 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Moro conflict
- A soldier is killed and seven others injured after clashing with Abu Sayyaf militants in Patikul, Sulu, Philippines. Two militants also die in the fight. (Manila Bulletin)

Disasters and accidents

European migrant crisis
- The Italian coast guard responds to a distressed rescue ship funded by English street artist Banksy, which overcrowded and stalled off the coast of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean Sea after it attempted to rescue more than 200 migrants. At least one migrant had died by the time the coast guard arrived. (AFP via Macau Business)

Collapse of Juxian Restaurant
- A restaurant building in Linfen, Shanxi, China, collapses, killing at least 29 people. (U.S. News & World Report)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India will reopen underground train networks and allow sports and religious events in a limited manner from September as part of the government's efforts to revive the economy, even as COVID-19 infections soar in the country. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - Indonesia reports 3,308 new cases in the last 24 hours, which is a new record high for the third consecutive day since the pandemic began in the country. (detikHealth)
    - Bogor imposes a nightly curfew and community social restrictions aimed for the residents to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Under those rules, restaurants, malls and cafés will restrict the operation until 6:00 p.m local time and any residents will stay at home at 9:00 p.m. local time. These restrictions are enforced until September 11. (iNews)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar
    - Myanmar's foreign ministry announces the extension of temporary entry restrictions to all visitors, including the suspension of all visas, until September 30. (Xinhua)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
  - Istanbul reimposes a ban on indoor ceremonies, with the exception of weddings, in the wake of some rising infections. (Daily Sabah)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
  - Samoa extends the state of emergency until September 27. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi says he fears the practice of congregating in large numbers would likely see the virus entering the (at this time) COVID-19-free country. (RNZ)

International relations

Israel–United Arab Emirates peace agreement, Israel–United Arab Emirates relations
- Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates issues a decree abolishing a law that mandated an economic boycott on Israel following the approval of the historic peace deal between the two countries. On the Israeli side, the first El Al commercial flight from Israel to the UAE is expected on Monday. (Al Arabiya English)
Azerbaijan–Russia relations
- A senior advisor to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev accuses Russia of arming Armenia since the start of the recent border clashes. (Reuters)
Czech Republic–Taiwan relations, China–Czech Republic relations, One-China policy
- Czech Senate President Miloš Vystrčil travels to Taiwan on an official visit to promote business links between the two countries, despite the Czech Republic maintaining unofficial relations with Taiwan as it recognizes the One-China policy of the People's Republic of China (PRC). In response to the visit, the PRC's foreign ministry warns the Czech government of "possible consequences" for Czech companies with operations in mainland China. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Protests over responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- Police in Berlin disperse around 18,000 anti-lockdown protesters massed in the Brandenburg Gate, despite a ruling from the city's administrative court the previous day that overturned the government's ban on public demonstrations. Police claim "most" of the protesters failed to observe "the minimum" social distancing measures implemented in the city. (AFP via Bangkok Post)
George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon, killings of Aaron Danielson and Michael Reinoehl
- A person is shot and killed, and several others arrested, amidst a violent confrontation between Black Lives Matter protesters and a large caravan of supporters of President Donald Trump in Portland, Oregon. The shooting victim is later identified as a member of the far-right Patriot Prayer. (AP)
George Floyd protests in Canada
- Black Lives Matter protesters topple the historic 125-year-old Macdonald Monument of Sir John A. Macdonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada, in downtown Montreal. The incident draws condemnation from political leaders, including Quebec Premier François Legault. (Al Jazeera)
Sweden bans far-right Danish leader Rasmus Paludan from entering the country for two years in response to last night's unrest in the city of Malmö, in which hundreds of Muslim youths clashed with police following the burning of a Quran. Malmö police say his behaviour posed "a threat to the fundamental interests of society". (Euronews)

Politics and elections

2020 Belarusian protests, Censorship in Belarus
- The Belarusian Association of Journalists revokes the accreditation of several foreign journalists covering the anti-government protests, resulting in the detention or deportation of some of those journalists. (AP via East Bay Times)
MV Wakashio oil spill
- Protests erupt in Port Louis, Mauritius, over the government's handling of the disaster and after dozens of dolphins are found dead on the beaches. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth blames bad weather for the slow response to the disaster as task teams from France and the United Nations arrive. (AP)
2020 Liberal Democratic Party (Japan) leadership election
- The Liberal Democratic Party in Japan is set to pick the next Prime Minister around September 15 after the sudden resignation of current Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Former defense minister Shigeru Ishiba and former foreign minister Fumio Kishida announce they intend to run but Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and defense minister Taro Kono are considered the potential candidates. Environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi is also a candidate but deemed "too young" by party's veterans. (Reuters)

Sports

The Indonesian Youth and Sports Ministry and the National Sports Committee of Indonesia officially recognize esports as a sport, following a week-long virtual conference held by the latter. This would allow esports to be included in official national multi-sport competitions along with traditional sports. (The Jakarta Post)