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COVID-19 pandemic: Disease; Virus; By location; Impact; Portal

Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (pictured) becomes Emir of Kuwait after the death of his half-brother, Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
In ice hockey, the Tampa Bay Lightning defeat the Dallas Stars to win the Stanley Cup.
Azerbaijani and Armenian armed forces clash in Nagorno-Karabakh, prompting the introduction of martial law in both countries and mobilization in Armenia.

October 4, 2020 (Sunday)

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International relations

The Presidents of Palau, Nauru, Kiribati, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands issue a statement threatening to leave the Pacific Islands Forum if their nominee is not chosen as Secretary-General. President of the Federated States of Micronesia David W. Panuelo says the issue is "non-negotiable". (RNZ)

Politics and elections

2020 New Caledonian independence referendum
- Citizens in New Caledonia head to the polls to vote on independence from France. Around 180,000 people are registered to vote. (RNZ)

October 3, 2020 (Saturday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

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)
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
War in Darfur
- The transitional government of Sudan signs a peace deal with the main rebel groups fighting the decades-long conflict. The group 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)

Arts and culture

2020 in archaeology
- Egypt unveils 59 coffins of priests and clerks from the 26th dynasty nearly 2,500 years ago. (Reuters)
Irreecha
- The Oromo people celebrate the Irreecha thanksgiving festival amid political tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic. (The Washington Post)

Disasters and accidents

One person is dead and another missing after heavy floods affect the Piedmont region in Italy, while a firefighter dies in Aosta Valley after being crushed by a tree. Twenty-one other people go missing but are later rescued alive. (Il Fatto Quotidiano)
Flash flooding in Cianjur, West Java, Indonesia, causes hundreds of people to evacuate, with waters reaching as high as two meters. (Antara)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - 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 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 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 pandemic in the United States
  - White House COVID-19 outbreak, COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C.
    - 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, COVID-19 vaccine
  - 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 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 the Solomon Islands
  - Solomon Islands records its first case, a student who arrived from the Philippines. (The Straits Times)

Law and crime

2019–2020 Chilean protests
- Protests spark in Santiago after footage of a police officer throwing a 16-year-old boy from a bridge over the Mapocho River is released. The incident occurred last Friday while Carabineros were repressing a protest near Plaza Baquedano in downtown Santiago. (The Guardian)
- Opposition politicians call for the resignation of 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)
- The officer is under arrest and charged with attempted murder by the National Public Prosecutor. (La Tercera)
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)

Politics and elections

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)
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)

October 2, 2020 (Friday)

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Armed conflicts and attacks

2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- Azerbaijani forces shell the Artsakh capital of Stepanakert, wounding ten civilians and partially destroying several buildings, including the Artsakh Rescue Service headquarters, according to Armenian officials. (Arab News) (Sputnik)

Business and economy

A consortium between Mohsin and Zuber Issa, owners of the British-based retailer Euro Garages, and the private equity firm TDR Capital acquire a majority stake in the supermarket chain Asda worth £6.8 billion (US$8.7 billion) from American retailer Walmart. Walmart will maintain a minority shareholding. (AFP via Mint)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- 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 the United States
  - White House COVID-19 outbreak, COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, D.C.
    - President Donald Trump announces that he and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for COVID-19 and are in quarantine. (BBC)
    - 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)
- 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 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)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - AstraZeneca announces that they would resume vaccine trials in Japan. (Japan Today)

International relations

Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- 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)
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)
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)
Russia–Venezuela relations, COVID-19 vaccine
- Venezuela Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announces that the country will receive shipments of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

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)

Science and technology

Discoveries of exoplanets
- Scientists reveal the image of Beta Pictoris c (β Pic c), an exoplanet that is located 63 light years away. (ScienceAlert)
SpaceX announces that they aborted a launch of a GPS Block III satellite two seconds before taking off. (CNET)

October 1, 2020 (Thursday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- Two French journalists working for the newspaper Le Monde are seriously injured by Azeri shelling, according to an Armenian government source. Two Armenian journalists are also injured in a separate incident. (Reuters) (Star Tribune)
- Former President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, expresses concern over the escalation of the situation. He also calls for Baku and Yerevan to launch negotiations. (News AM)
- Turkey issues a statement dismissing the demands for a ceasefire from the United States, France, and Russia. (BBC)
- The Armenian ambassador to the United States, Varuzhan Nersesyan, says, "Right now, what is necessary is an intervention of the highest levels, together with other mediators, Russia and France, to stop the violence." (Newsweek)

Business and economy

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)
The Supreme Court of Ireland rules that the bread used by American restaurant franchise Subway cannot be classified as bread, due to its high sugar content. The franchise henceforth will be required to pay a 13.5% value-added tax for their bread instead of being exempted as before. (BBC)

Disasters and accidents

2020 Beirut explosion
- The state-run National News Agency says that Lebanon's state prosecution has asked Interpol to detain two Russian citizens, the captain and owner of the MV Rhosus, a ship that carried thousands of tons of ammonium nitrate to Beirut in 2013. (Reuters via U.S. News)
Eight people are killed and ten others are injured as a series of wildfires sweeps through part of eastern Ukraine. (Reuters)
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)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - COVID-19 pandemic in the Community of Madrid
      - The Spanish government orders a partial lockdown in Madrid and surrounding areas badly affected by COVID-19 after a rise in cases. Under the new restrictions, residents will not be allowed to leave the area unless they have to make an essential journey. However, Madrid's regional government says that the lockdown is not legally valid. (BBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - 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 Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he would ask parliament to extend the country's state of emergency to the end of January 2021, as the government tries to avoid the surge in cases seen in other European countries. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
  - Malaysia reports 260 new cases, the second biggest daily spike since the pandemic began. The sharp increase in infections comes after a surge in travel to and from Sabah for the state elections. The national tally now stands at 11,484 cases with a total of 136 deaths. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - 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)
  - President Donald Trump confirms that top aide Hope Hicks has tested positive for coronavirus and says he and first lady Melania Trump will begin their "quarantine process" while waiting for their own test results. (CNN)

International relations

Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union
- After the United Kingdom ignored their demands made in early September to scrap the Internal Market Bill by the end of the month, the European Commission sends a letter to the government of the United Kingdom informing them of its intent to pursue international legal action over the bill, which the European Union claims violates international law by overriding article four of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. (AFP via Asia Times)

Law and crime

2017 Las Vegas shooting
- Amidst the third anniversary of the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department backtracks on an earlier decision and has included, in the official death toll, two women who died from gunshot wound complications over the past year, thereby increasing it from 58 to 60. (AP) (The Las-Vegas Review Journal)
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)

Science and technology

Life on Venus
- According to a study from researchers at the University of California, Riverside, Venus would be able to support life if Jupiter hadn't altered its orbit around the Sun nearly 4 billion years ago. (Phys.org) (CNN)

September 30, 2020 (Wednesday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
  - The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan reject proposals of peace talks citing each other's attempts at obstructing negotiations. (AP)
  - Sali Berisha, former President of Albania, calls for the international community to engage the conflict with greater seriousness. (Trend AZ)
  - United States presidential nominee Joe Biden calls on the Trump Administration to demand Turkey "stay out of the conflict". (New Europe)
  - The Moscow International Film Festival cancels the screening of Gate to Heaven, a film about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. (Meduza)
War in Afghanistan
- September 2020 Afghanistan attacks
  - A suicide bomber in a vehicle detonated explosives in Helmand Province at a police checkpoint, killing five security force members and four civilians passing the area. Four other people are wounded. (TOLO News)
  - Taliban insurgents kill a police officer and wound another two in Farang District, Baghlan Province. (TOLOnews)
  - At least three police officers are killed and another three injured when the Taliban attacks Kohistan District, Badakhshan Province. Four Taliban militants are also killed and five others injured in the attack. (TOLOnews)

Disasters and accidents

2020 California wildfires
- A fourth person is found dead in Northern California as a result of the Zogg Fire. (ABC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia
    - Slovakia reports 567 new cases in the past 24 hours, the largest single-day tally since the pandemic started in the country. (Reuters)
    - The government approves the declaration of the state of emergency due to rising cases in the country amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Prime Minister Igor Matovič states that the state of emergency will be imposed for 45 days starting tomorrow. It is the second time that the state of emergency has been imposed by the country. (TASR)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
    - The government declares a state of emergency and imposes tighter measures, including limiting gatherings and banning musicals and opera, in an attempt to combat a surge of the disease before it overwhelms the health system. The measures start on October 5 and will be in effect for 30 days. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
    - Belgium's death toll from COVID-19 surpass 10,000. (RTÉ)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Romania
    - Romania reports 2,158 new cases in the past 24 hours, a daily record since the beginning of the pandemic. (Romanian Journal)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - The number of recovered patients in Indonesia surges by 4,510 to reach 214,947. This is the largest single-day increase of recoveries since the beginning of the outbreak. (detikHealth)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Israel
    - Israel's Knesset passes a law that bans mass protesting during the country's lockdown in a move the opponents claim to criminalize demonstrations calling for Benjamin Netanyahu to resign as prime minister. It allows the government to restrict people from traveling more than 1 kilometer from their homes to demonstrate, and outdoor gatherings of more than 20 people are banned. (The Guardian)

Law and crime

2017 Las Vegas shooting
- A United States court approves an $800 million settlement for the victims and relatives of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. (AFP via The Times of India)
George Floyd protests, 2020 United States racial unrest
- George Floyd protests in Portland, Oregon
  - Alan Swinney, a member of the Proud Boys, is arrested by Portland Police for assault, unlawful use of weapon and tear gas, menacing and pointing a firearm at another individual during two incidents in August. (The Hill) (Reuters)
An Indian court acquits 32 people, including former Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani and former leader of the ruling BJP Uma Bharti, of their role in the demolition of the former Babri Masjid. (BBC)
A French court rejects the extradition appeal of Rwandan businessman Félicien Kabuga, believed to be the financier of the Rwandan genocide, clearing for him to be sent to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda for trial. (DW)
A court rules that the Japanese government and Tokyo Electric Power Company are responsible for the damages caused during a nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Furthermore, the operator of the plant is required to pay $9.5 million in damages to survivors. (ABC News)
German-Kurdish singer Hozan Canê is released from her Istanbul prison, after being arrested and convicted in 2018 for allegedly being a member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party. She is currently barred from leaving the country as her trial will continue on October 20. (DW)

Politics and elections

Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is sworn in as the new Emir of Kuwait. (Reuters)

Science and technology

A new species of truffle, Hysterangium bonobo, is discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Sci News)

September 29, 2020 (Tuesday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
  - The Armenian Defense Ministry says that an Armenian Su-25 fighter jet was shot down by a Turkish F-16 fighter jet, killing its pilot. Turkey says it is untrue. (BBC)
  - Five more Azerbaijani civilians are killed during Armenian fire in the country, bringing the death toll among Azeri civilians to 12. At least 35 others are wounded. (Reuters)
War in Afghanistan
- September 2020 Afghanistan attacks
  - A roadside bomb targeting a civilian bus kills at least 14 people, including five children, in Kajran district, Daykundi Province. Daykundi is considered one of the safest places in the country; this is the second attack in Daykundi this year. (TOLOnews)

Business and economy

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on airlines, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The United States Department of the Treasury reaches a deal with seven of the major U.S. airlines to allocate around $25 billion in loans from the $2.2 trillion budget approved under the CARES Act to assist in their financial recovery amid the pandemic. (AFP via Bangkok Post)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
    - The Netherlands reports 3,011 new cases in the past 24 hours, a daily record since the beginning of the pandemic, as the country imposes new measures to combat a second wave of infections, according to data published by the National Institute for Health (RIVM). (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - 7,143 new cases are reported in the United Kingdom in the last 24 hours, the highest single day of reported cases ever since the beginning of the outbreak. Meanwhile, 71 COVID-19-related deaths are reported at the same time, the highest level since July 1. (Sky News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
  - Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu tests positive for COVID-19. He is asymptomatic and quarantined at home. (The Hindu)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - Results from Phase I trials find that the vaccine candidate from Moderna works well with older adults. (USA Today)
- The worldwide death toll from COVID-19 exceeds one million. The United States remains the largest contributor, accounting for 21% of the total deaths. (BBC)
Animal welfare and rights in France
- French Minister of Ecology Barbara Pompili announces that mink farms and the use of wild animals in circuses will be phased out, and the breeding and importing of dolphins and killer whales at marine parks are banned effective immediately. (The Independent)

Law and crime

Hathras gang rape and murder
- A 19-year-old Dalit woman died in Delhi after she was allegedly gang raped in Uttar Pradesh by four upper-caste men, sparking outrage in India from opposition parties. The woman was admitted to a hospital in Delhi two weeks ago with several serious injuries. (CNN) (BBC)
Sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- The World Health Organization announces it will launch an investigation into the allegations regarding its officials committing acts of sexual exploitation and abuse while on mission to control the Kivu Ebola outbreak in the Équateur Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (AFP via Manila Bulletin)
A court in China sentences a woman to death for poisoning 25 kindergarten children with nitrite in their porridge, killing one. The court said the motives of the woman were "despicable" and "vicious". (CNN)

Politics and elections

Politics of Togo
- Victoire Tomegah Dogbé becomes the first female Prime Minister of Togo. (CNN)
Amnesty International says it has been forced to halt its Indian operations due to "reprisal" from the government. Amnesty said its bank accounts were frozen and it was forced to lay off staff, and suspend all its campaign and research work. (BBC)
Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Sabah dies at the age of 91. Crown Prince Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah is named his successor. (BBC) (Al Arabiya)

Science and technology

The United Arab Emirates announces the Emirates Lunar Mission to send a space exploration vehicle to the Moon in 2024. (The Hill), (Gulf Today)

September 28, 2020 (Monday)

edithistorywatch

Armed conflicts and attacks

Moro conflict
- During a shootout with soldiers in Sulu, Philippines, Abu Sayyaf militants kills an Indonesian fisherman who was abducted early this year. A militant of the group also died in the fight. (The Manila Times)
Iraqi insurgency
- 2020 Iraq attacks
  - A missile hits a house in Baghdad, close to the airport. The attack leaves at least five people dead, including three children; two children are injured. (National Iraqi News Agency)
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
- 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
  - Seventy-one more Artsakh servicemen are killed during the fight, bringing the death toll among the fighters to 87. Two more Azerbaijani civilians are also killed. A passenger bus in Armenia was hit by an Azerbaijani missile, but no casualties are reported. Authorities in Nagorno reports at least 400 Azerbaijani soldiers dead, but the country has not confirmed. (BBC)

Business and economy

Kioxia, the Japanese computer memory manufacturer spun off from Toshiba, postpones its initial public offering on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, citing the volatility of the semiconductor industry caused by both the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing trade war between China and the United States. Its initial public offering, which would have launched on October 6, was projected to be Japan's largest for this year. (The Japan Times) (Nikkei Asian Review)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in India
  - India surpasses six million cases of COVID-19, becoming the second country after the United States to reach that milestone. Meanwhile, 82.5% or more than five million people have recovered.(AP)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands
  - The government introduces new nationwide restrictions aimed at tackling the swift spread sweeping across the country, including disallowing fans in professional sports matches and ordering bars and restaurants to close at 22:00 (10:00 p.m.) CEST for the next three weeks. Prime Minister Mark Rutte also advises people to wear face masks when shopping in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague, the three cities with the highest rates of infections. (CTV News)

International relations

Foreign relations of the Dominican Republic
- The Dominican Republic's Foreign Ministry fires 781 people in various embassies. (Dominican Today)
Papua conflict, Foreign relations of Indonesia, Foreign relations of Vanuatu
- Indonesia accuses Vanuatu of having an "excessive and unhealthy obsession" about West Papua. The remark comes after Vanuatuan Prime Minister Bob Loughman warned the international community about "human rights violations and abuses" in the region. (RNZ)
Belarus–Russia relations, COVID-19 vaccine
- Russia announces that they have supplied their first batch of their Sputnik V vaccine to Belarus for clinical trails. (Reuters)

Law and crime

2017–18 Spanish constitutional crisis, Trial of Catalonia independence leaders
- The Spanish Supreme Court ratifies a year-and-a-half disqualification sentence to President of the Government of Catalonia Quim Torra. He must abandon the presidency after being accused of disobeying the Central Electoral Bureau. Vice president Pere Aragonès will succeed him ad interim effective September 29. (El Mundo) (Reuters) (BBC)
- Demonstrations take place throughout Catalonia, as well as protests in Barcelona. (El Confidencial) (La Vanguardia)
Corruption in Pakistan
- Leader of the Opposition Shehbaz Sharif is arrested amid a corruption scandal. (Al Jazeera)

Politics and elections

Three ministers resign from Bolivia's interim government. One of them, Economic Minister Oscar Ortiz, stated his resignation was in protest of President Jeanine Áñez's decision to sell shares in the state-run electricity company ELFEC close to the upcoming general election. (DW)

Science and technology

Water on Mars
- Scientists in a paper published to Nature Astronomy confirm the existence of four underground saltwater lakes spread out over 75,000 square kilometres (29,000 sq mi) near Mars' south pole. Depending on their salt content, these lakes could be potential holders of life. (Nature)
Discoveries of exoplanets
- CHEOPS announces the observation of WASP-189b, a ultra-Hot Jupiter exoplanet that orbits the star HD 133112 (also known as WASP-189) 322-light years away from the Libra constellation. (CNN)