Hong Kong police arrested (Straits Times) two opposition Legislative Council members amid a growing crackdown on dissent in the city. The lawmakers, Lam Cheuk-ting and Ted Hui, and fourteen others were detained for their suspected involvement in anti-government demonstrations last year.
 
The chair of Hong Kong’s Democratic party called the arrests (Guardian) “ridiculous” and a display of revenge against the lawmakers. Amnesty International accused the Hong Kong government of “weaponizing the law to persecute dissidents.” Hong Kong authorities have sought to stifle (NYT) dissent in recent months, including by implementing a new national security law imposed by Beijing and barring prodemocracy lawmakers from running for reelection.

China accused a U.S. spy plane of entering a no-fly zone while the Chinese military performed live-fire military exercises below. The U.S. military said the flight was in accordance with (SCMP) international rules.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at China’s modernizing military.

Flash floods in northern Afghanistan killed seventy people (TOLO) and injured more than one hundred others, according to a provincial health official. Monsoon rains also caused (Guardian) flooding and killed ninety in Pakistan.
 
India: The National Investigation Agency charged nineteen people (Reuters) for a 2019 bomb attack in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir that killed forty paramilitary officers and sparked skirmishes between India and Pakistan. Seven of the accused are Pakistani nationals.

UN Security Council President Dian Triansyah Djani dismissed the U.S. effort to reimpose sanctions on Iran that were lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, citing disagreements among members over the move. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft rebuked the move (Radio Farda).
 
Yemen: The Southern Transitional Council, a separatist group backed by the United Arab Emirates, announced its withdrawal (AP) from talks to implement a peace deal brokered by Saudi Arabia. Within hours, clashes resumed between separatist and Yemeni government forces.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at the crisis in Yemen.

Sudan’s transitional government lacks a mandate (Radio Dabanga) to normalize relations with Israel, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Khartoum. The two also discussed (WSJ) taking Sudan off the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, Hamdok said.
 
Republic of Congo: A notorious wildlife poacher was convicted (DW) of trafficking ivory and attempting to murder park rangers, conservationists said. The man’s thirty-year prison sentence is the longest-ever issued for poaching in the Republic of Congo.

Russia staved off (WSJ) calls for an investigation into the alleged poisoning of Russian dissident Alexey Navalny, emphasizing the need for more proof of foul play. The Kremlin also denied President Vladimir Putin’s involvement. France, Germany, and the United States support a probe.
 
Turkey/Greece: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said his government is “open to talks” (Al-Monitor) with Greece on their dispute over oil drilling in the Mediterranean Sea. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas met separately with Turkish and Greek officials to ease tensions.

Chileans began campaigning (MercoPress) today for an October 25 referendum to decide whether to revise the country’s constitution. Protesters demanded an update to the Pinochet dictatorship–era document last year, but others oppose changes.
 
This CFR In Brief explains Chile’s deadly 2019 protests.
 
Mexico: President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, known as AMLO, proposed a referendum (teleSUR) on prosecuting five former presidents accused of corruption. AMLO said he would prefer that citizens petition for the referendum, and legislators can as well, but did not rule out calling one himself.

Two people were shot dead and another injured during an outbreak of gunfire (NYT) this morning amid protests over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Demonstrators lobbed fireworks, rocks, and other items at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. The shooting of Blake on Sunday came just three months after the police killing of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests.
 
This CFR Backgrounder looks at policing around the world.