U.S. President Donald J. Trump, age seventy-four, and First Lady Melania Trump tested positive for the coronavirus (WaPo) and are quarantined. Their diagnoses sparked concerns about disruptions to government business, including talks about a new coronavirus stimulus package, and uncertainty about the final month of campaigning before the presidential election on November 3. 
 
World leaders, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Russian President Vladimir Putin, wished the president a quick recovery (AP). During this week’s presidential debate, former Vice President Joe Biden faulted the president (WaPo) for downplaying the virus, which has killed more than two hundred thousand Americans, and for questioning the importance of wearing masks. Trump defended his administration’s response. Trump is older and at higher risk (NYT) of becoming seriously ill than Johnson and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who both had COVID-19 and fully recovered. Vice President Mike Pence, who has tested negative, would temporarily take over the president’s duties (Reuters) if Trump becomes incapacitated while receiving treatment.

Hong Kong police arrested at least eighty-six people (AP) for unauthorized assembly yesterday, China’s National Day. Police warned that the demonstrators were violating a national security law passed earlier this year and largely quashed the protests.
 
This CFR Backgrounder examines democracy in Hong Kong.
 
Malaysia: One of the country’s biggest palm oil producers, FGV Holdings Berhad, vowed to improve conditions for workers (SCMP) after the United States issued a ban Wednesday on imports from the company over forced labor concerns. Malaysia’s government promised unspecified action against the company.

Police arrested two opposition lawmakers who were on their way to visit the family (Indian Express) of a nineteen-year-old woman who was allegedly gang-raped and killed. Authorities imposed emergency laws (Al Jazeera) in the Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh, where protests erupted over her death.
 
Kashmir: India’s army accused Pakistan of firing across the countries’ disputed border in Kashmir, killing three Indian soldiers (Times of India). Pakistan has recently accused India of violating a cease-fire (Al Jazeera).

Israel and Lebanon will hold direct negotiations (Jerusalem Post) for the first time in three decades in an effort to resolve their maritime border dispute. The countries have no official diplomatic ties. The United States will mediate the talks, which begin the week of October 12.
 
Iraq: Demonstrators yesterday marked one year (Al-Monitor) since an economic downturn and government corruption sparked mass protests across Iraq. They commemorated the more than six hundred people who were killed during last year’s protests.
 
CFR’s Max Boot explains Iraq’s deadly 2019 protests.

Police in the Oromia region arrested more than five hundred people, accusing them of planning to cause violence (Reuters) during a festival to be celebrated by the Oromo ethnic group this weekend. Thousands of people have been arrested since protests erupted over a popular Oromo musician’s killing in June.
 
Sudan: On Saturday, the government and rebel groups will sign a peace deal (AFP), which they agreed to in August, in hopes of ending decades of war.

After weeks of deadlock, the European Union agreed to sanction around forty Belarusian officials (DW) over the country’s disputed election and subsequent crackdown on protests. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was not included on the sanctions list.
 
Greece/Turkey: The countries established a military hotline (BBC) in an attempt to reduce the risk of clashes in the Eastern Mediterranean, where tensions between them have risen in recent months.
 
CFR’s Henri J. Barkey explains Greece and Turkey’s conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean.

About two thousand Hondurans crossed their country’s border (AP) with Guatemala without registering as migrants. Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei said they will be sent back to Honduras. It is the largest group of migrants bound for the United States (Guardian) since the coronavirus hit Central America in March.
 
Mexico: The country’s Supreme Court approved President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s proposal to hold a national referendum (LAHT) on whether five former presidents should be investigated for corruption.