Belarus’s government has threatened to use lethal weapons (RFE/RL) on protesters demonstrating against President Alexander Lukashenko, while the European Union agreed to sanction the embattled leader.

​The use of lethal weapons would be a major escalation in the government’s already harsh crackdown (AP) on the protests, which began in early August following a presidential election that Lukashenko is accused of rigging. Authorities said they had detained more than seven hundred people in connection to protests over the weekend and have used water cannons and stun grenades to break up demonstrations. Yesterday, EU foreign ministers agreed to impose sanctions on Lukashenko (NYT), who had been left off an earlier list of Belarusian officials subject to an asset freeze and travel ban.

Chinese ships that entered waters near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands over the weekend have remained there for a record length of time (Kyodo), Japan’s coast guard said. Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said Japan had repeatedly warned the ships to leave and had lodged a protest with China.

​This CFR timeline explores China’s maritime disputes.

Malaysia: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he presented evidence to the king (Straits Times) proving his claim to a majority in Parliament and that the ruler would decide whether he has enough support to form a government in the coming days. Anwar has called on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to resign.

Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov declared a state of emergency (RFE/RL) for one week in response to unrest that has gripped the country after the annulment of parliamentary election results. Human Rights Watch called for citizens’ rights to be safeguarded.

​Bangladesh: The country will institute the death penalty (Guardian) for rape convictions following several high-profile sexual assault cases that sparked national outrage.

The Israeli government approved plans to airlift two thousand Ethiopians (NYT) of Jewish descent to Israel, angering activists who said that roughly eight thousand should be resettled. Israel allows Jews around the world to immigrate but does not extend that right to the descendants of Ethiopian Jews, many of whom were forced to convert to Christianity. 

​Syria: President Bashar al-Assad made a rare appearance (AP) in the coastal province of Latakia to survey damage caused by wildfires last week, according to state media. Assad has made few public appearances since Syria’s civil war began nearly a decade ago.

Liberian President George Weah announced that he had enlisted U.S. experts to help investigate government officials’ deaths (AFP) that have sparked rumors of an assasination plot. Three tax officials and a senior government auditor have been found dead this month.

​Guinea: A leading opposition group said more than ninety people have been killed (AFP) in a crackdown on protests against President Alpha Conde’s move to seek a third term in the country’s presidential elections this weekend.

A Turkish ship set sail to conduct seismic surveys in the Eastern Mediterranean, escalating its dispute with Greece (Reuters) over exploration rights in the waters. The Greek government called for the EU to impose sanctions on Turkey.

Thousands of people protested in major cities (MercoPress) across Argentina against the government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic and other issues. Opposition leaders joined the protests (Buenos Aires Times).

​Mexico: The foreign ministry said it identified two women who possibly had surgery performed without their consent (Reuters) at a U.S. immigration detention center in Georgia. One woman reportedly underwent gynecological surgery without her approval or proper postoperative care.

Johnson & Johnson announced that it paused a large clinical trial (NYT) of a coronavirus vaccine because one of its volunteers had developed an “unexplained illness.” Trials often resume if an investigation finds no serious issue.

​This CFR Backgrounder looks at the global efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine.

China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia are set to be elected to the UN Human Rights Council (Guardian) today, angering rights groups who argue that those countries commit human rights abuses. Cuba and Pakistan are also expected to be elected. The United States withdrew from the council two years ago.