South Asia
During a weekly press briefing, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India’s decision to abstain from the vote in the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza was in keeping with its long-standing position on the conflict. This came in response to a letter by Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki, wherein he criticised India’s decision to abstain from the vote. [Hindustan Times]
Indian Army Chief General MM Naravane said that the longevity of the current ceasefire agreement with Pakistan is contingent on Pakistan’s actions along the Line of Control. He further warned his troops to continue to remain vigilant and prepare for any prospective security challenge on the border. These comments came after the conclusion of his two-day visit to Kashmir. [Times of India]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Iran and Tajikistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase bilateral ties and strengthen security cooperation. The MoU includes cooperation between Iranian and Kazakh police forces in combating drug trafficking and organised crime, and the exchange of students and teachers. [Fars News]
Armenian President Armen Sarkissian met with his Kazakh counterpart Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Nur-Sultan on Thursday to discuss trade and diplomatic relations. Both leaders agreed to work together in the Eurasian Economic Union and enhance cooperation in regional and international bodies like the Commonwealth of Independent States and the United Nations. [Public Radio of Armenia]
East and Southeast Asia
Envoys from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) arrived in Myanmar on Thursday to hold talks with junta leader Min Aung Hlaing on the military coup that has resulted in the death of over 800 people since February. The envoys—Erywan Pehin Yusof, Brunei's second minister for foreign affairs, and ASEAN Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi—will meet Min Aung Hlaing on Friday morning. The junta’s information team also said that they would soon release more information on the meetings. [The Straits Times]
United States (US) President Joe Biden signed an order Thursday that amends a ban on American investment in Chinese companies, which began under the Trump administration. The order lists 59 firms with ties to China’s military and surveillance industry, including Huawei Technologies and the country’s three biggest telecommunications companies. The amendment clarifies that the measures will no longer extend to companies whose names closely match the listed companies and will only apply to subsidiary companies listed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. The ban will take effect on August 2 and investors will be given one year to divest. [Global Times]
Europe
A British High Court ruled that the United Kingdom’s government had violated the law by housing asylum seekers in “squalid” living conditions. The judge said that this caused “real and immediate risks to life and of ill-treatment.” [Al Jazeera]
The European Court of Justice dismissed Hungary’s procedural challenge to a vote by the European Union which was conducted three years ago and concluded that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s policies posed “a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded.” Hungary claimed that the Parliament had counted the votes for abstention incorrectly. [Reuters]
Latin America and the Caribbean
On Thursday, Argentina’s Senate passed bills submitted by the ruling government of President Alberto Fernández to postpone primary and mid-term elections, which are now respectively set to be held on September 12 and November 14. The bill, which was proposed due to an increase in COVID-19 cases, was passed by 55 Senators, with three votes against and two abstentions. [Merco Press]
Nicaraguan opposition figure Cristiana Chamorro has been placed under house arrest on money laundering charges. Chamorro is the daughter of former President Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, and is seen as a potential candidate against incumbent President Daniel Ortega in the November 7 election. However, a court has now granted a request to ban her from running in the election or holding any public office. [Associated Press]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Iran is set to lose its voting rights at the United Nations General Assembly after failing to pay over $16 million in dues. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Khatibzadeh blamed United States’ “arbitrary sanctions” for its inability to pay its contribution. [Middle East Eye, IRNA]
Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry announced plans to establish military bases near the Red Sea region. The announcement comes following several “worrying” developments in the region, including “various countries establishing […] more military bases than ever before”, a reference to Egypt and Sudan’s growing military presence in the Red Sea. [Middle East Monitor]
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met with his Libyan counterpart Abdul Hamid Dbeibah in Tripoli on Thursday to announce the re-opening of the Spanish embassy in Libya after seven years. Spain closed its diplomatic missions in Libya in 2014, following a rise in violence between Islamist militants and government forces. [Associated Press]
North America
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Israeli Defence Minister and Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz in Washington on Thursday. In fact, the pair met just a little over a week ago in Israel. During their latest meeting, they discussed humanitarian assistance to and the reconstruction of Gaza, support for Palestinians, and regional stability. [US Department of State]
The International Coordination and Response Group for the victims of Flight PS752 issued a statement on Thursday that says that Iran’s investigation into the downing of the flight last January violates international law. Canada, Sweden, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom said, “Our claim states that our respective countries, nationals and residents on board flight PS752 were seriously and irreversibly harmed by the tragedy and Iran must fulfil its legal responsibility to make full reparations to the group of states.” They also demanded “an acknowledgement of wrongdoing and a full accounting of events that led to the downing, a public apology, the return of missing and stolen belongings of the victims, assurances of non-repetition in the most concrete terms, transparency in the criminal prosecutions in accordance with the rule of law, and equitable compensation.” [Government of Canada]
Oceania
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that his administration is putting an additional $50 million towards the COVAX Advance Market Commitment (COVAX AMC), which brings its total commitment to COVAX AMC to $130 million. These efforts are further supported by the $623 million it has put towards COVID-19 vaccines for Pacific and Southeast Asian countries. [Prime Minister of Australia]
New Zealand’s government is reportedly in talks with Australia about resettling 150 refugees who are being held at Australia's offshore detention facilities. In fact, discussions on the matter have been ongoing for around eight years. [The Guardian]
Sub-Saharan Africa
A new report by Greenpeace has revealed how European aquaculture and animal feed industries are creating food insecurity in West Africa. The report says that European companies extract around half a million tonnes of small pelagic fish that are then used for aquafarming, agriculture, dietary supplements, cosmetics, and pet food products back in Europe. Greenpeace estimates that these fish could feed around 33 million people. Dr Ibrahimé Cissé, a Senior Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, says, “The fishmeal and fish oil industry, as well as all governments and companies supporting them, are basically robbing local populations of livelihoods and food. This goes against international commitments on sustainable development, poverty alleviation, food security, and gender equality.” [Greenpeace]
Life in the city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is returning to normal, after a recent volcanic eruption from Mount Nyiragongo, which killed 32 people, threatened to spill over into the city. The eruption forced around 400,000 people to evacuate Goma, and was followed by dozens of earthquakes. Many of those who left have now returned, however. [The East African]
World News Monitor: 4 June, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
June 4, 2021
Nicaraguan opposition figure Cristiana Chamorro SOURCE: CNN