South Asia
Tensions rose in Nepal as a faction of the Nepal Communist Party called for a nationwide strike against Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, resulting in the arrest of over 150 demonstrators. The demonstrators called for a complete shutdown of businesses and educational institutions to protest against Oli’s decision to dissolve the country’s Parliament. [Reuters, Times of India]
50 Bangladeshi activists who have previously spoken against the country’s incumbent government have been sentenced to 10 years in prison over their alleged involvement in an attack on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Amongst those jailed are ex-Members of Parliament from the Bangladesh Nationalist party, which was in power at the time of the attack. [Al Jazeera]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Famous activist Maks Boqaev held a rally in Kazakhstan's western city of Atyrau on Thursday, only hours after his release from prison, to demand a new constitution for the country. Boqaev was taken in as a political prisoner and was charged with extremism. He was recently released from jail after serving a five-year term following several calls by the United States, European Union, and the United Nations urging Kazakhastan to release him. [RFE/RL]
The Swiss government has allocated CHF 2.5 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to aid “vulnerable people severely affected by the socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Kyrgyzstan”. The funds are earmarked for skills training and creating community assets in the Central Asian nation. [AKI Press]
East and Southeast Asia
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo will host Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin during his official visit to Jakarta today. The meeting, which was delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be Muhyiddin’s first foreign visit since taking office in March 2020. The visit honors the longstanding tradition for new leaders of both countries to first visit each other after assuming office. [The Jakarta Post]
Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year by a group of US lawmakers for peacefully advocating for democracy and human rights. The same lawmakers have also sponsored and co-sponsored anti-China bills in the past. [ANI News]
Europe
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday sanctioned and banned three domestic television channels linked to the Kremlin, alleging that they posed a national security risk by spreading Russian disinformation and propaganda. The channels in question are all owned by Ukrainian MP Taras Kozak, but are believed to be controlled by Viktor Medvedchuk, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest ally in Ukraine. [Atlantic Council]
Danish Energy Minister Dan Jorgensen approved a plan for building an artificial energy island in the North Sea. Once completed, this will produce enough green energy to satiate the needs of 3 million European households. [Al Jazeera]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Following his trip to Brazil, where he met with President Jair Bolsonaro, Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou said that the pair agreed to work towards “making Mercosur more flexible” and schedule a meeting with the leaders of Argentina and Paraguay in March. [Merco Press]
Taiwan has built a trade office in Guyana, in what represents a small victory for the country, given that a number of countries across the region have in the recent past established closer ties with China, who considers Taiwan to be a part of China. Taiwan’s move immediately incited a reaction from China’s foreign ministry, with spokesperson Wang Wenbin saying, “We admonish the DPP authority that any attempt to seek support of foreign forces to engage in secessionist activities around the world will never succeed.” [Associated Press]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
A Belgian court has sentenced an Iranian diplomat to 20 years in prison for allegedly planning a bomb attack, representing the first trial of an Iranian official in the European Union (EU). The prosecution argued that Assadolah Assaidi “does not have immunity for criminal acts”, after he was found guilty for attempting to bomb a rally of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) in France in June 2018. [Middle East Online]
The leader of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) in Yemen, Aidrous Al-Zubaidi, told Russia Today that the STC is prepared to establish an Israeli embassy in Aden and normalize ties with the Jewish state, following in the footsteps of the UAE. [The New Arab]
North America
Former US President Donald Trump has refused to testify at his upcoming Senate impeachment trial, which House impeachment managers argued was necessary after he disputed the chamber’s allegations that he incited the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6. The Democrats will now have to decide whether they want to try to compel Trump’s testimony with a subpoena. [CNN]
The US House of Representatives on Thursday stripped Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of two high-profile committee assignments over her incendiary remarks including support for conspiracy theories and violence against Democrats. The Democratic-controlled chamber passed the motion by 230-199. [Reuters]
Canada on Wednesday formally declared the Proud Boys a terrorist group, in a move that could see its members’ assets seized and which will allow local authorities to treat any crimes committed by them as terrorist activity. [The New York Times]
Oceania
The Fijian government deported Australian university professor Pal Ahluwalia, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific. They declared him a “prohibited immigrant” for violating the Immigration Act. At this time, no details have been provided about what offences Ahluwalia committed. [ABC News]
Australia has set aside $800 million to enhance the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) amphibious capabilities with new vessels, which Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said “will be larger, faster, and better protected to support ADF operations” and “allow Defence to quickly and effectively deploy both domestically and to our near region, as well as remain engaged with regional security partners and support humanitarian assistance to our neighbours in the Indo-Pacific.” [Australian Department of Defence]
Sub-Saharan Africa
The African Development Bank has collaborated with the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation to implement a $14 million plan to boost agricultural productivity and exports in South Sudan. It is estimated that this plan will provide jobs to and increase the incomes of 20,000 farming families in the country. [African Eye Report]
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Félix Tshisekedi concluded a two-day visit to Egypt, where he met with Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. During his trip, the two parties finalised the terms of the Senegal-led Kitoko project to create a “smart city” in the DRC. [The Africa Report]
World News Monitor: 05 February, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
February 5, 2021
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS