South Asia
Nepalese officials have confirmed the purchase of four million Sinopharm vaccines from China. The decision taken by the Nepalese Ministry of Health comes as the government has been facing immense pressure to ramp up the vaccine drive amid surging COVID-19 cases. [Kathmandu Post]
According to a report by NDTV, Twitter has lost its legal indemnity against cases over content posted by its users on its platform as it failed to comply with the newly-introduced intermediary rules. Consequently, a case has been filed in Uttar Pradesh against the tech giant over its failure to remove misleading content resulting in the death of an elderly Muslim man. [NDTV]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Lawyers for Uyghur groups have presented new evidence to the International Criminal Court (ICC) that shows that Tajikistan and Cambodia are helping China by deporting Uyghurs. The complaint filed in the ICC states that over the last 10-15 years, the number of Uyghurs living in Tajikistan has dropped from 3000 to 100. China has been accused by rights groups of detaining more than a million ethnic Uyghur Muslims in “re-education camps” in the Xinjiang Autonomous Region in western China. [RFE/RL]
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov held a phone conversation with Saudi King Salman bin-Abdulaziz al-Saud on Tuesday to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, economic, and investment cooperation. Japarov also noted that Kyrgyzstan is ready to develop “comprehensive cooperation” with Saudi Arabia. [24.kg]
East and Southeast Asia
Japan’s Lower House of Parliament failed to pass a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday. Opposition parties are angered over its refusal to extend the current parliamentary session, which ends today, by another three months. They argue that the extension is necessary to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic as Japan rushes to ramp up vaccinations ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, which begin on July 23. However, the majority held by Suga’s Liberal Democratic Party and other coalition partners meant the no-confidence motion was always unlikely to pass. [The Straits Times]
The prosecution in the trial against Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi introduced new sedition charges against the former leader, presenting arguments that she “incited public disorder and flouted COVID-19 restrictions,” in addition to a host of other charges that the junta has imposed to discredit her and consolidate its control. [CNA]
Europe
During their first bilateral meeting, Finland and South Korea are expected to discuss trade and commercial relations. South Korean Minister for Trade Yoo Myung -hee will host Finnish Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari. [Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]
Polish Deputy Minister Jabłoński participated in a video conference with EU development cooperation ministers on increasing cooperation between the EU and middle-income countries and "promoting human development" with regards to education and health care. Jabłoński said, “Poland’s unique experience of economic and political transition and integration with global markets should be used in strengthening the EU’s partnership with middle-income countries, especially those in the Eastern Partnership region and in the Western Balkans.” [Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland]
The United Kingdom extended its troop presence in a NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that this will help British forces to assist their partners in protecting peace in the region. [UK Government]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Former Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños, who was in power from 2002 to 2007, has died at the age of 93. Under his rule, Nicaragua sought to leverage free trade agreements (FTAs) to boost employment, and expand the tourism and agriculture industries. In fact, during his rule, Nicaragua signed an FTA with the United States. [Associated Press]
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that thousands of women and children in Haiti have been displaced over the last month due to rising gang violence, and that many of them now lack access to clean water and other basic necessities. UNICEF’s Haiti representative, Bruno Maes, said, “Since the beginning of this year, insecurity has been escalating. But the capital city is now facing an urban guerrilla, with thousands of children and women caught in the crossfire. The displaced families I’ve talked to have lost everything and urgently need clean water, food, personal hygiene items, mattresses, blankets and clothes.” [Al Jazeera]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Israel carried out a series of airstrikes in Gaza earlier today. This was in response to incendiary balloons launched from the enclave that caused at least ten fires in southern Israel on Wednesday. Israel’s attack on Gaza, which is the first after a ceasefire deal signed by Israel and Hamas to end last month’s hostilities, comes as far-right Israelis marched in Jerusalem shouting racist slogans against Palestinians. [Associated Press]
At least 15 people were killed and 20 wounded in a suicide bombing near a military camp in Mogadishu, Somalia on Tuesday. The al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. [Associated Press]
North America
United States Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin met with his counterparts from France, Germany, and the United Kingdom in Brussels on Tuesday. According to a statement released by the US Department of Defence, the quartet discussed the “importance of continued close cooperation to strengthen the NATO Alliance, complete an orderly withdrawal from Afghanistan, uphold a rules-based international order, and counter the malign influence of shared strategic competitors.” [US Department of Defence]
On Tuesday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with European Council President Charles Michel and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. During their meeting, they talked about post-pandemic economic recovery, climate action, trade ties, and international peace and security. Together, they expressed their shared commitment to “promoting shared values such as democracy, human rights, gender equality, and the rule of law.” They also announced a new strategic partnership on raw materials to protect global supply chains, and established a bilateral dialogue on health. [Prime Minister of Canada]
Oceania
French President Emmanuel Macron during a meeting with Australian PM Scott Morrison offered his support to Australia in its ongoing diplomatic China. “I would like to reiterate how committed France remains to defending the balance in the Indo-Pacific region and how much we consider the partnership we have with Australia to be at the heart of this Indo-Pacific strategy”, said Macron. [news.com.au]
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison concluded his Britain trip after meeting with the Queen at Windsor Castle. The discussions remain confidential; however, the free trade agreement and the growing relations between the two nations were likely discussed. [Herald Sun]
Sub-Saharan Africa
South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor is set to attend the Southern African Development Community (SADC)-European Union (EU) Ministerial Political Dialogue on Wednesday. According to a statement released by her ministry, the meeting will be used to discuss the pandemic, economic recovery, regional security, and trade and investment. [South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation]
The World Bank released a report on Tuesday that says that Nigeria’s economy contracted by 1.8% in 2020, the sharpest decline since 1983. It attributed this period of economic downturn to the COVID-19 pandemic, which it said has exacerbated “capital outflows, intensified risk aversion, low[ered] oil prices, and shrank foreign remittances.” The report recommends that Nigerian authorities must work to reduce the inflation rate by “increasing the transparency and predictability of exchange rate management policies,” reopening land borders for trade, removing trade barriers for imports, eliminating the petrol subsidy, and increasing the social safety net. [World Bank]
World News Monitor: 16 June, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
June 17, 2021
Former Nicaraguan President Enrique Bolaños SOURCE: FRANK FRANKLIN / AP