South Asia
The Pakistani envoy to Sri Lanka raised concern over the government’s decision to impose a burqa ban, saying that the decision would “injure” Muslims in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan government justified the new law by citing concerns over the threat to “national security” posed by “Islamic extremism”. [The Hindu]
Addressing the United Nations Human Rights Council, the first secretary of India’s permanent mission to the United Nations, Pawan Badhe, called upon the Council to stand against Pakistan’s “fallacious and malicious” use of the forum against India. Further, he urged the members to call Pakistan out for its role in violating the human rights of minorities in the country. [Times of India]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov on Monday praised his controversial constitutional reforms, arguing that they were what the country needed to “establish order.” Critics have warned that the changes could create an authoritarian ruler if they are approved in a referendum next month. However, Japarov said that Kyrgyzstan had experimented with a parliamentary system over the past decade and a mixed parliamentary-presidential system before that, and thus argued that it was now time for one strong branch of power in the nation to take it forward. [RFE/RL]
Armenian opposition lawmakers on Monday called for an end to martial law in the country, which was declared following the outbreak of fighting in the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2020. During a session of the parliament’s defence committee, leaders argued that the government was using the measure for its own benefits in the face of growing demands for PM Pashinian’s resignation. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
US Secretaries of State and Defence Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin have reached Tokyo for high-level meetings with their counterparts. The leaders will also visit Seoul during this trip, which is the first official foreign trip for both officials. Issues on the agenda are expected to include those related to freedom of navigation in the South and East China Seas, North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles programs, as well as the unfolding situation in Myanmar. [Reuters]
Europe
The US State Department on Monday said that US Special Envoy for Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad will attend a meeting in Moscow on Thursday on accelerating the Afghan peace process. According to the Russian foreign ministry, the summit—which will include delegations from Russia, China, US, Pakistan, Qatar, as well as the Afghan government, the Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation, and the Taliban— will see participants “discuss ways to advance the intra-Afghan talks in Doha, to reduce the level of violence and to end the armed conflict in Afghanistan, as well as to help that country become an independent, peaceful and self-sufficient state, free from terrorism and drug-related crime”. [Reuters, MFA Russia]
French European Affairs Minister Clément Beaune has called on the European Commission to take legal action against Poland over its “LGBT-ideology free zones.” In an interview with French LGBTQ magazine Têtu, the minister said that the bloc needed to take “every tool possible” to sanction behaviours that went against the EU’s rules and values. [POLITICO]
The Vatican published a statement saying that the Catholic Church “does not and cannot bless” same-sex unions. The statement said that these unions were a “choice” and further described the unions as “sinful”. The release has secured the approval of Pope Francis, who has previously taken a pro-LBGTIQ stand and extended support to the community. [CNN]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Chile boasts Latin America’s leading COVID-19 vaccine programme, having already inoculated over 25% of its 19 million population with at least one dose. This puts it behind only Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United Kingdom (UK) in terms of vaccine coverage. This has been attributed to efforts by the administration of President Sebastián Piñera to secure deals with vaccine producers very early on in the vaccine production process. [NBC News]
With annual inflation reaching 2,665%, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is pushing banks to adopt digital payment mechanisms to deal with severe cash shortages. However, many low-income families do not have a bank account. Earlier this month, the central bank announced that it would begin issuing one million bolivar notes, demonstrating the extent of hyperinflation in the country. [Al Jazeera]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Multiple attacks by armed militia in Ethiopia’s Oromia state since the beginning of the month have killed at least 42 people thus far, with the attackers targeting the Amhara community in the region. The police has denied any involvement in the attacks. Meanwhile, a report by Doctors Without Borders revealed that roughly 70% of medical facilities in the war-torn northern Tigray region have been “vandalised and looted”, and that at least 30% have been damaged. [Addis Standard, Médecins Sans Frontières]
During a visit to the West Bank, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a bold campaign promise for the 23 March election by saying that, if re-elected, he would legalise the currently 160 illegal West Bank settler outposts. He said, “I swear to you: If I create a strong right-wing government without a rotation, I will take care of the settlements and the authorisation of the young settlements [outposts].” [Middle East Monitor]
North America
The US Senate on Monday confirmed Rep. Deb Haaland as the new Secretary of the Interior, making her the first Native American Cabinet secretary in US history. [NPR]
The G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US and the EU issued a joint statement on Friday expressing concern about the newly introduced electoral reform in Hong Kong, and said that the move “strongly indicates that the authorities in mainland China are determined to eliminate dissenting voices and opinions in Hong Kong”. [Global Affairs Canada]
Oceania
An Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) comprised of doctors and infectious disease experts is set to be deployed to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the coming days after an outbreak of at least 250 positive coronavirus cases in the country. Considering that health authorities merely tested 500 people, it is thought that the true case number could be much higher. This has prompted Australia to consider expediting vaccine deliveries to the vulnerable nation. PNG has thus far recorded 2083 cases and 21 deaths, but given the low testing rates, it is not known how big of an underestimate this is. [Brisbane Times]
An investigation by New Zealand news outlet Stuff has uncovered links between the New Zealand government and businesses in the country to Chinese artificial intelligence company iFlytek, whose technology has been used in the Chinese government’s persecution of Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang province. [Stuff]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has been released after he was briefly detained on Monday for leading a protest against mysterious disappearances and arbitrary arrests of supporters of his party, the National Unity Platform (NUP). He was joined by a number of MPs from the party. Police fired tear gas and dispersed the crowd that had gathered to demonstrate with the NUP politicians. [Africa Feeds]
The United States’ (US) embassy in Maputo announced on Monday that US Special Operations Forces will launch a two-month training programme for Mozambican marines to aid them in their battle against Islamist insurgents in the northern Cabo Delgado province, which has become overrun by Islamic State-affiliated terror groups. [Africa News]
World News Monitor: 16 March, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
March 16, 2021
Pope Francis SOURCE: AP