South Asia
Pakistan has approved the passage of Indian trucks carrying 50,000 tonnes of wheat to Afghanistan, said Sulaiman Shah Zaheer, the spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Commerce and Industries. India can now deliver its first consignment of humanitarian aid to the war-torn country that currently faces severe food shortages. Pakistan held out on approving the safe passage of the trucks for weeks. [Live Mint]
For the first time since March 2020, India has opened up its borders for fully vaccinated international tourists travelling by air. India continues to witness a drop in COVID-19 cases. [Al Jazeera]
The naval forces of India, Thailand, and Singapore are participating in a two-day trilateral maritime exercise called SITMEX-21. This is the third such exercise; SITMEX was first set up in 2019 to bolster mutual interoperability. [Indian Ministry of Defence]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan remain high after multiple exchanges of fire over the past few days. Furthermore, Azerbaijan has blockaded two roads along its border with Armenia. The two sides are reportedly nearing a conclusion in their talks to demarcate their shared border and open new transportation routes between their two countries. However, recent events could complicate matters. [Eurasianet]
On Monday, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in the 8th Summit of Cooperation Council of Turkic Spaking States on an island just south of Istanbul. The meeting was also attended by representatives from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan as member countries, while Hungary joined as an observer state. The officials reportedly discussed how to collaborate in their joint transition to a green economy by using renewable sources of energy. [The Astana Times]
East and Southeast Asia
In a virtual meeting with United States President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on both countries to “respect each other, coexist in peace, and pursue win-win cooperation” for the benefit of what he described as the “global village” of humanity. [Global Times]
Indonesian President Joko Widodo is reportedly focusing his efforts on increasing the country’s “role in international affairs.” Indonesia is set to assume a year-long presidency of the G-20 next month and is planning to host an international summit in Bali next year. [The Straits Times]
Europe
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed his solidarity with the people in Poland and called for the global community to work towards securing peace and stability in the European region as a whole. Johnson’s statement comes after the European Union imposed sanctions on Belarus over its handling of migrants that has left thousands stranded along the Polish border. [Reuters]
Olaf Scholz, Germany’s chancellor in-waiting, said coalition talks with the Green Party and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) are going smoothly, and that his Social Democratic Party hopes to resolve its differences with the others on a range of issues, including climate change and finance, by the end of November. However, he refused to comment on what has been agreed on between the parties so far. Scholz hopes to be sworn in along with his new cabinet in December. [DW]
On Monday, President Vladimir Putin and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron discussed “increasing tensions” between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members and Moscow. Putin blamed the “provocative military activity” conducted by the United States and its allies in the Black Sea for escalating tensions. Both leaders also condemned the “worsening” situation in eastern Ukraine. [The Moscow Times]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Preliminary results from Argentina’s mid-term elections this past weekend show that President Alberto Fernández and Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's centre-left Frente de Todos (FdT) party has lost its congressional majority, with the Juntos por el Cambio party led by former President Mauricio Macri boating a strong lead. If these results hold, it would be the first time that FdT has lost its majority in the upper house of parliament in 38 years, and could act as a major impediment to appointing new judges and passing key bills. [MercoPress]
Cuban authorities arrested a number of political dissidents, ‘trapped’ others within their homes, and reportedly ‘flooded’ the streets with security personnel to successfully prevent a nationwide protest that was set to take place on Monday. Activists and independent journalists have decried the government's militarised response to citizens’ demands for greater freedoms and the release of political prisoners. [The Washington Post]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
The death toll from anti-coup protests in Sudan from this weekend has risen to eight, meaning that at least 23 people have been killed since military general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declared a state of emergency, dissolved the government, and detained the civilian leadership on October 25. Security forces have also arrested Al Jazeera’s Sudan bureau chief. [Al Jazeera]
The registration of Seif al-Islam, former dictator Muammar Gaddafi’s son, in Libya’s upcoming presidential election has caused major disruption in the country. Several residents are unwilling to accept the candidacy of someone who is still wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of crimes against humanity committed during the 2011 uprising. [Africa News]
North America
On Monday, the United States (US) criticised Russia over an anti-satellite test it conducted against one of its own satellites. This is the first time Russia has destroyed an orbiting satellite using a ground-based missile. The US Department of State deemed Moscow’s behaviour as “dangerous and irresponsible,” as the test resulted in over fifteen hundred pieces of trackable orbital debris, jeopardising security. [ABC News]
On Monday, the United States (US) Department of State announced additional sanctions on the Nicaraguan Public Ministry and nine government officials over the “sham” elections in November. Washington remarked that the Ortega-Murillo government imprisoned 39 individuals, including presidential candidates and journalists, during the build-up to the elections. The US welcomed the imposition of similar sanctions by the Canadian and British governments. [US Department of State]
Oceania
Under the national government’s no-fault indemnity scheme, at least 10,000 Australian citizens have filed claims due to injuries sustained from the coronavirus vaccine. Services Australia is building an online portal for uncapped claims above $5000 incurred from injury or loss of income due to COVID-19 vaccination. The portal is expected to go live next month and will provide compensation for medical costs and wages. [The Age]
Google has announced an investment worth $1 billion in Australia over the next five years. A part of Google’s Digital Future Initiative, the investment is expected to support 6,000 new direct jobs and at least 28,000 jobs in total. The company will focus on promoting local innovation, partnering to resolve domestic issues, and building infrastructure to support the digital economy. [The Age]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Days after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS levelled sanctions against members of the Guinean junta and their family for the September 5 coup that ousted President Alpha Condé, junta leader Col. Mamady Doumbouya has said that his country can “solve [its] own problems.” Guinea has been suspended from both ECOWAS and the African Union. [Yahoo!]
Uganda received just over 1.9 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine from Canada through the World Health Organization-led Covax initiative. Ugandan Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng described it as an “example of global solidarity in action.” [The East African]
World News Monitor: 16 November, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe
November 16, 2021
Indonesian President Joko Widodo IMAGE SOURCE: CABINET SECRETARIAT OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA