South Asia
The Sri Lankan government has approached the United Nations to assist its authorities in assessing the environmental damage caused by the fire on the MV X-Press Pearl. The decision to approach the UN was made as the Sri Lankan expertise on the issue is insufficient to “accurately calculate the damage.” [Times of India]
Pakistan and India both granted visas to diplomats and other staff members, resulting in both the High Commissions retaining the strength of their staff. For two years now, both the rival neighbours have been at loggerheads over the issue and have denied visas to each other’s diplomats. [Times of India]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Armenia to drop charges of incitement of national enmity against Yazidi rights activist Sashik Sultanian. HRW stated that the charges were “in retaliation” for his interview in which he talked about problems faced by the Yazidi minority in Armenia. In the interview, Sultanian said that Yazidis face discrimination in Armenia, including underrepresentation in local government and the inability to study their language. [RFE/RL]
Tajikistan has begun the trial of 18 suspected members of the outlawed Salafiya movement. The trial comes two months after the Tajik Supreme Court sentenced nearly 120 members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood. According to Tajik authorities, Salafiya is a religious extremist group seeking to overthrow Tajikistan’s secular government. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
More than 200 Hong Kong police officers raided the headquarters of the local Apple Daily newspaper, which is known for taking a pro-democracy stance and criticising the Hong Kong and Chinese governments for their curbs on civil liberties in the special administrative region, earlier today. Five senior executives were arrested during the raid on suspicion of violating the Beijing-imposed national security law. [Hong Kong FP]
The junta government’s security forces in Myanmar have burned most of a village in the country, a resident confirmed on Wednesday. The action appears to be another attempt by the military government to suppress resistance against its regime. [CNA]
Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a plan for the removal of foreign fighters from Libya to his counterparts from the US and Turkey. The proposed plan discussed troop withdrawal in phases and if accepted by both sides, could be implemented by 1 July. [Politico]
British Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson’s ex-aide released WhatsApp messages with Johnson calling his Health Secretary’s plan for the COVID-19 pandemic “hopeless.” Johnson’s spokesperson said that the PM would not address the allegations and would instead focus on an inquiry into the government’s response to the pandemic. [Al Jazeera]
Latin America and the Caribbean
The counting of votes has now been completed in Peru’s run-off presidential election. As projected, left-wing candidate Pedro Castillo has 44,000 more votes than right-wing candidate Keiko Fujimori, and secured 50.1% of the votes. Fujimori, however, has requested electoral authorities to annul 200,000 votes and review another 300,000 votes that she has deemed ‘suspicious’. Her party has pointed to the fact that in some rural areas she gathered zero votes, which they claim is statistically improbable. Given the slim margin of Castillo’s lead, it is not out of the question for a recount of these votes to force a change in electoral results. Therefore, electoral authorities have refrained from formally declaring a winner just yet. [Merco Press]
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has threatened to veto a bill on COVID-19 vaccine passports if it is approved by the parliament. The proposal offers a immunisation certificate and allows vaccinated residents to attend sport and cultural events, cruises, and national parks, among other things. [Telesur]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin-Salman met (MBS) with the United States Special Envoy for climate change John Kerry in Riyadh on Wednesday. They discussed the need to “confront climate change, reduce emissions and preserve the environment.” MBS and Kerry also discussed the Kingdom’s efforts to address climate change, including the Saudi Green and Middle East Green initiatives. [Saudi Press Agency]
‘The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS’ has given the Kurdish Peshmerga forces over $1 million worth of weapons and equipment to bolster its fight against Islamic State (IS) presence in the region. The Peshmerga has been at the forefront in the fight against IS, and has lost nearly 2000 of its fighters since ISIS took control of Iraq and Syria in 2014. [Rudaw]
North America
Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry concluded his four-day trip to the Middle East and North Africa, during which he visited the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The meetings focused on energy transition, climate migration, and emissions reductions, while also paving the path for greater climate coordination. [US Department of State]
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III held a virtual meeting with his counterparts from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus. A statement by Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby says: “Secretary Austin articulated the Administration’s vision for the Indo-Pacific, underscoring the importance of allies and partners, shared principles, and multilateral approaches to security challenges, including pandemic assistance. He also highlighted unlawful PRC behavior in the South China Sea and called on Myanmar’s military to change course.” [US Department of Defense]
Oceania
New Zealand has imposed a ban on the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and individuals associated with his regime over election fraud and human rights abuses. While announcing the ban, Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said, “New Zealand has made it clear that the Lukashenko regime’s actions are unacceptable”. [New Zealand Government]
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden called for a global response against increased cyberattacks. During a video conference with the US think tank Council on Foreign Relations, Arden said, “Cyberattacks were one of the growing challenges of our time.” [Stuff]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Trade between Nigeria and South Africa crossed $2.9 billion in 2020 and the volume of trade is only set to rise with the entering into force of the African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA). Nigeria accounts for 64% of South Africa’s trade with West Africa and is one of its top three sources of crude oil. [This Day]
Namibian President Hage Geingob has expanded COVID-19 prevention measures by stipulating that public gatherings must be limited to ten people and cannot go beyond two hours if indoors. This comes amid a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in the country, with 1,200 new cases registered on Tuesday. Thus far, Namibia has recorded 1,040 deaths from the virus. [Africa News]
World News Monitor: 17 June, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
June 17, 2021
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro SOURCE: FABIO RODRIGUES POZZEBOM / AGENCIA BRASIL