South Asia
In a thinly veiled swipe at Pakistan at the Raisina Dialogue, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Afghan National Security Adviser Hamdullah Mohib highlighted the “negative role” played by one of their neighbours in hindering the peace process in Afghanistan. In this regard, Jaishankar called on all the countries in the region to “work closely” to further the interests of the Afghan people. [Hindustan Times]
India reported 161,500 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, which is likely to further overwhelm the country’s healthcare facilities. Amidst this ongoing crisis, several state governments have complained about the lack of access to crucial medical supplies, including oxygen cylinders and vaccines. [Al Jazeera]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
The United States (US) Embassy in Kyrgyzstan has expressed its disappointment over the release of Kyrgyz powerbroker Raimbek Matraimov, who was placed on the US Magnitsky sanctions list for his involvement in a global money-laundering racket. Matraimov, who was the former Kyrgyz Customs chief, was released after authorities failed to gather sufficient evidence against him. The decision to release Matraimov from custody was also based on a controversial economic amnesty law passed in December 2020, which allows individuals accused of financial corruption to avoid prosecution by handing over the illegally obtained assets to the State. [RFE/RL]
Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has decided not to sign the controversial law on amendments to the country’s electoral code. The amendments, which were announced by Prime Minister (PM) Nikol Pashinyan last month, seek to alter Armenia’s mixed electoral system to a proportional one. [Armen Press]
East and Southeast Asia
China’s National Health Commission said today that mainland China has reported 11 new COVID-19 cases. According to official figures, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in mainland China has now reached 90,510, while the death toll remains at 4,636. [Channel News Asia]
The 20th edition of China’s high-level Boao Forum started on Sunday on China’s southern island of Hainan. The event brings together top Chinese and international leaders, policymakers, company executives, and academics to discuss economic and policy issues. Despite surging COVID cases, approximately 2,600 delegates are still expected in person this year, which makes it the largest in-person international conference this year. [The Straits Times]
China denounced the joint statement released by Japan and the United States (US) that expresses concern over issues relating to Taiwan, Diaoyu Dao, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea, describing it as a gross interference “in China’s domestic affairs” that “severely violates basic norms governing international relations.” A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said, “Taiwan and Diaoyu Dao are both Chinese territory. Issues relating to Hong Kong and Xinjiang are purely China’s internal affairs. China has indisputable sovereignty over islands in the South China Sea and waters around them. China deplores and rejects it (joint statement).” [FMPRC]
Europe
The leaders of France, Germany and Ukraine met for talks on Friday, wherein they called for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces deployed to its border with Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel reaffirmed their support to Ukraine, as President Volodymyr Zelensky called for action. Meanwhile, Russia expressed hope that Paris and Berlin would persuade Kyiv to observe their cease-fire agreement and stop all provocative actions along the line of control. [Associated Press]
Former Italian Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, the leader of the far-right League party, will stand trial for “kidnapping” over his decision to block the entry of 100 refugees and migrants who were attempting to enter Italy in a rescue ship in 2019. [Al Jazeera]
Latin America and the Caribbean
The Supreme Court of Brazil has upheld the decision of Justice Luiz Edson Fachin to annul all corruption charges against former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who served as president from 2003 to 2010. This paves the way for Lula to run in the 2022 election, when he is expected to face off against incumbent leader Jair Bolsonaro, who has faced immense scrutiny over allegations of corruption as well as his handling of the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, he is currently the subject of a Senate investigation into his decision-making during the pandemic, which has come under fire for essentially paving the way for the deaths of over 372,000 people, with the number continuing to rise at an alarming rate. [Merco Press]
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has said that he plans to unveil his proposal for a migration agreement between North and Central American countries during Thursday's virtual Climate Summit convened by US President Joe Biden. He suggested, “We could make an agreement and say: 'Let's see, we support you to plant your land. If you are going to plant coffee, if you are going to plant cocoa for three years, we support you for three years and even more, but after those three years, once you have your harvest, you already have the automatic right to a six-month work visa for the United States,” adding, “You’ll go six months (to the US) and then you will return to your town. And then, three years after having your work visa, with good behaviour, you already have the right to apply for your US citizenship.” [CNN]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
On Sunday, Israel’s High Court of Justice rejected a petition seeking to bar Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu from forming a government amid his ongoing corruption trial. The petition was filed by a group called the “The Fortress of Democracy”, which includes academics, former defence officials, and businesspeople. Attorney General (AG) Avichai Mandelblit said that there was “no justification for judicial interference” in President Reuven Rivlin’s decision to appoint Netanyahu to form a government. [Times of Israel]
The Syrian parliament announced that it will hold presidential elections on May 26, which will be the second time a vote is being held since civil war broke out in the country in 2011. According to officials, Syrians living abroad will also be able to vote for their preferred candidates at an embassy. President Bashar al-Assad, who has been in power since 2000, won the previous election in 2014 with nearly 90% of the vote. According to Syria’s 2012 constitution, a president can only serve two seven-year terms, with the exception of the president elected in 2014. [Al Jazeera]
North America
Canada and the US have expressed grave concern over the sentencing of 10 pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong for their participation in a peaceful assembly. Over the weekend, the countries condemned China for suppressing fundamental rights and freedoms in the territory and called on Beijing to adhere to its obligations to the people of Hong Kong under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. [Global Affairs Canada, US Department of State]
On Friday, the US and Norway signed the Supplementary Defence Cooperation Agreement (SDCA), which “will allow our countries to deepen bilateral security cooperation, strengthen NATO operations, and increase Transatlantic security.” The SCDA increases opportunities for US forces to train and exercise regularly in Norway and gives American troops unrestricted access to specified facilities and areas. [US Department of State, Stars and Stripes]
Oceania
Australia’s two-way travel bubble with New Zealand is officially open now, with commercial flights between the two countries now flying passengers who will not have to quarantine upon their arrival. [ABC News]
Despite Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell earlier recommending that Australia Governor-General David Hurley revoke the military awards presented to the country’s Special Operations Task Group from Afghanistan, Defence Minister Peter Dutton has stressed that there are no such plans in place, saying, “My judgment was that we shouldn’t be punishing the 99 percent for the sins of one percent.” His comments come in response to the damning Brereton report, which revealed that several Australian Special Forces used excessive and arbitrary force while they were stationed in Afghanistan, both against civilians and against combatants who were taken in as prisoners of war. [The Age]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Malawian Homeland Security Minister Chimwendo Banda announced that the government is giving the 2,000 refugees in the country who live outside of camps 14 days to return to the Dzaleka camp or be deported from the country. He cited threats to national security as the motive for this sudden requirement. The Dzaleka camp currently houses over 48,000 refugees and is highly overcrowded. Moreover, many of the refugees have expressed concerns about having to abandon the businesses they set up outside the camp. [Voice of America]
Citizens in Cape Verde are voting in the nation’s general elections, in which Prime Minister Correia e Silva, who belongs to the centre-right Movement for Democracy party, is seeking re-election. He is expected to face a stiff challenge from the socialist PAICV party’s candidate, Janira Hopffer Almada, who is seeking to become the country’s first female leader. [Africa News]
World News Monitor: 19 April, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
April 19, 2021
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad SOURCE: REX SHUTTERSTOCK