South Asia
Newly-appointed Nepalese President Sher Bahadur Deuba survived a vote of confidence in the Parliament’s House of Representatives. This vote was necessary to cement his position as the country’s premier for a year and a half until the scheduled election. [Kathmandu Post]
Monsoon rains and consequent landslides in Mumbai resulted in the death of at least 20 people. Consequently, the Indian National Disaster Response Force was deployed to restrict any further loss of life and property. [Al Jazeera]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
According to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Azerbaijan has been spying on hundreds of local activists and journalists using sophisticated surveillance software that gave the government access to their phones. OCCRP believes that Azerbaijan acquired the software from Israeli cybersecurity company NSO Group. [RFE/RL]
Iranians are flocking to Armenia to get vaccinated against COVID-19 following a sudden rise in cases and delays caused by overcrowding in hospitals. According to reports, less than 2% of Iranians have received both doses. [Associated Press]
East and Southeast Asia
Officials confirmed on Saturday that one person has tested positive for COVID-19 at the athletes’ village for the Tokyo Olympics, raising health safety concerns. This is the first case within the village. [The Straits Times]
Thai police used water cannons and fired rubber bullets and tear gas against more than a thousand anti-government protesters, who took to Bangkok’s streets on Sunday in defiance of a ban on mass gatherings. The activists were protesting against the government’s handling of the pandemic and demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who heads the country’s virus task force. [The Straits Times]
Europe
British Health Minister Sajid Javid tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. This came as the United Kingdom plans on scrapping a large number of the restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the virus. [Al Jazeera]
The European Union on Friday decided to launch a legal action against Poland and Hungary over its anti-LGBT laws. The decision is the latest step in the ongoing rift to uphold rule of law and preserve the rights of LGBTQIA+ communities. The legal action might take both nations to the highest court in the Union and could result in financial penalties. [EU Observer]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Argentine prosecutors have filed charges against former president Mauricio Macri and other senior officials in his administration for their role in the coup to oust former right-wing Bolivian president Evo Morales in 2019. The Macri administration was allegedly involved in the “illegal shipment of weapons and ammunition to Bolivia.” Macri has maintained his innocence and called the charges “a story, an operation, a mixture of malice and hallucinations.” [MercoPress]
The ambassadors of Germany, Brazil, Canada, Spain, the United States, France, and the European Union, as well as representatives from the United Nations and the Organization of American States, called on Haitian Prime Minister-designate Ariel Henry to form government. Henry was appointed to the role prior to President Jovenel Moïse’s assassination on July 7. Interim PM Claude Joseph, however, who is standing in as president, has argued that power rests with him because Henry was never sworn in despite being appointed. [Al Jazeera]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
OPEC+ members reached a “full agreement” on Sunday to boost oil production output from August, ending the standoff between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia over extending the cap on production till the end of 2022. To resolve the dispute, OPEC+ agreed on new output quotas for several members, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kuwait, and Iraq, from May 2022 onwards. [Al Jazeera]
Muslim worshippers clashed with Israeli security forces in the Al Aqsa mosque compound on Sunday over the visit of Jewish pilgrims to the contested Temple Mount to mark the occasion of Tisha B’Av, a day of mourning in Judaism. While no injuries were reported, the incident has raised concerns over a potential escalation of violence. Clashes at the site in May sparked an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. [Associated Press]
North America
United States National Security Council spokesperson Emily Thorne released a statement announcing that the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, Dr. Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, led a delegation of representatives from the House National Security Council, Department of Defense, and Department of State at a meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan that focused on promoting “security, prosperity, and regional connectivity between Central and South Asia.” [The White House]
48.8% of Canada’s population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, putting it ahead of the United States for the first time during the pandemic. This is likely to pave the way for a relaxation of restrictions across the country, with Trudeau saying that Canada could allow fully vaccinated travellers from the US into the country by mid-August. [National Post]
Oceania
The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has decided to go ahead with its proposal to list the Great Barrier Reef as endangered at the 44th session of the Organization hosted by China. Australia has accused China of influencing the Committee’s decision. However, the president and director of the Committee, Tian Xueju, has denied such allegations and said, “The recommendation is based on the reports and data provided to us by Australia.” [The New Daily]
New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Arden, hosted an informal meet of APEC leaders on Friday to discuss efforts to curb the impact of the ongoing pandemic. The meeting was attended by the leaders of China, Russia, and the United States, among others. In a joint statement after the meeting, the leaders promised to “redouble their efforts to expand vaccine manufacture and supply, support global vaccine sharing efforts, and encourage production technologies on mutually agreed terms.” [Newsroom]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Following weeks of pro-democracy protests, the government of Eswatini, led by King Mswati III, has restored internet in the country. This restoration coincides with the visit of a technical fact-finding team from the Southern African Development Community. [AllAfrica]
Last week’s protests in South Africa over the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma have been described by current leader Cyril Ramaphosa as a “failed insurrection.” At least 212 were killed, while hundreds more were arrested. Protests erupted after Zuma began his 15-month sentence for being in contempt of court, after he failed to appear in court for his corruption trial. [AfricaNews]
World News Monitor: 19 July, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
July 19, 2021
Former Argentine President Mauricio Macri SOURCE: MARCOS BRINDICCI / REUTERS