South Asia
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called on the central government to introduce travel restrictions on Singapore due to a variant of the COVID-19 that was allegedly rampant in the country. In response, Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said that Singapore was “disappointed” with the statement, as it was not based on scientific facts. [Reuters]
The Sri Lankan Supreme Court has called for a public referendum to approve a legislation that establishes an economic commission in CHEC Port City Colombo, a Chinese-built port city. The court said that the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Bill was unconstitutional and would water down the Parliament’s legislative powers. [Times of India]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has urged Azerbaijan to withdraw its troops from Armenian territory. “Border incursions through military movements can destabilise the situation and lead to renewed hostilities. We call upon the transgressing side to pull back forces immediately and cease any further provocation,” said Arindam Bagchi, an official spokesperson for MEA. India also called for a “peaceful resolution” of the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan. [MEA]
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has proposed setting up a joint commission to demarcate the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan amid renewed tensions between both sides. Lavrov presented Moscow’s proposal during a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Wednesday. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
South Korea and Paraguay signed an Air Services Agreement in Asunción yesterday that will be applicable “between and beyond their respective territories”. The agreement is expected to allow more flights for passengers and cargo and to lay the institutional foundation for national airlines to operate the routes between South Korea and Latin American countries. [MOFA.KR]
Japan and Azerbaijan will commence negotiations today for a new Tax Convention that will replace the current one between the two countries which entered into force in 1986. [MOFA.JP]
Europe
France, Egypt, and Jordan have approached the United Nations Security Council to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. According to the statement published by the Elysée Palace, the countries made three demands: “The shooting must stop, the time has come for a ceasefire, and the UN Security Council must take up the issue.” [Jerusalem Post]
Several French police officers participated in a rally calling for an end to attacks on members of the force. The protestors called for legislation that mandated jail time for individuals who have assaulted police officers. [France24]
Belarusian authorities have forced the country’s biggest independent news site offline and interrogated its journalists as part of a broader effort to contain opposition against authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Tut.by’s editors also had their houses and offices raided. Critics have called the move a “full-scale assault on the right to freedom of expression and media freedom.” [The Guardian]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Argentinian President Alberto Fernández lamented the human rights “problem” in Venezuela, and said that blockades on the country must be removed and that differences must be resolved through dialogue. In fact, Fernandez also made this point during his trip to Europe last week, when he met with the leaders of Portugal, Spain, and France. [Merco Press]
Former Bolivian President Jeanine Áñez, who was in power from November 2019 to November 2020 following a coup to oust Evo Morales, has now been charged with “breaking her oath” as a Senator, with the Prosecutor’s Office saying that she falsely proclaimed “herself president without a corresponding quorum and a lawful mandate.” Áñez was arrested on March 13 and is being held in detention for her role in the coup. [Telesur]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
The Defence Ministers (DMs) of Cyprus, Egypt, and Greece met in the Cypriot capital of Nicosia on Wednesday to discuss “emerging regional threats and challenges.” The DMs discussed the conflict in the Mediterranean, including the issue of Cyprus and tensions with Turkey. In this respect, the trio called for greater cooperation, especially in defence, and sought to invite more countries to take part in joint military drills. The Greek and Cypriot DMs further condemned Turkey’s “illegal, provocative, and unilateral” actions inside Greece and Cyprus’ territorial waters. Turkey has sent drilling vessels and research ships escorted by Turkish warships for hydrocarbon exploration into Greek and Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zones. [Associated Press]
Iraqi Security Forces launched a large-scale anti-Islamic State (IS) operation in Kirkuk following a recent surge in IS attacks in the region. The Iraqi army, federal police, and a special brigade combed the area for IS terrorists and were able to arrest six members of the organisation. [Rudaw]
North America
The US House of Representatives on Wednesday approved a bill calling for a probe into the events of January 6, which saw a deadly riot on the US Capitol by former President Donald Trump’s supporters. The legislation is aimed at establishing an independent, 10-person commission that would make recommendations by the end of the year on ways to prevent another such attack. Despite vehement opposition from top Republican leaders—including Kevin McCarthy, McConnell, and even Donald Trump —the proposal passed in the chamber with a 252-175 vote. [ABC News]
The US on Wednesday waived sanctions on the company involved in the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany, saying that the decision was taken in the interest of US national security. Nord Stream 2 AG’s CEO, Matthias Warnig, and its corporate officers have now all been delisted. [US Department of State]
Oceania
New Zealand’s COVID-19 Response Minister, Chris Hipkins, said that the Ardern administration has put $1.4 billion towards ensuring that every citizen can be vaccinated for free, noting that the vaccination programme is “key to securing our economic recovery.” [New Zealand Government]
Three Australians have now died of the coronavirus in India over the past few weeks. Repatriation flights have resumed after a temporary ban on flights from the country. However, on Sunday, one of these flights was reported as “half empty” because “so many planned passengers had tested positive.” [9 News]
Sub-Saharan Africa
The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has once again called on Tanzania to refrain from deporting asylum seekers who are fleeing from Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province. It has been reported that Tanzania has returned 4,000 Mozambican asylum seekers since September last year, including 1,500 just last month. [Voice of America]
Angola has supported calls to waive patents on COVID-19 vaccines patents so that African countries can produce their own vaccines. The push for the waiver gained further momentum after French President Emmanuel Macron put his weight behind the proposal at the Africa-France Finance Summit in Paris this week. [Africa News]
World News Monitor: 20 May, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
May 20, 2021
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal SOURCE: BUSINESS STANDARD