South Asia
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced his decision to postpone his visit to the United Kingdom (UK) due to the “internal security, political, and regional situation.” However, local media reports suggested that the decision was made due to Khan’s dissatisfaction with failing to secure a partnership deal similar to India’s “Roadmap for 10 Years” with the UK. [NDTV]
The Nepalese Supreme Court quashed Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s decision to expand his Cabinet and appoint 20 additional ministers. According to the judges, the expansion of the Cabinet, which was done following Oli’s decision to dissolve the Parliament, was unconstitutional. [The Kathmandu Post]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ordered Russia to pay almost $2.4 million to the relatives of 11 people who went missing in Chechnya in a 2005 Russian military operation. According to the ECHR ruling, Russia violated several articles of the Court’s conventions, including the right to life. [RFE/RL]
The World Bank plans to allocate around $95 million in loans to Azerbaijan to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Sarah Michael, the World Bank representative to Azerbaijan, said that the Bank plans to approve the allocation of the funds within the next three months. [Azer News]
East and Southeast Asia
In an effort to ensure post-pandemic recovery and sustainable development, Vietnam and Singapore have decided to implement their economic connectivity agreement and work out measures to boost cooperation in the fields of logistics, e-commerce, high-tech agriculture, and food processing. [Vietnam Plus]
Pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily has been hit by “a wave of resignations” as authorities in Hong Kong continue to crack down on its functioning. “I believe the risk of being arrested is real ... I do not want to see anyone else being rounded up anymore,” said a reporter who stepped down from her post. [CNA]
Europe
On Tuesday, the United Kingdom began negotiations to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The grouping, which sees the participation of several countries in the Pacific region, including Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam, removes 95% of tariffs on trade between members. [Reuters]
The European Commission on Tuesday decided to launch an antitrust investigation into Google’s ad tech business. The Commission is concerned over Google using its technology to keep rivals away from the online advertising market. The probe will investigate if Google has violated the European Union’s competition laws. [Hindustan Times]
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the 2014 popular uprising that saw former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich forced out of office was the result of a “coup” orchestrated by the United States and supported by Washington’s European allies. [Kyiv Post]
Latin America and the Caribbean
After reporting three cases of the Delta variant of the coronavirus, which was first recorded in India, Argentine Migrations Director Florencia Carignano has said that if there is community circulation that the health ministry will take “new measures.” This could include stronger border restrictions and increased monitoring of incoming travellers. [MercoPress]
On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) will vote on a resolution introduced by Cuba that calls on the United States to end its economic blockade against the Caribbean island nation that has been in place since 1960. [Telesur]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced on Tuesday that Israel is facing a “new outbreak” of coronavirus cases, adding that the Cabinet was planning to combat the rise in cases. Israel reported 125 COVID-19 cases on Monday, the highest daily infection rate in two months. [Haaretz]
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday that the European Union (EU) needs to update the 2016 migration deal signed with Turkey. Von der Leyen stressed that it was important to back Turkey financially, as it is home to almost 3.7 million Syrian refugees. The 2016 deal was meant to stem the flow of migrants and refugees into Europe by providing financial support to Turkey to accommodate refugees. [Daily Sabah]
North America
The United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada imposed fresh sanctions on Belarus in a coordinated response to the Lukashenko government’s forced landing of a Ryanair flight and subsequent arrest of opposition journalist Roman Protasevich last month. [CNN]
Kim Yo Jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s sister, has snubbed the United States’ hopes for an early resumption of diplomacy, saying that Washington’s expectations for talks would only “plunge them into a greater disappointment”. She was responding on Tuesday to US National Security adviser Jake Sullivan, who on Sunday described Kim’s recent comments on preparing for both confrontation and diplomacy with the US as an “interesting signal.” [Al Jazeera]
Oceania
After an Australian tourist tested positive for COVID-19, New Zealand raised the alert to level 2 in Wellington. The restrictions include social distancing and face masks on public transport. The measures will remain in place until at least Sunday. [ABC News]
The Australian Parliament Committee has urged Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrew to list Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. So far, Australia has only classified Hezbollah’s External Security Organization as a terrorist organization. The United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada have already banned the group. [The Jerusalem Post]
Sub-Saharan Africa
China has reportedly approved a request by the Republic of Congo to restructure its debt following a call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Congolese counterpart Xi Jinping. Finance Minister Rigobert Roger Andely said, “This restructuring is to allow the country to have a few more resources to deal with its own internal needs and to lift this obstacle to good relations with the IMF.” [Africa News]
Rwandan Minister of Health Dr. Daniel Ngamije has said that the Kagame government is tracking the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, which was first reported in India, after cases of the variant were recorded in neighbouring Uganda and Kenya. Ngamije said, “There is an ongoing initiative that seeks to detect the Indian variant, (Delta variant) if it is already in the country, but as it stands, nothing shows that it is in the country.” [The New Times]