South Asia
Amir Hamza, a popular Bangladeshi preacher, was detained by the country’s police for “inciting militancy” in an “anti-terrorism” case. Hamza, who is known to attract crowds of up to 160 million during his speeches, was arrested after his videos were found on the phone of a suspect in an alleged plot to attack the Parliament. [Al Jazeera]
Protests broke out in the Indian Union Territory Lakshadweep after the Bharatiya Janata Party-appointed administrator Praful Patel brought in major reforms including liquor bans and a beef ban. Demonstrators believe that the legislation, called the “Anti-Social Activities Regulation Bill,” allows for the arrest of individuals violating the law without trial. [Hindustan Times]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday in Baku as part of Zarif’s South Caucasus tour. Zarif expressed Iran’s interest in participating in the mine-clearing operations in Nagorno-Karabakh and helping Azerbaijan reconstruct the area. He also underscored the importance of reaching a ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan amid the ongoing tensions in the region, with Yerevan accusing Baku of encroaching on its territory. [Iranian Foreign Ministry]
An Armenian soldier was killed in an exchange of fire between Armenian and Azeri troops at Armenia’s Gegharkunik Province near the disputed border. The Armenian Defence Ministry has blamed Azerbaijan for opening fire. [Armen Press]
East and Southeast Asia
Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's popularity has reportedly fallen to a 21-month low of 45.7% according to a new survey by the Taiwanese Public Opinion Foundation. In fact, approval of her governance appears to be plummeting at a rapid pace, considering that it fell by 9.5% from just last month. It is thought that this dip in popularity can be attributed to recent power outages, an increase in COVID-19 cases, and claims that members within the Democratic Progressive Party have ties to gangs. [Taipei Times]
Following Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's comments that Moscow has no plans to form a military alliance with Beijing to pressure Washington, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian reaffirmed that Sino-Russian ties are “as solid as a rock.” The Chinese official went onto say that bilateral ties between China and Russia grounded in the principles of “non-alliance, non-confrontation, and non-targeting [of] any third party.” [Xinhua]
Europe
The Kremlin and the White House on Tuesday confirmed that the first in-person summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Joe Biden will take place on June 16 in Geneva, Switzerland. “We intend to discuss the state and prospects of further development of Russian-American relations, problems of strategic stability, as well as topical issues on the international agenda, including interaction in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and the settlement of regional conflicts,” the Kremlin said in a statement. [CNN]
On Tuesday, the European Union’s leaders voted in favour of donating “at least” 100 million COVID-19 vaccines by the end of 2021. They said that these vaccines will primarily be distributed through the World Health Organisation’s COVAX program. [Politico]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Rebel militia from the Leftist Shining Path in Peru killed at least 16 people in remote and mountainous Valle de los Rios Apurimac, Ene y Mantaro (VRAEM) region. Interim President Francisco Sagasti vowed to take action and deployed the police and the military to “efficiently combat this plague.” This comes ahead of the country’s presidential election on June 6, and pamphlets calling on citizens to abstain from voting were found at the site of murders. [NBC News]
Argentinian President Alberto Fernández declared that he will be taking legal action against former Security Minister and chairwoman of the opposition Cambiemos Party Patricia Bullrich for “shameful defamation.” Bullrich alleged that the president had bribed Pfizer for COVID-19 vaccines. [Merco Press]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
The Russian military said that it has deployed three nuclear-capable long-range Tu-22M3 bombers to its airbase in Syria’s Latakia province. The move marks the first time since the Cold War that Moscow has stationed heavy bombers in the region. [Associated Press]
A large number of protestors demanding jobs have gathered in several Omani cities for the third day in a row amid a severe economic crisis in the country, which is characterised by billions of dollars of outstanding debt and rising unemployment. In an effort to calm the protestors, Oman’s ruler, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, has ordered around 2000 full-time government jobs to be opened and also called for granting additional part-time work hours. [Associated Press]
North America
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday announced that Washington will reopen its consulate in Jerusalem, in an effort to better “engage with and provide support to the Palestinian people.” The top diplomat’s remarks came during his meeting with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, West Bank. He further stated that the US would also provide an additional $75 million in development and economic assistance for Palestinians in 2021, $5.5 million in immediate disaster assistance for Gaza, and a little over $32 million for UNRWA’s emergency humanitarian appeal. [US Department of State]
On the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, Floyd’s family urged lawmakers to pass police reform legislation, which has been stalled due to opposition from Republicans. They met with President Biden as well as legislators on Capitol Hill on Tuesday and called for bipartisan compromise on the urgently needed bill. [Reuters]
The Canadian foreign ministry on Tuesday condemned the Syrian government’s decision to hold presidential elections on May 26, arguing that present domestic conditions were not conducive to holding a free and fair vote. The department further said that without the meaningful participation of women, refugees, IDPs, and the diaspora, and credible candidates running for office, the ballot “cannot represent the will of the Syrian people and Canada does not recognize their legitimacy.” [Global Affairs Canada]
Oceania
Samoa’s newly-elected Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, who is a member of the Faatuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party, has said that her governemnt has suspended plans for a Chinese-led port development project in Vaiusu Bay. Although she has said that this is because she does not want the country to become further indebted to China, experts have suggested that Samoa is set to become more cautious in its dealings with China and about conceding too much sovereignty to the Asian giant. [Stuff]
New Zealand’s COVID-19 Response Minister, Chris Hipkins, announced a suspension of quarantine free travel with Victoria after five new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Melbourne. The pause will be in place for 72 hours. [New Zealand Government]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, who is also the current chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has called on member states to approve a military operation to combat Islamist terrorism in the crisis-torn Cabo Delgado province. In fact, the regional bloc is set to hold a summit on the matter this week. [All Africa]
South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor visited Harare on Africa Day yesterday to deliver a food aid package to Zimbabweans who were adversely impacted by severe flooding during Cyclone Idai in 2019. The consignment is made up of 450,000 bags of maize meal. [South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation]
World News Monitor: 26 May, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
May 26, 2021
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken SOURCE: NBC NEWS