South Asia
Far-right group Bajrang Dal filed a complaint in Uttar Pradesh against Twitter’s head, Manish Maheshwari, posing a fresh challenge to the American tech giant. The complaint was lodged over the map on the platform’s career page showing Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh outside India, which was taken down after an outcry by several Indian users. [Al Jazeera]
The United States’ (US) top general in Afghanistan, Austin Miller, raised concern over the Taliban taking control over several districts in the war-torn country. In addition, he said that the United States would continue to work with Afghanistan even after the troops’ departure, which is scheduled to be completed by September 11. [Al Jazeera]
Pakistani Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa convened a virtual discussion with the European Union’s Military Committee, General Claudio Graziano. In the meeting, they discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation, specifically to further the peace process in Afghanistan and secure regional security. [Dawn]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov met with his Tajik counterpart Emomali Rahmon in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Tuesday after deadly clashes between the two countries erupted in April near the disputed border region. Calling the clashes, a “heavy test” for both sides, Japarov said that “Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan must prevent [a] repetition of such events.” The fighting resulted in 55 deaths, 39 from Kyrgyzstan and 19 from Tajikistan. [RFE/RL]
According to Uzbek and Tajik officials, there has been a rise in cases of Afghan government troops crossing their borders to seek refuge while fleeing from the Taliban. Since June 22, authorities have reported at least three incidents where Afghan troops have escaped Taliban offensives by crossing into Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. [Eurasianet]
East and Southeast Asia
In a new research briefing released today, Amnesty International said that in just one year, the National Security Law has “put Hong Kong on a rapid path to becoming a police state and created a human rights emergency for the people living there.” The report also said that the government has repeatedly used “national security” as “a pretext to justify censorship, harassment, arrests and prosecutions.” [Amnesty International]
Indonesia’s health system is on the edge of a “catastrophe” as COVID-19 cases surge in the country due to the spread of the highly infectious Delta variant, the Red Cross said on Tuesday. In recent days, Indonesia has reported record daily COVID-19 infections of more than 20,000. [CNA]
Europe
After videos emerged showing the United Kingdom’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Witty, being harassed, Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the incident. Over the past few months, Whitty has faced criticism over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking to Twitter, he said that he was “shocked at seeking the despicable harassment.” [Politico]
Russia’s Olympic Committee on Tuesday finalised a roster of 335 athletes who will compete at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics this summer under a neutral flag and anthem as long as they are clean. Sport’s highest court last year banned Russia from international competitions for two years for its state-backed doping program at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. [Moscow Times]
The Speaker of the Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag, has asked opposition leader Ulf Kristersson to form a government after centre-left leader Stefan Löfven resigned on Monday after losing the confidence vote last week. The opposition leader has three days to canvas support from other party leaders. [The Local]
Latin America and the Caribbean
On Monday, United States (US) President Joe Biden held a telephonic conversation with his Colombian counterpart Iván Duque, in what was the pair’s first conversation since Biden took office in January. Biden conveyed that the US would be sending 2.5 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine and reiterated that Colombia remains a crucial ally in the region. The two leaders also reportedly discussed matters of climate change, economic recovery, democracy, and human rights. [MercoPress]
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro issued a 120-ban on ‘unauthorised outdoor fires’ in anticipation of the yearly ‘burning season’ in the Amazon rainforest. In fact, just a day earlier, Bolsonaro deployed the military to curb deforestation. [Al Jazeera]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Javaid Rahman, a United Nations (UN) investigator on human rights in Iran, has called for an independent inquiry into the role of Iranian President-elect Ebrahim Raisi in the execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988. Raisi has been accused by Amnesty International and the United States for his involvement as one of the judges who oversaw the 1988 killings. Amnesty estimates that at least 5000 prisoners were killed during the purges. [Reuters]
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh met with Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, in Beirut on Tuesday to discuss last month’s 11-day war with Israel. The meeting focussed on how both sides could learn from the experience of the latest round of fighting. [Associated Press]
North America
The US has appointed Indian-American career diplomat Atul Keshap, as the country’s chargé d’affaires in Delhi. “Ambassador Keshap's appointment will reinforce the close US partnership with the Government and people of India, demonstrated by our collaboration to overcome global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic,” the US State Department said in a statement on Tuesday. [ANI]
US first lady Jill Biden may go to Tokyo to attend the Olympics opening ceremony next month, her husband, President Joe Biden, said on Tuesday. “We’re trying to work that out now. That’s the plan,” he told reporters at the White House as he departed for an unrelated trip to Wisconsin. The ceremony, scheduled for July 23, has been beset by the COVID-19 pandemic that pushed the 2020 Summer Games hosted by Japan to this year, with the host country still grappling with the coronavirus pandemic. [Reuters]
Oceania
The Australian Medical Association has advised people under-40 to wait for the Pfizer vaccine, contradicting Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s announcement on Monday. The Association said it was blindsided by the PM’s announcement of allowing people under 40 to get the AstraZeneca vaccine with informed consent. [Sky News]
China has been accused of spying and harassing students and tutors at Australian universities, as per a report released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Wednesday. According to the report, the students and tutors were subjected to harassment and censorship on social media with threats to their families in China. HRW also accused the universities of failing to protect academic freedom. [The New Daily]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been sentenced to prison for 15 months after being found guilty of contempt of court for failing to appear at his state capture trial. Zuma faces multiple allegations of corruption from his tenure as president from 2009 to 2018. [Africa Feeds]
Citizens across Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, have taken to the streets to demand democratic reforms and the unbanning of all opposition parties. The pro-democracy protests are driven by the fact the Eswatini is home to the African continent’s last absolute monarch, King Mswati III, who has ruled the country since 1986. [Africa News]
World News Monitor: 30 June, 2021
A quick look at events from around the globe.
June 30, 2021
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh SOURCE: SEFA KARACAN / ANADOLU AGENCY