South Asia
On Tuesday, Pakistan inoculated one million citizens against COVID-19 as cases continue to surge with the spread of the Delta variant. This comes just days ahead of a deadline imposed by the Pakistani government that urged people in public-facing roles to attain vaccination certificates. [Straits Times]
The Director-General of Police of Jammu and Kashmir said that police forces had successfully conducted an operation that killed three Pakistani terrorists, including Babar Ali. According to the statement, the terrorists were members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. [NDTV]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan introduced newly appointed Defence Minister Arshak Karapetyan to defence ministry staff on Tuesday. Pashinyan also stressed the need for the speedy implementation of reforms within the armed forces. [Armen Press]
Kyrgyz authorities arrested former Prime Minister Temir Sariev as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption during the development of the Kumtor gold mine and its operation by Canadian company Centerra Gold. The Kyrgyz government and Centerra are locked in a battle for control of the mine. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
Over 300 political parties, social societies, and think tanks from more than 100 countries signed a joint statement opposing the politicisation of tracking of the origins of the coronavirus. The statement was sent to the World Health Organization (WHO) Secretariat on Monday. [Global Times]
Indonesia will begin work on a 145-megawatt floating solar power project, which will be the largest in Southeast Asia. State power utility company Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) and Masdar of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) agreed on financing for the project on Tuesday. [Reuters
Europe
On Tuesday, Finland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Pekka Haavisto, discussed bilateral political and commercial relations with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi. In addition, both sides also pledged to promote peace and stability in conflict-ridden regions. [Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland]
Six United National special rapporteurs criticised the British government for failing to resolve the concerns surrounding crimes committed during its colonial rule in Kenya. The concern raised was primarily over the eviction of the Kipsigis and Talai communities in Kericho by the British army. [The Guardian]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza put the Maduro administration’s weight behind Nicaragua after the European Union sanctioned Nicaragua’s first lady and vice president, Rosario Murillo, and seven other senior officials within the Ortega government. Arreaza said that the sanctions “violate international law and show the servile attitude of the European bloc towards the geopolitical strategies of the United States.” [Telesur]
United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is travelling to Brazil and Argentina this week. According to a statement put out by National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said Sullivan and a number of other senior diplomats will discuss regional stability, climate objectives, digital infrastructure, and post-pandemic economic recovery. [The White House]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Iranian-backed forces have seized an oil tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, maritime security sources told Reuters on Wednesday. The alleged incident comes after Britain’s maritime trade agency warned of a “potential hijack” in the region on Tuesday. [Reuters]
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the threat posed by Islamic State (IS) terrorists to global peace and security is rising. Guterres pointed to an “alarming” expansion of IS affiliates in Africa and its potential comeback in Iraq and Syria. [Associated Press]
North America
On Tuesday, United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. According to a readout released by State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, the pair discussed the importance of “accelerating peace negotiations.” They also “condemned the ongoing Taliban attacks,” which they say “show little regard for human life and human rights.” [US Department of State]
On Monday, United States President Joe Biden spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The pair discussed the “close alignment and friendship” between the two countries and avenues for greater economic cooperation. They also spoke about the arbitrary detention of two Canadian citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, in China. [The White House]
Oceania
New Zealand has decided to increase its contributions to the United Nations Command and its Military Armistice Commission by deploying three additional defence personnel to South Korea. Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta said, “Increasing the size of our deployment to the Republic of Korea reflects the importance that New Zealand places on collective security efforts that support peace and stability and the international rules-based system in the Indo-Pacific region, and on the Korean Peninsula in particular.” [Government of New Zealand]
Australia’s Department of Defence released a four-year plan to address the military’s systematic and cultural failures that came to light during an inquiry into war crimes in Afghanistan. An inquiry last year had found evidence of 39 unlawful killings in Afghanistan by Australian soldiers. [Brisbane Times]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Palestine’s ambassador to Mozambique, Fayez Abdul Jawwad, has urged the government of President Filipe Nyusi to voice opposition regarding Israel being granted observer status in the African Union (AU). Recently, South Africa said it was “appalled” by the AU’s decision, which it described as “unjust and unwarranted” in light of the abuses Israel has committed against the Palestinian people. [AllAfrica]
Tanzanian Minister of Defence and National Service Elias Kwandikwa died on Monday at the age of 55. The cause of his death has not been revealed. He was appointed to the role by former President John Magufuli in December 2020. [The Citizen]