Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Libyan forces loyal to eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar have closed the border with Algeria.
- AMERICAS: Peruvian far-right presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori claimed fraud and challenged 500,000 votes after a narrow loss to socialist Pedro Castillo in what observers have called a fair and transparent election.
- ASIA: India recorded 58,419 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours, the lowest daily figure since March 24.
- EUROPE: The first round of French regional elections will be held today, which could lead to major gains for the far-right National Rally (RN) party.
- MIDDLE EAST: Negotiations on reviving the JCPOA deal will resume in Vienna today, following the conclusion of the Iranian presidential election.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: The BBC upgraded security protocols following harassment and death threats by members of anti-vaccine and anti-lockdown groups.
Top Story
- Iran: Israel, the United States, and the world react to hardliner Ebrahim Raisi’s election victory.
- A US State Department spokesperson said, “Iranians were denied their right to choose their own leaders in a free and fair electoral process.”
- The Israeli foreign ministry said that Raisi will be Iran’s most extremist president yet and warned that he would increase Iran’s nuclear activities.
- New Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, in his first televised cabinet session since taking office, warned the world against returning to the JCPOA nuclear deal, talks for which are ongoing in Vienna.
- Iranian opposition groups hailed the apparent success of a boycott of the presidential election, whose turnout was a historic low.
- Raisi is already under sanction by the United States and the European Union due to past human rights violations.
- Iranian allies such as Russia, Syria, and Venezuela congratulated Raisi on his victory, as did regional powers Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.
- Reporting: AFP, AFP, BBC, Reuters, New York Times, DPA
Africa
- Eswatini: Police clashed with youth during a rural demonstration demanding democratic reforms, rare in Africa’s last absolute monarchy. (AFP)
- Libya: Human rights groups have accused guards at government-operated migrant centers of sexually assaulting detained migrant women, including minors. (AP)
- Libya: Forces loyal to eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar have closed the border with Algeria. (Reuters)
Americas
- Cuba: State biopharmaceutical corporation BioCubaFarma said the Cuban-made Soberana 2 vaccine has shown 62% efficacy with two out of three doses. (Reuters)
- Mexico: At least 15 people were killed by gunmen in several neighborhoods of the border city of Reynosa, prompting mobilization of the army, National Guard, and state police. (AP)
- Peru: Far-right presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori claimed fraud and challenged 500,000 votes after a narrow loss to socialist Pedro Castillo in what observers have called a fair and transparent election. (The Guardian)
Asia
- India: The country recorded 58,419 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours, the lowest daily figure since March 24. (DPA)
- Pakistan: A shootout between government forces and Taliban fighters overnight in North Waziristan left two militants and a soldier dead. (AP)
- South Korea: Former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae announced that she would officially declare her presidential bid later this week. (Yonhap)
Europe
- Armenia: Snap parliamentary elections begin today in an attempt to heal divisions after a disastrous war with Azerbaijan. (AFP)
- France: The first round of regional elections will be held today, which could lead to major gains for the far-right National Rally (RN) party. (AFP)
- Poland: Thousands of people took part in the country’s largest Pride event, held in Warsaw amid a backdrop of rising discrimination against the country’s LGBT community. (BBC)
Middle East
- Iran: Negotiations on reviving the JCPOA will resume in Vienna today, following the conclusion of the Iranian presidential election. (RFE/RL)
- Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu announced he and his family would leave the official prime minister’s residence no later than July 10. (AP)
Tech & Communications
- Media: The BBC upgraded security protocols following harassment and death threats by members of anti-vaccine and anti-lockdown groups. (The Guardian)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes:
- Tropical Depression Claudette
- Location: 33.3N 85.8W
- Movement: ENE
- Wind: 30 mph
- Map
- Tropical Depression Claudette
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 20JUN21)
- Confirmed cases: 178,230,119
- Deaths: 3,860,720
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 18JUN21)
- Confirmed cases: 16
- Deaths: 12
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 20JUN21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (21JUN21)
- Global: Summer Solstice.
- Canada: National Aboriginal Day.
- Ethiopia: General Elections.
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