Tuesday, June 22

*) Ethiopia votes in test for PM Abiy amid reports of abuses Vote-counting is under way in Ethiopia's twice-delayed parliamentary elections as famine blights its war-torn Tigray region. The vote is a test for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, whose rise to power three years ago seemed to signal a break with decades of authoritarian rule. But he has waged war in the Tigray region and his party has been accused of election abuses, while critics say violence is still prevalent and that freedoms are limited. *) Iran president-elect refuses to meet Biden Iran's President-elect Ebrahim Raisi says he will only allow nuclear talks if national interests are guaranteed in his first presser since winning last week’s elections. Raisi ruled out meeting US President Joe Biden but said there were "no obstacles" to resuming diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. The hard-liner cleric won Friday's election in which more than half of voters stayed away after many political heavyweights were barred from running. *) Belarus opposition head hails 'powerful' joint sanctions The EU, US, UK and Canada have imposed coordinated sanctions on Belarus in response to “human rights violations” and “the violent repression of democracy”. It follows the forced landing of a passenger jet in Minsk last month to arrest opposition journalist Roman Protasevich. Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said the sanctions sent a "powerful" signal to the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko. *) Taliban takes control of key Afghan district Taliban fighters have taken control of Imam Sahib, a key district in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province and encircled the provincial capital. The Taliban's gains came as the Pentagon reaffirmed the US troop withdrawal was still on pace to conclude by early September. Dozens of districts have fallen to the Taliban since May 1, when US and NATO troops began their final departure from Afghanistan. And finally ... *) Argentina, Chile through to Copa America quarter-final Argentina and Chil