South Asia
The Sri Lankan Navy rescued 55 nationals seeking to illegally migrate to a foreign country as the political and economic crisis worsens. The individuals were found 722 kilometres off the coast of the Hambantota port. [News Lanka]
The Human Rights Watch reported that people with disabilities were ignored during the distribution of humanitarian aid for victims of the recent earthquake in Afghanistan. The report argued that humanitarian aid must be delivered irrespective of the recognition of the Taliban, warning that failure to do so would exacerbate the country’s economic crisis and further victimise vulnerable groups. [Khaama Press Agency]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Tajikistan has called the construction of a watchtower by the Taliban and Tajik militants along the Afghanistan border a “deliberate provocation.” A Tajik official told RFE/RL that militants “come with their cars almost every day to this new observation tower and yell loudly and ostentatiously with a loudspeaker in a Tajik dialect, insulting Tajik authorities.” [RFE/RL]
Armenia and Azerbaijan on Tuesday accused each other of opening fire at their respective troops. The Azerbaijani defence ministry said Armenian troops shelled army positions in Kalbajar and Azerbaijani forces took retaliatory measures. The Armenian defence ministry, meanwhile, blamed Baku for opening fire from “various positions” along the border. [Azer News, Armen Press]
East and Southeast Asia
The Taiwanese Defence Forces will conduct the annual Wanan air defence exercise in several locations across the country from July 25 to 28. This year’s exercise “aims to raise public awareness of emergency warnings to reduce the possibility of casualties and damage in the event of an air raid,” ministry spokesperson Major General Sun Li-fang said. [Taipei Times]
A report released by the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) and PwC on Tuesday said that the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong needs to allow employees from its financial sector to travel freely in order to retain its status as “a global investment and banking hub.” The city’s many quarantine rules and flight travel bans have resulted in a sharp drop in business travel to the financial hub since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. [Channel News Asia]
Europe
French President Emmanuel Macron defended various meetings he held with Uber officials from 2014-2016 after critics accused him of negotiating a “secret deal” with the American company. He clarified that the meetings included officials from his ministry while he was serving as economy minister and resulted in a deal that generated jobs in the country. [Politico]
Former British Health Minister Sajid Javid stepped out of the race to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Javid said there is an abundance of “ideas and talent” in the Conservative Party and that he is looking forward to working in a united manner once the election is concluded. [Reuters]
The Ukrainian southern military command revealed on Tuesday that a missile strike destroyed a Msta-B howitzer, a mortar, seven armoured and other vehicles, and an arms depot in Russia-controlled Nova Kakhovka in the Kherson region using long-range rockets, resulting in 52 deaths. As per a pro-Russia official from the local administration, Kyiv used the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to attack warehouses containing saltpetre, a chemical compound used to make fertiliser or gunpowder. [Reuters]
Latin America and the Caribbean
On Tuesday, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) said political unrest and gang violence in Haiti have exacerbated food insecurity and the country's economic and security crises. WFP Representative Jean-Martin Bauer described the situation as “unsustainable,” noting that the takeover of the country’s highways by violent gangs prevents 3.8 million people from accessing markets, basic services, and humanitarian aid. The Ukraine war has also significantly obstructed Haiti’s grain imports, causing food inflation to soar to 52%, as the country relies on imports for 70% of its cereals. [Telesur]
The United States State Department on Tuesday alleged that Venezuela has detained three US citizens after accusing them of trying to illegally enter the country. A State Department spokesperson said, “We take seriously our commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad,” noting that they had been arrested in January and March. The two nations are simultaneously negotiating to secure the release of eight other Americans jailed in the South American country since 2017. [Reuters]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday that the Islamic State’s Syria leader, Maher al-Agal, was killed in a drone strike. “In addition to being a senior leader within the group, Al-Agal was responsible for aggressively pursuing the development of ISIS networks outside of Iraq and Syria,” it added. [CENTCOM]
Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Iran next week to attend a summit with his Iranian and Turkish counterparts—Ebrahim Raisi and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The visit will take place following United States President Joe Biden’s trip to Israel and Saudi Arabia. [Associated Press]
North America
On Tuesday, the United States Department of Justice announced the formation of the Reproductive Rights Task Force under Associate Attorney General Vanita Anand following the Supreme Court’s decision to reverse the Roe v. Wade judgment. The task force will “monitor and evaluate” state and local legislation and enforcement that might infringe on a woman’s right to seek reproductive care, ban abortion-inducing drugs, or impose criminal or civil consequences on federal employees who provide reproductive health services authorised by law. [CNN]
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau spoke with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on Tuesday to express his “shock and deep sadness” over the assassination of former Japanese PM Shinzo Abe. The pair reaffirmed their commitment to carry on Abe’s enduring legacy by upholding democracy and the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. [Prime Minister of Canada]
Oceania
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles announced that the country will increase its military presence in the Indo-Pacific and upgrade its national security mechanisms to deter adversaries. “For the first time in decades we are thinking hard about the security of our strategic geography, the viability of our trade and supply routes, and above all the preservation of an inclusive regional order founded on rules agreed by all, not the coercive capabilities of a few,” he said in his speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Marles added that “Australia will take greater responsibility for its own security.” [Eurasian Times]
New Zealand will dedicate $10 million to the conservation of Pacific crop seeds impacted by climate change, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced during the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Fiji. “This investment will increase the Pacific’s resilience by ensuring our region’s seeds and plant materials are preserved and protected for future generations,” she said. [Stuff]
At the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) meeting in Suva, Fiji on Tuesday, United States (US) Vice President Kamala Harris said that Washington “will significantly deepen [its] engagement in the Pacific Islands.” To this end, Harris announced that the Biden administration will open “two new embassies in the region: one in Tonga, one in Kiribati.” She added that the US will also appoint its first-ever envoy to the PIF. “We will return Peace Corps volunteers to the region. And USAID is taking steps to expand its footprint to include re-establishing a regional mission in Suva,” Harris said. [The White House]
Sub-Saharan Africa
The Ivory Coast’s National Security Council demanded the immediate release of 49 of its soldiers detained by Mali, stating that they had been deployed as part of a security and logistics support contract signed with the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping mission in 2019. The statement further clarified that their mission order had been submitted prior to their arrival to both the military junta and the airport authorities in Bamako. These claims have also been backed by UN spokesperson Olivier Salgado. However, Malian military leader Colonel Assimi Goïta has urged UN Secretary-General António Guterres to ensure that partner nations respect Mali’s sovereignty. [Reuters]
The United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) representatives in Kenya have expressed confidence in the government’s ability to ensure “free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections.” Speaking at the launch of the National Elections Conference on Monday, British High Commissioner Jane Marriot said the UK “respects Kenya’s sovereignty and remains impartial,” while adding that “friends of Kenya remain available to support citizens and the Kenyan Government in its preparation for August elections.” She also noted that those inciting violence or undermining democracy must be held accountable. The sentiment was echoed by EU Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger, who underscored the significance of the Election Peace Pledge in the upcoming election. [All Africa]