South Asia
Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov said Moscow is ready to support the expansion of the United Nations Security Council and offer permanent membership to India and Brazil. However, he clarified that the same would not be offered to Germany and Japan, as Russia did not see any benefit to their inclusion. [TASS]
Human Rights Watch said the Taliban’s grand meeting in Kabul, which saw the participation of Afghan clerics, did not bring any changes or improvements to the rights of girls and women’s access to education. Afghan girls and women have been barred from attending educational institutions for high chool and above for over nine months now. [Khaama News Press Agency]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) passed a resolution on Monday calling on Russia to “de-occupy” Georgia’s breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and “constructively engage” in talks with Tbilisi. [Agenda.ge]
Uzbek authorities said on Monday that 18 people were killed during the unrest in Karakalpakstan. Protests erupted last week in the region over President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s announcement that he planned to scrap Karakalpakstan’s autonomy, which he later rescinded. [Eurasianet]
East and Southeast Asia
As part of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s comprehensive energy plan announced on Tuesday, the government will reverse the nuclear phase-out policy instituted under the previous administration and resume the construction of two new nuclear reactors. Existing reactors will continue operations, the industry ministry said Tuesday. The move is expected to increase the country’s nuclear energy mix to over 30% by 2030 and is part of the government’s efforts to strengthen energy security and achieve carbon neutrality. [Yonhap News Agency]
Vietnamese customs data revealed that trade with China dropped significantly in the first quarter of 2022 due to China’s stringent zero-COVID policy and border control. Vietnam exported $509 million worth of goods to China, an 87% drop from the last year, while imports from the Asian giant dropped by 52.5% to $3.64 billion. [VN Express]
Europe
During her visit to Kyiv on Monday, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to enhance bilateral ties in defence cooperation, nuclear energy, and energy efficiency. Andersson also pledged additional financial support for Ukraine, strongly condemning Russia’s war crimes and its attempts to block Ukrainian grain exports. “We must continue to support Ukraine, put pressure on Russia, particularly through sanctions, and our efforts must continue as long as necessary,” she asserted. [President of Ukraine]
Workers at the offshore Norwegian natural gas facilities began a strike on Tuesday to call for a rise in remuneration in light of rising inflation. The strike is expected to reduce the output of the facility by 89,000 barrels per day. [Reuters]
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that the European Union will be setting up a platform to facilitate the infrastructural reconstruction of Ukraine by laying down investment needs and coordinating the provision of resources. She added that the bloc has already provided the war-torn country with $6.4 billion and will continue to support its mid and long-term reconstruction. [Al Jazeera]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Cuban Director General of Bilateral Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Emilio Lozada on Monday condemned European Union (EU) spokesperson Peter Stano’s recent statements expressing concern about the sentencing of artists Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maikel Castillo Pérez, who were convicted for contempt and public disorder, defamation of institutions, and insulting the symbols of the homeland. Lozada said Stano’s statements violated the principles of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement and called on the EU to “abandon its double standards and address serious human rights violations involving its member states.” [Prensa Latina]
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Monday revealed that United States President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will discuss the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) agreement during their visit to his country in November. The agreement was first ratified in 2018 and the trilateral summit is aimed at finalising the terms of the treaty. [Reuters]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Iran is reducing crude oil prices to increase its access to the Chinese market, especially since China has stepped up purchases of discounted Russian oil. Iran has set oil prices at $10 per barrel, a $5-$6 cut since February. The move comes after Russia recently replaced Saudi Arabia as China’s top oil supplier. [Bloomberg]
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday condemned Hezbollah for launching drones at Israel’s Karish offshore natural gas field. “Lebanon considers that any act outside the state’s responsibility and the diplomatic course of the negotiations is unacceptable and would subject Lebanon to dangers that it can do without,” Mikati said. He called on all parties to “show a spirit of high national responsibility” and abide by the United States-led talks with Israel. Lebanon remains opposed to Israeli activities in the Karish field and claims the area falls under its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). [Naharnet]
North America
At least six people died and 30 were injured in an affluent suburb near Chicago after a 22-year-old gunman on a rooftop opened fire during a Fourth of July parade. The suspect was arrested shortly after; the motive is unclear. United States President Joe Biden admitted after the mass shooting that “there is much more work to do,” despite signing a major bipartisan gun control law just last month. [Washington Post]
On Monday, Canada signed a historic $20 billion final settlement agreement to compensate First Nations children and families that were harmed by “discriminatory underfunding.” Assembly of First Nations Manitoba Regional Chief Cindy Woodhouse said that she was “pleased” with the deal as it proved that treating First Nations Children fairly “was not the policy nor the practice.” “Historic harms require historic reparations,” Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu asserted, hoping that the country “never repeats” such discriminatory actions again. [Government of Canada]
Oceania
During his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged to send additional military aid, including more than 30 armoured vehicles and drones. The Albanese government also slapped a fresh round of sanctions and travel bans on 16 Russian government officials and oligarchs, and is ending imports of Russian gold. [BBC]
During a visit to Australia, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stressed that in the post-pandemic world, climate change “remains one of the most pressing issues” for both countries. She went on to express appreciation for Canberra’s new zero-emissions target and suggested that both governments partner with businesses to combat climate change. [SBS News]
Sub-Saharan Africa
Tensions escalated between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Monday after President Paul Kagame accused the Congolese of supporting anti-Rwanda rebels from the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR). He added that he has “no problem” in Rwanda being excluded from the East African regional force, soon to be deployed in eastern DRC to deal with Islamist insurgents. He accused Congolese authorities of trying to drag Rwanda into their “internal issues,” referring to their repeated accusations of Rwanda backing the M23 rebel group, and lambasted them for behaving like “spoilt children” who “cause trouble and then start crying foul.” [Associated Press]
At least 27 civilians were killed in two separate jihadist attacks in Burkina Faso’s northern and northwestern regions. The attack in Bourasso on Monday left 15 dead, including children, while Saturday’s attack in Namissiguima killed 12 people, including three Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland. [Africanews]