South Asia
A delegation from the International Monetary Fund concluded its ten-day visit to Sri Lanka, noting that talks on a bailout had “advanced substantially.” [Colombo Page]
The Taliban’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said the government is obligated to adhere to the opinions of Islamic clerics in the National Assembly ahead of a parliamentary meeting in Kabul. The meeting will see the participation of over 3,000 people, including religious heads and tribal elders. Women and former political leaders have been barred from attending. [Khaama News Press Agency]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday issued arrest warrants for three men for committing war crimes, including torture, hostage-taking, and ethnic cleansing during the 2008 Russia-Georgia war. They served in the separatist government of the breakaway region in South Ossetia. [International Criminal Court]
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva on Thursday accused Armenia of “sending of illegal military units to Azerbaijani territories,” after a senior Armenian military official said that conscripts in Karabakh will be replaced by contractors. Calling it a “gross violation” of the 2020 ceasefire agreement, Abdullayeva said that the agreement called for the withdrawal of all non-government troops and the deployment of Russian peacekeepers in the region. [Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry]
East and Southeast Asia
Referring to the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to mainland China, Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang said today that “freedom and democracy have vanished” from the financial hub. “It’s only been 25 years, and in the past, the promise was 50 years of no change,” Su said. He went on to add that Taiwan must “hold fast” to its “sovereignty, freedom and democracy” as China’s ‘One Country, Two Systems’ policy “has simply not stood up to the test.” [Channel News Asia]
The Thai military deployed two F-16 fighter jets near its border with Myanmar on Thursday and issued a warning to Myanmar’s junta, after a Myanmar military aircraft “violated the border over Phop Phra district in Tak province while attacking ethnic armed group along the border,” Vice Marshal Prapat said. [The Straits Times]
Europe
According to a poll conducted by The Scotsman, Scottish nationals would once again reject an independence referendum if a vote to break away from the United Kingdom were held tomorrow, with just 44% voting in favour. The poll comes just two days after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon presented her plan to hold a second referendum on October 19, 2023. [Al Jazeera]
European Union Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson urged Greece to bring an end to the “violent” and “illegal” deportations of migrants. Failure to meet the requirement would result in Greek losing access to EU funds that are dispensed to protect the bloc’s borders. [Reuters]
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said Turkey has not provided any list of Kurdish rebels that need to be deported since agreeing to accept the North Atlantic Treaty Organization membership applications of Sweden and Finland. While the Nordic countries previously vowed to “process Turkey’s pending deportation or extradition requests,” Haavisto said that any such action would be done in accordance with European Union law. [Euronews]
In a press conference on Thursday, Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov announced that Russian forces had pulled out from Ukraine’s Snake Island in the Black Sea as a “step of goodwill” to show the world that Moscow “is not hindering the efforts of the United Nations (UN) to organise a humanitarian corridor for the export of agricultural products from the territory of Ukraine.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the withdrawal, saying it “significantly changes the situation in the Black Sea,” and vowed to “drive them (Russia) out of our sea, our land, and our sky.” [The Moscow Times, President of Ukraine]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Human Rights Watch Chief Tamara Taraciuk criticised Argentine President Alberto Fernández for his silence on rights abuses by the government of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, including harassment, censorship, and confiscation of media equipment. Fernández, however, has argued that “things in Venezuela have improved a lot, and those denunciations no longer exist.” [Merco Press]
On Thursday, United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts supported President Joe Biden’s plan to end the “Remain in Mexico” policy, after the justices overturned a lower court’s decision that had earlier blocked Biden’s efforts. Roberts noted that the Trump-era policy had placed a “significant burden” on the US government in managing diplomatic relations with Mexico, as the “Migrant Protection Protocols” forcibly sent asylum seekers to Mexico while they waited on their applications to be approved. [Reuters]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Qatar announced on Thursday that it is providing Lebanon’s cash-strapped army with $60 million amid the ongoing economic meltdown. Doha said it is “committed” to helping Lebanon end its economic woes and called for “joint Arab action” to help the country recover. [Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs]
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan suggested on Thursday that Turkey could still block Finland and Sweden’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) if they do not “fulfil their promise” of taking action against Kurdish militants. “In the period ahead, we will rigorously follow the implementation of the issues mentioned in the memorandum of understanding and take our steps accordingly,” Erdoğan warned. [Turkish Presidency]
North America
On Thursday, United States President Joe Biden revealed that he will not “directly” ask Saudi Arabia to increase oil production in order to decrease rising prices. However, he argued that all Gulf nations should increase their oil production, not just Riyadh. In a virtual meeting on Thursday, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries decided to add 648,000 barrels per day in July and August, most of which will be coming from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. [Reuters]
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Thursday that Canada will attend the G20 summit in Bali in November even if Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part. Saying it is “too important” a discussion, he said Ottawa will be there to counteract Moscow and any lies it says during the meeting. Trudeau also said that he expects all G7 countries to participate at the upcoming summit. [National Post]
Oceania
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian lashed out at Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for accusing China of economic coercion and calling on countries to find alternative trade partners during his address at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit. Zhao responded to the claims by calling on the security alliance to stop “trying to launch a new Cold War.” [SBS News]
The Australian Department of Defence revealed that it has discovered a number of issues with a fleet of Guardian-class patrol vessels that have been delivered to Pacific island neighbours such as the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Palau. It said the recipient nations would have to decide for themselves if they want to continue using the surveillance vessels under Australia’s Pacific Maritime Support Programme. One of the issues is potential carbon monoxide leakage. [The Straits Times]
Sub-Saharan Africa
The United Kingdom on Thursday announced a new deal with Nigeria aimed at tackling illegal migration as well as the removal of foreign criminals. This follows a similar migrant relocation deal with Rwanda. [Reuters]
Speaking at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday, Bintou Keita, the leader of the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), MONUSCO, expressed concerns about M23 rebel activity in the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu. She said the group now operates like a “conventional army,” using increasingly sophisticated firepower and equipment. She urged the DRC and neighbouring Rwanda to calm tensions and utilise existing platforms such as the Joint Verification Mechanism and the upcoming summit to agree on de-escalatory measures. [Africa Times]