South Asia
Two terrorists killed five Indian soldiers in an attack on an army camp on Thursday. After four hours of crossfire, the two militants were neutralised by the Indian security forces. However, two other soldiers were injured in the process. [Indian Express]
The European Union sent a delegation to Sri Lanka to meet with President Ranil Wickremesinghe and hold constructive discussions on the ongoing economic crisis. The European officials recommended that Sri Lanka focus protecting “freedom of expression and [the] right to dissent” and also finalise bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund. [Colombo Page]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
A United States Central Command-sponsored ten-day military exercise began in Tajikistan on Wednesday. Troops from the US, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan will participate in the drills, known as ‘Regional Cooperation 22.’ The exercises aim to “increase national capabilities and commitment to interdict weapons of mass destruction, terrorist elements, and narcotics.” [US Embassy in Tajikistan]
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Thursday that talks to normalise relations between Armenia and Turkey would continue despite the recent fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops. “Even though the normalisation process is two-sided, it is necessary for all of us to take steps to establish stability in the South Caucasus,” he noted. [Armen Press]
East and Southeast Asia
On Wednesday, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un declared “victory” over COVID-19, proclaiming that the country and its people have “overcome a serious crisis.” He claimed that no new cases have been reported since July 29. On the same day, his sister, Kim Yo-jong, the Deputy Department Director of the Publicity and Information Department of the ruling party, blamed South Korea for unleashing the virus on North Korea, saying, “the recent national hardship sustained by us was definitely attributable to the hysteric farce kicked off by the enemy.” [KCNA, KCNA]
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has granted a pardon to Samsung heir and Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in a bribery and embezzlement case pertaining to former President Park Geun-hye. Lee was released on parole last August, though his prison term officially ended just last month. He required a pardon to have all his rights reinstated. The Samsung heir was pardoned alongside Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin and 1,691 others. [The Korea Times]
Europe
The United Kingdom, alongside Denmark, Canada, and Germany, decided to expand the International Fund for Ukraine to provide military training and equipment. The decision was announced during the Copenhagen Conference, which was co-hosted by Denmark and Ukraine. [UK Government]
According to a government report, Belgium received 218 threats from terrorists and extremists in 2021, more than half of which were classified as low-level incidents. Of the total threats last year, one-third were linked with jihadist ideologies. Most of the reports were regarding “lone actors” who did not have organisational or institutional backing. [Politico]
Latvia declared Russia to be a “state sponsor of terrorism” and accused it of carrying out “targeted genocide against the Ukrainian people.” It thus urged “like-minded countries to express the same view.” In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced it as “primal xenophobia,” adding, “It is necessary to call the ideologues nothing but neo-Nazis.” [The Moscow Times]
Latin America and the Caribbean
On Thursday, thousands of Brazilians took to the streets of São Paulo demanding President Jair Bolsonaro to “respect the vote” in the upcoming October elections, and read out the 1977 “A Letter to Brazilians,” which called for a prompt return of the rule of law in the aftermath of the two-decades-long dictatorship in Brazil. Former Justice Minister José Carlos Dias, who helped write the 1977 letter, stressed that “We are at risk of a coup, so civil society must stand up and fight against that to guarantee democracy,” expressing concerns over Bolsonaro’s prospective refusal to accept defeat. [Al Jazeera]
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Thursday appointed Félix Plasencia as Venezuela’s ambassador to Colombia in a step towards the “reestablishment and reconstruction of political, diplomatic, and commercial relations.” Likewise, his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro appointed Armando Benedetti as the country’s ambassador to Venezuela, normalising diplomatic relations that went downhill after 2019. [Venezuela Ministry of External Affairs]
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