South Asia
India gifted the Dornier 228 maritime surveillance aircraft to the Sri Lankan navy in a ceremony at an airforce base in Katunayake. The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay, said the gift marks another step to enhance bilateral cooperation and also help countries across the Indian Ocean region boost their maritime security capabilities. [Colombo Page]
Taliban’s deputy minister for refugees and repatriation, Mohammad Arsala Kharouti, will visit Turkey to understand the Afghan migrant situation after 40,000 people were deported to Afghanistan. Kharouti said that the Taliban will raise issues regarding the migrant statistics, deportation procedure, and aid and assistance provided to Afghan refugees. [Khaama News Press Agency]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
At least ten people died in a massive explosion at a shopping centre in Yerevan on Sunday after a fireworks warehouse caught fire. More than 60 people were injured, and 23 are still missing. Armenian authorities have deployed over 200 firefighters and medical workers to the scene and rescue services are ongoing. [Armen Press, France 24]
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mehdi Safari met with a Turkmen delegation in Ashgabat on Monday to expand energy cooperation. Safari called on Turkmenistan to transmit gas via Iran to neighbouring countries and vowed to give Ashgabat “access to high seas through southern Iranian ports like Bandar Abbas and Chabahar.” [Iranian Foreign Ministry]
East and Southeast Asia
In a congratulatory greeting to Vladimir Putin on Monday, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un wished the Russian leader “big success” in his “responsible work” of “defending the sovereignty and interests of the country and people.” The message marked the 77th anniversary of Korea’s independence from Japanese colonialism. In response, Putin assured that Pyongyang and Moscow will “continue to expand the comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations,” which would “contribute to strengthening the security and stability of the Korean peninsula and the whole of the Northeastern Asian region.” [Rodong Sinmun, Rodong Sinmun]
The Philippines has scrapped an Mi-17 helicopter deal with Russia and is instead looking to purchase the Chinook helicopters from the United States (US). Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez said yesterday that the cancellation of the contract was “precipitated mainly by the war in Ukraine” and that it was not in Manila’s “interest to continue and pursue” the contract. [Taipei Times]
Europe
Five Europeans—three Britons, a Swede, and a Croat—went on trial in a pro-Russian Donetsk court in eastern Ukraine on Monday on charges of being mercenaries. Though all of them have entered a not guilty plea, they could face the death penalty. Their next court hearing is scheduled for October. This comes against the backdrop of the Donetsk region’s supreme court having already sentenced two Britons and a Moroccan to death in June for being mercenaries; all three have appealed their judgements. [The Moscow Times]
The United Kingdom has become the first country to approve a COVID-19 jab that also specifically targets the Omicron variant of the virus. The approved vaccine was developed by Moderna and will be administered as a booster shot for adults. [Reuters]
The German Economic Institute reported that Germany will be unable to meet the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s target of spending 2% of its GDP on its military despite the government’s decision to enhance security funding in light of the Russia-Ukraine war. The think tank said that the country will fall short of meeting the target until 2027. [Politico]
Hungarian state secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Tamás Menczer revealed on Saturday that Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom has started supplying an extra 2.6 million cubic metres of gas from Friday as part of the additional 700 million cubic meters of gas secured last month. [Hungary Today]
Latin America and the Caribbean
The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) on Monday urged national authorities put an end to insecurity and political instability. It highlighted that BINUH’s mandate does not entail the deployment of military or police forces to tackle insecurity but reaffirmed its commitment to aid Haiti to organise elections, crack down on violence, address human rights violations, strengthen the judicial system, and improving prison conditions. [Prensa Latina]
On Monday, Brazilian government statistics revealed that Russian imports have risen by over 127% between July 2021 and 2022, led mainly by the purchase of fuel and fertilisers. This increase in trade despite Western sanctions on the Kremlin in the aftermath of the Ukraine war has made Russia the South American country’s fifth-largest trading partner, with Brazil importing over $5.1 billion worth of goods during the first seven months of 2022. [Merco Press]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Sudanese authorities have said that 52 people have died due to floods across the country since the rainy season began in May. Flooding has also resulted in 25 injuries, inundated over 8,000 homes, and damaged 540 acres of agricultural land. The United Nations notes that over 38,000 Sudanese have been affected by heavy rainfall, and the number could increase in the coming months. [Africanews]
United States (US)-led coalition military base, Al Tanf, in Syria, came under a drone attack on Monday. The US military stated the strike caused no casualties, and forces were successfully able to repel the attack. It was not clear who was responsible for the attack. [Operation Inherent Resolve]
Iran has denied having links with Hadi Matar, the man who stabbed author Salman Rushdie at an event in New York on Friday. However, Tehran said Rushdie was guilty of insulting Prophet Muhammad and therefore exposed himself to the attack. Rushdie’s 1988 book ‘Satanic Verses’ angered the Islamic world by insulting their prophet, and Iran’s then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for Rushdie’s assassination. [Iran International]
North America
On Monday, United States (US) Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke with his newly-appointed Japanese counterpart Hamada Yasukazu about the “deep bonds of friendship between the people” of the two countries and to reaffirm their “mutual commitment to strengthening” bilateral ties. “They confirmed cooperation on an array of concrete and innovative defence initiatives aimed at ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Acting Press Secretary Todd Breasseale said in a readout. [US Department of Defense]
Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau announced on Saturday that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will be on a three-day visit to the country from August 21-August 23 to discuss their shared priorities, including “our unwavering support for Ukraine, protecting peace and security in Europe and around the world, and addressing the broader global impacts of Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable invasion.” The pair will also talk about ways to “work together to safeguard energy security, and accelerate the global transition to clean energy” via clean hydrogen and critical minerals. “I look forward to showing Chancellor Scholz what Canada has to offer, while we further strengthen our relationship, create jobs, and help grow the middle class in both countries,” Trudeau said in a statement. [Prime Minister of Canada]
Oceania
Australian Prime Minister (PM) Anthony Albanese accused his predecessor Scott Morrison on Tuesday of undermining democracy and keeping citizens “in the dark,” after revealing that the former PM had “secretly” taken on five ministerial roles during his time in office, including as the minister of health, finance, home affairs, and treasury and industry. “It is completely extraordinary that these appointments were kept secret by the Morrison government from the Australian people,” Albanese said. Morrison responded to the allegations by saying that the COVID-19 pandemic was “an unconventional” and “an unprecedented time,” which required such measures, as several lawmakers had fallen severely sick. [AP]
Australia and New Zealand have brushed off rumours that China is set to impose bans on their meat exports by stating that they have received no official notice. A spokesperson at the Australian agricultural department said that “The Australian Embassy in Beijing has been in contact with China Customs” regarding the matter, while the New Zealand government confirmed that its products continue “to be cleared through the border.” [The Straits Times]
Sub-Saharan Africa
On Monday, Burundian troops were deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as part of the East African regional force to support the Congolese forces “to track down all foreign and local armed groups in order to restore peace” in the country’s eastern region, which has been plagued with rebel violence for decades. This comes after the seven-member East African Community agreed to station a regional counterterrorism force in the DRC in April. [Reuters]
In a statement on Monday, the French Ministry of the Armed Forces revealed that its Operation Barkhane troops have exited Mali after nine years of deployment after relations between Bamako’s military junta and Paris severely deteriorated. It noted that the mission “has reorganised itself outside the country in less than six months,” adding that “France remains committed in the Sahel” and will continue to maintain military bases in Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso. [Africanews]