South Asia
United States President Joe Biden celebrated India’s “success” in its democratic handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, contrasting it with “China’s failure.” According to Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra, Biden expressed his appreciation for India’s “comprehensive response” to the pandemic, which he said was in line with the strategies of other Quad members. [NDTV]
Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the frustration generated by the “uncertainty” of repatriation has forced Rohingya Muslims into criminal activities. She also informed United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi about the launch of an informal education system to bring it in line with what is provided in Myanmar to facilitate their return to the country. [Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Thousands of Armenian protesters broke through police barriers and blocked the entrances to several government offices, including the Foreign Ministry, in Yerevan on Tuesday and demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Opposition-led demonstrators have been protesting for days against Pashinyan for stating that he would recognise Azerbaijan’s sovereignty over the entire Nagorno-Karabakh region. [RFE/RL]
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Tuesday to discuss strengthening their “strategic partnership and alliance.” Both leaders also talked extensively about improving economic and trade ties. [President of Uzbekistan]
East and Southeast Asia
China’s Ministry of Commerce said in a statement on Tuesday that the United States-led Indo-Pacific Economic Framework should “contribute to the prosperity and development of the region” and “be open and inclusive rather than discriminatory and exclusive.” It should also “promote economic cooperation and solidarity rather than undermine and divide existing mechanisms” in the Asia-Pacific region, it added. “China remains open to any regional economic initiative that conforms to the aforementioned principles,” said a ministry spokesperson. [The Straits Times]
North Korea fired three ballistic missiles, including one with intercontinental range, toward the East Sea on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said. The launch came only a day after United States President Joe Biden completed his trip to South Korea and Japan. The latest launch marked Pyongyang’s 17th test this year. [The Korea Times]
Europe
British Transport Minister Grant Shapps said that the United Kingdom is in talks with Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksander Kubrakob to get wheat out of the country as Russia continues to block Ukraine’s critical sea ports. He said that it is essential to formulate a plan to mitigate the global food security crisis. [Reuters]
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Russia of orchestrating a global food crisis. The President said, “No possibility should be [left] unused to have a dialogue with Russia to solve the situation.” Russia has blocked Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea, preventing it from exporting food supplies. Ukraine is one of the world’s leading exporters of corn, barley, wheat, and sunflower oil. [Euronews]
On Tuesday, former pro-Russian Moldovan President Igor Dodon was detained on corruption charges in Chișinău. He claimed he is innocent and blamed pro-Western President Maia Sandu for his “politically motivated” arrest, saying it is an effort to distract the people from the ongoing economic crisis. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia was “concerned,” and hoped that Moldovan authorities would respect Dodon’s rights. [Reuters]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has endorsed his Jamaican counterpart Kamina Johnson Smith to become the Commonwealth’s next secretary-general, hailing her “impeccable track record.” His vote of confidence follows President Ramnath Kovind’s historic visit to Jamaica last week. The United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago have also announced their support for Smith’s candidature. A vote will be held during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Rwanda next month. [Jamaica Observer]
A raid carried out by Rio De Janeiro’s military police in the Vila Cruzeiro neighbourhood on Tuesday left 22 people dead and six hospitalised with severe injuries. The police were preparing to enter the slum area where leaders of drug trafficking groups were allegedly gathered, which culminated in a gunfight. The state police said “It is not possible to consider a success an operation that resulted in death” but said the raid was “necessary.” [CNN]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Five Turkish soldiers were killed and four injured during clashes with Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in Iraqi Kurdistan on Tuesday. Turkey launched Operation Claw Lock last month to establish a ‘safe zone’ along the border with Iraq to prevent PKK militants from launching attacks. [Anadolu Agency]
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu arrived in Israel on Tuesday for the first such visit by a high-ranking Turkish official in 15 years. Immediately after landing, the FM departed for a two-day trip to the West Bank, where he met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki. Çavuşoğlu is later expected to meet with his Israeli counterpart Yair Lapid. [Ynet News]
North America
At least 19 children and two adults were killed on Tuesday after an 18-year-old shooter opened fire at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. It was the 27th such incident in the United States this year and appears to be the second-deadliest elementary school shooting in the country’s history. Law enforcement officials, who killed the gunman, said he acted alone but have not revealed any motive as yet. Following the mass shooting, President Joe Biden called for stricter gun control and blamed the gun lobby for this “carnage.” [The Associated Press]
The United States (US) Department of the Treasury announced on Tuesday that it would ban the Russian government from paying its bondholders through American banks starting Wednesday in an attempt to make Moscow default on its outstanding loan. [CNBC]
Oceania
New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, called for “de-escalation” in the Indo-Pacific and advocated for “peace, stability, the use of dialogue, and the importance of multilateral institutions.” Her comments come after the United States (US) and China exchanged barbs over Taiwan during the Quad summit. US President Joe Biden said the US would defend Taiwan militarily if China attacked. [Newshub]
On Wednesday, New Zealand’s foreign and defence ministers, Nanaia Mahuta and Peeni Henare, extended the deployment of the country’s troops to the Solomon Islands under the Pacific-led Solomon Islands International Assistance Force (SIAF). An SIAF force—comprising personnel from Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, and Papua New Guinea—was deployed to Honiara in November 2021 to support local police in restoring peace and stability following civil unrest. [New Zealand Government]
Sub-Saharan Africa
On Tuesday, 12 farmers were killed and three were injured by local bandits in the Gakurdi village in Nigeria’s Katsina state. The gunmen reached the village on motorcycles as and residents prepared their farmlands for the planting season. The country’s northwestern region has experienced constant deadly attacks by terrorists who raid villages, impose unlawful taxation on farm produce, rustle cattle, and abduct civilians for ransom. [Premium Times]
Gabonese authorities banned a protest march against the French military presence led by opposition leader Gérard Ella Nguéma that was scheduled for Tuesday. The Interior Minister cited “cooperation and military agreements” that bind Gabon and France. There are at least 350 French bases in the country. [Africa News]