South Asia
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences for the widespread devastation and loss of lives caused by floods in Pakistan, calling for an “early restoration of normalcy.” The floods have already resulted in at least 1,136 deaths and $10 billion worth of damage. [Indian PMO, BBC]
The Islamabad High Court suspended the notification that banned television channels from airing live telecasts of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s speeches. The court said the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, which imposed the ban, “does not have the authority” to introduce such restrictions. [Geo.tv]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday once again noted the importance of honouring the ceasefire agreements reached following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. During a phone call, they emphasised on increasing cooperation to prevent conflict. [Armen Press]
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced on Monday that Georgia will soon join the ‘Single Euro Payments Area,’ a step that would increase the probability of Tbilisi becoming a European Union (EU) member. The latest move would allow Georgian citizens to make cashless payments in EU countries. [Agenda.ge]
East and Southeast Asia
South Korean Foreign Minister (FM) Park Jin and his Mongolian counterpart Batmunkh Battsetseg agreed to establish an institute to strengthen cooperation on rare earth materials during a meeting on Monday. “(We) will push actively for measures to cooperate (with each other) to gain synergies from the combination of South Korea’s infrastructure and such minerals and resources, abundant in Mongolia, as rare earths for high-tech semiconductors and displays, and rare metals for batteries,” Park said during their joint press conference. [The Korea Herald]
Japan’s new defence minister, Yasukazu Hamada, warned on Monday that the world has entered “a new era of crisis.” “The international community as a whole has entered the most trying time since the end of the previous war, and the existing order is being seriously challenged. We believe that we are entering a new era of crisis,” he said. [The Japan Times]
Europe
French Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne urged companies to reduce energy consumption as she warned about a shortage in the coming winter. She recommended that every company should introduce its own plan to save energy and avoid government-imposed restrictions on consumption. [Politco]
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for an “emergency intervention” in the “current electricity market design” to bring down energy prices. As most members of the European Union use fossil fuels for their energy needs, the restriction on Russian gas imports has caused electricity prices to surge. Several members, including France, Spain, and Belgium, have called for the “decoupling” of gas and electricity rates. [Euronews]
On Monday, Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum Notis Mitarakis announced plans to offer 4,000 seasonal work visas to Bangladeshis starting this fall. As per an agreement signed between the two countries in February, 15,000 undocumented Bangladeshis already working in the country will also be legalised. “Greece does not accept illegal migration,” Mitarakis asserted, adding, “We protect our borders. We do not allow smugglers to select who comes to Europe.” [Greek City Times]
Latin America and the Caribbean
Ecuadorian state oil firm Petroecuador on Sunday urged global commodities trader Trafigura to stop importing Russian diesel and comply with Western sanctions. The warning comes a day after Ecuador refused to accept a diesel shipment of around 275,000 barrels because 95% of it was sourced from Russia. The country’s central bank had earlier similarly refused to issue letters of credit in contracts where Russian oil is involved. [Reuters]
Speaking at the 22nd Meeting of the Andean Presidential Council in Lima on Monday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro proposed the re-integration of Venezuela and Chile into the Andean Community (CAN), while also calling for the inclusion of Argentina, stating that “the more voices we gather, agree, and integrate, the better; the more powerful the voice will be.” Venezuela exited the bloc two decades ago under the socialist presidency of Hugo Chávez, while Chile left in 1976 under the far-right dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. [TeleSUR]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
Hundreds of followers of Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr stormed the government palace in Baghdad on Monday over his resignation from politics. The ensuing clashes with security forces killed at least 15 protesters. The Iraqi military announced a nationwide curfew and Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi indefinitely suspended cabinet sessions. Sadr has vowed that protests will continue until new elections are held and a stable government is formed. [Associated Press]
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that Iran plans to continue enriching uranium using advanced IR-6 centrifuges amid the possibility of an imminent deal to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. The agency noted that Tehran has already installed three cascades at the Natanz nuclear facility and started enriching. [Reuters]
North America
On Monday, Canadian Minister of International Development Harjit Sajjan announced $5 million in humanitarian assistance to flood-hit Pakistan, which has killed more than 1,000 people and affected 33 million. The funding will provide critical emergency assistance, including food, clean water, and essential services. “Canada will be there to support the people of Pakistan in the days and weeks ahead as they respond to these devastating floods,” Sajjan asserted. [Global Affairs Canada]
According to anonymous Biden administration officials, Russia has been facing technical issues with the Iranian drones it received to deploy in the Ukraine war. Without giving any details about the “numerous failures,” they claimed that the Iranian Mohajer-6 and Shahed-series unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) supplied to Russia are part of Moscow’s plan to obtain hundreds of Iranian UAVs. [Associated Press]
Oceania
Australian Foreign Minister (FM) Penny Wong on Monday expressed her desire for the “closest possible relationship” with Papua New Guinea (PNG). She added that their futures were “tied together.” PNG’s new FM, Justin Tkatchenko, responded that the island nation’s “traditional partner” has “always been Australia,”, especially in sectors of “trade, economics, [and] security.” He assured that the nation would continue to maintain the relationship “to make sure we have a safe region.” [Reuters]
The Australian government announced that it will provide $2 million in humanitarian aid to Pakistan in light of floods that have killed over 1,100 people and left one-third of the country submerged. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Tuesday that Canberra would release the funds through the World Food Programme to assist with “immediate humanitarian needs, particularly those disproportionately affected by the floods, including women, children and the vulnerable.” [SBS News]
Sub-Saharan Africa
On Monday, Malagasy police opened fire at protesters in Antananarivo killing at least 18 civilians, who gathered to demand the release of four suspects arrested for allegedly kidnapping a child with albinism. An angry mob of around 400 people charged at the police station and “the gendarmes tried everything to avoid a confrontation or violence” but fired when the mob kept advancing on the station, said national gendarmerie commander Gen. Andry Rakotondrazaka. [Associated Press, Voice of America]
Nigerian Justice Inyang Ekwo on Monday rejected an extradition plea for former federal police officer Abba Kyari to the United States over his alleged involvement in a $24 million money laundering plot, stating that the Nigerian Extradition Act “prohibits the surrender of an accused person who is already on trial before a competent court in the country.” Kyari currently faces trial in Abuja for his alleged links with drug lords. [Africanews]