ISIS has claimed responsibility for killing a Taliban deputy governor, Mawlavi Nisar Ahmad Ahmadi, on Tuesday. Six others were injured as a result of the car bomb blast.
Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said on Tuesday that Moscow would not recognise the Taliban regime until an inclusive government is established. He also demanded the Taliban take measures to combat terrorism, stop drug trafficking, and reinforce human rights for all Afghans.
The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine has resulted in a significant surge in global prices for wheat and corn. This event has raised concerns in the market regarding Ukraine's ability to efficiently transport food to Africa, the Middle East, and certain parts of Asia due to its ongoing war with Russia. In early trading on Tuesday, wheat prices experienced a 2.4% increase on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, reaching $6.39 per bushel. Similarly, the cost of corn rose by over 1% to $6.04 per bushel, while oats saw a gain of 0.73%, reaching $3.46 per unit. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has had a detrimental impact on the agricultural exports of both countries. This disruption has further exacerbated a global food crisis compounded by droughts and other contributing factors.
Indian PM Narendra Modi accepted an invitation to address a Joint Meeting of the United States Congress and thanked the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, Mitch McConnell, Charles Schumer, and Hakeem Jeffries for the invitation. Modi said India is proud of its Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US, built upon shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and an unwavering commitment to global peace and prosperity.
Iran unveiled its first intermediate-range ballistic missile, Fattah, on Tuesday. The missile can travel at hypersonic speeds of up to Mach 15 and has a range of 1,400 km. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said the missile would boost Iran’s “power of deterrence” and “bring peace and stability to the countries of the region.”
Fijian PM Sitiveni Rabuka said on Wednesday that his country is reviewing a controversial police cooperation agreement with China, signed in 2011, which allowed Chinese police officers to be stationed in the island nation. “We need to look at that again before we decide whether we go back to it, or if we continue the way that we have in the past by cooperating with those who have similar democratic values and systems,” the PM said.
More than 500 coast guard personnel from the Philippines, the US, and Japan are conducting joint coast guard exercises in waters off Bataan province, amid growing unease over China’s maritime activities. Their mock drill included the interception of a vessel carrying weapons of mass destruction, search and rescue, and counter-piracy scenarios. “All the exercises we do, we help one another to prepare for anything that may possibly happen in the future,” Philippine coast guard spokesperson John Ybanez said.
Ukraine proclaimed Russia as a terrorist state at a top UN court on Tuesday, as hearings commenced in a case involving Moscow’s support for pro-Russian separatists accused of shooting down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014. Ukraine alleges that Russia violated a UN anti-terrorism convention by arming and funding pro-Russian militants who shot down the plane, killing all 298 passengers and crew. Moscow has attempted to get the case dismissed, claiming that the ICC has no jurisdiction.
On Tuesday, an earthquake rocked parts of western Haiti, killing at least four people and injuring nearly 36 more. According to the US Geological Survey, the magnitude 4.9 quake struck the isolated Grand’ Anse department, almost 300 kilometres west of Port-au-Prince, at a relatively shallow depth of 10 kilometres. The earthquake struck only days after severe flooding devastated Haiti, killing at least 51 and leaving 18 missing.
US National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan is visiting India next week for meetings with NSA Ajit Doval and other Indian officials to finalise several deals, including defence agreements, technology partnerships, and long-pending trade pacts.
Indian President Droupadi Murmu was conferred with Suriname’s highest civilian award by her Surinamese counterpart Chandrikapersad Santokhi to honour the deep-rooted bilateral ties between India and Suriname.