South Asia
Pakistani Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman on Wednesday revealed that there has been 87% more rainfall than average during the ongoing monsoon season, which has resulted in 77 deaths since June 14. She thus called for greater climate action, noting that there have been 16 glacial lake outburst floods due to extreme heat during the monsoon season. She also noted that the Balochistan and Sindh provinces respectively received 274% and 261% more rainfall than usual. [Associated Press of Pakistan]
In what has been interpreted as a strong message to China, Indian Prime Minsiter (PM) Narendra Modi wished the Dalai Lama a happy birthday over the phone. In addition, two ministers of state attended his birthday celebration in New Delhi—Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi and Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice S. P. Singh Baghel. [The Indian Express]
Central Asia and the Caucasus
A Russian court on Wednesday ordered a 30-day suspension of operations of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which brings oil from Kazakhstan to the Black Sea. The pipeline transports almost 67 million tonnes of oil annually and almost 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports flow through the terminal. While the court said the ruling was made to prevent environmental damage, experts note that Moscow is trying to intimidate Nur Sultan. The order came a day after Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev vowed to help the European Union in stabilising global energy markets. [RFE/RL, Eurasianet]
The United Nations and the United States have called on Uzbekistan to conduct a “transparent and independent investigation” into the deaths of at least 18 people during protests in Karakalpakstan last week. [RFE/RL]
East and Southeast Asia
At the inauguration of the China-Caribbean Development Center in China’s Shandong Province on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said, “China and Caribbean countries have set an example of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development among countries of all sizes.” He also assured Beijing’s willingness “to draw up a blueprint for the development of bilateral relations” and “deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.” [Xinhua]
The foreign ministers of South Korea, Japan, and the United States (US) will hold an in-person trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Bali, Indonesia, which begins today. The trio are expected to discuss North Korea’s frequent provocations and its denuclearisation, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. [The Korea Herald]
Europe
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (PM) sacked Secretary of State for Levelling Up Michael Gove after the minister told the PM his position was untenable in light of the Chris Pincher controversy, wherein the leader claimed he had “forgotten” about sexual misconduct allegations against Pincher, whom he elevated to the position of deputy chief whip, despite being informed about them over three years ago. There have also been over 40 resignations from the Johnson administration over the past two days, most notably of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak and Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid. [The Guardian]
During his first visit to Ukraine in the history of Ukrainian-Irish relations on Wednesday, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss joint responses to the threats that the Russian invasion of Ukraine poses, particularly in issues of food security, energy and the preparation of a new, seventh sanctions package against Russia. In a joint press conference following their meeting, Zelensky “appreciated” everything that Ireland had done “to make Russia feel the price of its terrorist actions.” Martin, on his part, stressed that the Russian aggression must end, as it “is a violation of everything Ireland stands for, and we will not put up with it.” [President of Ukraine]
Latin America and the Caribbean
On Wednesday, at the 43rd summit of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in Suriname, regional leaders called for the removal of the United States sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector to strengthen Caribbean energy security. Saint Vincent & the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves noted that the Trump-era sanctions had a detrimental effect on the region, as they “put an end” to the Venezuela-led PetroCaribe agreement. The regional bloc also finalised an energy security strategy aimed at “reducing dependency on external resources and supplying the growing global needs arising out of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.” [Telesur]
Speaking at the Wilson Center in Washington on Wednesday, Brazilian electoral chief Edson Fachin warned of an “episode even more severe than the January 6 (attack) on the Capitol” as his country gears up for its presidential elections in October. He added that the role of the armed forces during elections should be aimed at “collaboration” not “intervention.” His comments followed the latest polls hinting at opposition leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s increasing popularity. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has previously cast doubt on the country’s electonic voting systems and even threatened to refuse to step down if he loses. [Reuters]
Middle East and North Africa (MENA)
The United States on Wednesday imposed sanctions on 15 individuals and entities “that engaged in the illicit sales and shipment” of Iranian petroleum products, including front companies from Vietnam, Singapore, China, and the United Arab Emirates. Noting that Iran has “failed to demonstrate” any interest in reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “Absent a change in course from Iran, we will continue to use our sanctions authorities” against its petroleum sector. [US Department of State]
Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has requested Turkey’s assistance to combat the effects of a drought that is threatening to lead millions of people in the Horn of Africa toward famine. Mohamud made the appeal during a meeting with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Ankara on Wednesday. Erdoğan said Turkey is committed to maintaining Somalia’s “stability and security” and vowed to provide the country with humanitarian and development assistance. [Associated Press]
North America
In a letter on Wednesday, United States President Joe Biden notified Congress of his intention to cancel the designation of Afghanistan as a major non-NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) ally. This comes against the backdrop of Biden ordering American forces out of Afghanistan in August last year to end the nearly 20-year-long war, thereby allowing the Taliban to retake the country. Kabul was declared an ally in 2012 to facilitate defence and economic ties between the two countries, and it allowed Afghanistan to receive military training and assistance. [CNN]
On Wednesday, Ukrainian Canadian Congress President Alexandra Chyczij called on Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to lead the world in ousting Russia from the Group of 20 (G20), arguing that it is using the forum to lie about its reasons for invading Ukraine. Chyczij further asserted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would be unable to attend the summit in November if his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin is a participant. [The Globe and Mail]
Oceania
During a lecture organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore on Wednesday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is “indispensable” and gives “space to states which have a legitimate interest in the region to contribute to a strategic equilibrium.” She further assured that Australia will not make the “mistake” of navigating its relationship with ASEAN through the “prism” of its ties with China, as ASEAN and Canberra “share so much more.” [South China Morning Post]
While delivering a speech at the Lowy Institute in Sydney, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden assured that Auckland will support Ukraine in the face of Russia’s “illegal and unjustifiable” invasion. Arden added, “In the wake of the tensions we see rising, including in our Indo-Pacific region, diplomacy must become the strongest tool and de-escalation the loudest call.” [NZ Herald]
Sub-Saharan Africa
On Wednesday, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari visited the Kuje prison in Abuja, where the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) earlier orchestrated an attack that led to the escape of over 800 inmates, including all 63 Boko Haram members housed in the facility. While authorities successfully re-captured 350 escapees, Buhari expressed his disappointment with the country’s intelligence system, calling it a “shocking incident.” [Africa Times]
The United Nations on Tuesday revealed that 22 Malian migrants, including three children, died in a shipwreck off the coast of Libya, following nine days of travel that began on June 22 from Zuwara, near the Tunisian border. International Organization for Migration (IOM) spokesperson Safa Msehli noted that the causes of death were drowning and dehydration, adding that the Libyan coastguards had rescued the remaining 61 survivors. Taking note of the incident, the Ministry of Malians Living Abroad has called on “all our people to fight against irregular migration.” An IOM report revealed that since the beginning of the year, 6,340 migrants have been returned to Libya, with 129 people dead and 459 missing. [Africanews]