• Beijing has sanctioned U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her close family members in response to her visit to Taiwan, which China’s foreign ministry characterized as “vicious” and “provocative” interference in Chinese affairs. (Reuters) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused China of escalating tensions by firing missiles over Taiwan itself, some of which landed in Japanese territorial waters, and urged Beijing to show restraint. (The Associated Press)
• Russian forces have shelled a suburb of Zaporizhzhia that sits directly across the Dnieper River from the site of Europe’s largest nuclear power complex, a move that some experts suspect is an attempt to force Ukrainians to return fire and potentially cause a nuclear accident. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency is pleading with both Kyiv and Moscow to allow inspectors and spare parts into the plant to ensure its safe operation, as Russian occupation and fierce fighting in the region cut communications and deliveries while risking catastrophe. (The Associated Press) 
• WNBA star Brittney Griner was sentenced to nine years in prison — nearly the maximum sentence — after pleading guilty to bringing a small amount of cannabis oil concentrate into Russia. U.S. officials say they are hopeful that her sentencing will open the door to sealing a proposed prisoner swap deal that would bring Griner and fellow U.S. detainee Paul Whelan home in exchange for convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. (The Wall Street Journal)
• Ukraine wants to expand its grain export deal with Russia, Turkey and the United Nations to include other products following the arrival of the first grain ship dispatched under the agreement in Lebanon. Kyiv is eager to maximize the utility of the framework, as senior Zelenskyy adviser Mykhailo Podolyak says he expects Russia will eventually seek to block Ukrainian exports again. (Financial Times)

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in maps

Financial Times

View Full Calendar

OPEC agrees to produce slightly more oil as recession fears loom 

Anna Cooban, CNN 

The world’s oil-exporting countries have agreed to a tiny increase in output next month amid fears that a global recession will crimp demand.

Europe and Asia intensify battle to secure gas supplies

Shotaro Tani, Financial Times 

Race to lock in liquefied natural gas for winter poses risks of further price jump.

China summons Canadian diplomat over G7 statement on Taiwan

Eduardo Baptista, Reuters 

China’s foreign ministry said on Friday that it summoned Beijing-based Canadian diplomat Jim Nickel over Canada’s participation in a statement issued by the foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) nations.

Death of Al Qaeda Leader Sets Off Succession Race for Terrorist Group

Jessica Donati and Alan Cullison, The Wall Street Journal

Top candidate to replace Ayman al-Zawahiri is an Egyptian former special-forces soldier believed to be living under Iran’s watch.

With 5 Missiles, China Sends Stark Signal to Japan and U.S. on Taiwan

Ben Dooley, The New York Times 

By firing into Japanese waters, Beijing is warning that both countries will become targets if they should come to the aid of Taiwan in any conflict.

China’s Drills Around Taiwan Give Hint About Its Strategy

Charles Hutzler, The Wall Street Journal 

A blockade, not an invasion, could be a less risky way for Beijing to exert its will.

Sri Lankan government accused of draconian treatment of protesters

Aanya Wipulasena and Hannah Ellis-Petersen, The Guardian 

New president Ranil Wickremesinghe is attempting to crush mass protests that forced out predecessor.

‘Financial monsters’: China’s bad banks complicate property crisis

Edward White and Cheng Leng, Financial Times 

Distressed asset management companies highlight the challenge Beijing faces in mobilising rescue options.

South Koreans Question President Yoon’s Decision to Skip Meeting with Pelosi

Mitch Shin, The Diplomat 

Pelosi met her South Korean counterpart on Thursday, but could not meet South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol because of his summer vacation in Seoul. 

SE Asian nations criticize Myanmar, but weaker than expected

David Rising and Jim Gomez, The Associated Press

Southeast Asian foreign ministers issued a joint statement Friday after a series of meetings in the Cambodian capital criticizing Myanmar for its lack of progress in ending violence there, but with weaker language than several countries had hoped for.

Amnesty accuses Ukraine of basing troops in residential areas, angering Kyiv

Max Hunder, Reuters 

Human rights group Amnesty International accused Ukraine on Thursday of endangering civilians by basing troops in residential areas during Russia’s invasion in a report that Kyiv likened to Russian propaganda and disinformation.

Ukraine ‘corrodes’ Russian forces in southern counteroffensive

John Psaropoulos, Al Jazeera 

Ukraine started its counteroffensive in Kherson province by cutting off Russian supply lines to its forward positions.

Ukraine Sees Path to Surging Grain Exports After First Shipment

Matthew Luxmoore and Will Horner, The Wall Street Journal 

Prewar export levels are possible within two months, a government minister says, but others warn of significant challenges

Germany′s energy U-turn: Coal instead of gas

Sabine Kinkartz, Deutsche Welle 

Berlin has realized it will never again import as much energy from Russia as before the Ukraine war. So the challenge is to wean Germany off its dependence on Russian energy sources, and quickly; the question is how.

Sunak and Truss clash over cost of living crisis and recession

Heather Stewart, The Guardian 

Tory leadership rivals disagree on how to turn economy around and avoid predicted downturn in Sky news debate.

Bank of England Makes Biggest Rate Rise Since 1995 as Inflation Soars

Will Horner, The Wall Street Journal 

U.K. central bank warns nation will enter recession later this year.

Concern that Nicaragua repression could be “model” in region

Gabriela Selser, The Associated Press

Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega’s government has closed seven radio stations owned by the Roman Catholic church this week, as well as two other outlets serving the largely rural northern area with a history of opposition to his Sandinista National Liberation Front party.

Brazilian candidate drops from race to back Lula’s bid

Mauricio Savarese, The Associated Press 

Brazil’s former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is campaigning to return to the job he held between 2003-2010, on Thursday received an endorsement from moderate André Janones who had been expected to run himself.

Colombia’s next defence minister faces ‘a hell of a fight’

Daniela Diaz Rangel and Joshua Collins, Al Jazeera 

Ivan Velasquez has gone head-to-head with drug lord Pablo Escobar, local paramilitaries and disgraced Guatemalan politicians.

In a first, Somalia-based al-Shabab is attacking in Ethiopia

Omar Faruk, The Associated Press 

The al-Shabab extremist group has exploited Ethiopia’s internal turmoil to cross the border from neighboring Somalia in unprecedented attacks in recent weeks that a top U.S. military commander has warned could continue.

UN experts: Rwandan forces operate with M23 rebels in Congo

Edith M. Lederer, The Associated Press 

U.N. experts say they have “solid evidence” that members of Rwanda’s armed forces are conducting operations in volatile eastern Congo in support of the M23 rebel group, which is waging a major offensive in the mineral-rich region that has caused deaths and massive displacement of civilians.

Hundreds of thousands gather for mass prayer in Baghdad

Qassim Abdul-Zahra, The Associated Press 

Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis heeded the call of an influential Shiite cleric to gather in a show of strength for a mass prayer in the heart of Baghdad’s heavily fortified government zone on Friday. The gathering took place amid an escalating political crisis that has put the country’s capital on edge.

WHO Africa sees 10-year growth in healthy life expectancy

Chinedu Asadu, The Associated Press 

Africa recorded a ten-year growth in its healthy life expectancy from 2000 to 2019, the World Health Organization Africa office said Thursday, exceeding the global average and progress seen in any other region over the same period.

For Stricken Lebanon, Shipments of Ukrainian Grain Might Not Be Enough

Elissa Miolene and Jared Malsin, The Wall Street Journal 

First cargo of grain to leave a Ukrainian port since war started is bound for Lebanon, where food inflation is highest in the world; ‘I’m in survival mode’

Death toll reaches 36 in eastern DRC as protesters turn on UN peacekeepers

Jason Burke, The Guardian 

With elections due next year, analysts fear political motives could be driving the rising violence and tensions in the region.

South Sudan again delays its 1st election, until late 2024

Deng Machol, The Associated Press

Parties to the peace deal ending South Sudan’s devastating civil war have again delayed the country’s first elections since independence by extending the transitional period by two years. The vote meant for early next year has been pushed to December 2024.

Senegal’s ruling coalition loses absolute majority

Babacar Dione, The Associated Press 

Senegal’s ruling coalition party has lost an absolute majority in the national assembly, according to official provisional results released Thursday by the electoral commission.

Zambia emerges as a test case as China joins debt relief talks 

Takeshi Kumon, Nikkei Asia 

Beijing’s consent to negotiate sets potential precedent for other indebted nations.

White House summons Chinese ambassador for rebuke on Taiwan response

Yasmeen Abutaleb, The Washington Post 

Ambassador Qin Gang was called to the White House after China launched ballistic missiles in reaction to Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan.

China halts climate, military ties over Pelosi Taiwan visit 

The Associated Press 

China says it is canceling or suspending dialogue with the U.S. on issues from climate change to military relations and anti-drug efforts in retaliation for a visit this week to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Orbán gets warm CPAC reception after ‘mixed race’ speech blowback

Natalie Allison and Lamar Johnson, Politico 

The Hungarian prime minister, under fire over a July 23 speech, highlighted a type of nationalistic populism taking hold on the American right.

Team Biden to Unveil New U.S. Africa Strategy

Robbie Gramer, Foreign Policy 

The strategy seeks to grapple with China’s growing influence in Africa without painting African countries as geopolitical pawns.

Two insecure superpowers stumble towards collision over Taiwan

Stephen Roach, Financial Times 

Just as Russia has cited Nato enlargement to justify its Ukraine invasion, China may see US support for Taipei as a tipping point.

China cannot match what U.S. has to offer Pacific island states

Daniel Twining and Amie Woeber, Nikkei Asia 

Washington and its allies must strengthen region’s democratic institutions.

Nagorno-Karabakh: Will a New War Crash Europe’s Azerbaijani Gas Dreams? 

Maximilian Hess, Foreign Policy

Europe needs a serious Azerbaijan policy—and needs it fast.

Sadr Protests: Iraqi Politics Needs a Total Overhaul

Mina Al-Oraibi, Foreign Policy 

New elections won’t fix what increasingly looks like a systemic problem.