Friday,  July 22nd, 2022 

Russia and Ukraine sign a UN-backed agreement to allow the export of millions of tonnes of grain from blockaded Black Sea ports. (The Guardian) 

Russia launches five airstrikes on Jisr ash-Shughur, killing seven people, including four children. (The Guardian) 

Transnistrian Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatyev reaffirms that Transnistria is committed to becoming an independent state and to possibly unite with Russia. (AP) 

The Nuclear Regulation Authority of Japan formally approves the release of a million tons of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the Pacific Ocean. The plan had already been endorsed by the Japanese government and other agencies. (Radio France International) 

The European Commission launches four new legal procedures against the United Kingdom for alleged infringements of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement relating to the passage of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill. (Al Jazeera) 

Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon is found guilty of contempt of Congress after defying the January 6 committee that investigates the riot at the United States Capitol. (Reuters) 

South Korea announces that it will lift a decades-long ban on public access to North Korean television, newspapers and other media. (AP) 

An Israeli airstrike kills three Syrian soldiers, injures seven others and destroys an Iranian weapons depot near Damascus. (AFP via France 24) 

Thirteen people are killed as fighting occurs in Tripoli, Libya. (Reuters) 

The main border crossing between Argentina and Chile reopens after several days of closure due to heavy snowfall. (Yahoo! News) 

Singapore reports its first six local cases of the BA.2.75 Centaurus variant as part of the Ministry of Health’s surveillance of the COVID-19 situation in the country. However, the MOH says that the variant isn’t considered a variant of concern by the World Health Organization. (CNA) 

Taiwan reports its first case of the Omicron BA.2.75 Centaurus variant, in a Taiwanese individual arriving from India. (Taiwan News) 

France reports their first three cases of the BA.2.75 Centaurus variant, including one in the Occitania region. (Technical Ripon) 

The first cases of monkeypox in children in the United States are reported, with one being in California. (CNN) 

The military and police raid an anti-government protest camp in Colombo, and arrest nine people. (The Sydney Morning Herald) 

The International Court of Justice rejects the Myanmar military junta’s challenge of the case against the country for its role in the Rohingya genocide. (AP) 

Thursday, July 21st, 2022 

President Joe Biden tests positive for COVID-19. (NBC News) 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that his country’s military goals are no longer limited to the Donbas region and have expanded to also include “the Kherson region, the Zaporizhzhia region and a number of other territories”. (Al Jazeera) 

The European Commission tells EU member states to reduce gas usage by 15% until March 2023 as part of an emergency plan after President Vladimir Putin warns that Russian supplies of natural gas could be reduced further. (Reuters) 

Ukraine‘s government, facing an estimated 35% to 45% decrease in GDP, asks its international creditors to freeze its debt payments for two years, including a $1.2 billion debt payment due at the beginning of September. The proposal is backed by major Western governments and other major lenders. (Reuters) 

The European Central Bank raises interest rates by 0.5 percentage points for the first time since 2011 in order to combat inflation in the EU which increased to 8.6% last month. (The Guardian) 

At least 304 people are killed after five weeks of monsoon rains and flash floods in Pakistan. (AP) 

Taiwan reports a record temperature of 40.7 °C (105.3 °F) in Yuli. However, this measurement is not officially recognized by Taiwanese authorities because it was reported by an automated station. (Taiwan News) (CNA Taiwan) 

Tokyo reports a record 31,878 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours. (Nikkei Asia) 

An An, the world’s longest-living male giant panda under human care, dies at Ocean Park Hong Kong aged 35. An An was a key part of the conservation activities for giant pandas. (RTHK) 

The monarch butterfly is added by the International Union for Conservation of Nature to its endangered species list because of rapidly decreasing population numbers. (AP) 

The United States reports its first case of polio since 2013 in an unvaccinated person from Rockland County, New York. (NBC News) 

A man attempts to stab Lee Zeldin, a U.S. Representative and the Republican Party nominee in the upcoming New York gubernatorial election, during a campaign event in Perinton, New York, United States. Zeldin is not hurt during the incident, and the man is taken into custody. (WIVB-TV) 

A police officer, a civilian, and 16 suspected gang members are killed during an operation against organized crime in a favela in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Infobae) 

The Ministry of Justice of Russia opens a court case to close the Jewish Agency for Israel, the main agency allowing the aliyah of Jews to Israel. Israel condemns the court case, claiming it is a response to Israel’s stance on the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. (BBC News) 

Mario Draghi resigns as Prime Minister of Italy. President Sergio Mattarella accepts Draghi’s resignation. (BBC News) 

Mattarella dissolves the Parliament of Italy, calling for a snap parliamentary election. (la Stampa) 

Ranil Wickremesinghe is sworn in as president of Sri Lanka. (AP) 

Droupadi Murmu is elected as the new president of India, making her the first female from a scheduled tribe to be elected to the post. (NDTV) 

Former President Lula da Silva is nominated by the Workers’ Party to run in the upcoming presidential election. (Al Jazeera) 

Iraqi government and regional authorities claim that Turkish Armed Forces fired four missiles at a resort in the Zakho District of Kurdistan Region in Iraq, killing eight Iraqi tourists and injuring 23 others. (AP) 

Al-Shabaab raids Yeed and Aato in Bakool, Somalia, near the Ethiopian border. Fourteen Ethiopian police officers and three civilians are killed. (Reuters) 

Inflation in the United Kingdom increased to 9.4% last month, breaking a 40-year record, as food and fuel prices continue to increase. (The Guardian) 

The European Union bans imports of gold from Russia and freezes Sberbank‘s assets. (Euronews) 

Six federal states of Germany (Baden-Württemberg, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony-Anhalt and Schleswig-Holstein) see their all-time high records beaten, with the highest temperature, 40.3 °C (104.5 °F), set at Bad Mergentheim. (Tagesschau) 

Abed, a hamlet on the Danish island of Lolland, sets the highest July temperature recorded in the country, reaching 35.9 °C (96.6 °F). (Danish Broadcasting Corporation) 

A United States Army soldier is killed and nine others are injured after a lightning strike at a training area at Fort Gordon in Georgia. (USA Today) 

Penny Mordaunt is eliminated from the leadership election in the fifth round of voting. (The Guardian) 

The End

1

Wednesday, July 20th, 2022 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that his country’s goal are no longer limited to the Donbas region but that they now “include other territories”. (Al Jazeera) 

The European Commission tells EU member states to cut gas usage by 15% until March 2023 as part of an emergency plan after President Vladimir Putin warns that Russian supplies of natural gas could be reduced further. (Reuters) 

Inflation in the United Kingdom rises to 9.4% last month, breaking a 40-year record, as food and fuel prices increase. (The Guardian) 

2

The Foreign Ministry of Syria announces that the country is formally breaking diplomatic ties with Ukraine. (AP) 

Turkish Armed Forces fire four missiles at a resort in the Zakho District of Iraqi Kurdistan, killing eight Iraqi tourists and wounding more than 20. (AP) 

An EF3 tornado hits villages in central Jiangsu, China. (CMA) 

Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe is declared the winner, defeating his closest rival, Dullas Alahapperuma, with 134 votes to 82. (BBC News) 

4

Kemi Badenoch is eliminated from the leadership race in the fourth round of voting. (The Guardian) 

Tuesday,  July 19th, 2022 

Russian president Vladimir Putin makes a state visit to Iran for talks with his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He will also meet with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. (BBC News) 

Gazprom signs a memorandum of understanding for the development of Iranian oil and gas fields and related infrastructure worth $40 billion. (Reuters) 

Russia‘s Gazprom says it “cannot guarantee” gas supplies to Europe due to “extraordinary circumstances” as it declares force majeure on gas supplies dating from June 14. (Reuters) 

5

The European Commission for the first time proposes a joint procurement procedure for buying weapons for the member states. The proposed sum of purchase is €500 million. (AP) 

Negotiations on the accession of North Macedonia and Albania to the European Union begin in Brussels. (Euronews) 

A record high temperature of 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) is recorded at Heathrow Airport in Greater London. It is the first time in history that a temperature has been recorded over 40°C in the United Kingdom. (BBC News) 

A major incident is declared in London following a “huge surge” in fires, according to the London Fire Brigade. Several homes are destroyed in Wennington on the outskirts of East London. No casualties have been reported. (Sky News) 

6

Emley Moor, a station in West Yorkshire, sets the highest overnight minimum temperature in UK’s history, not falling below 25.9 °C (78.6 °F). (BBC News) 

A station at La Hague on the coast of Normandy sets an all-time high record, 32.8 °C (91.0 °F), at night. (AFP via L’Express) 

Monday,  July 18th, 2022 

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismisses Ukraine‘s prosecutor general Iryna Venediktova and the top spy officer of the Security Service of Ukraine, Ivan Bakanov. More than 60 officials from the agencies are alleged to be working with Russia. Additionally, 651 cases of alleged treason and collaboration are initiated against prosecutorial and law enforcement officials. (The Guardian) 

7

Russian shelling kills six civilians in Toretsk, Donetsk Oblast as Ukraine says that Russia appears to be preparing for a new ground offensive near Sloviansk. (BBC News) 

The Royal Air Force suspends all flights to and from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire after the runway suffers damage due to the extreme heat. (The Independent) 

The United Kingdom issues a “red extreme heat warning” as temperatures are predicted to reach a record 41 °C (106 °F) in parts of England. Wales reports a record temperature of 37.1 °C (98.8 °F) near the town of Hawarden, Flintshire, and the island of Jersey reports a record temperature of 37.9 °C (100.2 °F). (BBC News) 

8

A motion of confidence in the Johnson government is passed by 347 votes to 238. (The Guardian) 

Tom Tugendhat is eliminated from the leadership race in the third round of voting. (The Guardian) 

Dublin, Ireland, reports a record temperature of 33.1 °C (91.6 °F). Parts of France also report record temperatures. (Met Éireann) (Le Progrès) 

At least 13 people are killed when a bus headed to Pune, India, falls into the Narmada River. (DNA India) 

9

Residents in nine of Shanghai‘s districts will be required to undergo COVID-19 testing until July 21 as part of an effort to reduce the community spread of COVID-19. (CNA) 

The Rhode Island Department of Health announces that the state has administered monkeypox vaccines to people who have had close contact with monkeypox patients. (WLNE-TV) 

Four people are injured during a mass shooting at a nightclub in Marbella, Costa del Sol, Andalusia, Spain. The perpetrator is stabbed and hospitalized. (AP) 

Tom Tugendhat is eliminated from the leadership race in the third round of voting. (The Guardian) 

Rishi Sunak receives the most votes in the third ballot. 

The Indian parliament votes to elect the new President of India. (Al Jazeera) 

The End

10

Sunday, July 17th, 2022 

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and senior adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Kamal Kharazi, confirms that Iran now has the capabilities to develop and build a nuclear weapon but says that “there has been no decision by Iran to build one”. Kharazi also warns that Iran will “directly respond” to Israel if it is attacked. (Straits Times) (The Jerusalem Post) 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran imposes sanctions on 61 Americans for their association with exiled Iranian dissident group People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran. (Reuters) 

An Antonov An-12 cargo plane, operated by a Ukrainian airline, crashes near the city of Kavala, Greece, killing all eight people on board. The aircraft was carrying weapons from Serbia to Bangladesh, and crashed before a planned stop in Jordan. (BBC News) 

The Assembly of North Macedonia passes a motion to amend North Macedonia’s Constitution to recognise its Bulgarian minority, while pledging to discuss remaining issues with the Bulgarian government. In exchange, Bulgaria will allow membership talks with the European Union to begin. (Al Jazeera) 

Croatia refuses to allow a private visit from the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić to the site of the Jasenovac concentration camp due to the Government of Croatia not being formally notified of the visit. (The Washington Post) 

Health officials in India report that the country surpassed the two billion mark in cumulative administered doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. (WION) 

G20 finance leaders end a meeting in Bali without a joint communique, as consensus could not be reached on multiple issues due to tensions caused by ongoing conflicts between the countries. (CNBC) 

Zambia extradites a filmmaker to Malawi, where he faces charges of using children in “racist videos”. The man was also fined in Zambia for illegally entering the country. (BBC News) 

Three people and the gunman are killed and two others injured in a mass shooting at the food court of Greenwood Park Mall in Greenwood, Indiana, United States. (The Indianapolis Star) 

Saturday, June 16th, 2022 

U.S. President Joe Biden meets with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah despite previously vowing to make him a “pariah”. (Bloomberg) 

NASA and Roscosmos sign an agreement to integrate future flights to the International Space Station. The agreement will allow Russian cosmonauts to fly on U.S. spacecraft in return for allowing American astronauts to use Russia’s Soyuz spacecraft. (Reuters) 

Russian missiles strike Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast, killing three civilians and injuring three others, while more than 50 Grad rockets hit the city of Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, killing two people. The missile strikes come after Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu ordered the military to expand operations in Ukraine in order to “protect the Donbas”. (Reuters) 

At least three civilians are killed and 15 others are injured in Russian cruise missile strikes on the city of Dnipro. (Reuters) 

The president of Energoatom, the Ukrainian nuclear energy authority, accuses Russian forces of using the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant to store weapons and shell the surrounding area. (The Journal.ie) 

Ex-leader of the Guadalajara Cartel Rafael Caro Quintero is captured by the Mexican Navy in Choix, Sinaloa, Mexico. (AP) (BBC News) 

Fourteen people are killed and another is injured when a helicopter involved in the search and arrest of drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero crashes in Los Mochis, Mexico. (Al Jazeera) 

Israel launches more than a dozen missiles against two Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, following a number of rockets fired overnight from Gaza into Israel, causing severe damage. No casualties were reported and no civilian structures were targeted or hit. (Voice of America) (Al Jazeera) 

In Portugal, a waterbombing plane crashes in Vila Nova de Foz Côa while fighting wildfires in the region, killing the pilot, and in Spain, around 2,300 people are evacuated from the Costa del Sol due to wildfires in the Mijas hills. (BBC News) 

Protests continue in Panama with road and railways blockades, after protesters rejected president Laurentino Cortizo‘s concessions. (Prensa Panamá) 

The controversial Disciplinary Chamber of the Supreme Court is abolished. However, Didier Reynders, the European Commissioner for Justice, says that the European Court of Justice’s ruling ordering the abolishment has not been fully respected and therefore Poland will continue to pay a fine of €1 million per day for contempt of court. (Rzeczpospolita) 

A 33-year-old former German Army officer is sentenced to five-and-a-half years in prison for plotting a terrorist attack on senior politicians while posing as a Syrian refugee. (CNN) 

The End