Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US Special Envoy Keith Kellogg in Kiev to discuss air defense and sanctions on Russia, a "productive" conversation that included strengthening Ukraine's air defense, joint production, and procurement of defense weapons. The meeting came as Russian forces killed civilians in eastern Ukraine and launched long-range drones across the country. Zelensky called for fresh sanctions on Russia and urged US leadership to confront Moscow, saying its ambitions must be curbed through strength.
https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/us-envoy-kellogg-arrives-in-ukraine-for-defense-talks-211447Senator Ishaq Dar will lead a Pakistani delegation to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Tianjin, China from July 14-16, 2025. The meeting is co-chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and will include representatives from Pakistan, China, Belarus, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. This marks the first time Belarus' Foreign Minister will attend the Council of Foreign Ministers as a member of SCO. The meeting focuses on international relations and foreign policies of SCO, with decisions to be adopted by the Council of Heads of State.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40372507/dar-to-attend-scos-cfms-in-china-todayThe EU is preparing to strengthen its ties with countries affected by US President Donald Trump's tariffs, including Canada and Japan, in response to ongoing trade disputes.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2025/07/14/economy/eu-nations-us-tariffs/European leaders are strengthening unity amidst growing political risks, with momentum towards single and financial market integration. This shift could make the euro more attractive. In contrast, a multipolar world is negatively impacting the US dollar, according to Marko Papic of BCA Research, who suggests that global investors are incorporating geopolitics into their asset allocations, but incorrectly treating it as an external factor rather than integrating it with valuation, growth and inflation considerations.
https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/wealth/wealth-investing/grasping-mettle-geopolitics-portfoliosGermany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that his country is ready to purchase Patriot air defense systems from the US, with Norway financing one of the systems, to provide them to Ukraine. The offer includes a total of 10 systems needed by Ukraine to strengthen its air defense. Discussions between Germany and the US may also involve the presence of approximately 38,000 American soldiers stationed in Germany, which Trump had previously suggested reducing during his first term but later assured Merz would not be an issue.
https://www.fakti.bg/en/world/985781-pistorius-in-washington-germany-pushes-for-more-patriot-systems-for-ukraineDeputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar received a call from UN Secretary General António Guterres, reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to international peace and security and the pacific settlement of disputes. During Pakistan's presidency of the UN Security Council in July, the DPM/FM highlighted signature events being convened by Pakistan to advance these objectives.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40372477/dar-receives-call-from-guterresThe International Monetary Fund's Resident Representative for Pakistan, Mahir Binici, recently delivered a comprehensive lecture at the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), highlighting the evolving economic landscape in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and Pakistan. Binici stated that growth in these regions is expected to strengthen by 2025, but warned of exceptional uncertainty due to elevated trade tensions and geopolitical fragmentation. He praised Pakistan's strong performance under the IMF's Extended Fund Facility, noting key milestones such as the successful completion of the first review in May 2025. Binici emphasized the importance of structural reforms, including tax equity, business climate improvement, and private-sector investment, to ensure long-term economic sustainability. The IMF's Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) will support Pakistan's climate-related reforms, focusing on public investment planning, water resource management, disaster preparedness, and climate data transparency.
https://www.brecorder.com/news/40372540/imf-reaffirms-support-to-reform-agendaThe Indonesian-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) aims to enhance national competitiveness by offering tariff exemptions and strengthened cooperation standards. The agreement is expected to increase Indonesia's exports to Europe by more than 50% in the next 3-4 years, generating significant economic growth opportunities for manufacturing and labor-intensive industries. With IEU-CEPA, Indonesia is poised to strengthen its position in the region and globally, as it views itself as the anchor of the ASEAN economy and a strategic partner of the European Union. The agreement also mitigates risks from US market threats by redirecting export focus to Europe, allowing Indonesia to maintain its trade surplus with the EU.
https://en.tempo.co/read/2028006/ieu-cepa-to-provide-market-diversification-benefits-for-indonesian-productsThe Indonesian government's plans to update its history books have sparked concerns among scholars, who fear the changes will distort the country's past. Meanwhile, in Sierra Leone, a World Heritage site has been recognized after decades of conservation efforts by activist Fatima Akilu. In India, a fire at a material recovery facility in RA Puram highlighted the need for improved safety measures. A French proposal to establish a "State of New Caledonia" is facing opposition from local communities. China's AI technology company has released an open-source model to regain market share. Indian politician Pravin Gaikwad was manhandled by police in Solapur after making comments against Swami Samarth. The US has announced plans to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine as part of military exercise Talisman Sabre, which involves 19 nations and 35,000 forces. In Syria, clashes in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida have killed at least 37 people. A vandal attacked Teenmar Mallanna's office in India after he made comments on Kavitha.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/indonesian-governments-plans-for-new-history-books-spook-scholars/article69807627.ece