From the resignation of Boris Johnson as British prime minister to the historic grain deal signed between Russia and Ukraine, here’s a round-up of top five international stories for July.
1 – Resignation of Boris Johnson as British PM
On July 7, 58-year-old Boris Johnson stepped down as Conservative Party leader and announced his resignation as prime minister of the United Kingdom after series of scandals and mass ministerial resignations rocked his leadership.
Johnson is credited to have ended years of parliamentary deadlock and pulled Britain out of the European Union.
He remains caretaker prime minister until an elected successor is announced on September 5.
2 – Assassination of Shinzo Abe, former Japanese PM
Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, Shinzo Abe was fatally shot during a political campaign in the western city of Nara on July 8.
He died from injuries sustained.
Born on September 21, 1954, the global statesman served as a beacon of political stability and revitalized the economy of the East Asian nation during his stint.
A state funeral in his honor is scheduled to be held by September 27.
3 – Inglorious flight of Gotabaya Rajapaksa abroad
Tens of thousands of Sri Lankans stormed important government buildings in the capital city of Colombo on July 9, including the official residence of the erstwhile president, Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The popular uprising forced Gotabaya to flee abroad, first to the Maldives and then to Singapore, where he resigned via an email sent to parliament on July 14.
There seems to be no end to the political unrest in the South Asian nation.
Sri Lanka is beset with untold economic hardship, the worst since independence in 1948.
4 – US President Joe Biden tours West Asia
On a four-day trip to the Middle East between July 13 – 16, United States President Joe Biden made three crucial stops first in Israel, the West Bank, and Saudi Arabia.
The first stop in Israel saw Washington and Tel Aviv signed a non-binding document called the Jerusalem Declaration.
Included in the strategic partnership is the pledge to stop the acquisition of nuclear weapons by Iran.
President Biden reaffirmed the US support for the Abraham Accords and reiterated their commitment to a two-state solution in his visit to the West Bank.
His final stop in Jeddah where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on the sidelines of an Arab Summit featured discussions on energy, food, and regional security.
5 – Grain exports deal signed between Russia and Ukraine
Warring parties in Europe reached an agreement to ease the passage and export of million tons of wheat and other grain stuck in three Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.
On the negotiating table, both Moscow and Kyiv signed separate but identical deals to resume shipments.
The historic agreement was reached on July 22.
Brokered by Türkiye and backed by United Nations, it is expected to ease the global food crisis and scale down the prices of essentials in food markets.
