Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Myanmar's military-backed government stated that over 300,000 Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh are former residents of western Rakhine state and will be accepted for return once security improves. This statement comes amid the ninth year of the refugee crisis following a crackdown launched by the military in August 2017. The article notes that Myanmar does not recognize the Rohingya as one of the country’s lawful ethnic minorities.

Myanmar stated that over 300,000 Rohingya refugees are verified former residents of western Rakhine state, with the government accepting their return once security conditions improve. The refugee crisis has entered its ninth year following violence in August 2017, which drew international accusations of ethnic cleansing. Repatriation plans have since failed due to widespread armed resistance and chaos brought about by fighting between the Arakan Army group and the military.

Ousted Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina announced she plans to return from exile in India to Bangladesh in December, despite facing a death sentence on charges of crimes against humanity. This announcement drew strong condemnation from Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who called the event an affront to the country’s sovereignty. Separately, Tarique Rahman inaugurated the July Mass Uprising Memorial Museum in Dhaka, which documents the 2024 uprising and alleged political repression.

The Federal Government (FG) has clarified reports of a Kuwaiti ban on Nigerian domestic workers, stating the claims do not reflect the current situation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Saturday addressing the misinformation.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, confirmed that two Ghanaians were killed in renewed xenophobic violence in South Africa.

Qatar condemns the Houthis' attack on a Saudi vessel in the Red Sea, calling it a violation of international freedom of navigation. The Qatari foreign ministry reaffirms solidarity with Saudi Arabia.

South Korea disclosed a data breach involving the National Diplomatic Academy's online education system, which was compromised for ten months. Hackers stole personal information of current and former Ministry of Foreign Affairs employees, including overseas diplomats.

Hackers accessed South Korea's diplomatic academy's online education system for 9 months, stealing personal information of former and current employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bangladesh's new prime minister, Tarique Rahman, has postponed plans to visit India due to shifting domestic political dynamics and regional tensions. The decision reflects strained relations between the two neighboring countries.

Jamaica's government reported that two of three US-deported citizens to Eswatini rejected offers to return to Jamaica, citing unwillingness to repatriate. The US has faced criticism for third-country deportations to Eswatini, a nation with authoritarian governance and human rights concerns. Jamaica is seeking diplomatic resolution with the US and Eswatini.

Jamaica's government confirmed two of its citizens deported by the US to Eswatini have rejected offers to return to Jamaica. The third citizen remains uncontacted, and Jamaica is working with the US and Eswatini to resolve the situation. The US deportations to Eswatini have faced criticism from human rights groups due to the kingdom's political environment.

Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Frank Garcia in Abuja to reaffirm the strategic partnership between Nigeria and the United States. The meeting occurred at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 13, 2026.

President Xi Jinping will attend the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai and deliver a keynote address, marking his first in-person appearance at the event since its 2018 launch. His attendance highlights China's increasing focus on AI to drive economic growth, technological competitiveness, and global rule-setting.

Pakistan has called for restraint and de-escalation between the US and Iran, urging all parties to honor a recent memorandum of understanding. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized commitment to achieving regional peace through dialogue and diplomacy.

Russia’s Embassy in Sweden accused local authorities of failing to ensure security after two drones fell on its territory. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) summoned the Swedish ambassador over the incident.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticized the use of the term 'militants' for attackers in the Karachi Rangers facility terrorist attack, emphasizing terrorists must not be renamed. The captured terrorist was identified as an Afghan national linked to Jaamatul Ahrar, and Pakistan summoned the Afghan charge d’affaires to address the issue.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei stated no Iran-US talks are scheduled in the coming days. An Iranian technical delegation will visit Qatar this week, but the visit is unrelated to US officials. Tehran has not initiated negotiations for a final deal, as implementing certain points of the MoU remains Iran's priority.

The United Arab Emirates will allow its nationals to travel to Lebanon starting on Monday, requiring registration through an official service by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before departure. This follows a previous ban on travel to Lebanon, Iran, and Iraq imposed on 30 April due to regional developments.

The Government of Uganda announced plans to evacuate Ugandan nationals from South Africa due to rising anti-migrant violence and xenophobic protests. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to arrange the evacuation for those feeling unsafe.

The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Iran's alleged drone attacks on Bahrain, calling them a violation of sovereignty and a security threat. Similar statements were issued by Kuwait, Qatar, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced that three more ships will leave the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, reducing the number of trapped South Korean cargo ships to five. The ships were detained after Iran closed the strait following the US-Israel war with Iran. The president credited government agencies for their efforts in securing the ships' release.

Ten Pakistani sailors aboard the MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged oil tanker hijacked by Somali pirates two months ago, remain in captivity as their families protest the government's inaction. The government refuses to negotiate with pirates, citing international jurisdiction, while the crew faces deteriorating health due to lack of food, water, and medical supplies.

Qatar expresses hope for the success of an Iran-US deal but cautions that disagreements, including Iran’s nuclear program, will not be resolved quickly. The Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson emphasized support for Pakistani-led mediation and the importance of opening navigation in Hormuz to ensure LNG supplies.

The UAE denied media reports claiming it agreed to release billions of dollars of frozen funds to Iran. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated the allegations are false and emphasized no Iranian funds have been released or facilitated through the UAE.

The first group of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos on a government-organized flight. The evacuation was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies.

A Dar-led committee extended the closing time for standalone grocery and kiryana stores to 10pm as part of ongoing austerity and fuel conservation measures. The committee also recommended extending these measures until June 30, including a 50% reduction in fuel allowance for official vehicles and banning non-essential foreign trips by officials.

Prime Minister Professor Kamil Idris was briefed on the performance of Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its diplomatic missions abroad.

Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian Shahed drone struck a nuclear fuel facility near Chernobyl, which President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned as 'extremely vile'.

Kuwait condemned Iranian attacks on its international airport, which resulted in casualties and damage to civilian facilities. The U.S. conducted self-defense strikes against Iran following ballistic missile and drone attacks in the region.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar plan to sue The New York Times for defamation over an article by Nicholas Kristof alleging sexual abuse of Palestinian prisoners. The article sparked a strong reaction from Israel's government, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling it a 'hideous and distorted lie'. The lawsuit is intended to defend Israel's reputation.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei accused the United States of violating a ceasefire by seizing a shipment. The statement highlights tensions between Iran and the US over alleged US actions undermining regional stability.