World roundup: July 8 2022

Stories from Syria, Japan, Brazil, and more

Eid Mubarak to those who are celebrating!

INTERNATIONAL

In today’s global news:

• Worldometer is tracking COVID-19 cases and fatalities.

• The New York Times is tracking global vaccine distribution.

MIDDLE EAST

SYRIA

After postponing a vote on continuing the cross-border humanitarian operation in northern Syria that had been scheduled for Thursday, the United Nations Security Council buckled down on Friday and failed to get the job done. As expected, Russia used its veto to block a 12 month renewal of the operation, which brings aid into rebel-held northern Syria via a corridor from Turkey. A Russian counter-proposal to renew the corridor for six months, meanwhile, got only two “yes” votes. Millions of people in northern Syria are dependent on humanitarian aid for their day to day needs, so the expiration of the cross-border operation’s mandate (currently set for Sunday) could have disastrous consequences.

The UN says it’s trying to work things out before Sunday, but this is a situation that’s been building for years. Russia regularly complains every time this renewal vote has come around and it almost vetoed last year’s renewal until Council members reached a last minute, jury-rigged compromise. Given that buildup, and on top of that the diplomatic climate around Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, there may be no way to bridge the divide this time around.