Azerbaijan Appoints Oil Industry Veteran to Lead UN Climate Talks; Russia Uses North Korean Missiles in Ukraine Conflict

Diplomatic tensions rise between Belarus and Sweden; Two candidates approved to run against Putin in Russian Presidential Election; Iran detains suspects over recent suicide bombings

Azerbaijan's ecology and natural resources minister, Mukhtar Babayev, has been appointed to lead the United Nations COP29 climate talks to be held in Baku in November. Babayev, a veteran of Azerbaijan's state-owned oil and gas company Socar, is the second oil and gas industry leader in a row to helm the UN climate talks.
Russia has used missiles supplied by North Korea in its conflict with Ukraine, according to a senior Kyiv official and the United States. The White House cited declassified intelligence in its statement.
Belarus has recalled its ambassador to Sweden following the appointment of Sweden’s former ambassador to Belarus to serve as Stockholm’s representative to the Belarusian democratic community abroad. Sweden has also recalled its representative in Belarus for consultations.
Russia's Central Election Commission has registered two candidates to run against Vladimir Putin in the upcoming presidential election. Neither candidate is expected to pose a significant challenge to Putin.
Iran has detained several suspects in connection with the Islamic State-claimed suicide bombings that killed at least 84 people during commemorations for a former Iranian commander. The country's intelligence agencies claim to have found significant clues regarding the elements involved in the terrorist explosions.