NATO: Leaders of the Western military alliance will agree next week to help modernise Ukraine’s armed forces, create a new high-level forum for consultations and reaffirm that Kiev will eventually be granted membership. 

But the war-torn country will not begin the accession process anytime soon.

A two-day Nato summit, starting on Tuesday in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, will also decide on massive increases in military spending.

KENYA: More than 20 anti-government protesters were arrested in the capital Nairobi today as many parts of the country also saw opposition-called demonstrations against newly imposed taxes.

Hundreds of protesters turned out in Nairobi and other areas such as the coastal city of Mombasa and the lakeside city of Kisumu, where the opposition enjoys huge support, but they were dispersed by police firing tear-gas canisters. 

PAKISTAN: Muslims held a series of rallies today to observe a “day of the sanctity of the Koran” after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a call for anti-Swedish protests over last week’s burning of the Islamic holy book in Stockholm.

Worshippers held rallies outside mosques, demanding the severing of diplomatic ties with Sweden.

UKRAINE: Thirty-three Latin American and Caribbean countries have reportedly forced the European Union to cancel Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s invitation to the EU-Latin America summit due to be held on July 17 and 18 in Brussels.

News website EURACTIV, based in the Belgian capital, also reported that “all elements related to Ukraine’s support” have been withdrawn from the summit’s draft final declaration, which had been prepared by the EU Foreign Policy Service.