Russia and Ukraine

• Hours after Pres. Zelensky spoke of the war "returning to the territory of Russia," Russian missiles struck Zelensky's hometown of Kryvyi Rih, killing six.
• Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone hit an office building in Moscow's business district but caused no injuries.
• Saudi Arabia invited the U.S., Brazil, China, and India to fresh talks on Ukraine's 10-point peace plan. Russia has already rejected the plan and wasn't invited to these talks.

• France is preparing to evacuate its citizens from Niger - a former French colony - because of a wave of anti-French sentiment that has grown stronger since last week's coup. Some Nigeriens blame France for Niger's poverty and think their country would be better off aligned with Russia.
• The juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea expressed support for their fellow coupsters in Niamey.

• China's economic planning agency announced further initiatives to boost growth, including support for small businesses and programs that facilitate companies' access to capital. The Chinese stock market responded positively.
• Separately, China announced that its air force will train Emirati airmen in "Falcon Shield 2023" next month. It will be the first China-UAE joint air training program.

• Myanmar's junta pardoned deposed civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi of five of the 19 bogus charges it convicted her of. The other 14 charges stand and she still faces 27 years in prison for them.
• The junta may be hoping these pardons distract attention from its recent escalation in brutality. The NYT recently reported that Myanmar's military carried out twice as many airstrikes in April, May, and June as it had in the first quarter of this year, targeting opposition-held areas.

• Islamic State (IS) uncharacteristically claimed Sunday's massive suicide bombing that killed at least 54 people in Pakistan and said it was a condemnation of democracy as a form of government. IS usually avoids claiming attacks that kill civilians, as this one did.