Good morning, readers!

Usually, we sprinkle a hint of humor into our otherwise “serious” newsletters with funny memes or images in our 🌟 Today’s gem section.

But today, we’re shaking things up by devoting an entire article to a humorous exchange from the UN Security Council session.

Today’s geopolitics hotspots

Drama at the UN Security Council session.

Here are the main characters in this duel:

• President of the UN Security Council session: Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

• Ukranian president: Volodymyr Zelensky.

• Representative of Russia to the UN: Vassily Nebenzia.

🤔 What happened?

In his in-person debut at the UN Security Council, President Zelensky was all set to address the elephant in the room—Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

But Russian ambassador Nebenzia questioned Zelensky’s right to speak BEFORE the council members.

Quick on the draw, Albanian PM Rama, cited the prior agreement that allows this (see page 8*, if you are curious).

He then assured the ambassador that this is not a “special operation” against him. 🤣

To end the long and heated back-and-forth, Rama provided a solution:

🇺🇦 President Zelensky.

When Zelensky finally took the floor, he didn’t hold back. He called for Russia’s UN veto power to be revoked, accusing them of abusing their privilege and breaking international law.

He also rallied for global support to uphold Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

⌛️ Timestamps.

• Russia objecting Zelensky’s right to speak. (Link)

• Rama citing prior agreement. (Link)

• “This is not a special operation.” (Link)

• Rama’s solution. (Link)

• President Zelensky’s speech. (Link)

* Notes by the President of the Security Council for 2017, S/2017/507, paragraph 33.

Quick updates

Click the country's name for more.👇🏻

🇮🇷 Iran:

Iran’s new law could land dress code violators in jail for up to 10 years.

As the US senate loosens its dress code, Iran has just passed a new “Hijab and Chastity” bill that imposes severe punishments on anyone who dares to dress “inappropriately” in public. Critics say the bill is a form of gender apartheid.

And it’s not just the women who are in trouble. Anyone who supports them, from business owners to activists, could face the same fate.

✱ ALSO: And it’s not just the women who are in trouble. Anyone who supports them, from business owners to activists, could face the same fate.

🇮🇳 India:

India warns its citizens: Stay away from Canada.

After Canada and India both kicked out each others’ diplomats, India is upping the ante. India just issued an alert for all Indian nations living in Canada to “exercise utmost caution” as “anti-India activities” are on the rise.

Fear mongering or credible?

🇵🇱 Poland:

Poland stops weapons supply to Ukraine over a cereal drama.

Here’s a rundown of what’s been happening:

• The EU recently lifted its ban on Ukrainian grain, but Poland didn’t.

• Ukraine sued Poland at the World Trade Organization for it.

• President Zelensky criticized this at the UN, leading Poland to summon Ukraine’s ambassador.

• Poland summons Kyiv’s ambassador to protest the insinuation.

• Poland announces it is “no longer transferring weapons to Ukraine.”

🇺🇦 Ukraine:

Putin’s palace under attack?

A massive fire erupted at an oil depot near the airport, just a few miles from Putin’s lavish summer palace in Sochi. The blaze was reportedly caused by a Ukrainian drone strike. The fire engulfed a fuel tank belonging to Rosneft, one of Russia’s main oil companies, and sent thick smoke over the airport and the resort town.

✱ ALSO: Ukraine does not officially claim responsibility for the drone attacks on Russian soil. President Zelensky is often vague about the strikes, saying the attacks are “not done on [his] orders.”