Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Mali’s ruling junta announced it was breaking off defense accords with France, claiming “flagrant violations” of its sovereignty by French troops.
- AMERICAS: A draft of a US Supreme Court majority opinion which would strike down Roe v. Wade was published by Politico.
- ASIA: Beijing’s top envoy to Pyongyang said China will play a “constructive” role in resolving tensions on the Korean peninsula.
- EUROPE: German conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz is expected to arrive in Kyiv for meetings with Ukrainian officials.
- MIDDLE EAST: Russia’s foreign ministry accused Israel of supporting neo-Nazis in Ukraine, further escalating a row which began when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Adolf Hitler had Jewish origins.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Russia has rerouted internet traffic in the occupied Ukrainian region of Kherson through Russian communications infrastructure.
Top Story
- Global: Pope says he wants to go to Moscow to meet Putin over Ukraine.
- Pope Francis said in an interview that he asked for a meeting in Moscow with Russian President Vladimir Putin to try to stop the war in Ukraine but had not received a reply.
- The 85-year-old told Italy’s Corriere Della Sera newspaper that he had sent a message to Putin around 20 days into the conflict saying, “that I was willing to go to Moscow”.
- Pope Francis has no plans to go to Kyiv but repeatedly expressed hope of a visit to Moscow, in an apparent bid to persuade Putin to halt military operations in Ukraine.
- The pope has repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine and denounced a “cruel and senseless war” but without ever mentioning Putin or Moscow by name.
- About three weeks into the conflict, Pope Francis asked the Vatican’s top diplomat to send a message to Russia’s leader that he was willing to go to Moscow but received no response from the Kremlin.
- Reuters, AFP, WaPo, Canberra Times, AlJazeera
Africa
- Central African Republic: Human Rights Watch said there was “compelling evidence” that Russian paramilitary troops were committing serious rights abuses and killing civilians in the country. (AFP)
- Mali: The ruling junta announced it was breaking off defense accords with France, claiming “flagrant violations” of its sovereignty by French troops. (AFP)
- Nigeria: The death toll from a building collapse in the country’s commercial capital Lagos has risen to 10, including a young boy. (AFP)
- Somalia: Heavily armed Al-Shabaab jihadists stormed an African Union (AU) base in the country triggering a fierce firefight that left an unknown number of casualties. (AFP)
- South Africa: President Cyril Ramaphosa promised to improve conditions for workers and the poor, saying he had heard the grievances of miners who drove him from a May Day celebration. (AFP)
Americas
- Region: A US appeals court declined to rule on whether or not Colombian businessman Alex Saab, an ally of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, can claim diplomatic immunity. (Reuters)
- Colombia: Leftist front-runner Gustavo Petro canceled events in the country’s coffee region because of what his office said was a plot by a crime gang to attempt to take his life. (Reuters)
- Costa Rica: The health ministry announced the rollout of an optional fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose, available to the immunocompromised and those over 50. (Reuters)
- El Salvador: Human rights groups criticized mass arrests of suspected gang members. (AP)
- United States: A draft of a Supreme Court majority opinion which would strike down Roe v. Wade was published by Politico. (AFP)
Asia
- Region: Beijing’s top envoy to Pyongyang said China will play a “constructive” role in resolving tensions on the Korean peninsula. (AFP)
- Cambodia: Prime minister Hun Sen urged Myanmar’s top general to allow a special Southeast Asian envoy access to ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi. (Reuters)
- China: The National Health Commission reported 6,074 new COVID-19 cases, a decrease of over 20% from the previous day. (Reuters)
- Philippines: Presidential candidates will hold final election rallies this week in a two-way race between frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his main rival Leni Robredo. (Reuters)
- Taiwan: The island is cutting mandatory quarantine to seven days for all arrivals, its latest relaxation of the rules to try to live with COVID-19 and resume normal life even as the number of domestic infections spikes. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: The head of the European Council Charles Michel is joining the leaders of four Balkan countries on a tour of liquefied natural gas facilities being built in northern Greece to challenge Russia’s energy dominance in the region. (AP)
- Armenia: Anti-government protests spread throughout Yerevan as opposition parties mounted pressure on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over his “treacherous” handling of a territorial dispute with arch-foe Azerbaijan. (AFP)
- Germany: Conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz is expected to arrive in Kyiv for meetings with Ukrainian officials. (AP)
- Russia: The defense ministry reported that over 11,000 people, including 1,800 children, were transported from Ukraine without the participation of Ukrainian authorities. (Reuters)
- United Kingdom: The government announced £300 million in new military aid to Ukraine. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Afghanistan: Taliban officials in the country’s most progressive city Herat have told driving instructors to stop issuing licenses to women. (AFP)
- Egypt: The US State Department said the death of economic researcher Ayman Hadhoud requires a “thorough, transparent and credible” investigation. (Reuters)
- Iran: Oil minister Javad Owji paid an official visit to Venezuela to meet President Nicolas Maduro and discuss ways to “overcome” the effects of US sanctions against both nations. (Al-Monitor)
- Israel: Russia’s foreign ministry accused the country of supporting neo-Nazis in Ukraine, further escalating a row which began when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed Adolf Hitler had Jewish origins. (Reuters)
- Syria: Germany’s top court rejected the appeal of a former member of the secret police who was convicted last year of facilitating the torture of prisoners in his home country. (AP)
Tech & Communications
- Technology: Russia has rerouted internet traffic in the occupied Ukrainian region of Kherson through Russian communications infrastructure. (Reuters)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to Report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to Report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to Report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to Report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 03MAY22)
- Confirmed cases: 514,284,882
- Deaths: 6,238,487
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 03MAY22)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (04MAY22)
- Global: UN Anti-Bullying Day.
- Global: International Firefighters’ Day.
- Chile: Visit by US Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya. (to 05MAY)
- China: Youth Day.
- France: Visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz holds separate meetings with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian Prime Minister Alexander Vucic.
- Latvia: Restoration of Independence Day.
- Namibia: Cassinga Day.
- Romania: Visit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
- Russia: Final day of grace period to pay sovereign bonds in dollars, after which Russia. will be declared in sovereign default.
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