Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Clashes between armed men and security forces have been reported in the southern Ethiopian town of Moyale close to the border with Kenya.
- AMERICAS: Former Finance Minister Rodrigo Chaves is set to be Costa Rica’s next president after a scandal-tainted runoff vote.
- ASIA: Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam will not seek a second term in office after a controversial tenure that has seen many of the territory’s civil freedoms eroded.
- EUROPE: The Kremlin denied accusations that Russian forces were responsible for killing civilians near Kyiv and suggested images of corpses were “fakes”.
- MIDDLE EAST: An Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson blamed the United States for the pause in talks between Tehran and world powers in Vienna aimed at reviving their 2015 nuclear deal.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has built a 9.2% stake in Twitter potentially making him the biggest stakeholder in the micro-blogging site.
Top Story
- Pakistan: The Supreme Court hears arguments on Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Dissolving of Parliament.
- The Supreme Court began hearing arguments on the legality of Prime Minister Imran Khan calling a general election after his party blocked a no-confidence vote and he dissolved parliament to prevent an opposition attempt to oust him.
- The opposition is challenging the latest moves by Khan as a ploy to stay on as prime minister and has also accused him of economic mismanagement.
- The move to dissolve parliament and call for early elections has sparked anger among the opposition, with some politicians accusing Mr. Khan of “treason” for not allowing the vote to go ahead.
- Many legal observers expected the Supreme Court to overrule Mr. Khan, but it could also agree to allow elections for a new assembly to go ahead, which would give Mr. Khan a window to rally support for his leadership.
- Khan had claimed the vote was part of a US-led conspiracy to remove him, but the US has denied this.
- Reuters, AP, BBC, NYT, AFP
Africa
- Ethiopia: Clashes between armed men and security forces have been reported in the southern town of Moyale close to the border with Kenya. (BBC)
- Kenya: A nation-wide fuel shortage continues with major towns reporting long queues at the few filling stations that have the commodity. (BBC)
- Nigeria: One week after shooters attacked a train with explosives in the country’s northwest, the whereabouts of 168 passengers are still unknown. (AFP)
- South Sudan: Rivals have signed an agreement on the formation of a unified armed forces command, a key pillar of a peace agreement signed in 2018. (BBC)
- Sudan: Authorities say a boat sank last week on the Blue Nile and at least 23 women are believed to have drowned. (AP)
Americas
- Canada: The country will support General Motors Co’s multi-billion-dollar investment in two plants, including one that will produce electric commercial vehicles (EVs). (Reuters)
- Costa Rica: Former Finance Minister Rodrigo Chaves is set to be the country’s next president after a scandal-tainted runoff vote. (DW)
- Ecuador: At least 12 prisoners died and another 10 were injured during a gang confrontation in a prison. (Reuters)
- Mexico: A group of migrants traveling by foot from the south to the US disbanded after authorities agreed to expedite immigration procedures following clashes. (AFP)
- United States: Democrats are launching a week of votes and procedural maneuvers with the goal of confirming Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court by Friday. (AP)
Asia
- China: Shanghai health officials defended a policy of separating babies and young children from their parents if they test positive for COVID-19. (AFP)
- Hong Kong: Chief Executive Carrie Lam will not seek a second term in office after a controversial tenure that has seen many of the territory’s civil freedoms eroded. (BBC)
- Japan: Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi condemned the “exceptionally cruel” violence against civilians near Kyiv in an apparent reference to killings in the town of Bucha. (AFP)
- South Korea: A team of foreign policy and security advisers to president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is visiting the United States this week, seeking to help prepare an early summit with President Joe Biden. (Reuters)
- Sri Lanka: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa asked opposition parties to form a unity government on Monday. (AP)
Europe
- Poland: Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Germany is the main roadblock to imposing tougher sanctions on Russia. (Reuters)
- Russia: The Kremlin denied accusations that forces were responsible for killing civilians near Kyiv and suggested images of corpses were “fakes”. (AFP)
- Serbia: An early official count of the Balkan country’s national election confirmed the landslide victory of President Aleksandar Vucic and his populist party. (AP)
- Spain: US federal agents and the Civil Guard are searching a yacht owned by a Russian oligarch in the Balearic Islands. (AP)
- Sweden: The government is recommending a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose to people over 65 and those living in nursing homes or getting home care. (AP)
Middle East
- Afghanistan: Security forces launched a clearance operation in Jalalabad city, and the surrounding districts as the latest preventive measures to ensure a high level of security. (Xinhua)
- Egypt: The foreign ministry called for a halt to the ongoing escalation in the Palestinian territories during the holy month of Ramadan. (Xinhua)
- Iran: A foreign ministry spokesperson blamed the United States for the pause in talks between Tehran and world powers in Vienna aimed at reviving their 2015 nuclear deal. (Reuters)
- Jordan: Former crown prince, Hamzah, who was implicated in a coup plot against his half-brother King Abdullah II, gave up his royal title. (Al-Monitor)
- Palestinian Territories: Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye said there is a need for an international initiative to fill the current political vacuum in light of Israel’s destruction of the possibility of establishing a state. (Xinhua)
Tech & Communications
- Technology: Tesla Inc Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has built a 9.2% stake in Twitter potentially making him the biggest stakeholder in the micro-blogging site. (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 04APR22)
- Confirmed cases: 491,499,802
- Deaths: 6,153,354
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 04APR22)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (05APR22)
- Event: CSIS hosts US-Indo-Pacific Conference. (to 06APR)
- Event: Wilson Center discussion on the Syrian conflict.
- Asia: Taiwan and China to celebrate the Qingming (tomb sweeping) Festival.
- Europe: EU finance ministers to discuss global minimum level of taxation for large corporations and financial aid for Ukraine.
- Japan: Japan to ban sale of various luxury goods and precious metals to Russia.
- North Korea: Chungmyung Festival.
- Panama: Unions continue strike efforts to increase worker wages.
- United States: Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force chief of staff lays wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
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