Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Tunisia’s foreign ministry said comments by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on President Kais Saied’s decree dissolving parliament were an “unacceptable interference” in internal affairs.
- AMERICAS: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invited Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to take part in an event supporting Ukraine amid criticism that Mexico has been too accommodating to Russia.
- ASIA: Lawyers for Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan began their defense in the Supreme Court of his bid to block an opposition attempt to oust him.
- EUROPE: French President Emmanuel Macron is the clear favorite in the country’s presidential vote on Sunday.
- MIDDLE EAST: Nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said Iran has handed over documents related to outstanding issues to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Twitter confirmed it is working on an edit button feature after new board member Elon Musk polled his followers on whether they would want that feature.
Top Story
- Hong Kong: The City’s Number 2 Official Joseph Lee Resigns, Announces Leadership Bid.
- The Chief Secretary for Administration John Lee submitted his resignation to pave the way for his run in the city’s upcoming leadership race.
- Chief Secretary Lee has been forceful in enacting China’s harsher security system with democrats arrested, jailed, or forced into exile, civil society groups forced to disband, and liberal media outlets raided by police and shuttered.
- Local media and government loyalists in recent days as Beijing’s top choice for the role.
- Lee had earlier been the only heavyweight tipped to enter the race, with sources saying he could be the only hopeful with enough votes to contest.
- The Chief Executive’s Office confirmed Lee’s resignation in a press release: “Mr Lee will proceed on leave with immediate effect.”
- AP, Reuters, AFP, SCMP, HKFP
Africa
- Burkina Faso: A military tribunal sentenced former president Blaise Compaore to life imprisonment for complicity in the 1987 murder of his predecessor Thomas Sankara. (Reuters)
- DR Congo: Fighting erupted in the troubled east between army troops and the M23 rebel group after a week of relative calm. (AFP)
- Ethiopia: A joint report by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said Tigrayan civilians are being targeted in crimes against humanity. (DW)
- Sudan: Pro-democracy groups called for mass protests, denouncing an October military coup that plunged the country into political turmoil and aggravated its economic woes. (AP)
- Tunisia: The foreign ministry said comments by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on President Kais Saied’s decree dissolving parliament were an “unacceptable interference” in internal affairs. (Reuters)
Americas
- Region: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invited Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to take part in an event supporting Ukraine amid criticism that Mexico has been too accommodating to Russia. (Reuters)
- Brazil: The Supreme Court rejected an extradition request by Turkey for Yakup Sagar, an opponent of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan. (Reuters)
- Chile: The government announced a constitutional referendum to take place September 4. (AFP)
- Mexico: The attorney general’s office said Britain ordered the extradition of Karime Macias, a former official wanted for corruption to the country. (AFP)
- Peru: President Pedro Castillo lifted a curfew requiring residents of Lima to remain in their homes for 24 hours. (NYT)
Asia
- China: Both black boxes from a passenger plane crash in the country’s south last month that killed 132 people are being analyzed by US experts at a government lab in Washington, DC. (AP)
- Indonesia: A former human rights lawyer who joined an Islamic hard-line group has been sentenced to three years in prison on charges of incitement with the aim to establish a caliphate in a secular country. (AP)
- New Zealand: Foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta announced a 35% tariff on all Russian imports and an extension on existing export prohibitions. (Reuters)
- Pakistan: Lawyers for Prime Minister Imran Khan began their defense in the Supreme Court of his bid to block an opposition attempt to oust him. (Reuters)
- Taiwan: The US State Department approved a $95 million sale to improve the island’s missile defense systems. (Reuters)
Europe
- France: President Emmanuel Macron is the clear favorite in the country’s presidential vote on Sunday. (AP)
- Germany: The economy and climate ministry will present a package of measures to expand renewable energy as the need to reduce the country’s heavy reliance on Russian fossil fuels adds urgency to its green transition plans. (Reuters)
- Greece: The country expelled 12 Russian diplomats, becoming the latest EU country to order such expulsions amid increasing outrage over the war in Ukraine. (AFP)
- Romania: Police in Bucharest said a car crashed into the gate of the Russian Embassy, bursting into flames, and killing the driver. (AP)
- Ukraine: The World Health Organization said it will supply antiretroviral drugs to cover the needs of HIV patients in the country for the next 12 months. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Afghanistan: A hand grenade was thrown into Kabul’s Pul-e-Khishti mosque wounding at least six people. (WaPo)
- Iran: Nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said the country has handed over documents related to outstanding issues to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). (Reuters)
- Israel: Defense Minister Benny Gantz spoke with Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas on the occasion of Ramadan. (AFP)
- Israel: The ruling coalition lost its majority after Idit Silman, the chairperson of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Yamina party said she was resigning. (MEE)
- Syria: Explosive remnants of the country’s war killed nearly 30 civilians, including more than a dozen children last month. (AFP)
Tech & Communications
- Social Media: Twitter confirmed it is working on an edit button feature after new board member Elon Musk polled his followers on whether they would want that feature. (BBC)
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 06APR22)
- Confirmed cases: 493,765,532
- Deaths: 6,159,580
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 06APR22)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (07APR22)
- Event: Atlantic Council conversation with former Australian PM Kevin Rudd.
- Global: International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Rwanda Genocide.
- Belgium: G7 foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.
- Canada: Annual federal budget presentation.
- Europe: NATO foreign ministers meeting in Brussels.
- Greece: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to virtually address parliament.
- Kenya: National budget presentation.
- Rwanda: Genocide Memorial Day.
- Tanzania: Karume Day.
- Turkey: Prosecutors to request transfer to Saudi Arabia of the murder case of Jamal Khashoggi.
END
