06JUN22 Global Overnight Overwatch Report

Key Storylines

AFRICA: Gunmen who attacked a Catholic church with explosives in southwest Nigeria killed at least 21 worshippers, including some children.
AMERICAS: The Biden administration made a final decision to exclude the governments of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua from the Summit of the Americas.
ASIA: The US and South Korea launched eight ballistic missiles into the sea in a show of force matching a North Korean display a day earlier that extended a provocative streak in weapons demonstrations.
EUROPE: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was forced to cancel a visit to Serbia after several of its neighbors prevented his plane from passing through their airspace.
MIDDLE EAST: Israel’s ruling coalition is gearing up for a major test with an expected vote on the legal status of Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.
TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Chinese regulators are concluding probes into Didi Global Inc and two other firms and are preparing to allow their apps back on domestic app stores as early as this week.

Top Story

United Kingdom: Prime Minister Boris Johnson Faces Confidence Vote in Parliament.
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a confidence vote after a growing number of lawmakers in the Conservative Party questioned the British leader’s authority following a “partygate” scandal.
- The ballot was triggered by Conservative lawmakers concerned over a collapse in Johnson’s poll ratings following revelations of parties in Downing Street and other government buildings during coronavirus lockdowns.
- To trigger a vote of confidence, 15% of Conservative lawmakers (or 54 of the current 360 Tory MPs) are required to write letters to Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee which oversees the party’s leadership challenges.
- A Downing Street spokesperson said Johnson “welcomes the opportunity to make his case to MPs” and Monday’s vote was “a chance to end months of speculation and allow the government to draw a line and move on”.
- The partygate fallout prompted a new wave of calls from Conservatives for UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to step aside.
- Cabinet ministers have expressed their support for Mr Johnson ahead of the vote later, with many of them taking similar lines in defending the prime minister’s record.
- Reuters, AP, AFP, BBC, DPA, NYT

Africa

DR Congo: President Felix Tshisekedi said “there’s no doubt” that Rwanda supported M23 rebels in clashes in the east of his country that have displaced tens of thousands. (BBC)
Mali: The government was disappointed by the decision of the West Africa regional group, Ecowas, to maintain crippling economic sanctions on the Sahel country. (BBC)
Nigeria: Gunmen who attacked a Catholic church with explosives in the southwest killed at least 21 worshippers, including some children. (AFP)
South Africa: President Cyril Ramaphosa made a robust defense of his integrity after he was accused of being involved in kidnapping and bribery. (BBC)
Uganda: Health minister Jane Aceng said the country’s Covid-19 cases have risen to levels last witnessed in June 2021 when the Delta variant was prevalent. (BBC)

Americas

Region: The Biden administration made a final decision to exclude the governments of Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua from the Summit of the Americas. (Reuters)
Brazil: Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday and will remain isolated for the next few days. (Reuters)
Mexico: According to preliminary results, Lopez Obrador’s National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) is set to win gubernatorial races in the states of Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Hidalgo, and Tamaulipas. (Reuters)
United States: Primary elections in seven states Tuesday will set the stage for U.S. House and Senate battles this fall that will play into control of Congress. (AP)
Venezuela: Italian oil company Eni and Spain’s Repsol could begin shipping the country’s oil to Europe as soon as next month to make up for Russian crude. (Reuters)

Asia

Region: The US and South Korea launched eight ballistic missiles into the sea in a show of force matching a North Korean display a day earlier that extended a provocative streak in weapons demonstrations. (AP)
China: Beijing warned Australia to “act prudently” or face “serious consequences” after Canberra accused a Chinese fighter jet of dangerously intercepting one of its spy planes over the South China Sea. (AFP)
India: Delhi is facing major diplomatic outrage from Muslim-majority countries after two top officials in the governing Hindu nationalist party made derogatory references to Islam. (AP)
Kazakhstan: Authorities said an overwhelming majority voted for sweeping constitutional changes in a referendum that marks the end of founding leader Nursultan Nazarbayev’s three-decade grip on the Central Asian country. (AFP)
Singapore: Finance minister Lawrence Wong will be promoted to deputy prime minister, the clearest sign yet that he could become the city-state’s next leader. (AFP)

Europe

France: President Emmanuel Macron’s bloc has come out on top in most of the constituencies of overseas voters who went to the polls. (Reuters)
Germany: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock is arriving in Islamabad on Tuesday on a two-day visit to Pakistan. (DPA)
Russia: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was forced to cancel a visit to Serbia after several of its neighbors prevented his plane from passing through their airspace. (AFP)
Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky met troops on the frontlines in Donbas as heavy fighting raged in the eastern industrial region that Moscow has focused its forces on. (AFP)
United Kingdom: Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced that the country will send M270 launchers, which can strike targets up to 80km away with precision guided rockets. (The Guardian)

Middle East

Iran: The death toll in the collapse of a building in the southwestern city of Abadan rose to 41. (AP)
Iraq: A court sentenced a British citizen to 15 years in prison on charges of attempting to smuggle artifacts out of the country. (AP)
Israel: The ruling coalition is gearing up for a major test with an expected vote on the legal status of Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank. (AP)
Saudi Arabia: Oil prices hit $120 a barrel after the kingdom raised crude prices for July and amid doubts that an increased OPEC+ monthly output target will help ease tight supply. (Reuters)
Syria: An SDF commander said its army would coordinate with Syrian government troops to fend off any Turkish invasion of the north. (Reuters)

Tech & Communications

Technology: Chinese regulators are concluding probes into Didi Global Inc and two other firms and are preparing to allow their apps back on domestic app stores as early as this week. (WSJ)

World

Cyclones: Nothing to Report.
Hurricanes:
- Tropical Storm Alex
  - Location: 33.5N, 66.7W
  - Wind: 65 mph
  - Movement: ENE at 28 mph
  - Map
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report.
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report.
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 06JUN22)
  - Confirmed cases: 532,019,284
  - Deaths: 6,299,291
  - Countries with confirmed cases: 192
  - Sourcing: John Hopkins University

Tomorrow’s Outlook (07JUN22)

Event: Colombian and Ecuadorian presidents discuss integration of Venezuelan refugees at Wilson Center.
Global: World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects report launched.
Côte d’Ivoire: The country will elect a new president of the National Assembly.
Malta: Sette Giugno.
Pakistan: Visit by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
South Korea: Unionized freight workers to hold nationwide strike.
Sweden: Parliament to hold no-confidence vote against Justice Minister Morgan Johansson.
United States: Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin departs for Singapore/Thailand trip.
United States: Primary elections in California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, and South Dakota.
United States: Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles. (to 10JUN)
United States: Senate Foreign Relations Committee top secret briefing on ‘Around the World Threat Assessment’.

END