Key Storylines
- AFRICA: A court dismissed former South African president Jacob Zuma’s request to postpone his prison term.
- AMERICAS: Haitian authorities detained 17 suspects in President Jovenal Moise’s assassination, including two dual US nationals and six Colombian nationals.
- ASIA: One Kyrgyz soldier was killed during clashes between Kyrgyz and Tajik security forces after a shootout erupted at a border checkpoint.
- EUROPE: The finance ministers and central bank leaders of G20 countries will meet in Italy today to discuss global corporate tax reform.
- MIDDLE EAST: Israel will begin seizing cryptocurrency accounts used by Hamas to raise funds for its armed faction.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: El Salvador expelled the Mexican editor of the El Faro publication, saying that authorities were unable to verify the editor’s work credentials.
Top Story
- Afghanistan: The Taliban’s territorial gains continue.
- The Taliban said they had seized the Islam Qala border crossing that serves as one of Afghanistan’s biggest trade gateways into Iran.
- Meanwhile, a Taliban delegation in Moscow told Russia it controlled more than 85% of Afghanistan’s territory, while Russia said the Taliban controlled about two-thirds of the Afghan-Tajik border
- There are concerns in Russia that Islamist extremists could infiltrate Central Asia following a Taliban revival in Afghanistan, though the Taliban delegation reassured Russia that the group would do all it could to prevent Islamic State from operating in Afghanistan.
- As a result of these territorial gains, the Taliban now reportedly hold an arc of territory from the Iranian border to Afghanistan’s border with China.
- Additionally, China evacuated 210 of its citizens from Afghanistan.
- Reporting: Reuters, NYT, WaPo, BBC, AFP, AP, Reuters2
Africa
- Region: Sahel leaders are set to hold their first talks with French President Emmanuel Macron since his decision to reduce French troops in West Africa. (AFP)
- Region: The UN Security Council backed the African Union’s mediation efforts between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan in a dispute over Ethiopia’s controversial dam on the Nile River and urged the countries to resume discussions. (Reuters)
- DR Congo: A draft law tightening nationality rules for presidential candidates was introduced to parliament, which could rule out potential candidate Moise Katumbi in the future. (AFP)
- South Africa: A court dismissed former president Jacob Zuma’s request to postpone his prison term. (AP)
- South Sudan: In a speech marking the 10th anniversary of the country’s independence, President Salva Kiir promised not to return the country to war. (AFP)
Americas
- Region: Argentina’s President Alberto Fernández criticized Uruguay’s decision to negotiate possible trade deals with other countries bilaterally due to disagreements between Mercosur countries. (DPA)
- Chile: After fully vaccinating more than 73% of its population against COVID-19, the government said it would relax some COVID-19 restrictions. (AFP)
- Haiti: Authorities detained 17 suspects in President Jovenal Moise’s assassination, including two dual US nationals and six Colombian nationals. (AP)
- Honduras: A mob of around 600 people in the Yusguare municipality lynched an Italian national who they accused of killing one of his neighbors. (AFP)
- United States: Pfizer will seek federal authorization for a third booster shot of its coronavirus vaccine. (AP)
Asia
- Region: Australia denied China’s accusations of interfering with the rollout of Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines in Papua New Guinea. (AFP)
- Region: One Kyrgyz soldier was killed during clashes between Kyrgyz and Tajik security forces after a shootout erupted at a border checkpoint. (AFP)
- China: The Foreign Ministry said Beijing will take all necessary measures to protect its companies after being asked about reports of the US planning to add more Chinese companies to its blacklist. (Reuters)
- Thailand: The government announced new COVID-19 restrictions, including a new curfew for Bangkok and nine provinces. (AFP)
Europe
- Region: Ukraine proposed the imposition of personal sanctions on 52 Belarusian officials, including President Alexander Lukashenko’s son Viktor Lukashenko. (Reuters)
- Region: Lithuania began the construction of a barrier on its border with Belarus. (Reuters)
- Region: Northern Ireland’s Loyalist Communities Council called Ireland’s government errant, saying it had effectively instigated a Cold War with Northern Ireland over trade. (Reuters)
- Region: The finance ministers and central bank leaders of G20 countries will meet in Venice today to discuss global corporate tax reform. (Reuters)
- United Kingdom: The government plans to scrap quarantine requirements for vaccinated foreign visitors in the coming weeks. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Region: Israel will begin seizing cryptocurrency accounts used by Hamas to raise funds for its armed faction. (AP)
- Lebanon: Caretaker Interior Minister Mohamed Fahmy has rejected a request to question one of its leading security chiefs made by the lead investigator into the Beirut port explosion. (Reuters)
- Syria: The Turkish Red Crescent called a possible closure of a key aid route into the country due to Russia’s veto at the UN Security Council an “inhuman” result. (AFP)
Tech & Communications
- Media: El Salvador expelled the Mexican editor of the El Faro publication, saying that authorities were unable to verify the editor’s work credentials. (AP)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes:
- Tropical Storm Elsa
- Location: 5 miles East of Atlantic City, New Jersey
- Wind: 50 mph
- Movement: NE at 27 mph
- Map
- Tropical Storm Elsa
- Earthquakes:
- United States
- Location: Antelope Valley, California
- Magnitude: 6.0
- Depth: 7.5 km
- Map
- United States
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 09JUL21)
- Confirmed cases: 185,582,662
- Deaths: 4,010,839
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 09JUL21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (10JUL21)
- Global: The Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors of G20 countries will meet.
- Global: An extradition treaty between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates will take effect, allowing South Africa to return the Gupta family that is accused of involvement in high-level state corruption.
- Europe: The final day of the Sea Breeze 2021 military exercises in the Black Sea.
- The Bahamas: Independence Day – 1973
- Syria: A UN authorization of cross-border operations into the country will expire, unless extended prior this date.
END
