Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Ghana and Togo started a historic initiative to replace fast-disappearing border markers in the face of rising insecurity and cross-border crimes in West Africa.
- AMERICAS: Paraguayan organized crime prosecutor Marcelo Pecci was assassinated while on his honeymoon in Colombia.
- ASIA: Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared victory in this week’s Philippines presidential elections and faced early calls to ensure respect for human rights, the rule of law and democracy.
- EUROPE: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit Sweden and Finland to discuss the war in Ukraine and the potential of both countries joining NATO.
- MIDDLE EAST: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in the Omani capital Muscat on a state visit.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Apple announced that it would cease production of the iPod.
Top Story
- Global: Ukraine Diverts some Russian Gas Flows, Claims Battlefield Gains
- Flows of Russian gas to Europe through a transit point in Ukraine dried up, while Kyiv reported battlefield gains over invading Russian forces that could signal a shift in the war’s momentum.
- The move fuels fears that the Kremlin’s campaign in its neighbor could see gas supplies to Europe via Ukraine cut off at a time when prices have already soared.
- Ukraine’s pipeline operator GTSOU said that it was halting gas transport at the Sokhranivka transit point as Russian forces were interfering with operations.
- Russian gas giant Gazprom had denied that there was a case for the Ukrainian operator to declare “force majeure” and said it was impossible to reroute all the supplies.
- Ukraine is a major supply route for Russian gas to Europe and the two sides have kept flows going even after the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine on February 24.
- Reuters, AFP, Bloomberg, Interfax, CNBC
Africa
- Region: Ghana and Togo started a historic initiative to replace fast-disappearing border markers in the face of rising insecurity and cross-border crimes in West Africa. (BBC)
- Libya: The eastern-based parliament wants the government it appointed under Fathi Bashagha to be based in the coastal city of Sirte. (BBC)
- Nigeria: The Islamic State published a video which it says shows the execution of 20 Christian civilians in Borno state. (BBC)
- Rwanda: Aid agencies said several asylum seekers in the UK have gone into hiding because of fears they will be sent to the country. (BBC)
- Somalia: A record 39 candidates have registered for the long-delayed presidential election scheduled to be held May 15. (AFP)
Americas
- Region: Paraguayan organized crime prosecutor Marcelo Pecci was assassinated while on his honeymoon in Colombia. (BBC)
- El Salvador: A woman who suffered a miscarriage was sentenced to 30 years in prison for aggravated homicide under the country’s anti-abortion law. (AP)
- Haiti: A human rights NGO reported that at least 148 people have been killed in a Port-au-Prince gang war beginning in late April. (AFP)
- Panama: Commerce Minister Ramon Martinez was named ambassador to the United States. (Reuters)
- United States: West Virginia voters picked a Donald Trump acolyte to represent them in November’s midterm elections, but the ex-president suffered defeat with his endorsed candidate losing in Nebraska. (AFP)
Asia
- China: Beijing hit back against what it called “irresponsible” comments by the head of the World Health Organization, who described the country’s uncompromising and increasingly painful “zero COVID” policy as “not sustainable.” (Reuters)
- Hong Kong: A court ruled that prosecutors could label organizers of the city’s annual Tiananmen vigil “foreign agents” without having to reveal who the group is accused of working for. (AFP)
- New Zealand: The country will reopen its borders to tourists from all countries by July. (AP)
- Philippines: Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared victory in this week’s presidential elections and faced early calls to ensure respect for human rights, the rule of law and democracy. (AP)
- South Korea: New defense minister Lee Jong-sup took office, vowing to “sternly” respond to North Korea’s possible provocations and cement the alliance with the United States. (Yonhap)
Europe
- Region: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit Sweden and Finland to discuss the war in Ukraine and the potential of both countries joining NATO. (BBC)
- Bosnia-Herzegovina: High Representative Christian Schmidt called the escalating political crisis in the country the most serious since the 1992-95 war. (AP)
- France: Authorities opened a case against Interpol president Ahmed Nasser al-Raisi of the United Arab Emirates over accusations of torture and arbitrary detention filed by two Britons who were detained in the country. (AFP)
- Ukraine: Kyiv said it was pushing Russian troops away from the country’s second city Kharkiv but facing stiff resistance. (AFP)
- United Kingdom: Home Secretary Priti Patel announced an overhaul of espionage laws intended to address new threats to national security, such as cyberattacks. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Iran: The judiciary said it would carry out the execution of Iranian-Swedish scientist Ahmadreza Djalali, accused of spying for Israel. (NYT)
- Oman: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov arrived in Muscat on a state visit. (TASS)
- Palestinian Territories: Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed while covering an Israeli raid in the occupied town of Jenin. (AP)
- United Arab Emirates: Emirates Chief Operating Officer Adel Al Redha said the airline would not receive its Boeing 787 Dreamliners in 2023 and may not even receive its first until 2025 due to production issues. (Reuters)
- Yemen: The Norwegian Refugee Council said the number of civilian casualties in the war-torn country has dropped by over 50 percent since a two-month truce took effect in early April. (AFP)
Tech & Communications
- Technology: Apple announced that it would cease production of the iPod. (AFP)
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 11MAY22)
- Confirmed cases: 518,814,718
- Deaths: 6,256,004
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 11MAY22)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (12MAY22)
- Event: Washington Conference on the Americas.
- Global: Second Global COVID-19 Summit, virtual
- Finland: President Sauli Niinistö to officially decide to apply for NATO membership
- Germany: European Police Congress in Berlin
- Germany: G7 Foreign Ministers meeting in Schleswig-Holstein (to 14MAY)
- Japan: EU-Japan summit in Tokyo
- Poland: FAO Regional Conference for Europe in Łódź (to 13MAY)
- United States: US-ASEAN Special Summit in Washington DC (to 13MAY)
- United States: Agriculture Secretary Vilsack travels to Germany and Poland.
- United States: Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on efforts to support Ukraine against Russia.
- United States: House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on North Korea policy.
- Vietnam: Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi (to 23MAY)
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