Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Chad’s government said the country’s northern region was “completely under control” following an attack by the FACT rebel group over the weekend.
- AMERICAS: Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala reached an agreement with the US to increase their enforcement efforts against immigrants heading to the United States.
- ASIA: China lodged a complaint against US guidelines that will enable US officials to meet more freely with Taiwanese officials, warning Washington to stop playing with fire.
- EUROPE: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned the US to keep its warships away from Crimea “for their own good”.
- MIDDLE EAST: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the recent attack on the Natanz nuclear facility complicated the ongoing negotiations over the 2015 JCPOA deal.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Alessandra Galloni was named as Reuters’ next editor-in-chief, making her the first woman to lead the globe-spanning news agency in Reuters’ 170-year history.
Top Story
- Japan: Fukushima water to be released into the sea in 2 years.
- Japan approved a plan to release contaminated water from the ravaged Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.
- Under the plan, the government will release the contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean in two years.
- The water will also be treated before its release so that radiation levels are below those set for drinking water.
- Nevertheless, the decision has triggered disapproval from fishermen, local residents and neighboring countries.
- China called Japan’s decision “extremely irresponsible” while South Korea summoned Japan’s Ambassador to Seoul to protest the move.
- Reporting: Reuters, AP, NYT, WaPo, WSJ, BBC, DPA
Africa
- Region: Around 50 NGOs urged authorities to adopt a fresh approach to combating jihadism in the Sahel region, including dialogue with insurgents and protecting civilians from soldiers. (AFP)
- Chad: The government said the country’s northern region was “completely under control” following an attack by the FACT rebel group over the weekend. (AFP)
- Kenya: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered a review of the investigation into a January 2020 attack on a military base that left three Americans dead. (AP)
- Libya: The country’s authorities and Turkish conglomerate Ronesans Holding signed deals to construct three power plants, a mall, and a new international airport at Tripoli. (Reuters)
- Sudan: The country’s annual inflation rate rose to 341% in the month of March. (Reuters)
Americas
- Region: Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala reached an agreement with the US to increase their enforcement efforts against immigrants heading to the United States. (NYT)
- Canada: The country’s main spy agency said foreign interference and espionage in the country last year reached levels not seen since the Cold War. (Reuters)
- Mexico: Authorities arrested 30 marines over the 2014 disappearances in the northern state of Tamaulipas. (AFP)
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: The UN said St. Vincent’s entire population was left without clean water and electricity following the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano. (DPA)
- United States: Police and protesters clashed for a second night in the Minneapolis suburb where an officer fatally shot a Black man during a traffic stop. (AP)
Asia
- Region: China lodged a complaint against US guidelines that will enable US officials to meet more freely with Taiwanese officials, warning Washington to stop playing with fire. (Reuters)
- Region: The Philippines summoned China’s ambassador to Manila to press Beijing on the removal of Chinese vessels that are currently parked at a reef claimed by Manila in the South China Sea. (AP)
- India: Authorities greenlighted the emergency use of Russia’s Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine as the country faces global record high daily coronavirus cases. (AFP)
- Myanmar: Pro-democracy protesters in the country turned the Thingyan new year’s festival into a rallying point for pro-democracy demonstrations. (AFP)
- Taiwan: A new shipbuilding program created to counter Chinese pressure launched its first amphibious transport ship. (AP)
Europe
- Region: Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned the US to keep its warships away from Crimea “for their own good”. (Reuters)
- Region: Russia announced it will restrict flights to and from Turkey from 15 April to 1 June. (Reuters)
- Austria: Health Minister Rudolf Anschober handed-in his resignation due to health problems triggered by coronavirus pandemic-induced overwork. (AP)
- Germany: The federal government announced controversial new plans to pass new legislation enabling the federal government to take control from states and impose uniform coronavirus restrictions across the country. (Deutsche Welle)
- United Kingdom: The country’s economy bounced back from January’s slump, increasing by 0.4% in the month of February. (AP)
Middle East
- Region: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the recent attack on the Natanz nuclear facility complicated the ongoing negotiations over the 2015 JCPOA deal. (AP)
- Region: The former head of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, Khaled Meshaal, was elected as the new leader of its foreign policy bureau. (AFP)
- Iran: Authorities announced that Ramadan in the country will officially begin tomorrow. (AFP)
- Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that schools in the country will now be allowed to reopen. (DPA)
- Lebanon: US Under-secretary for political affairs David Hale will visit the country to voice the Biden administration’s concerns over the country’s political and economic situation. (AFP)
Tech & Communications
- Media: Alessandra Galloni was named as Reuters’ next editor-in-chief, making her the first woman to lead the globe-spanning news agency in Reuters’ 170-year history. (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 13APR21)
- Confirmed cases: 136,727,030
- Total recovered cases: 77,877,127
- Deaths: 2,947,846
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 04APR21)
- Confirmed cases: 16
- Deaths: 12
- Sourcing: WHO
- Ebola Virus Disease: DR Congo (as of 04APR21)
- Confirmed cases: 11
- Deaths: 6
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 13APR21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (14APR21)
- Global: The US and Iran are expected to resume indirect talks over the 2015 JCPOA deal with representatives from other JCPOA countries expected to act as intermediaries.
- Global: The UN Security Council will hold an open debate on sexual violence in conflict.
- Global: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Israel, Germany, NATO headquarters in Belgium and the United Kingdom. (to 15APR)
- Global: The CIS Council of Defense Ministers will meet and discuss air defense. (to 15APR)
- Global: The WHO will hold a global diabetes summit in conjunction with the Canadian government.
- Global: The Collective Security Treaty Organization’s military committee will hold a meeting.
- Global: WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala will hold a conference with vaccine manufacturers.
- Americas: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a hearing on migration from Central America.
- Americas: US Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for the Western Hemisphere at the National Security Council Juan Gonzalez will visit Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay. (to 15APR)
- Asia: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will hold a virtual summit.
- Europe: The Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine is expected to hold a meeting.
- Europe: Two US warships are expected to sail through the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits and into the Black Sea. (to 15APR)
- Europe: The European Central Bank will release its annual report.
- Europe: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Brussels. (to 15APR)
- Europe: Argentina’s Economy Minister Martin Guzman will visit Italy, as part of his European tour. (to 15APR)
- Europe: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to announce details of the EU’s next-gen funding strategy.
- Middle East: US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking will visit the region and hold meetings with senior government officials in coordination with UN Special Envoy Griffiths.
- India: French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will visit and meet with Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.
- India: The government will restrict international and domestic transport in a bid to curb a spike in coronavirus cases.
- Iran: The official start of Ramadan in the country.
- Lebanon: US Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale will visit. (to 15APR)
- Russia: Lebanon’s Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri will visit and meet with President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Mishustin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
- Tunisia: Parliament will elect members of the Constitutional Court. (to 15APR)
- Turkey: Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias is expected to meet his counterpart Melvut Cavusoglu.
- Turkey: A trial against jailed pro-Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas will resume.
- United States: The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on national security challenges in USNORTHCOM and USSOUTHCOM regions.
- United States: Intelligence agency chiefs will testify to the Senate about worldwide threats in a closed hearing.
- United States: The House Committee on Appropriations will hold a hearing on critical management issues at diplomatic and development agencies.
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