Key Storylines
- AFRICA: DR Congo officials accused the Rwandan army of invading its territory after allegedly helping rebels take over Bunagana, a border town in North Kivu province.
- AMERICAS: The White House reported that US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had a “candid and productive” exchange with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jeichi in Luxembourg.
- ASIA: South Korea, Japan, and the United States will hold their biennial Pacific Dragon missile defense exercise in the first weeks of August.
- EUROPE: The British government published plans to drop parts of its post-Brexit deal reached in 2019, which the EU argues is a breach of international law.
- MIDDLE EAST: Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh said relations with Israel have gotten so bad that leaders cannot go on with business as usual.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Elon Musk will address Twitter employees this week for the first time at a company-wide meeting since launching his bid to buy the company.
Top Story
- Taiwan: Taipei says the Taiwan Strait is an International Waterway, in Rebuff to China.
- The Taiwanese Foreign Ministry said the Taiwan Strait is an international waterway and the government supports US warships transiting it, rebuffing claims from China to exercise sovereignty over the strategic passage.
- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated that, “relevant countries claim that the Taiwan Strait is in international waters with the aim to manipulate the Taiwan question and threaten China’s sovereignty.”
- While it is unclear what Beijing means by “international waters,” the language may deter the US from sailing through the strait, a practice which China has said harms stability and sends the wrong signal to “Taiwan independence forces.”
- Taiwan said only its people can decide their own future and the People’s Republic of China has never controlled any part of the island.
- China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control and views the island as an inherent part of Chinese territory.
- Reuters, Japan Times, Bloomberg, SCMP, Newsweek
Africa
- Burkina Faso: The country began three days of national mourning after suspected jihadists killed at least 50 civilians in one of the worst attacks since the military seized power in January. (AFP)
- DR Congo: Officials accused the Rwandan army of invading its territory after allegedly helping rebels take over Bunagana, a border town in North Kivu province. (BBC)
- Ethiopia: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said his government will announce details of peace talks with Tigray forces to end the civil war “when the time comes” and “when they begin.” (BBC)
- Sudan: Pro-democracy activists are alarmed at the resurgence of former President Omar al-Bashir’s National Congress Party (NCP) whose members are being given influential posts by the military junta. (BBC)
- Togo: The government declared a state of emergency in its northern provinces in order to give the armed forces more flexibility to deal with jihadist threats. (AFP)
Americas
- Colombia: Energy Minister Diego Mesa announced increased coal and petroleum production in order to respond to demand created by sanctions against Russia. (Reuters)
- El Salvador: Finance Minister Alejandro Zelaya denied that the falling value of bitcoin could pose a fiscal risk to the country, where the cryptocurrency is legal tender. (Reuters)
- Guatemala: Officials reported that fifteen people have been killed and over half a million affected by heavy rains since early May. (AFP)
- Mexico: Heavily armed attackers stole 20 freight containers, some carrying gold and silver, from the port city of Manzanillo in a heist of “unprecedented” proportions. (AFP)
- United States: The White House reported that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan had a “candid and productive” exchange with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jeichi in Luxembourg. (AFP)
Asia
- Region: South Korea, Japan, and the United States will hold their biennial Pacific Dragon missile defense exercise in the first weeks of August. (Yonhap)
- Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said China needs to lift its sanctions on the country to improve relations and welcomed the talks between ministers from Canberra and Beijing as a good thing. (Reuters)
- Cambodia: A Phnom Penh court convicted around 60 opposition figures including an outspoken activist in a mass trial as Hun Sen cracks down on dissent ahead of national elections next year. (AFP)
- China: The mayor of the northeastern city of Dandong on the North Korean border apologized for unspecified failures related to its COVID-19 response. (AP)
- South Korea: New COVID-19 cases rose back to nearly 10,000 after falling to their lowest level in five months. (Yonhap)
Europe
- Lithuania: Vilnius agreed to buy 18 howitzers from France as the Baltic country bolsters its arsenal due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (AFP)
- Russia: The Kremlin said it was “sure” that separatist leaders in the Donbas would be willing to listen to an appeal from Britain over the fate of two Britons sentenced to death for fighting for Ukraine. (Reuters)
- Ukraine: Local governor Serhiy Haidai said that all bridges to the city of Severodonetsk have been destroyed, effectively cutting the city off for resupply or evacuation. (BBC)
- United Kingdom: The government published plans to drop parts of its post-Brexit deal reached in 2019, which the EU argues is a breach of international law. (BBC)
- Vatican City: Pope Francis called out Russia for its actions in Ukraine, saying its troops were brutal, cruel, and ferocious and that the invasion violated a country’s right to self-determination. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Region: The US envoy mediating between Lebanon and Israel over their disputed maritime border met with Lebanese leaders and discussed ways of reaching a solution amid rising tension along the tense border. (AP)
- Iran: Over 100 were injured in an explosion at a sodium carbonate factory in Fars province. (Anadolu)
- Kuwait: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro visited the country and spoke with Crown Prince Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jaber. (WaPo)
- Palestinian Territories: Hussein al-Sheikh said relations with Israel have gotten so bad that leaders cannot go on with business as usual. (AP)
- United Arab Emirates: The Federal National Council said the government aims to increase spending by 1.23 billion dirhams ($334.9 million) in the 2022 budget. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Social Media: Elon Musk will address Twitter employees this week for the first time at a company-wide meeting since launching his bid to buy the company. (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 14JUN22)
- Confirmed cases: 535,940,921
- Deaths: 6,310,750
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 14JUN22)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (15JUN22)
- Event: Wilson Center discussion gender-based violence and Central American migration.
- Event: Atlantic Council discussion with former NATO Secretaries General.
- Global: 15th Session of the UN Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. (to 17JUN)
- Global: UN Trade Forum.
- Azerbaijan: National Salvation Day.
- Belgium: NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels, including meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group. (to 16JUN)
- Czech Republic: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to address parliament.
- Kazakhstan: 18th meeting of Astana process on Syria, attended by Russia, Turkey, and Iran.
- Middle East: Visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Israel, Palestine, Egypt, and Jordan.
- Russia: Petersburg International Economic Forum. (to 18JUN)
- Singapore: World Congress of Ocean. (to 17JUN)
- United States: Senate Foreign Relations Committee top secret briefing on Iranian nuclear program.
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