Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Ugandan police arrested Abdallah Kabanda Musa, a suspected prominent recruiter and coordinator of the Allied Democratic Forces rebel group.
- AMERICAS: Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador met with US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in Mexico City to discuss labor and migration issues.
- ASIA: China says its stance on the conflict in Ukraine is “completely objective” and “impartial” and is repeating its accusations that the US is spreading misinformation with reports that Beijing responded to a Russian request for military supplies.
- EUROPE: An employee of Russian state TV news program Channel One burst into a live broadcast to denounce Kremlin “propaganda” and demand an end to the war in Ukraine.
- MIDDLE EAST: Iranian Foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian arrived in Moscow and expressed hopes his visit would lead to Russian support for a “good, stable and strong nuclear deal.”
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Deadlines are approaching for antitrust regulators in Europe and the United States to challenge Amazon’s acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Top Story
- Ukraine: The Leaders of the Czech Republic, Poland, and Slovenia Visit Kyiv
- The leaders of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia are traveling to Kyiv on a European Union mission to meet with Ukraine’s top leadership as Russia’s offensive moves closer to the center of the capital.
- Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said “The aim of the visit is to express the European Union’s unequivocal support for Ukraine and its freedom and independence.”
- The Polish Government issued a statement stating that the purpose of the visit was also to “present a broad package of support for Ukraine and Ukrainians.”
- Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński, and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal in Kyiv to show support for Ukraine.
- Top aide to Morawiecki, Michal Dwoczyk said the trip was agreed at an EU leaders’ summit in Versailles in France last week.
- AP, RFE/RL, Politico, The Week, AFP
Africa
- Central African Republic: Former militia leader Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gwaka was handed over by Chadian authorities to the International Criminal Court. (AFP)
- Kenya: Deputy President William Ruto is due to be nominated by his new party to stand for the presidency in an August election after his public split with President Uhuru Kenyatta who is backing another candidate. (Reuters)
- Mali: Human Rights Watch said there has been a surge in the killing of civilians in Mali by soldiers and jihadists. (BBC)
- Somalia: The country appealed for international help to feed about 6.9 million people facing severe food and water shortages. (BBC)
- Uganda: Police arrested Abdallah Kabanda Musa, a suspected prominent recruiter and coordinator of the Allied Democratic Forces rebel group. (BBC)
Americas
- Colombia: Center-right presidential candidate Federico Gutierrez proposed a pact against leftist candidate and former guerilla Gustavo Petro following the left’s strong showing in the weekend’s elections. (AFP)
- Dominican Republic: Officials confirmed that a large cruise ship had run aground off the Caribbean island nation’s north coast shortly after leaving the port of Puerto Plata. (AlJazeera)
- Mexico: President Andrés Manuel López Obrador met with US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in Mexico City to discuss labor and migration issues. (AP)
- Peru: Congress approved the start of impeachment proceedings against President Pedro Castillo over allegations of corruption. (Reuters)
- Venezuela: A new report said state security forces were to blame for at least 1,414 extrajudicial executions in 2021. (EFE)
Asia
- Australia: The Federal Court overturned a groundbreaking ruling from last year that required the environment ministry to weigh environmental harm before approving new mines. (Reuters)
- China: Beijing says its stance on the conflict in Ukraine is “completely objective” and “impartial” and is repeating its accusations that the US is spreading misinformation with reports that the country responded to a Russian request for military supplies. (AP)
- India: Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said the country’s missile systems are “very reliable and safe” after one was accidentally fired last week and landed in Pakistan. (AP)
- South Korea: The country reported its deadliest day of the pandemic with 293 deaths reported over the past 24 hours. (AP)
- Turkmenistan: Electoral authorities said Serdar Berdymukhamedov won the Central Asian country’s presidential election, after an unusual vote-counting delay. (AP)
Europe
- Germany: Air travel was disrupted across the country as security personnel at several airports stage walkouts demanding higher wages. (AP)
- Russia: An employee of state TV news program Channel One burst into a live broadcast to denounce Kremlin “propaganda” and demand an end to the war in Ukraine. (WaPo)
- Spain: Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the seizure of a yacht in Barcelona belonging to Russian oligarch Sergei Chemezov. (Reuters)
- Ukraine: Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Kyiv will impose a 35-hour curfew from Tuesday night amid a “difficult and dangerous moment” after several Russian strikes. (AFP)
- United Kingdom: Nearly 89,000 citizens expressed interest in hosting Ukrainian refugees, as part of a government program for households to take in those fleeing Russia’s invasion. (AFP)
Middle East
- Iran: Foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian arrived in Moscow and expressed hopes his visit would lead to Russian support for a “good, stable and strong nuclear deal.” (Reuters)
- Jordan: King Abdullah said he did not expect the war in Ukraine to affect attempts to resolve the decades old Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Reuters)
- Palestinian Territories: The Health Ministry said Israeli forces killed two citizens and wounded several others during separate raids in the occupied West Bank. (AP)
- Saudi Arabia: The kingdom invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit in a trip that could happen as soon as May. (Reuters)
- Yemen: Officials said at least four people were killed by a car bomb in the south-central city of Zinjibar. (AP)
Tech & Communications
- Media: Deadlines are approaching for antitrust regulators in Europe and the United States to challenge Amazon’s acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. (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 15MAR22)
- Confirmed cases: 459,927,299
- Deaths: 6,046,747
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 15MAR22)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (16MAR22)
- Event: East-West Center hosts an event on US – Indo-Pacific relations.
- Event: Atlantic Council conversation with Ivory Coast prime minister Patrick Achi.
- Global: Visit by US Assistant Secretary of State Michele J. Sison to Mali and France. (to 22MAR)
- Global: 8th anniversary of Crimean referendum.
- Bangladesh: Visit by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan al-Saud.
- Cambodia: ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting Retreat. (to 17MAR)
- Europe: Judgment due in International Court of Justice case against Russia.
- Europe: NATO defense ministers meeting in Brussels.
- Germany: Visit by Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
- Israel: (to 17MAR)
- Latvia: Legion Day.
- Netherlands: Municipal council elections.
- Switzerland: UN High-Level Pledging Event for Yemen in Geneva.
- United States: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to address Congress.
- United States: House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on signs of Russian war crimes and human rights abuses committed in Ukraine.
- United States: House Armed Services Committee hearing on national security challenges in the USEUCOM region.
- United States: House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on the humanitarian impact of the ongoing conflict in Syria.
END
