Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Ethiopia’s military denied that its recent airstrike on the Tigray region struck civilians.
- AMERICAS: Brazil’s Environment Minister Ricardo Salles, who has been accused of alleged involvement in the illegal timber trade, announced his resignation.
- ASIA: China’s military said Taiwan’s future lies in “reunification” with Beijing and that Taipei could not rely on the United States.
- EUROPE: The leaders of European Union countries will meet today to discuss Turkey, Russia, and a controversial Hungarian bill on LGBTQI people.
- MIDDLE EAST: Outspoken Palestinian Authority critic Nizar Banat died during his arrest by the Palestinian Authority’s forces.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily’s final edition of 1 million copies sold out across Hong Kong.
Top Story
- Europe: Russia, UK in warship incident near Crimea.
- Russian aircraft and coastguard ships shadowed and fired warning shots at a British warship sailing near Crimea.
- Russia said the British warship, the HMS Defender, had entered Russia’s territorial waters, after which it fired warning shots at the vessel.
- The UK dismissed Russia’s claims and said the vessel was making a legal and innocent passage.
- British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab also said no shots were fired on the HMS Defender and called Russia’s response “predictably inaccurate”.
- Russia then accused the UK of spreading lies about the incident, and Russia’s Deputy Defense Minister Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow will protect its borders “by all means, diplomatic, political and military if needed”.
- Reporting: AP, Reuters, BBC, CNN, Reuters2
Africa
- Algeria: The incumbent National Liberation Front (FLN) won the most seats in the country’s parliamentary election. (AFP)
- Egypt: Owners and insurers of the Ever Given cargo ship reached an agreement in principle over their dispute with canal authorities. (AP)
- Ethiopia: The military denied that its recent airstrike on the Tigray region struck civilians. (Reuters)
- Ivory Coast: Former rebel leader and Prime Minister Guillaume Soro was in absentia sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of plotting a coup against former ally President Alassane Ouattara. (Reuters)
- Kenya: 17 soldiers died after their helicopter crashed near Nairobi during a training exercise. (AP)
Americas
- Brazil: Environment Minister Ricardo Salles, who has been accused of alleged involvement in the illegal timber trade, announced his resignation. (DPA)
- Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government survived a vote of no confidence in parliament. (AFP)
- Chile: An Australian court dismissed Adriana Rivas’ appeal against an extradition to the country, where she is wanted on kidnapping charges dating to Augusto Pinochet’s military dictatorship. (AP)
- Cuba: The country reported a record 2,055 additional COVID-19 infections over the last 24 hours. (EFE)
- Nicaragua: President Daniel Ortega said sanctions will not frighten his government and vowed to keep his political opponents in prison. (Reuters)
Asia
- Region: China’s military said Taiwan’s future lies in “reunification” with Beijing and that Taipei could not rely on the United States. (Reuters)
- China: Beijing plans to send its first manned mission to Mars in 2033. (Reuters)
- India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold in-person discussions with political leaders from Jammu and Kashmir for the first time since his government revoked the region’s autonomy in 2019. (Reuters)
- Indonesia: Jailed hardline Islamic cleric Rizieq Shihab was sentenced to four years in prison for spreading false information about his COVID-19 infection. (Reuters)
- Philippines: Former President Benigno S. Aquino III died at the age of 61. (NYT)
Europe
- Region: German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the European Union should seek direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Reuters)
- Region: The leaders of 16 European countries urged the European Union to defend the rights of the LGBTQI community in a jointly-signed letter to the bloc’s leaders. (Reuters)
- Region: The leaders of European Union countries will meet today to discuss Turkey, Russia, and a controversial Hungarian bill on LGBTQI people. (DPA)
- Turkey: Government officials met with a US delegation to discuss having Ankara’s forces secure Kabul’s airport following NATO’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. (AP)
Middle East
- Region: Saudi Arabia and Oman discussed the possibility of Riyadh developing an industrial zone in Oman. (Reuters)
- Region: Outspoken Palestinian Authority critic Nizar Banat died during his arrest by the Palestinian Authority’s forces. (AP)
- Israel: Army chief Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi hailed his country’s “unprecedented” coordination with the United States during his visit to Washington. (AFP)
- Syria: Russia dismissed the UN and Western countries’ concerns over closing the border crossing between the country and Turkey. (AP)
- Yemen: Fighting between two brigades of the country’s main southern separatist movement in the port city of Aden left two fighters dead. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Media: Pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily’s final edition of 1 million copies sold out across Hong Kong. (AP)
World
- Cyclones:
- Tropical Storm Champi
- Location: 338 nautical miles S-SW of Iwo Jima, Japan
- Wind: 50 mph
- Movement: N at 7 mph
- Map
- Tropical Storm Champi
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 24JUN21)
- Confirmed cases: 179,639,390
- Deaths: 3,892,818
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 24JUN21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (25JUN21)
- Global: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Germany, France, the Holy See, and Italy. (to 29JUN)
- Global: UN Day of the Seafarer
- Global: The South Korea-Central American Integration System summit will be held virtually.
- Global: The UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization is expected to publish an interim report on Belarus’ forced grounding of a passenger plane.
- Global: The first global treaty on violence and harassment in the world of work, only signed by six countries currently, will come into force.
- Global: Russia will host an international forum to mark the beginning of its chairmanship of the Arctic Council. (to 26JUN)
- Global: The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) will publish the outcomes of its latest plenary session.
- Europe: The leaders of EU countries will hold a summit and discuss several issues, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. (to 25JUN)
- Europe: Panama’s Foreign Minister Erika Mouynes will visit Spain and Belgium. (to 25JUN)
- Aruba: Parliamentary elections will be held.
- Croatia: Statehood Day – 1991
- Indonesia: South Korea’s Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong will visit.
- Israel: Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez will reportedly visit, as Honduras relocates its embassy to Jerusalem. (to 25JUN)
- Mongolia: Newly-elected President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh will be sworn-in.
- Mozambique: Independence Day – 1975
- New Zealand: Trade Minister Damien O’Connor will conclude his visit to Brussels, Belgium, where he was conducting negotiations on a potential EU-NZ free trade agreement with EU officials.
- Russia: OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov will visit and meet with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
- Slovenia: Independence Day/Statehood Day – 1991
- Spain: Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein will visit and meet with his counterpart Arancha González Laya.
- Syria: The UN Security Council will discuss the situation in the country.
- United States: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and High Council for National Reconciliation Chairman Dr Abdullah Abdullah will visit and meet with President Joe Biden.
- United States: Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the border with Mexico.
- United States: Derek Chauvin, the police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd, will receive his sentence.
END
