Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Media organizations in Nigeria expressed concern as the government prepares to add to its controversial ban on Twitter with more expansive regulations reining in the press and social media companies.
- AMERICAS: The Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica ruled in a possible landmark ruling that the Honduran government violated a trans woman’s right to life and was responsible for her 2009 murder.
- ASIA: The World Bank raised its forecast of China’s economic growth this year to 8.5% from 8.1% and due to progress in vaccinations against the COVID-19.
- EUROPE: Russia tested the strength of its air defense systems in Crimea, the peninsula annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as Ukraine and NATO countries hold military drills in the Black Sea.
- MIDDLE EAST: Israel’s leading diplomat Yair Lapid began the first-ever official visit by an Israeli minister to the United Arab Emirates after the two nations normalized relations in September.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: The UN Security Council will hold its first formal public meeting on cybersecurity, addressing the growing threat of hacks to countries’ key infrastructure.
Top Story
- Ethiopia: A ceasefire by the Ethiopian government was declared in the Tigray region after eight months of conflict.
- Tigray rebel fighters occupied the regional capital Mekele, and government soldiers retreated in a region.
- A statement from the rebels calling themselves the Government of the National State of Tigray praised a “stunning victory,” saying Mekelle was “now under the complete control of the Tigray Defence Forces.”
- Ethiopian soldiers destroyed Unicef’s satellite equipment in war-torn Tigray, according to the U.N. Children’s Fund.
- State media said the cease-fire they offer would allow farmers to work on their land and aid groups to operate without military troops during the farming season.
- Reporting: AP, BBC, AFP, VOA,
Africa
- Ghana: At least seven people were killed in floods that swept parts of the south. (Xinhua)
- Nigeria: Media organizations in Nigeria expressed concern as the government prepares to add to its controversial ban on Twitter with more expansive regulations reining in the press and social media companies. (The Guardian)
- Uganda: The nation resumed COVID-19 vaccination for health workers and those due to receive a second AstraZeneca jab after a three-week suspension. (Xinhua)
Americas
- Region: The Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica ruled in a possible landmark ruling that the Honduran government violated a trans woman’s right to life and was responsible for her 2009 murder. (NYT)
- Region: Mexico sent the United States a letter that formally starts a joint negotiation to end a U.S. complaint about a disputed contract vote at a General Motors Co (GM.N) factory, Mexican officials announced. (Reuters)
- Colombia: Protesters and police clashed violently in the capital city of Bogota. (DPA)
- United States: Tropical Storm Danny weakened into a tropical depression, the U.S. National Hurricane Center reported, adding that the storm will collapse within 24 hours. (Reuters)
Asia
- Australia: New South Wales recorded another 19 locally transmitted Covid-19 cases, as the state government moved to introduce a financial aid package for businesses affected by the lockdown. (The Guardian)
- China: The World Bank raised its forecast of the country’s economic growth this year to 8.5% from 8.1% and due to progress in vaccinations against the COVID-19. (AP)
- Hong Kong: The city will ban all flights from the UK to prevent the spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19. (BBC)
- South Korea: Daily new virus cases remained in the 500s for the second day in a row Tuesday on fewer tests, but the loosened vigilance against the pandemic may trigger a further rise in new infections amid a steady increase in cases of COVID-19 variants. (YNA)
Europe
- Region: Russia tested the strength of its air defense systems in Crimea, the peninsula annexed from Ukraine in 2014, as Ukraine and NATO countries held military drills in the Black Sea. (Reuters)
- France: The Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus makes up about 20% of COVID-19 cases in the country, Health Minister Olivier Veran told France Info radio, an increase from last week’s estimate of it representing 9-10% of cases. (Reuters)
- Russia: The United States hopes for more stable and profitable relations with the country, but if the latter continues to “attack,” then Washington will respond, Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated. (Reuters)
- Ukraine: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) improved its forecast for the economic growth in the nation in 2021 from 3% to 3.5%, according to its June forecast. (Interfax)
Middle East
- Region: Israel’s leading diplomat Yair Lapid began the first-ever official visit by an Israeli minister to the United Arab Emirates after the two nations normalized relations in September. (AFP)
- Iran: US President Joe Biden promised never to allow the country to develop nuclear weapons in comments made before a meeting with Israel’s outgoing President Reuven Rivlin. (DPA)
- Middle East: Aramco, the national oil company, invited banks to pitch for an advisory role to help fund the sale of a significant minority stake in its gas pipelines. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Cybersecurity: The UN Security Council will hold its first formal public meeting on cybersecurity, addressing the growing threat of hacks to countries’ key infrastructure. (AFP)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report
- Hurricanes:
- Tropical Storm Enrique
- Location: 21.6N 107.6W
- Movement: NW
- Wind:50 mph
- Map
- Tropical Storm Enrique
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 29JUN21)
- Confirmed cases: 181,437,540
- Deaths: 3,929,857
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 29JUN21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (29JUN21)
- Global: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken continues trip to Germany, France, Italy, and Vatican City. (to 29JUN)
- Global: G20 Ministerial Event on humanitarian assistance
- Europe: Portugal’s EU presidency ends
- France: The nation hopes to reopen most of its economy after COVID-19 lockdowns
- Portugal: The nation holds EU COVID-19 recovery summit
END
