Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Tunisian President Kais Saied warned against attempts to hold sessions of the suspended parliament.
- AMERICAS: Peru’s congress began debate on impeachment proceedings for the second time against President Pedro Castillo.
- ASIA: New Zealand and Fiji signed a partnership statement that will see the two countries work more closely together in areas such as security, protecting shared interests and economic resilience.
- EUROPE: The Polish and Czech defense ministers will snub a regional meeting of the Visegrad Group in Budapest because of Hungary’s ties with the Kremlin.
- MIDDLE EAST: Gulf Arab states are holding a summit about Yemen’s yearslong war, which the Houthi rebels are boycotting because it is taking place in Saudi Arabia.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Bloomberg announced suspension of operations in Russia and Belarus.
Top Story
- Global: Ukraine and Russia Resume Peace Talks in Istanbul.
- Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met in Turkey for the first face-to-face talks in nearly three weeks, with Ukraine seeking a ceasefire without compromising on territory or sovereignty.
- Turkish President Erdogan opened the session at the Dolmabahce Palace calling for a ceasefire and peace to the crisis in Ukraine.
- The Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich was in attendance – and talks started with “a cold welcome and no handshake.”
- Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow could not talk about “progress yet,” but said “the very fact that it was decided to continue the talks in person is certainly important.”
- An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the talks with Russia in Istanbul are focusing on security guarantees for Ukraine and hopes of a cease-fire.
- Turkey is seeking to maintain good relations with both countries and has offered to mediate since the start of the war.
- Reuters, BBC, The Guardian, NBC News, AP, AFP
Africa
- Algeria: The defense ministry said a pilot died when his Russian-made fighter jet crashed during a training flight in the country’s west. (AFP)
- DR Congo: The UN raised concern over the deteriorating security situation in Ituri province which is affecting humanitarian agencies’ ability to deliver assistance to thousands of internally displaced people. (BBC)
- Guinea: Authorities destroyed the private residence of former Prime Minister Cellou Dalein Diallo. (BBC)
- Kenya: Countries have proposed to hold an extra biodiversity meeting in Nairobi in June as talks in Geneva tasked with saving nature entered their final day without an agreement. (AFP)
- Tunisia: President Kais Saied warned against attempts to hold sessions of the suspended parliament. (Reuters)
Americas
- Brazil: President Jair Bolsonaro has been taken to a hospital in Brasilia to undergo tests for a possible intestinal obstruction. (AP)
- Canada: Canada will call for improving global rules governing air accident investigations at the international Safer Skies forum. (Reuters)
- El Salvador: President Nayib Bukele issued an ultimatum to gangs amid a spike in homicides, threatening to increase punishments on their more than 16,000 imprisoned members. (AFP)
- Peru: Congress began debate on impeachment proceedings for the second time against President Pedro Castillo. (AFP)
- United States: The Senate advanced a bill to boost high-tech research and manufacturing to counter computer chip shortages and growing Chinese influence. (AFP)
Asia
- Region: New Zealand and Fiji signed a partnership statement that will see the two countries work more closely together in areas such as security, protecting shared interests and economic resilience. (Reuters)
- Australia: Heavy rains for the second time this month triggered evacuation orders for thousands in New South Wales and Queensland. (Reuters)
- China: The country reported 6,886 domestic Covid cases nationwide with more than 4,400 of them detected in Shanghai, now the center of the country’s worst Covid-19 outbreak since the early days of the pandemic. (AFP)
- Singapore: US President Joe Biden will host prime minister Lee Hsien Loong in a chance to address crucial US challenges across Asia. (AFP)
- Solomon Islands: Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said the backlash to his country’s security negotiations with China was “very insulting.” (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: The Polish and Czech defense ministers will snub a regional meeting of the Visegrad Group in Budapest because of Hungary’s ties with the Kremlin. (AFP)
- Finland: Security forces warned of Russian interference and hybrid attacks as it weighs whether to join the NATO military alliance. (AFP)
- Ukraine: The UK Ministry of Defense reported that Russia has deployed Wagner Group mercenaries to the east of the country. (AFP)
- United Kingdom: Queen Elizabeth made her first public appearance in five months when she joined the royal family and other dignitaries at a memorial service in honor of her husband Prince Philip. (Reuters)
- United Kingdom: Police said they are fining 20 people over parties held by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s staff during coronavirus lockdowns. (AP)
Middle East
- Region: The energy ministers of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said OPEC+ should not engage in politics as pressure mounted on them to take action against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. (Reuters)
- Iran: Tehran offered support for a ceasefire plan put forward by rebels it backs in Yemen’s war, saying it could be an “appropriate platform” for ending the conflict. (AFP)
- Israel: Security forces raided the homes of at least 12 Arab citizens and arrested two suspected of having ties to the Islamic State, which claimed the killings of a pair of police officers over the weekend. (AP)
- Lebanon: Prime Minister Najib Mikati will stay in his position to avoid giving anyone an excuse to delay parliamentary elections scheduled for May 15. (Reuters)
- Yemen: Gulf Arab states are holding a summit about the country’s yearslong war, which the Houthi rebels are boycotting because it is taking place in Saudi Arabia. (AP)
Tech & Communications
- Media: Bloomberg announced suspension of operations in Russia and Belarus. (TASS)
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 29MAR22)
- Confirmed cases: 482,417,195
- Deaths: 6,128,071
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 29MAR22)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (30MAR22)
- Event: Wilson Center discussion with former Nicaraguan ambassador to the OAS.
- Event: SAIS hosts conversation with Colombia Ambassador to the U.S. Amb. Juan Carlos Pinzón.
- Africa: Visit by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Morocco and Algeria.
- Cyprus: Visit by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde
- Europe: European Court of Justice hearing by former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in appeal against EU sanctions
- Germany: Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue
- Iraq: Presidential election, postponed from 26MAR
- Norway: Arctic Observing Summit.
- Palestinian Territories: Land Day
- Russia: Travel restrictions from Kazakhstan and Mongolia to be lifted
- Sri Lanka: Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation summit, virtual
- Trinidad and Tobago: Spiritual Baptist/Shouter Liberation Day
- United States: Visit by German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht
- United States: House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and U.S. policy in the Indo Pacific.
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