Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Sudanese security forces were heavily deployed and internet services cut in Khartoum ahead of pro-democracy protests.
- AMERICAS: A new state of emergency was called as indigenous protesters marched on Quito to call for a return to negotiations with the Ecuadorian government.
- ASIA: Chinese president Xi Jinping arrived in Hong Kong ahead of the 25th anniversary of the British handover and after a two-year transformation bringing the city more tightly under Communist Party control.
- EUROPE: Hundreds of Ukrainian troops have completed military training in Salisbury, including on rocket systems the British government is supplying to Ukraine.
- MIDDLE EAST: Indirect talks between Iran and the US in Doha on reviving the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal concluded with no progress.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Google is facing action from a coalition of ten European consumer organizations over the company’s account sign-up process.
Top Story
- Ukraine: Russian Forces Withdraw from Snake Island.
- Russian forces have withdrawn from Ukraine’s Snake Island, a strategic outpost in the Black Sea.
- The Ukrainian military’s commander in chief Valeriy Zaluzhny “thanked the defenders of Odessa who took maximum measures to liberate a strategically important part of our territory.”
- Moscow says its withdrawal is a “goodwill gesture” meant to help facilitate grain exports from Ukraine.
- Ukrainian forces, which have been attacking Russian positions with air strikes, are celebrating a major victory.
- Ukraine’s southern military command wrote on Facebook that Russian forces had evacuated in two boats following an operation involving missile and artillery units.
- Ukraine and the West have accused Russia of blockading Ukrainian ports to prevent exports of grain, contributing to the global food crisis.
- Reuters, AFP, BBC, NYT, The Guardian, AP
Africa
- Region: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country is willing to unconditionally resume grain exports to Africa and other parts of the world should Russia end the naval blockade in the Black Sea. (BBC)
- DR Congo: An official burial ceremony took place for the tooth of the independence leader Patrice Lumumba in Kinshasa. (BBC)
- Ethiopia: The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission called for the immediate release of some 8,500 Tigrayans it says are being illegally detained. (AFP)
- Mali: The government vowed to defy a UN Security Council call to allow the freedom of movement for peacekeepers to investigate human rights abuses in the country. (Reuters)
- Sudan: Security forces were heavily deployed and internet services cut in Khartoum ahead of pro-democracy protests. (Reuters)
Americas
- Brazil: A court ruled that President Jair Bolsonaro must pay damages of 35,000 reals to journalist Patricia Campos Mello for making sexist remarks. (CNN)
- Ecuador: A new state of emergency was called as indigenous protesters marched on Quito to call for a return to negotiations with the government. (AFP)
- Nicaragua: The government closed an additional 101 civic and charity groups, including the local branch of the Missionaries of Charity established by Mother Teresa. (AP)
- United States: The suspected driver of a truck packed with dozens of migrants who died during a smuggling attempt in Texas and an accused conspirator were charged in federal court with human trafficking offenses. (Reuters)
- Venezuela: The Cardon refinery, the country’s second-largest, has reportedly suspended gasoline production. (Reuters)
Asia
- China: President Xi Jinping arrived in Hong Kong ahead of the 25th anniversary of the British handover and after a two-year transformation bringing the city more tightly under Communist Party control. (AP)
- New Zealand: The government declared the far-right US extremist group Proud Boys a terrorist organization. (AP)
- North Korea: State media reported that new suspected COVID-19 cases in the country have dropped below 5,000. (Yonhap)
- Philippines: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr praised his father’s rule after being sworn in as the country’s new leader. (AFP)
- South Korea: President Yoon Suk-yeol warned of the threat to universal values at a time of new conflict and competition, a reference to Russia’s war in Ukraine and China’s engagement with Russia. (Reuters)
Europe
- France: The government’s top scientific adviser Jean-Francois Delfraissy said a new wave of COVID-19 infections fueled by emerging variants of the disease should peak towards end-July. (Reuters)
- Russia: Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said that in certain circumstances, sanctions against Moscow may be seen as an act of aggression and a justification for war. (Reuters)
- Spain: The country will urge NATO allies to consider a bigger role for the alliance in North Africa and the Sahel at a summit in Madrid with the foreign minister saying an intervention in Mali should not be ruled out. (Reuters)
- Ukraine: Russian air strikes on a Mariupol theater sheltering civilians constitute a “clear war crime,” according to Amnesty International. (BBC)
- United Kingdom: Hundreds of Ukrainian troops have completed military training in Salisbury, including on rocket systems the government is supplying to Ukraine. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Region: OPEC+ enters a final day of meetings with sources saying the group is unlikely to decide imminently to pump more barrels to the market beyond August. (Reuters)
- Afghanistan: Taliban rulers held the first major gathering of Islamic clerics and tribal elders since they seized power in August, with over 3,000 coming to the capital for the event. (AP)
- Iran: Indirect talks with the United States in Doha on reviving the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal concluded with no progress. (AFP)
- Israel: Parliament voted to dissolve itself, sending the country to the polls for the fifth time in less than four years. (AP)
- Saudi Arabia: The kingdom may raise prices of light crude grades to Asia for the second straight month in August on the back of record distillate margins and strong spot premiums for Middle Eastern oil this month. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Technology: Google is facing action from a coalition of ten European consumer organizations over the company’s account sign-up process. (BBC)
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 30JUN22)
- Confirmed cases: 546,453,228
- Deaths: 6,334,574
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 30JUN22)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (01JUL22)
- Global: UN Security Council monthly presidency rotates from Albania to Brazil.
- Global: Financial Action Task Force two-year presidency rotates from Germany to Singapore.
- Africa: Visit by USAID Administrator Samantha Power to Malawi and Zambia. (to 03JUL)
- Botswana: Sir Seretse Khama Day.
- Burundi: Independence Day.
- Canada: Canada Day.
- China: Chinese Communist Party Founding Day.
- Denmark: Country to formally join EU common defense and security policy.
- Europe: EU six-month presidency rotates from France to Czech Republic.
- Ghana: Republic Day.
- Hong Kong: Visit by Xi Jinping on 25th anniversary of enclave’s return to China, protests expected.
- Rwanda: Independence Day.
- Somalia: Independence Day.
- South Africa: African National Congress party five-year policy conference in Johannesburg.
- Suriname: Emancipation Day.
- Thailand: Business activities in all provinces to return to normal; country to drop mask mandate.
- Ukraine: Visa regime for Russian passport holders to enter into force.
- United Kingdom: Deadline for Julian Assange to appeal extradition to the United States.
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