Atrocities in Ukraine Suburb Recaptured From Russia Spark Outrage
U.S. and European officials are weighing new sanctions (WaPo) on Russia after Ukrainian officials reported that the bodies of hundreds of civilians were found in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha. Some had their hands bound and appeared to have been executed. Russian forces pulled back from around Kyiv over the weekend.
French President Emmanuel Macron said there is evidence that Russia committed “war crimes” (RFE/RL) in Bucha. Moscow dismissed the reports as a “provocation.” Germany’s defense minister suggested that European officials consider halting purchases of Russian gas, a step Germany has so far resisted. The UN Security Council is due to discuss the war tomorrow.
Analysis
“The pictures from Bucha, Kyiv oblast confirm reams of eyewitness reports. Unfortunately, we’re hearing almost identical descriptions from dozens of places under Russian occupation or siege,” the Guardian’s Isobel Koshiw tweets.
“The 1995 Dayton Accords, which ended the war in Bosnia, should remind us that it is possible to make peace even with war criminals—but only after they have been defeated. There is no indication yet that Putin feels he has lost this war,” CFR’s Max Boot writes for the Washington Post.
CFR provides comprehensive coverage of the war in Ukraine.
Pacific Rim
Hong Kong’s Leader Rules Out Second Term
Chief Executive Carrie Lam said (WaPo) family reasons have convinced her to step down when her term ends in June. Her five-year tenure has been marked by a tightening of Beijing’s control over Hong Kong.
Pakistan’s Top Court to Rule on Dissolution of Parliament
Prime Minister Imran Khan advised the president to dissolve Parliament (Dawn), which had been considering a no-confidence motion against Khan that he was expected to lose. The Supreme Court postponed its ruling today and is set to decide on the dissolution’s legality tomorrow.
Afghanistan: The Taliban announced a ban (AP) on poppy harvesting, which is the main income source for millions of Afghan farmers. Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of opium, which is extracted from the plant.
Middle East and North Africa
U.S. Repatriates Algerian Man at Guantanamo After Five-Year Delay
Sufyian Barhoumi never faced trial after he was sent to the U.S. military detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and was cleared for release (NYT) in 2016. His transfer is the third since U.S. President Joe Biden took office.
Yemen: A fuel shipment arrived in Hodeidah (AP), a Houthi-held city, on the first full day of a truce between the rebels and Saudi-led coalition forces.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Darfur Trial Opens at International Criminal Court
South Sudan: Rival leaders President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar agreed to a joint military command (AFP), resolving one of the issues blocking a peace deal to end the country’s civil war.
Europe
Pro-Russia Leaders in Hungary, Serbia Triumph in Elections
The party of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban maintained its two-thirds majority (Bloomberg) in parliament. Meanwhile, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic won 59 percent of votes, with 95 percent counted.
Americas
Costa Rica Elects Former World Bank Official as President
Economist Rodrigo Chaves returned to Costa Rica (NYT) in 2019 after being pushed out of the World Bank over sexual harrassment allegations. Chaves has vowed to shake up the country’s political establishment and tackle rising inequality and crime with increased social spending.
Argentina/Chile: In his first international trip since taking office, Chilean President Gabriel Boric arrived in Argentina (MercoPress) to sign a memorandum on trade and foreign affairs.
United States
White House Highlights Efforts to Boost Labor Conditions for Truckers
The Biden administration is holding an event to highlight efforts (CNN) such as a Department of Labor push to advocate for better working conditions for truck drivers. The trucking industry has seen large labor shortages during the pandemic.
