Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022 

The Belgian government repatriates Congolese independence leader and former prime minister Patrice Lumumba‘s remains, consisting of a tooth, through an official ceremony attended by his family at the Egmont Palace in Brussels. (NBC News) 

Russia becomes China’s biggest supplier of oil, surpassing Saudi Arabia and making up over half of its neighbor’s oil imports. (Al Jazeera) 

The Ukrainian Air Force launches drone strikes on an oil refinery in Novoshakhtinsk, Rostov Oblast, Russia, causing a huge explosion and fire. Operations at the refinery have been suspended. Footage on social media appears to show at least one armed drone striking the facility. (Reuters) 

The Ukrainian military says it has inflicted “significant losses” on Russian forces after launching airstrikes on Snake Island in the Black Sea, destroying a Pantsir missile system, a radar station and numerous vehicles on the occupied island. (Euronews) 

Lebanon, Egypt and Syria sign an agreement to supply Egyptian gas to a power plant in northern Lebanon through Syria. The World Bank, which is financing the deal, must validate the agreement before it can take effect. (The Independent) 

Egypt rejects two World Trade Organization agreements which would have forced it to export domestically needed food to alleviate the global food crisis, also citing proposals it considers harmful to developing countries. They note 30 other WTO states which restrict food exports. (Al Monitor) 

Inflation in the United Kingdom reaches 9.1%, a 40-year record, as food and fuel prices rise. (AP) 

Railway transport workers go on a nationwide general strike in the United Kingdom after talks on a 7% pay rise for workers collapse. The RMT says industry bosses have only offered a 2% rise in pay, well below rising inflation levels. (BBC News) 

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake in Khost kills at least 1,000 people and wounds 1,500 more. (BBC News) 

A McDonnell Douglas MD-82 catches fire after landing at Miami International Airport. (The Guardian) 

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says that Denmark will begin administering the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for people over 50. (Reuters) 

Tuesday,  June 21st, 2022 

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev warns Lithuania that its citizens will “feel pain” over its ban on the transit of Russian goods to Kaliningrad through its territory, saying Russia’s response in the near future will have “a serious negative impact on the population of Lithuania” without alluding further. (Reuters) 

Russia blocks access to The Daily Telegraph’s website on the orders of the Prosecutor-General, after accusing it of “disseminating false information” about the Russian war in Ukraine. (MSN) 

Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai says that Russian forces captured the towns of Pidlisne and Myrna Dolyna, south of Lysychansk, and confirms reports that separatist forces captured Toshkivka yesterday. (Reuters) 

Estonia reports a Russian Border Service Mi-8 helicopter violated its airspace over the weekend. The Russian ambassador to Tallinn was summoned in response. (Al Arabiya) 

29 Chinese military aircraft enter the Taiwanese air defence zone, prompting the Republic of China Air Force to try and drive them off. (Reuters) 

The United Nations announces that the conference of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity initially scheduled to take place in Kunming, China, later this year will be moved to Montreal, Canada, due to logistical complications caused by China’s Zero-COVID policy. (The Wall Street Journal) 

The South Dakota Senate, in United States, votes to convict Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg over his role in a 2020 car accident in which his car struck 55-year old Joseph Boever, removing him from office immediately. (AP) 

The armed forces of Ecuador say that they will “not allow ongoing protests” to “damage the country’s democracy”, as road blockades and demonstrations against the economic policies of president Guillermo Lasso continue. (Reuters) 

A casino and a hotel with more than 700 people inside are locked down by authorities in Macau due to an outbreak of COVID-19. (Straits Times) 

Nuri, South Korea’s first locally-developed orbital launch vehicle, launches for a second time from the Naro Space Center in Goheung County, South Jeolla, with a satellite payload of 1,500 kg (3,300 lb). The second launch was successful, putting all the satellites onto the 700 km (430 mi) Sun-synchronous orbit. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

Monday,  June 20th, 2022 

Ukraine ratifies the Istanbul Convention. (Ukrayinska Pravda) 

Panic buying is reported in the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad after Lithuania banned the transit of some goods through its territory by rail. Kaliningrad Governor Anton Alikhanov calls for calm, while Russia condemns the ban. (The Moscow Times) 

The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry demands that Lithuania “immediately reverse” new restrictions on shipments of Russian goods to Kaliningrad, saying that the restrictions were “unprecedented” and “illegal”, while also suggesting that Moscow could “take actions to protect its national interests”. (RFE/RL) 

Pro-Russian forces of the Luhansk People’s Republic claim to have taken the key town of Toshkivka, 25 km south of Sieverodonetsk. (Reuters) 

Ukrainian forces fire missiles at a Chornomornaftogaz drilling oil facility in the Black Sea, off Crimea, injuring three workers, with seven others missing. Russia launches missile strikes on Odessa in retaliation for the attack. (The Telegraph)

It is announced that Cape Verde will allocate a budget of $85 million to combat the effects of the war in Ukraine, which has caused an increase in the prices of gasoline and food, as 9% of Cape Verdeans are currently facing a food crisis. (Reuters)

A second American volunteer fighter dies in Ukraine, after triggering a landmine. (Rolling Stone) 

A bazaar in Nangarhar Province is bombed, which the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan says has killed and injured “scores of people.” The ruling Taliban confirm that at least ten people have been injured but cannot yet confirm if anyone has been killed. (Reuters) 

Two Jesuit priests are kidnapped and murdered by gunmen in the Chihuahua state of Mexico. (AP) 

Eleven soldiers and two civilians are killed in an attack on a bus travelling from Raqqa to Homs. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claims responsibility for the attack. (Reuters) 

Canadian defence minister Anita Anand announces an increase in defence spending to $5 billion in order to upgrade continental defence. (CBC) 

Dutch climate and energy minister Rob Jetten announces that the Netherlands will remove all restrictions on the operation of coal-fired power stations until at least 2024, in response to Russia’s refusal to export natural gas to the country. Operations were previously limited to less than a third of the total production. (CNA) 

Canadian Environmental Minister Steven Guilbeault announces that Canada will ban the sale of single-use plastics by December 2023, and will ban the export of these plastics by the end of 2025, with the first regulations to come into effect in December. (Al Jazeera) 

A study published in Nature Food finds that the impact of food transportation on climate change is three times greater than was previously believed, making up 6% of global carbon emissions. (Nature Food) 

The Osaka District Court rules that Japan’s ban on same-sex marriage is not “unconstitutional” in a ruling on a lawsuit filed by two male couples and one female couple. (The Canberra Times) 

Violent protests occur across India, including the burning of trains in Hyderabad, in response to proposed recruitment reforms in the military. (Al Jazeera) 

President Emmanuel Macron’s party Renaissance is confirmed to lose its majority in the National Assembly after yesterday’s second round of legislative elections. Both the left-wing alliance NUPES and the right-wing party National Rally achieve significant electoral gains, forcing the government to seek compromises with other parties during the upcoming legislative period for the first time since the 1988 legislative election. (Reuters) 

Leading members of the thirty-sixth government of Israel Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid agree to dissolve the Knesset, triggering a fifth snap election in just over three years. Lapid will serve as acting Prime Minister until the election is held. (Reuters) 

The End 

Sunday, June 19th, 2022 

Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Russia would only use nuclear weapons if the sovereignty of the country is threatened. (Ukrinform) 

Ukrainian delegate Davyd Arakhamia says that Ukraine is planning to resume ceasefire negotiations with Russia this August. (Finger Lake Times) 

The European Commission recommends that the European Council grant Ukraine candidate status for accession to the European Union. (The Washington Post) 

The U.S. CDC unanimously votes to approve COVID-19 vaccines for children under the age of five, including babies. (NBC News) 

Lithuania bans the transit of goods that are under EU sanctions through their territory to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. (Reuters) 

Ukraine says that Russian forces are advancing on the city of Kharkiv. (Reuters) 

Russia says that its forces captured a district in the outskirts of Sieverodonetsk and that it launched Kalibr cruise missiles against a command centre in Dnipro, killing several Ukrainian generals and officers. (Reuters) 

Russian tennis player Natela Dzalamidze changes her nationality to Georgian and will participate in the upcoming Wimbledon tournament after Wimbledon banned Russian and Belarusian players from participating in the tournament. (Eurosport) 

The UK’s Home Office approves the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States. Assange’s lawyers announce that they will appeal the decision. (BBC News) 

The Czech Republic records its highest temperature for the month of June, 39.0 °C (102.2 °F), in Řež. Parts of Austria, Germany and Poland also report record high temperatures. (Axios)

The European Union condemns the “structurally deficient” justice system in Bolivia and lack of “due process” in the trial of Jeanine Áñez and asks for her release. (RPP) 

Citizens go to the polls to vote in the second round of the Colombian presidential election. (elDiario.es) 

Left-wing candidate Gustavo Petro wins the presidential election with 50.44% of the vote, beating his opponent Rodolfo Hernández who received 47.31% of the vote, according to preliminary results. (elDiario.es) 

Former state commissioner Abiodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress defeats former Governor Olusegun Oni of the Social Democratic Party in the gubernatorial election. Oyebanji’s win means that the APC has become the first party ever to win consecutive Ekiti gubernatorial elections. (Daily Trust) 

Ruling People’s Party of Andalusia wins a historic absolute majority, the first for a conservative party in Andalusia. Citizens, whose leader was the vice-president of the region, loses all the 21 deputies it had. (The Guardian) 

French voters head to the polls to vote in the second round of the latest legislative election. (Euronews) 

It is announced that French President Emmanuel Macron’s party Renaissance and its allies will not repeat an absolute majority in the National Assembly. (elDiario.es) 

Four civilians and three soldiers were wounded in protest over gasoline shortage when the army opened fire for the first time to quell unrest, as Sri Lanka is suffering its worst economic crisis since independence. (News.am) 

FINA, during its general congress, votes to disallow trans women swimmers from competing in high-level competitions. However, the body will convene a working group to develop a separate “open” category for them in select competitions. (CNN) 

Saturday, June 18th, 2022 

Donetsk People’s Republic authorities accuse Ukrainian forces of shelling the Zasyadko coal mine and trapping 77 miners. (Al Arabiya) 

At least 20 people die in an attack in Anchawadi commune, Mali. (Voice of America) 

Wildfires spread across northeastern Spain amid a heatwave, with the highest temperatures expected to be between 40 to 42 °C (104 to 108 °F) in the region of Zaragoza. (NDTV) 

President of Ecuador Guillermo Lasso declares a state of exception in Quito and other parts of the country amid ongoing protests. (Reuters via SwissInfo) 

Voters in Ekiti State, Nigeria, head to the polls to vote for their next governor. (BBC Pidgin) 

France sees several June all-time temperature records beaten by over 1 °C (1.8 °F) in an exceptionally strong heat wave. Biarritz’s temperature rises to 42.9 °C (109.2 °F), the absolute record for the seaside resort and 2.3 °C (4.1 °F) above the previous all-time record set in August. (L’Indépendant)

A Congolese soldier crosses the border into Western Province, Rwanda, and is shot dead by a Rwandan Police officer. Rwandan officials say that the soldier had been attacking people and had injured two officers before he was killed. (AP) 

The DRC closes its border with Rwanda in response to the killing of its soldier. (Al Jazeera) 

M23 movement militants seize the town of Tshengerero, North Kivu. (The National Post) 

Israel intercepts a rocket fired by suspected Hamas militants over Ashkelon. The Israel Defense Forces respond by launching airstrikes on military targets in Gaza. (AP) 

Security forces and armed locals kill 70 al-Shabaab members in Bahdo, Somalia. Two local children and a cleric are also killed in the fighting. (Reuters) 

The United Kingdom is asked to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest after its organisers concluded that Ukraine is not capable of hosting the competition. (The Guardian) 

WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon voluntarily steps down from his executive roles while WWE’s Board of Directors investigates alleged misconduct over a $3 million “hush pact” with a former employee. McMahon’s daughter Stephanie is appointed to serve as interim CEO and Chairwoman, with Vince retaining his roles related to WWE creative content. (The Wall Street Journal) 

Estonia removes all of its COVID-19 entry restrictions for non-EU travellers after the Estonian Health Board concluded that the situation is under control and that third-country nationals are unlikely to affect the epidemiological situation in the country. (Schengenvisa Info) 

The End

Friday,  June 17th, 2022 

Ukrainian authorities say that its forces hit Russian tugboat Vasiliy Bekh transporting soldiers, weapons, and ammunition to Snake Island with Harpoon missiles. (Al Arabiya) 

China launches its third aircraft carrier, the Fujian, during a ceremony in Shanghai, further enhancing its ability to project military abroad. It now has the second most aircraft carriers of any country; behind only the United States’ eleven aircraft carriers but ahead of the two operated by the United Kingdom, Italy and India. (Reuters) 

The Japanese Supreme Court acquits the state of any responsibility to compensate around 3,700 people affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. (Reuters) 

The UK’s Home Office approves the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States. Assange’s lawyers announce that they will appeal the decision. (BBC) 

The English men’s cricket team acheive the highest ever One-Day-International score of 498 against The Netherlands.(BBC) 

England beat their previous world record against Australia of 481. (BBC) 

Thursday, June 16th, 2022 

The mayor of Melitopol claims that Ukrainian farmers caused “mass illness” in Russian troops by poisoning cherries. (The Daily Beast) 

The United States announces the capture of a senior ISIL leader in Syria. (Al Jazeera) 

European benchmark natural gas prices increase by around 30% after Russia’s Gazprom reduced Nord Stream 1’s gas supply to Germany to 40% of the pipeline’s capacity. Russia blames maintenance problems resulting from Canada’s refusal to return equipment that was sent for repair and warns that usage of the pipeline could be completely suspended. (Reuters) 

Oil prices increase in the United States after the Biden administration announces new sanctions against Iran’s petrochemical industry in an effort to force Iran to comply with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action that the United States unilaterally withdrew from in 2018. (Reuters) 

Sergey Cherkasov, a Russian military intelligence official, is expelled from the Netherlands for attempting to begin an internship at the International Criminal Court in The Hague using a fake Brazilian identity. Cherkasov will now face a criminal trial in Brazil. (The Guardian)  

One person is killed and two are injured in a shooting at an Episcopal Church in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, United States. (The Independent) 

In basketball, the Golden State Warriors defeat the Boston Celtics in six games to win their fourth NBA championship in eight years. Stephen Curry is named NBA Finals MVP. (The Washington Post)  

The End