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Ukraine
Russia launches rocket attacks on the steel plant in Mariupol where 200 civilians are still trapped, reneging on prior pledges.
Putin’s ‘propagandist-in-chief’ Dmitry Kiselyov amps up the nuclear rhetoric, threatening Ireland and the UK with nuclear annihilation. All the while, Russia is moving forward with a plan to legitimize its occupation of Eastern Ukraine. Kherson is a test case of sorts, but resistance remains.
The Americas
Iran’s oil minister met with Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro to discuss ‘overcoming’ US sanctions.
Investors brace for a US interest rate hike. Mohamed El-Erian explains the broader economic impact of Fed policy. Steven Pearlstein argues that the Twitter deal may indicate ‘the last gasp of magical thinking’ in US markets.
Europe and Central Asia
The EU’s embargo on Russian oil is underway. Slovakia seeks an exception. German residents are advised to stock up on consumer goods. Ukraine’s Secretary of the National Security and Defense Oleksiy Danilov claims Hungary was in on Russia’s invasion plans from the start.
Mysterious fires in Russia continue. The latest was in a textbook warehouse, days after a mandate to remove all references to Ukraine was issued. On Sunday, a fire erupted at a Russian military site near the Ukraine border. A fire at an explosives factory in Perm, 1,000 kilometers east of Moscow, escalated quickly and killed two.
The Indo-Pacific
Lockdowns in China lead to a downturn in the metals markets. Billions in Chinese investments in Europe are creating another ‘debt trap’ for economically beleaguered countries like Greece, experts warn.
US officials claim that no overt support for Russia has been detected from China and credits stern warnings. US lawmakers fear that Pentagon budget shifts away from the Indo-Pacific command (INDOPACOM) will lead to regional instability. INDOPACOM is deemed vital to countering China’s threat to Taiwan, among other potential acts of aggression from China and North Korea.
The Middle East and Africa
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid issues a statement declaring Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s comments ‘anti-historical.’ This is a break from Lapid’s more reserved stance, which avoided criticizing Russia directly.
The latest Covid surge in South Africa troubles some US health experts.
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The DSR Network Team (Chris Cotnoir, Grant Haver, and Katherine Hill)
