June 15, 2022

*) Ukraine's need for more weapons major focus as defence ministers meet Defence ministers from NATO and other parts of the world will meet in Brussels on Wednesday where they are expected to discuss weapon deliveries to Ukraine. Ukraine seeks a significant increase in arms to help hold off Russian troops. Kiev says it needs 1,000 howitzers, 500 tanks and 1,000 drones, among other heavy weapons. Western countries have promised NATO-standard weapons, including advanced US rockets. But deploying them is taking time. *) UK Rwanda asylum-seeker flight cancelled after European court ruling A first flight carrying asylum seekers to Rwanda as part of a controversial UK policy has been cancelled due to a last-minute ruling from the European Court of Human Rights. British Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was disappointed that the legal challenge meant the plane did not take off, but vowed to pursue the heavily criticised policy. The flight cancellation is seen as an embarrassment for the government after it insisted the Kigali-bound plane would leave no matter how many people were on board. *) WHO to assess if monkeypox an international health emergency The World Health Organisation will hold a meeting to determine whether to classify the global monkeypox outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern. The emergency committee will meet on June 23 to discuss the designation, which is the highest alarm. The UN agency is also working to change the name of the disease. The announcement comes after more than 30 scientists wrote that there was an "urgent need for a non-discriminatory and non-stigmatising nomenclature for monkeypox". *) Ethiopia sets up committee for Tigray peace negotiations Ethiopia's federal government has formed a committee to negotiate with forces from the rebellious northern region of Tigray. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has confirmed the key step towards peace negotiations. The committee has 10 to 15 days to hammer out details of negotiations. The nearly two-year conflict