Situation Reports

Australia's opposition Liberal-National Coalition, or LNC, formally split, The Australian Financial Review reported May 20.

Various Chinese government departments published plans to expand "urban renewal" infrastructure projects on May 20, with the finance ministry allowing the use of local government special-purpose bonds for such projects and encouraging policy banks to support these projects, Jiemian reported the same day.

Uganda's parliament passed the controversial Uganda People's Defence Force (Amendment) Bill and the Political Parties and Organizations (Amendment) Bill, The Daily Monitor reported on May 20.

Tanzanian authorities arrested and deported several Kenyan activists and politicians attending a court hearing for detained Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, Reuters reported on May 19.

The European Union on May 20 adopted its 17th sanctions package against Russia, targeting nearly 200 vessels linked to Moscow's so-called shadow fleet used to bypass Western oil sanctions, Reuters reported the same day.

A Houthi spokesperson announced a "maritime blockade" on Israel's southern port of Haifa, Reuters reported on May 19.

The U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management lifted its stop-work order on the $5 billion Empire Wind offshore project, project developer Equinor announced on May 19.

U.S. President Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, AP reported on May 19.

Sources within Russia's Embassy in Mozambique confirmed that the Russian research vessel Atlantida K-1704 had been fired upon around three miles (about 5 kilometers) off the coast of Tambuzi island on May 10, located in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, Club of Mozambique reported on May 19.

Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's center-right Democratic Alliance secured the most votes in the May 18 snap election, winning 32%, ahead of the center-left Socialist Party with 23% and the far-right Chega party, which surged to 22.6%, Reuters reported on May 19.