Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Former Mauritius Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth, the country’s longest-serving leader, died at the age of 91.
- AMERICAS: The US will donate an initial 25 million doses of surplus COVID-19 vaccines to foreign countries through the WHO’s COVAX facility.
- ASIA: Australian authorities found the COVID-19 Delta variant in the state of Victoria for the first time, prompting worries of a potential major spike in cases.
- EUROPE: The EU reportedly plans to ban Belarusian airlines from flying over EU territory or landing at airports in the EU.
- MIDDLE EAST: The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said it believed the Syrian regime likely or definitely used chemical weapons in at least 17 instances.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: The finance ministers of several EU countries called upon G7 countries to decide soon on a digital tax for internet giants like Amazon and Google.
Top Story
- China: Police arrest Hong Kong vigil organizer on Tiananmen anniversary.
- Hong Kong police arrested pro-democracy activist Chow Hang Tung on the 32nd anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre for promoting unauthorized assembly.
- Chow is one of the organizers of Hong Kong’s annual vigil commemorating Beijing’s deadly Tiananmen Square crackdown.
- Hong Kong police had announced a ban on Tiananmen commemorations last week for a second consecutive year citing the COVID-19 pandemic, though Hong Kong did not record any COVID cases for 37 days until an imported case today.
- The police also closed off Victoria Park, which is where thousands gather annually to commemorate the 1989 Tiananmen massacre, and placed thousands of officers on standby to halt any attempt to hold an event there.
- Reporting: WaPo, AP, Reuters, NYT, DPA, WSJ, BBC, AFP
Africa
- DR Congo: Health Minister Jean-Jacques Mbungani said the country is facing a third wave of coronavirus infections. (Reuters)
- Mali: France suspended joint operations with the armed forces due to a recent coup in the country. (AFP)
- Mauritius: Former Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth, the country’s longest-serving leader, died at the age of 91. (AFP)
Americas
- Guatemala: Judge Nester Vasquez, who is accused of being linked to an influence peddling scheme, was sworn into the country’s Constitutional Court. (Reuters)
- Guyana: The country is dealing with widespread flooding, with more than 6,900 households being affected. (NYT)
- Honduras: The country will open an embassy in Jerusalem this month in a bid to bolster its relationship with Israel. (AFP)
- Nicaragua: Rights activists called for a national strike after the arrest of top opposition presidential candidate Cristiana Chamorro. (Reuters)
- United States: The country will donate an initial 25 million doses of surplus COVID-19 vaccines to foreign countries through the WHO’s COVAX facility. (AP)
Asia
- Region: Japan sent Taiwan 1.24 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. (AP)
- Australia: Authorities found the COVID-19 Delta variant in the state of Victoria for the first time, prompting worries of a potential major spike in cases. (Reuters)
- China: Beijing vehemently objected to US President Joe Biden’s decision to expand a list of Chinese companies off-limits to US investors. (AP)
- Japan: According to government data, the country’s birth rate hit a new record low last year. (AFP)
- New Zealand: A Supreme Court ruling paved the way for Wellington’s first potential extradition of a suspected criminal to China. (Guardian)
Europe
- Region: The EU reportedly plans to ban Belarusian airlines from flying over EU territory or landing at airports in the EU. (Reuters)
- Czech Republic: Prime Minister Andrej Babiš survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament. (DPA)
- Denmark: The UN called the government’s new law enabling the processing of asylum seekers outside Europe an “abdication” of the country’s responsibility under international law. (Reuters)
- France: Security forces dismantled a migrant camp near the port of Calais. (AFP)
Middle East
- Region: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) recalled its Gaza director after he received threats for commenting on Israel’s “huge sophistication” in conducting precise strikes during last month’s Israel-Gaza violence. (AP)
- Iran: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tehran wanted to see action and not promises from six world powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. (Reuters)
- Lebanon: Caretaker Prime Minister Hassan Diab asked UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to urgently explore ways of funding the UN’s Special Tribunal for the country (STL). (Reuters)
- Syria: The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said it believed the country’s regime likely or definitely used chemical weapons in at least 17 instances. (AP)
- Yemen: The UN Security Council urged the country’s Houthi rebels to allow UN experts to assess an oil tanker moored off the country’s coast that is at risk of causing an oil spill. (AP)
Tech & Communications
- Tech Regulation: The finance ministers of several EU countries called upon G7 countries to decide soon on a digital tax for internet giants like Amazon and Google. (DPA)
World
- Cyclones:
- Tropical Storm Choi-Wan
- Location: 267 nautical miles S-SW of Taipei, Taiwan
- Wind: 35 mph
- Movement: NE at 10 mph
- Map
- Tropical Storm Choi-Wan
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 04JUN21)
- Confirmed cases: 172,191,804
- Deaths: 3,702,736
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 30MAY21)
- Confirmed cases: 16
- Deaths: 12
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 04JUN21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (05JUN21)
- Global: UN World Environment Day – 1973
- Global: G7 Finance Ministers will hold a meeting.
- Global: US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman will visit Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kenya. (to 06JUN)
- Global: The Trade Ministers of APEC countries will hold a virtual meeting.
- Global: UN International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing – 2018
- Asia: An ASEAN delegation led by Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah could visit Myanmar and meet with that country’s junta leaders.
- Denmark: Constitution Day – 1849
- The Gambia: A constitutional referendum will be held.
- Latvia: Municipal elections will be held.
- Russia: The Saint-Petersburg International Economic Forum with Russian President Vladimir Putin expected to address the event this week.
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