Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Reporters Without Borders confirmed the kidnapping of French journalist Olivier Dubois in Mali by the al-Qaida-linked group JNIM.
- AMERICAS: US President Joe Biden set a new target of vaccinating 70% of adult Americans with at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine by 4 July.
- ASIA: India’s Health Ministry said the country registered a new record high 3,780 coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours.
- EUROPE: Germany, France, and Spain reportedly reached an agreement over the next steps in the joint development of a fighter jet.
- MIDDLE EAST: Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will meet with opposition leader Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett, a former Netanyahu ally, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: US government-funded broadcaster RFE/RL faces potential raids in Russia over refusal to pay fines to the Russian government for not adding a ‘foreign agent’ label to its content.
Top Story
- Global: Coronavirus scare at G7 summit after possible COVID-19 positive tests.
- The first in-person G7 foreign minister meeting in more than two years is facing a COVID-19 scare after two Indian delegation members reportedly tested positive for the new coronavirus.
- The UK’s foreign office, which is responsible for organizing the summit, did not immediately confirm whether any delegates tested positive.
- The entire Indian delegation to the summit, including Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, are in self-isolation, because of possible exposure to the new coronavirus.
- Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar had already met with British Home Secretary Priti Patel in-person before the news but will now attend all meetings virtually as “a measure of abundant caution and also out of consideration for others.”
- Reporting: Reuters, AP, BBC, AFP
Africa
- Region: Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan is visiting Kenya to conduct trade discussions. (AP)
- Ethiopia: Doctors Without Borders said there is an “alarming” rate of malnutrition in the country’s embattled Tigray region and warned of the situation worsening in the upcoming rainy season. (AFP)
- Mali: Reporters Without Borders confirmed the kidnapping of French journalist Olivier Dubois in the country by the al-Qaida-linked group JNIM. (AP)
- Nigeria: Jihadists reportedly killed 35 people in two attacks in the country’s restive Borno state. (AFP)
- Tanzania: The government suspended flights to and from India over the latter’s coronavirus surge. (Reuters)
Americas
- Colombia: President Ivan Duque called for dialogue ahead of planned marches for today after international concern over excessive use of force by police against recent anti-tax reform protests. (Reuters)
- Haiti: Prime Minister Claude Joseph confirmed the country will hold a controversial constitutional referendum in June despite international concerns. (AFP)
- Mexico: President Andrés Manuel López Obrador pledged to conduct an in-depth investigation into the metro overpass collapse in Mexico City that killed at least 25 people. (AFP)
- United States: President Joe Biden set a new target of vaccinating 70% of adult Americans with at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine by 4 July. (AP)
- Venezuela: Two opposition-linked figures were named to a new election council. (Reuters)
Asia
- Region: China reportedly plans to upgrade and revive an airstrip last used during World War II on one of Kiribati’s remote but strategically vital islands. (Reuters)
- Region: Pakistan’s military said four of its soldiers were killed along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border during an ambush by militants from Afghanistan. (Reuters)
- Australia: The government will face a challenge in court over its temporary Indian travel ban. (AP)
- India: The Health Ministry said the country registered a new record high 3,780 coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours. (DPA)
- Indonesia: The country’s economy contracted for the fourth consecutive quarter, but at a slower rate. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: Germany, France, and Spain reportedly reached an agreement over the next steps in the joint development of a fighter jet. (Reuters)
- Region: Four lawyers in Germany filed a complaint with Germany’s Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko over excessive violence following elections in Belarus. (DPA)
- Bosnia & Herzegovina: The High Representative for the country, Valentin Inzko, warned the UN Security Council that ethnic Serb leaders are making a concerted effort to split the country. (AP)
- Germany: Authorities banned the Ansaar International Islamic organization and police raided affiliates of the organization for providing funds to terror groups across the world. (Reuters)
- Spain: The conservative People’s Party won a formidable victory in Madrid’s regional elections, in a win that is likely to increase pressure on the national government. (DPA)
Middle East
- Region: Syrian state media said Israeli missiles aimed at Syria’s northwest killed one person and wounded six others. (AP)
- Iraq: Militants bombed two oil wells near the northern city of Kirkuk. (Reuters)
- Israel: President Reuven Rivlin will meet with opposition leader Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett, a former Netanyahu ally, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a government. (AP)
- Saudi Arabia: The government is considering another ban on overseas Haj pilgrims due to continued coronavirus cases across the world and new coronavirus variants. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Media: US government-funded broadcaster RFE/RL faces potential raids in Russia over refusal to pay fines to the Russian government for not adding a ‘foreign agent’ label to its content. (Guardian)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes:
- Indonesia
- Mount Merapi spewed white smoke and lava.
- Sourcing: Xinhua
- Indonesia
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 05MAY21)
- Confirmed cases: 154,396,147
- Total recovered cases: 90,979,506
- Deaths: 3,229,083
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 25APR21)
- Confirmed cases: 16
- Deaths: 12
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 05MAY21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (06MAY21)
- Global: The 8th annual Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development will be held. (to 07MAY)
- Global: The Global Boardroom conference will be held virtually with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera scheduled to speak.
- Africa: US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman will visit Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan. (to 13MAY)
- Europe: The Defense Ministers of EU countries will hold a meeting.
- Europe: Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will embark on a European tour, which will include visits to the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Poland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. (to 08MAY)
- Armenia: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit.
- Cambodia: Capital city Phnom Penh’s coronavirus lockdown will end.
- China: Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong and three others will be sentenced after pleading guilty for joining a banned candlelight vigil for victims of Beijing’s Tiananmen Square crackdown.
- Egypt: The country’s officials will meet with visiting Turkish officials over discussions aimed at mending Cairo-Ankara ties.
- Germany: Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu will visit.
- Germany: Chancellor Angela Merkel is expected to virtually participate in the 12th Petersberg Climate Dialogue.
- Greece: Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Yavuz Selim Kiran plans to visit and meet with members of the country’s Turkish-speaking Muslim minority.
- Greece: Trade unions called for a strike to protest a bill proposing to lengthen the working week.
- Israel: The Supreme Court will rule on the push to evict Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in east Jerusalem.
- Lebanon: French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian will visit.
- Nigeria: The Senate is expected to discuss the country’s security situation with members of the security forces.
- Syria: The UN Security Council will hold a meeting on the country.
- Ukraine: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit.
- United Kingdom: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit and meet with his counterpart Dominic Raab.
- United Kingdom: The Scottish and Welsh parliamentary elections will be held.
- United States: President Joe Biden will visit New Orleans, Louisiana.
- United States: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a hearing on atrocities in Xinjiang.
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