Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The US, UK, France, Germany, and Italy urged Libya’s interim government to begin preparations for a new election before the December deadline.
- AMERICAS: The United States deployed a dozen additional warplanes to bolster the security of American and coalition troops withdrawing from Afghanistan.
- ASIA: Japan’s government extended a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and three other regions until the end of May, just months before the Tokyo Olympics.
- EUROPE: Germany rejected a US-backed proposal to waive patents of coronavirus vaccines, saying patents were not hindering vaccine production rates.
- MIDDLE EAST: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan is visiting Saudi Arabia to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common interest.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: A coalition of organizations, including City of London police, urged the British government to make tech giants like Google and Facebook legally responsible for fake and fraudulent adverts.
Top Story
- Global: China says low risk of damage from rocket debris.
- Debris from China’s Long March-5b rocket is expected to fall to earth in an uncontrolled reentry over the weekend.
- China’s foreign ministry dismissed concerns that the rocket could crash down onto an inhabited area, saying most of the debris is likely to burn up in the atmosphere and is highly unlikely to cause any harm.
- The US is tracking the location of the crashing rocket but said it had no plans to shoot it down.
- However, where the falling rocket will land eventually “cannot be pinpointed until within hours of its reentry”, the Pentagon said in a statement.
- Reporting: BBC, AFP, Reuters, AP
Africa
- DR Congo: President Felix Tshisekedi’s allies ousted the governor of Tanganyika province, dealing a blow to Tshisekedi’s political rival Joseph Kabila. (Reuters)
- Libya: The US, UK, France, Germany, and Italy urged the country’s interim government to begin preparations for a new election before the December deadline. (AFP)
- Tunisia: Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi announced a week-long coronavirus lockdown starting from Sunday. (Reuters)
Americas
- Brazil: At least 25 people have died during a police raid targeting drug traffickers in a Rio de Janeiro slum. (AP)
- Colombia: The government invited protest leaders to hold a dialogue in a bid to soothe tensions triggered by controversial tax reform proposals. (AFP)
- Haiti: The European Union will not send observers to or provide financing for the country’s upcoming referendum due to the vote process being insufficiently transparent and democratic. (AFP)
- Honduras: The IMF has reached a staff-level agreement with the country and proposed raising support to $769 million to boost the country’s recovery from two hurricanes and the coronavirus pandemic. (Reuters)
- United States: A dozen additional warplanes were deployed to bolster the security of American and coalition troops withdrawing from Afghanistan. (AP)
Asia
- Australia: Prime Minister Scott Morrison will lift the government’s ban on citizens returning from India next week. (Reuters)
- India: The country reported another record high 414,188 new infections over the last 24 hours. (DPA)
- Japan: The government extended a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and three other regions until the end of May, just months before the Tokyo Olympics. (Reuters)
- New Zealand: Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said Wellington seeks a more mature relationship with China that gives enough room for disagreement between the two countries, especially on human rights. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: EU Ambassador to China Nicolas Chapuis said the 27-country bloc is not seeking an escalation of tensions with Beijing and that the situation with the EU-China investment deal “is less dramatic than people seem to think”. (Reuters)
- Region: European Union leaders are set to hold their first in-person summit in five months to discuss a US-backed proposal to share coronavirus vaccine technology and hold a virtual dialogue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (AP)
- Germany: Berlin rejected a US-backed proposal to waive patents of coronavirus vaccines, saying patents were not hindering vaccine production rates. (BBC)
- United Kingdom: The country’s ruling Conservative party won a special election in the town of Hartlepool, whose parliamentary seat the Labour party held since 1974. (AP)
Middle East
- Israel: Security forces shot and killed two Palestinians after they opened fire on a Border Police base in the occupied West Bank. (AP)
- Qatar: Finance Minister Ali Sharif al-Emadi was detained by authorities and interrogated over alleged abuse of power and misuse of public funds. (AP)
- Saudi Arabia: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan is visiting the country to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of common interest. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Tech Regulation: A coalition of organizations, including City of London police, urged the British government to make tech giants like Google and Facebook legally responsible for fake and fraudulent adverts. (Guardian)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes:
- Indonesia
- Mount Sinabung erupted and spewed volcanic ash 1.7 miles into the sky.
- Sourcing: AP
- Indonesia
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 06MAY21)
- Confirmed cases: 155,250,838
- Total recovered cases: 91,686,131
- Deaths: 3,243,744
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 02MAY21)
- Confirmed cases: 16
- Deaths: 12
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 06MAY21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (08MAY21)
- Global: Victory in Europe Day – 1945
- Global: The Fifth International Vatican Conference will be held.
- Global: European Union-India Leaders’ meeting will be held virtually.
- Africa: US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman will visit Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan. (to 13MAY)
- Europe: The leaders of EU member-states will hold an informal 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.
- Brazil: Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya will visit the country. (to 09MAY)
- Chad: Opposition groups and civil society organizations have called for protests against the country’s new junta.
- Paraguay: Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya will visit the country.
- Russia: Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon will visit and meet with President Vladimir Putin.
- Saudi Arabia: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit. (to 09MAY)
- Singapore: The government’s mandatory 21-day quarantine rule for foreign visitors will be implemented.
- United Kingdom: Results of the Scottish parliamentary elections are expected to be announced.
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