Key Storylines
- AFRICA: In its first official remarks on the Tigray conflict, Ethiopia’s Orthodox Church said atrocities amounting to genocide were being committed in Ethiopia’s embattled Tigray region.
- AMERICAS: A train line connecting landlocked Bolivia to Chile’s Pacific ports is set to be reestablished.
- ASIA: Remnants of Beijing’s Long March 5B rocket landed in the Indian Ocean with most of the rocket’s components being destroyed upon re-entry.
- EUROPE: Speaking at an annual military parade held on the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Nazi beliefs remain strong today.
- MIDDLE EAST: 90 people have reportedly been injured in new clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians in Jerusalem over the potential evictions of Palestinian people from land claimed by Israeli settlers.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: The Colonial Pipeline’s major pipeline that transports fuel across the East Coast was shut down after a ransomware attack, prompting the federal government to intervene and plan for measures to mitigate any potential supply issues.
Top Story
- Afghanistan: 50 die in school bombing in Kabul.
- A bombing outside a girls school in capital city Kabul has killed at least 50 people, many of them pupils between 11 and 15 years old, and left several other people injured.
- The Afghan government has blamed Taliban for the bombing, but the group denied involvement in the attack and condemned the bombing.
- No group has claimed responsibility for the attack that took place in an area populated by the Shiite Hazara community currently, though in the past the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Shiite civilians.
- However, the exact target of the bombing currently remains unclear.
- Reporting: Reuters, AP, NYT, BBC, WaPo, WSJ
Africa
- Ethiopia: In its first official remarks on the Tigray conflict, the country’s Orthodox Church said atrocities amounting to genocide were being committed in the embattled Tigray region. (Reuters)
- Nigeria: A group of gunmen killed seven police officers in the oil-rich Rivers state, prompting authorities to launch a manhunt for those behind the attack. (BBC)
- South Africa: The Health Ministry recorded four cases of a new coronavirus variant that is fueling a surge in India in the country. (AFP)
Americas
- Region: A train line connecting landlocked Bolivia to Chile’s Pacific ports is set to be reestablished. (Reuters)
- Guatemala: Protests demanding the resignation of President Alejandro Giammattei over a shortage of coronavirus vaccines were held in the country. (AFP)
- Mexico: Mexico City will compensate the families of the victims of the city’s recent metro overpass collapse. (AFP)
Asia
- Region: Remnants of Beijing’s Long March 5B rocket landed in the Indian Ocean with most of the rocket’s components being destroyed upon re-entry. (Reuters)
- India: The country reported more than 4,000 daily coronavirus deaths for a second consecutive day. (Reuters)
- Myanmar: The country’s military junta branded ousted lawmakers and a people’s defense force terrorist groups. (AP)
- South Korea: Seoul will sign a free trade agreement with Israel this week, marking the first such Israeli deal with an Asian country. (Reuters)
Europe
- Region: French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a speech at the opening of a new conference aimed at addressing Europe’s future. (DPA)
- France: President Emmanuel Macron urged the United States to end any export restrictions on coronavirus vaccines and related ingredients. (BBC)
- Russia: Speaking at an annual military parade held on the anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe, President Vladimir Putin warned that Nazi beliefs remain strong today. (AP)
- Spain: The government has ended the country’s coronavirus state of emergency, allowing the public to travel between regions for the first time since October 2020. (AFP)
- United Kingdom: Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pledged to hold another Scotland independence referendum, following her party’s strong showing in the Scottish parliamentary elections. (WaPo)
Middle East
- Region: The US Navy seized an illicit weapons shipment from a stateless dhow in the North Arabian Sea’s international waters. (Reuters)
- Iran: President Hassan Rouhani expressed optimism over discussions to revive the 2015 JCPOA deal and suggested a deal lifting the main sanctions on Tehran had been reached, according to state media reports from Tehran. (Reuters)
- Israel: 90 people have reportedly been injured in new clashes between the police and Palestinians in Jerusalem over the potential evictions of Palestinian people from land claimed by Israeli settlers. (BBC)
- Syria: Firefighters have managed to extinguish an inferno at one of the country’s two oil refineries, according to state media reports. (AP)
Tech & Communications
- Cybersecurity: The Colonial Pipeline’s major pipeline that transports fuel across the East Coast was shut down after a ransomware attack, prompting the federal government to intervene and plan for measures to mitigate any potential supply issues. (AP)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 09MAY21)
- Confirmed cases: 157,737,737
- Total recovered cases: 93,780,853
- Deaths: 3,284,388
- 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 09MAY21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (10MAY21)
- Global: The Copenhagen Democracy Summit 2021 will be held, with US President Joe Biden expected to open the event. (to 11MAY)
- Global: The UN Security Council will hold a meeting on ISIS.
- Africa: IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva will participate in a conversation with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the IMF’s Africa Department.
- Africa: US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman will visit Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan. (to 13MAY)
- Europe: The leaders of Poland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovakia will hold a mixed online and in-person summit. (to 11MAY)
- Europe: Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg will visit NATO headquarters and meet NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
- Europe: The foreign ministers of EU member-states will meet and discuss the Western Balkans, the Sahel, and cybersecurity issues.
- Europe: Argentina’s President Alberto Fernandez and Economy Minister Martin Guzman will embark on a European tour with planned stops in Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy, including a meeting with Pope Francis. (to 13MAY)
- Azerbaijan: Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will visit. (to 11MAY)
- Israel: The Supreme Court is expected to hold a hearing over the controversial threat to evict Palestinian families in East Jerusalem’s Shaikh Jarrah district.
- Micronesia: Constitution Day – 1979
- Mozambique: The country is expected to sign a defense training agreement with Portugal.
- Myanmar: The expected date for ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s next court appearance.
- Nepal: Prime Minister KP Oli will seek a vote of confidence from parliament.
- Norway: The deadline for the country’s health regulators to announce decisions on the use of Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccines.
- South Korea: Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Economy Minister Amir Peretz will visit and meet with their counterparts and sign a free trade agreement between their two countries. (to 13MAY)
- United States: The Senate will return after a state work period.
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