Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,660,304.
- AMERICAS: Republicans are ready to place Rep. Elise Stefanik into the ranks of House leadership, with the party hoping to move on from its searing civil war over the deposed Rep. Liz Cheney and refocus on winning control of the chamber in next year’s elections.
- ASIA: The number of recorded COVID-19 infections in India climbed above 24 million amid reports that the highly transmissible COVID-19 mutant first detected in the country was spreading across the earth.
- EUROPE: The U.K. government reports show that the use of COVID-19 vaccines in England has prevented roughly 12,000 deaths and more than 30,000 hospitalizations in older people
- MIDDLE EAST: Iraq will ease COVID-19 restrictive measures and replace full curfew with a partial one to aid the vaccination campaign, as the country’s total caseload reached 1,132,092.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: Toshiba Tec France Imaging System announced that DarkSide, the hacking organization blamed for crippling a major U.S. pipeline company, had targeted it in a ransomware attack during the night of May 4.
Top Story
- Israel-Palestine: The conflict between Israeli and Palestinians fighters continues to persist as Israel intensifies attacks on the Gaza strip.
- Israel dramatically escalated its attacks on Gaza with a combined air and artillery barrage aimed at destroying Hamas’s tunnel system, marking the addition of ground forces for the first time in the five-day battle.
- Jews and minority Israeli Arabs fought in several Israeli towns overnight as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to subdue riots with “a lot of force”.
- Israeli artillery pounded northern Gaza in an attempt to destroy a vast network of militant tunnels inside the territory, the military announced, bringing the front lines closer to populated civilian areas, and paving the way for a potential ground invasion.
- Around 119 people have been killed in Gaza and eight have died in Israel since the fighting began.
- The Israeli army reported that it had sent 160 aircraft into the strip to destroy a series of tunnels operated by Hamas, the Islamist faction that controls the region.
- Reporting: WaPo, FT, AP, BBC, DPA,
Africa
- Region: The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Africa has reached 4,660,304. (Xinhua)
- Republic of Congo: Prime Minister Anatole Collinet Makosso announced the priorities of his government for the coming months after he was appointed as the new head of government Wednesday night. (Xinhua)
- South Africa: The Rand firmed in early trade as global risk demand was helped by signs the United States central bank would keep lending rates low despite rising inflation. (Reuters)
Americas
- Colombia: The foreign minister has resigned amidst anti-government protests in the country which turned violent. (DPA)
- Mexico: A mayoral candidate in a city in the north, the latest in a string of attacks that has killed more than three dozen people running for office. (AP)
- United States: In a major step toward moving past pandemic regulations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings. (AP)
- United States: Republicans are ready to place Rep. Elise Stefanik into the ranks of House leadership, with the party hoping to move on from its searing civil war over the deposed Rep. Liz Cheney and refocus on winning control of the chamber in next year’s elections. (AP)
Asia
- Region: Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has talked on the phone to the Uzbek and Kazakh presidents to discuss fighting on the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. (Interfax)
- China: The nation reported seven new COVID-19 cases on May 13, including its first local transmissions in more than three weeks. (Reuters)
- India: The number of recorded COVID-19 infections in the nation climbed above 24 million amid reports that the highly transmissible COVID-19 mutant first detected in the country was spreading nationwide. (Reuters)
- Nepal: The ousted prime minister, KP Sharma Oli, has been reappointed after the political opposition failed to gain the majority of lawmakers’ support. (AFP)
Europe
- Russia: The Orthodox Church in the nation has called on women to refrain from abortions and instead give their children to church institutions. (DPA)
- Ukraine: The Ministry of Health reported 7,562 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the nation, 15,958 people recovered, and 287 people died. (Interfax)
- United Kingdom: Government reports show that the use of COVID-19 vaccines in England has prevented roughly 12,000 deaths and more than 30,000 hospitalizations in older people. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Region: The United Nations (UN) Security Council will hold an open meeting on Sunday to discuss the escalation of tensions between Israel and Palestine. (Xinhua)
- Iraq: The nation will ease COVID-19 restrictive measures and replace the full curfew with a partial one to aid the vaccination campaign, as the country’s total caseload reached 1,132,092. (Xinhua)
- Lebanon: Turkey’s Karpowership, which provides electricity to the nation from two barges, said it was shutting down supplies due to payment errors and a legal threat to its vessels as the nation grapples with a deep economic crisis. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Cybersecurity: Toshiba Tec France Imaging System announced that DarkSide, the hacking organization blamed for crippling a major U.S. pipeline company, had targeted it in a ransomware attack during the night of May 4. (Reuters)
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 14MAY21)
- Confirmed cases: 161,221,343
- Total recovered cases: 139,715,553
- Deaths: 3,345,824
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 09MAY21)
- Confirmed cases: 16
- Deaths: 12
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 14MAY21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (15MAY21)
- Global: U.N. Security Council Interim Security Force for Abyei mandate expires, unless extended.
- North America: Eastern North Pacific hurricane season begins.
- Chile: Constitutional Assembly, governor, mayoral and municipal elections commence.
- Palestinian Territories: Palestinian ‘Day of the Catastrophe’.
- Ukraine: Europe Day.
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