Key Storylines
- AFRICA: The Zimbabwean justice minister accused the country’s judiciary of being “captured” by foreign forces seeking to destabilize the government after the High Court ruled it was illegal to extend the tenure of the chief justice by five more years.
- AMERICA: Demoted republican congresswoman Liz Cheney stated that she regrets voting for Trump but will not leave the Republican party.
- ASIA: The U.S. and British embassies in Myanmar expressed concern about reports of intense government attacks on a town in western Chin state, where the ruling junta declared martial law because of armed resistance to military rule.
- EUROPE: Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month as he faces growing isolation from the West over the suppression of protesters.
- MIDDLE EAST: A top Iranian commander has announced support for the Palestinian Hamas movement in fighting that erupted this week in Gaza against Israel.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: US warnings of espionage by Huawei are failing to stop governments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America from hiring the Chinese tech group for cloud infrastructure and e-government services.
Top Story
- Israel-Palestinian Territories: Fighting intensifies as Hamas leadership is targeted by airstrikes.
- Netanyahu says Israel will pursue Hamas if necessary to deter Hamas from striking Israel.
- Israeli airstrikes destroyed three buildings and killed at least 26 people, medics said, making it the deadliest single attack since heavy fighting broke out between Israel and the territory’s militant Hamas rulers nearly a week ago.
- The house of Yehya Sinwar, a Hamas leader, was bombed and destroyed as Israel bombed the strip.
- Israel’s security cabinet is meeting to discuss its next steps amid growing international calls for a ceasefire with Hamas.
- The Security Council, chaired by China, is set to meet in New York to discuss this issue.
- Reporting: DPA, AP, Xinhua, BBC, FT,
Africa
- Ethiopia: The nation recorded 419 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide tally to 265,832. (Xinhua)
- Tunisia: The Health Ministry recorded 552 new COVID-19 cases, raising the total number of infections in the country to 325,832. (Xinhua)
- Zimbabwe: The justice minister accused the country’s judiciary of being “captured” by foreign forces seeking to destabilize the government after the High Court ruled it was illegal to extend the tenure of the chief justice by five more years. (Reuters)
Americas
- Chile: The nation began historic elections, in which, for the first time, a Constitutional Convention of 155 members will be chosen to draft the country’s new constitution. (Xinhua)
- United States: Disney World and other theme parks updated their mask policy following the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (Reuters)
- United States: Demoted Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney stated that she regrets voting for Trump but will not leave the Republican party. (The Guardian)
Asia
- Australia: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg stated that the government will stick to plans to start reopening the nation in mid-2022, as pressure mounts on the ruling conservatives to end the international border closure. (Reuters)
- Myanmar: The U.S. and British embassies in the nation expressed concern about reports of intense government attacks on a town in western Chin state, where the ruling junta declared martial law because of armed resistance to military rule. (AP)
- South Korea: The nation’s daily new COVID-19 cases stayed in the 600s for the second consecutive day as the country focuses on its vaccination campaign despite tight supply. (YNA)
- Taiwan: The government urged people not to panic by buying items such as instant noodles and toilet paper as new curbs on gatherings and movement took effect to rein in the spread of COVID-19 during an increase in domestic infections. (Reuters)
Europe
- Belarus: Alyaksandr Lukashenka will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this month as he faces growing isolation from the West over the suppression of protesters. (RFE)
- Italy: COVID-19 cases across all age groups in Italy fell by 80 percent after the first five weeks of vaccine rollout. (Xinhua)
- Lithuania: Thousands rallied in the capital city of Vilnius against draft legislation allowing civil unions for same-sex couples. (AFP)
- United Kingdom: The government will decide on June 14 about whether to go ahead with the final phase of its easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. (Reuters)
Middle East
- Region: A top Iranian commander has announced support for the Palestinian Hamas movement in fighting that erupted this week in Gaza against Israel. (RFE)
- Israel: Yitzhak Arad, former head of the national Holocaust Study Center, Dies at 94. (NYT)
- United Arab Emirates: Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths states that he believes Covid passports are the only way to restart mass foreign travel. (BBC)
Tech & Communications
- Cybersecurity: US warnings of espionage by Huawei are failing to stop governments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America from hiring the Chinese tech group for cloud infrastructure and e-government services. (FT)
World
- Cyclones:
- Tropical Cyclone Tauktae
- Location:15.9N 72.8E
- Movement: N
- Wind:105 mph
- Map
- Tropical Cyclone Tauktae
- Hurricanes: Nothing to report.
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report.
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 16MAY21)
- Confirmed cases: 162,564,670
- Total recovered cases: 141,548,198
- Deaths: 3,384,845
- 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 16MAY21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (17MAY21)
- Global: International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.
- Global: UNESCO World Conference on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) begins.
- Europe: Parliament plenary session opens.
- Europe: German chancellor holds meetings with Slovenian, Slovak, and Kosovar PMs.
- France: Paris Peace Forum.
- France: French president hosts Sudanese transition conference.
- Hong Kong: Democracy activist appears in court.
- Turkey: COVID-19 ‘full lockdown’ expected to end.
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