Key Storylines
- AFRICA: Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah on Saturday met with his Tunisian counterpart Hichem Mechichi in Tripoli where they signed an agreement on mutual trade and movement of travelers.
- AMERICAS: The U.S. government will expand Haitian eligibility for a humanitarian program that gives deportation relief and work permits to immigrants who cannot safely return to their home countries.
- ASIA: Armed civilian protesters in Myanmar have killed four soldiers and two police officers over the past day.
- EUROPE: North Macedonia received support in its attempt to begin European Union membership talks from Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia, a day after Bulgaria said it planned to continue to use its veto to block the Balkan nation.
- MIDDLE EAST: The Iranian Parliament’s speaker said that international inspectors might no longer access surveillance images of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear sites, increasing tensions amid diplomatic efforts in Vienna to preserve Tehran’s atomic accord with world powers.
- TECH & COMMUNICATIONS: A court in Bangladesh awarded conditional bail to a journalist known for her accurate reporting on official corruption amid protests domestically and abroad calling for her release.
Top Story
- Democratic Republic of Congo: Mount Nyiragongo erupts, causing thousands of people to flee to safety.
- Communications Minister Patrick Muyay said on Twitter that the government was undertaking “urgent measures” after the Prime Minister convened an emergency meeting in the capital of Kinshasa.
- A government spokesman, Patrick Muyaya, said late on Saturday that Goma’s evacuation plan had been activated, as the Associated Press reported that thousands were already fleeing the nearby city of Gome, often on foot.
- The Mayor of Rubavu district in Rwanda, which borders the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), called upon its residents to stay calm as over 3,500 Congolese sought haven in the district due to the eruption of the Mount Nyiragongo volcano
- A smoking trail of lava from the volcanic eruption appeared to have stopped a few hundred meters from the edge of the eastern city of Goma.
- Reporting: BBC, AP, Xinhua, Reuters,
Africa
- Region: Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah met with his Tunisian counterpart Hichem Mechichi in Tripoli where they signed an agreement on mutual trade and movement of travelers. (Xinhua)
- Ethiopia: Ethiopia registered 381 additional COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide tally to 268,901. (Xinhua)
- Sudan: One of only two women on the ruling Sovereignty Council resigned, accusing the military-dominated transitional government of silencing civilian voices. (Reuters)
Americas
- United States: The government will expand Haitian eligibility for a humanitarian program that gives deportation relief and work permits to immigrants who cannot safely return to their home countries. (Reuters)
- United States: The National Hurricane Center says Subtropical Storm Ana is now a bit stronger and moving to the northeast. (Reuters)
- United States: Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft VSS Unity Galactic completed a manned test flight of the capsule from Spaceport America in New Mexico. (DPA)
Asia
- Australia: Health Minister Greg Hunt says that he expects to receive 2 million doses a week of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine by October. (Reuters)
- China: The nation reported 19 new COVID-19 cases, an increase from 10 cases a day. (Reuters)
- Myanmar: The nation’s military leaders suspended more than 125,000 teachers for opposing the coup earlier this year. (The Guardian)
- Myanmar: Armed civilian protesters have killed four soldiers and two police officers over the past day. (EFE)
Europe
- Region: North Macedonia received support in its attempt to begin European Union membership talks from Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia, a day after Bulgaria said it planned to continue to use its veto to block the Balkan nation. (RFE)
- Croatia: The nation is ready to welcome foreign tourists from the United States, most of Europe, and other countries who hold a vaccination certificate or proof of a negative test or having recovered from COVID-19. (AP)
- Russia: The nation confirmed 8,951 COVID-19 cases over the past day, bringing the total case tally to 5,001,505. (TASS)
Middle East
- Israel: The Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City reopened for Jewish visitors, days after a ceasefire came into effect between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza. (DPA)
- Iran: The Parliament’s speaker said that international inspectors might no longer access surveillance images of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear sites, increasing tensions amid diplomatic efforts in Vienna to preserve Tehran’s atomic accord with world powers. (AP)
- United Arab Emirates: The country has asked to host the COP 28 international conference on climate change in 2023. (Reuters)
- Yemen: A leader of the Houthi movement rejected U.S. sanctions on military officials and threatened possible expanded attacks on “aggressor countries” after Washington urged the group to participate in peace efforts. (Reuters)
Tech & Communications
- Media: A court in Bangladesh awarded conditional bail to a journalist known for her accurate reporting on official corruption amid protests domestically and abroad calling for her release. (AP)
World
- Cyclones: Nothing to report
- Hurricanes:
- Subtropical Storm Ana
- Location:35.7N 60.5W
- Movement: NE
- Wind:45 mph
- MAP
- Subtropical Storm Ana
- Earthquakes: Nothing to report
- Volcanoes: Nothing to report.
- Global Disease Outbreaks:
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 23MAY21)
- Confirmed cases: 166,727,089
- Deaths: 3,454,671
- Countries with confirmed cases: 192
- Sourcing: John Hopkins University
- Ebola Virus Disease: Guinea (as of 16MAY21)
- Confirmed cases: 16
- Deaths: 12
- Sourcing: WHO
- COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease: Global (as of 23MAY21)
Tomorrow’s Outlook (24MAY21)
- Global: U.N. Security Council open debate on improving safety and security of peacekeepers.
- Europe: European Council special meeting of EU heads of state and govt.
- North America: Association of Caribbean States Ministerial Council Ordinary Meeting.
- Ecuador: New Ecuadorian president inaugurated.
- Eritrea: 30th anniversary of independence.
- France: The nation extends COVID-19 vaccinations to priority professions.
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