Moderna says that it has requested full approval for its vaccine from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Currently, it has only been approved for emergency use. (NBC News)
2021 Israeli presidential election The Knesset elects Isaac Herzog as the 11th president of Israel. (The Washington Post)
A ransomware attack affects Steamship Authority, the ferry service between the mainland of Massachusetts and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. (Associated Press)
Steamship Authority cyberattack A ransomware attack affects Steamship Authority, the ferry service between the mainland of Massachusetts and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. (Associated Press)
Aftermath of the 2021 United States Capitol attack Paul Allard Hodgkins, a Tampa man who was seen in the U.S. Senate chamber during the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol, pleads guilty, making him the second suspect to do so after Jon Schaffer. (Politico)
CEOs of several South Korean companies ask President Moon Jae-in to pardon Samsung's chairman Lee Jae-yong, who was sentenced to 30 months' imprisonment for bribery, embezzlement and other offences. Moon did not elaborate but had said in March that he would consider public opinion. Before taking office in 2017, Moon had said that he would not pardon those convicted of serious economic crimes. (Reuters)
NASA announces the selection of two new missions to Venus, VERITAS and DAVINCI+, which will launch between 2028 and 2030. They will be the first American spacecraft sent to Venus since the Magellan mission in 1989. The missions will focus on mapping the surface of Venus and calculating the atmosphere's composition to better understand Venus's geological history. (Reuters) (NPR)
The Knesset elects Isaac Herzog as the 11th president of Israel. (The Washington Post)
2021 Kentucky Derby Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit tests positive for a second drug test, and now faces disqualification. (The New York Times)
2021 Pacific typhoon season Tropical Storm Choi-wan (Dante) makes landfall in central and southern Philippines, killing at least three people and leaving hundreds displaced. (The Washington Post)
Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit tests positive for a second drug test, and now faces disqualification. (The New York Times)
Paul Allard Hodgkins, a Tampa man who was seen in the U.S. Senate chamber during the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol, pleads guilty, making him the second suspect to do so after Jon Schaffer. (Politico)
Tropical Storm Choi-wan (Dante) makes landfall in central and southern Philippines, killing at least three people and leaving hundreds displaced. (The Washington Post)
China–United States relations U.S. President Joe Biden signs an executive order banning Americans from investing in nearly a dozen Chinese companies and their subsidiaries, such as China General Nuclear Power Group, either for their ties to the People's Liberation Army or for selling surveillance technology that is used to spy on the country's religious minorities or dissidents. The ban will go into effect on August 2, and current investors have a year to fully divest from these companies. (South China Morning Post)
2019–2021 Israeli political crisis A Likud source says that incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will leave office on June 9, the day Naftali Bennett is scheduled to be sworn in. (The Jerusalem Post) (The Jewish Press)
A Likud source says that incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will leave office on June 9, the day Naftali Bennett is scheduled to be sworn in. (The Jerusalem Post) (The Jewish Press)
Norway–United States relations, United States intelligence operations abroad The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence summons United States chargé d'affaires to Norway Richard Riley following a report that the U.S. National Security Agency had been spying on Norwegian officials, in addition to other European officials. (The Local Norway)
The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defence summons United States chargé d'affaires to Norway Richard Riley following a report that the U.S. National Security Agency had been spying on Norwegian officials, in addition to other European officials. (The Local Norway)
Unannounced and early in the morning, Minneapolis officials had cement barricades and other objects removed from George Floyd Square. Demonstrators gathered to protest the removals and after city crews left, activists quickly restored the barricades and other objects around the intersection. Several activists later spoke at a press conference in opposition to the city's action. Jaylani Hussein, director of the Minnesota Council on American-Islamic Relations, said it was an attempt to "delete history". (The New York Times)
Nigerian Information Minister Lai Mohammed announces that the government is indefinitely suspending Twitter's operations in the country, saying that the social media service is being used for "activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence". The move comes two days after President Muhammadu Buhari was temporarily suspended from Twitter for posting an inflammatory tweet directed at groups believed to be responsible for attacking government buildings in recent weeks. (Al Jazeera English)
Facebook announces that it will no longer grant blanket immunity to politicians who use its service, especially if their posts are deemed to be deceptive or abusive. The announcement comes as Facebook officially bans former U.S. President Donald Trump from the website until January 2023 after he posted a message which Facebook viewed as supportive of the 2021 United States Capitol attack. (The Daily Telegraph) (France 24)
Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya asks the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union to exercise more pressure on the government of Alexander Lukashenko. Tsikhanouskaya, who is currently in self-exile in Lithuania, has been calling for such sanctions since the arrest of activist and journalist Roman Protasevich on May 23. (Reuters)
2020-2021 United States racial unrest, 2020–2021 Minneapolis–Saint Paul racial unrest Protesters face off with officers in Minneapolis over the shooting death of Winston Boogie Smith. It was the second night of protests in response to the fatal shooting in the Uptown neighborhood. The fatal shooting comes as the city has been on edge since the death of George Floyd and the fatal killing of Daunte Wright by police officers. (NBC News)
At least 23 runners in East Jerusalem are injured after Israeli police fired tear gas and stun grenades at people participating in a 3.5 km (2.2 mi)-run organized to show solidarity with Palestinian families facing eviction in Sheikh Jarrah. (Al Jazeera English)
Brazilian health regulator Anvisa grants a conditional approval for the Sputnik V and Covaxin vaccines. (Reuters)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, COVID-19 vaccination in Brazil Brazilian health regulator Anvisa grants a conditional approval for the Sputnik V and Covaxin vaccines. (Reuters)
International protests over the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis Pro-Palestine protesters in the U.S. gather at the Port of Oakland to attempt to block an Israeli cargo ship from entering the port. Protesters also call for an economic boycott of Israel following the 11-day conflict. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Pro-Palestine protesters in the U.S. gather at the Port of Oakland to attempt to block an Israeli cargo ship from entering the port. Protesters also call for an economic boycott of Israel following the 11-day conflict. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Protesters face off with officers in Minneapolis over the shooting death of Winston Boogie Smith. It was the second night of protests in response to the fatal shooting in the Uptown neighborhood. The fatal shooting comes as the city has been on edge since the death of George Floyd and the fatal killing of Daunte Wright by police officers. (NBC News)
United Airlines announces it has ordered 15 supersonic jets from the Denver-based aircraft startup Boom Technology, provided the jets meet safety standards, with plans to put them into service in 2029. This is the first time that an airline will use supersonic jets in their service since Air France and British Airways retired Concorde in 2003. (BBC News)
Aftermath of the 2021 United States Capitol attack The U.S. Department of Justice says that over 465 people have been arrested since the attack on the United States Capitol. The Department of Justice is also seeking information on 250 other suspects. (ABC News)
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announces at a Bitcoin conference in Florida that his country will adopt the cryptocurrency as legal tender alongside the U.S. dollar, making El Salvador the first country to do so. He plans to introduce the relevant legislation to the Legislative Assembly next week. (BBC News)
2021 Somaliland parliamentary election The National Electoral Council reports that in Somaliland's first parliamentary election since 2005, oppositional parties Waddani and Justice and Welfare Party won 31 and 21 seats respectively, while the ruling Kulmiye Peace, Unity, and Development Party won 30 seats. The victorious oppositional parties subsequently announce that they will form a government together. (Al Jazeera English)
The National Electoral Council reports that in Somaliland's first parliamentary election since 2005, oppositional parties Waddani and Justice and Welfare Party won 31 and 21 seats respectively, while the ruling Kulmiye Peace, Unity, and Development Party won 30 seats. The victorious oppositional parties subsequently announce that they will form a government together. (Al Jazeera English)
War in Afghanistan 2021 Afghanistan attacks A truck carrying explosives is detonated at the police headquarters in Balkh, killing 16 people and injuring 117 others. In addition to the district building that was completely destroyed and the police headquarters that was nearly demolished, 10 houses and 80 shops were also damaged in the attack. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. (TOLO)
2021 Afghanistan attacks A truck carrying explosives is detonated at the police headquarters in Balkh, killing 16 people and injuring 117 others. In addition to the district building that was completely destroyed and the police headquarters that was nearly demolished, 10 houses and 80 shops were also damaged in the attack. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. (TOLO)
2021 U.S. Women's Open In golf, 19-year-old Yuka Saso of the Philippines wins this year's championship at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California, after coming back from two double-bogeys to beat Japan's Nasa Hataoka in the third hole of a sudden death playoff. Saso is the first Filipino player to win a major golf championship and equals South Korea's Inbee Park as the youngest champion of the U.S. Women's Open. (CNN International)
A truck carrying explosives is detonated at the police headquarters in Balkh, killing 16 people and injuring 117 others. In addition to the district building that was completely destroyed and the police headquarters that was nearly demolished, 10 houses and 80 shops were also damaged in the attack. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. (TOLO)
Aftermath of the 2021 United States Capitol attack U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) announces he has served Mo Brooks (R-AL) with a lawsuit that accuses him of being responsible for inciting the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol. (Axios)
In golf, 19-year-old Yuka Saso of the Philippines wins this year's championship at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California, after coming back from two double-bogeys to beat Japan's Nasa Hataoka in the third hole of a sudden death playoff. Saso is the first Filipino player to win a major golf championship and equals South Korea's Inbee Park as the youngest champion of the U.S. Women's Open. (CNN International)
London, Ontario truck attack Four people are killed and another is injured after a man drives his truck into a Pakistani Muslim family in London, Ontario, Canada. The suspect is identified by police as Nathaniel Veltman, a local 20-year-old motivated by Islamophobia. He has been arrested and facing four charges of first-degree murder and one charge of attempted murder. (Al Jazeera English) (CBC News)
2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League The United States wins the inaugural edition of the CONCACAF Nations League, defeating Mexico in the final by a scoreline of 3–2 after extra time. (ESPN)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis Israeli police arrest Sheikh Jarrah activists Muna and Mohammed El-Kurd, the former for allegedly participating in riots, and the latter after he turned himself in following a police summons. Both of them were released separately. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 vaccination in the United States The United States surpasses 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines being administered. (ABC News) COVID-19 pandemic in Canada COVID-19 pandemic in Yukon An outbreak is declared at a gold mine in Yukon after three people tested positive for COVID-19. (CBC News)
COVID-19 vaccination in the United States The United States surpasses 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines being administered. (ABC News)
Four people are killed and another is injured after a man drives his truck into a Pakistani Muslim family in London, Ontario, Canada. The suspect is identified by police as Nathaniel Veltman, a local 20-year-old motivated by Islamophobia. He has been arrested and facing four charges of first-degree murder and one charge of attempted murder. (Al Jazeera English) (CBC News)
Israeli police arrest Sheikh Jarrah activists Muna and Mohammed El-Kurd, the former for allegedly participating in riots, and the latter after he turned himself in following a police summons. Both of them were released separately. (BBC News)
The United States surpasses 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines being administered. (ABC News)
The United States wins the inaugural edition of the CONCACAF Nations League, defeating Mexico in the final by a scoreline of 3–2 after extra time. (ESPN)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis A pro-settler march that was scheduled for Thursday and would have traveled through sensitive sites in East Jerusalem is canceled after Israeli police refused to authorize it. However, the police said they would review a petition calling for the march to be rescheduled. The cancellation follows a warning from Hamas senior leader Khalil al-Hayya that the march could lead to renewed violence. (Al Jazeera English) Attorney General of Israel Avichai Mandelblit tells the Supreme Court he will not intervene in the Sheikh Jarrah case. (Al Jazeera English)
Immigration detention in Australia The Federal Court of Australia finds an Iraqi asylum seeker detained for over two years was unlawfully imprisoned and orders the Commonwealth government to pay him AU$350,000 in damages. The case is expected to set a precedent for refugee rights claims in the future. (The Guardian)
A pro-settler march that was scheduled for Thursday and would have traveled through sensitive sites in East Jerusalem is canceled after Israeli police refused to authorize it. However, the police said they would review a petition calling for the march to be rescheduled. The cancellation follows a warning from Hamas senior leader Khalil al-Hayya that the march could lead to renewed violence. (Al Jazeera English)
Attorney General of Israel Avichai Mandelblit tells the Supreme Court he will not intervene in the Sheikh Jarrah case. (Al Jazeera English)
COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda President Yoweri Museveni reimposes a lockdown including the closure of all educational institutions, the shutdown of weekly open markets, suspension of some inter-city travel, and the suspension of church services following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (U.S. News & World Report)
Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations The U.S. Justice Department announces it will defend former President Donald Trump in a defamation suit brought against him by E. Jean Carroll, who says Trump raped her in the 1990s. (The Wall Street Journal)
In Guatemala, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announces several steps to address the migration crisis at the Northern Triangle during a joint conference with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei. She also urged migrants not to flee to the Mexico–United States border. (NBC News)
President Yoweri Museveni reimposes a lockdown including the closure of all educational institutions, the shutdown of weekly open markets, suspension of some inter-city travel, and the suspension of church services following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (U.S. News & World Report)
The Federal Court of Australia finds an Iraqi asylum seeker detained for over two years was unlawfully imprisoned and orders the Commonwealth government to pay him AU$350,000 in damages. The case is expected to set a precedent for refugee rights claims in the future. (The Guardian)
U.S.-Mexico border crisis In Guatemala, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announces several steps to address the migration crisis at the Northern Triangle during a joint conference with Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei. She also urged migrants not to flee to the Mexico–United States border. (NBC News)
Alphabet Inc., parent company of Google, announces that it has settled an antitrust suit with the French Autorité de la concurrence with a payment of €220m (US$270 million). The settlement amounts to less than 0.7% of Alphabet Inc.'s yearly earnings. (BBC News) (The New York Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Malta Malta reports no new cases of COVID-19 for the first time since July 25, 2020, as bars, cinemas and theatres are reopened following months of closures. (Malta Today) COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Spain reopens its international borders to travellers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. For tourists from low-risk countries, no proof of vaccination, recovery, or diagnostic test will be required and antigen tests are now accepted for travellers from risk zone countries. (El País)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Spain reopens its international borders to travellers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. For tourists from low-risk countries, no proof of vaccination, recovery, or diagnostic test will be required and antigen tests are now accepted for travellers from risk zone countries. (El País)
Spain reopens its international borders to travellers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. For tourists from low-risk countries, no proof of vaccination, recovery, or diagnostic test will be required and antigen tests are now accepted for travellers from risk zone countries. (El País)
2021 United States Capitol attack A United States Senate report on the 2021 Capitol attack finds that intelligence was gathered regarding a potential storming of the building in December but was not relayed to the FBI, Homeland Security, the Justice Department or the Defense Department. (Axios)
A global internet outage caused by an internal issue at content delivery network Fastly causes thousands of websites such as the UK Government's website, BBC, The New York Times, CNN, Financial Times, The Guardian, Pinterest, Reddit, Twitch, Spotify, Bloomberg News, and Amazon to be inaccessible for up to an hour. (CNA) (The New Indian Express) (Reuters)
A United States Senate report on the 2021 Capitol attack finds that intelligence was gathered regarding a potential storming of the building in December but was not relayed to the FBI, Homeland Security, the Justice Department or the Defense Department. (Axios)
A 1933 U.S. double eagle gold coin once owned by King Farouk of Egypt is sold at auction in New York City for US$18.9 million, becoming the most expensive coin ever sold. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, COVID-19 pandemic in Alabama Florida and Alabama will no longer report COVID-19 data as the two U.S. states will move on to their next phase of the pandemic. (CNBC)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, COVID-19 pandemic in Alabama Florida and Alabama will no longer report COVID-19 data as the two U.S. states will move on to their next phase of the pandemic. (CNBC) COVID-19 pandemic in Vermont Vermont reports their first case of the Delta variant in a Chittenden County traveler. (VTDigger)
Death of Sarah Everard Former Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens admits to kidnapping, raping and killing Everard, but not to murder. (BBC News)
Florida and Alabama will no longer report COVID-19 data as the two U.S. states will move on to their next phase of the pandemic. (CNBC)
Former Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens admits to kidnapping, raping and killing Everard, but not to murder. (BBC News)
ProPublica reveals that it received an anonymous leak of personal tax filings for thousands of the wealthiest Americans over multiple years, and publishes a long form analysis of the 25 wealthiest individuals' filings and rates per year. IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig said that the IRS is investigating the leak of the tax data to ProPublica and that any violations of law would be prosecuted. (ProPublica) (ABC News)
Statistics of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, COVID-19 pandemic in Alabama Florida and Alabama will no longer report COVID-19 data as the two U.S. states will move on to their next phase of the pandemic. (CNBC)
The Iraqi Radioactive Sources Regulatory Authority announces that Iraq is seeking to build eight nuclear reactors capable of producing 11 gigawatts combined to address increasing electricity demand, which is predicted to rise 50% from roughly 28GW today to 42GW by 2030. Average electrical power output currently stands at about 18.4GW, of which 1.2GW is imported. The Authority says that they are in discussions with Korean, Russian, U.S., and French officials on how to implement the plan. (Bloomberg News)
