The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the United Kingdom reaches 60 million. (Sky News)
The United States sanctions Ethiopian and Eritrean government and military officials for their involvement in the Tigray War. These sanctions are intended to push all parties in the war to pursue peace. (Al Jazeera)
Tigray War The United States sanctions Ethiopian and Eritrean government and military officials for their involvement in the Tigray War. These sanctions are intended to push all parties in the war to pursue peace. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Malian coup d'état Interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane are reported to have been arrested by the military and taken to a military base in Kati. This follows the detection of an increased military presence in Bamako. (Reuters)
Belarus–European Union relations In response to the grounding of Ryanair Flight 4978 and the subsequent arrest of activist Roman Protasevich, the Lithuanian government closes its airports to flights from Belarus and urges its citizens to leave the country. Wizz Air, Austrian Airlines, and Air Baltic have all rerouted their flights to avoid Belarusian airspace. (Politico.eu) The European Union bans all Belarusian airlines from using its airports and airspace in response to the hijacking, and places sanctions on the officials believed to be involved in the operation. (Al Jazeera)
In response to the grounding of Ryanair Flight 4978 and the subsequent arrest of activist Roman Protasevich, the Lithuanian government closes its airports to flights from Belarus and urges its citizens to leave the country. Wizz Air, Austrian Airlines, and Air Baltic have all rerouted their flights to avoid Belarusian airspace. (Politico.eu)
Interim President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane are reported to have been arrested by the military and taken to a military base in Kati. This follows the detection of an increased military presence in Bamako. (Reuters)
Police raid the Delhi and Gurgaon offices of Twitter's Indian branch to search for an alleged toolkit used by the oppositional Indian National Congress to allegedly spread misinformation about the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Indian Express)
Afghan truck drivers, faced with roads that have not been repaired by the Ministry of Public Works, launch a campaign to repair them by themselves by collecting 500 Afs from their trade union members to pay for it. Current efforts are focused on the Kabul–Kandahar Highway and the Salang Pass. (TOLO News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Asia COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record 7,289 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 525,889. (The Straits Times) COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines The Philippines surpasses 20,000 deaths from COVID-19. (ABS-CBN) COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam Vietnam reports a record 447 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, prompting the government to expand the lockdown measures in Bac Ninh, such as imposing curfew and travel restrictions. (Reuters) (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam Vietnam reports a record 447 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, prompting the government to expand the lockdown measures in Bac Ninh, such as imposing curfew and travel restrictions. (Reuters) (CNA)
Vietnam reports a record 447 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, prompting the government to expand the lockdown measures in Bac Ninh, such as imposing curfew and travel restrictions. (Reuters) (CNA)
2021 Syrian presidential election Syrians head to the polls to elect their President. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Namibia President Hage Geingob and his wife Monica test positive for COVID-19. (Xinhuanet)
COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania, COVID-19 vaccine Pennsylvania becomes the 10th U.S. state to reach President Joe Biden’s goal of vaccinating 70% of adults. (The Hill)
COVID-19 pandemic in Switzerland The Swiss government announces that indoor restaurants will be reopened and people will no longer be required to work from home beginning May 31 as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline. (France 24)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania, COVID-19 vaccine Pennsylvania becomes the 10th U.S. state to reach President Joe Biden’s goal of vaccinating 70% of adults. (The Hill) U.S. President Joe Biden orders intelligence agencies to increase their investigations into the origin of the virus, following reports that researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology became ill a month before the pandemic began. (Al Jazeera)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announces that all cryptocurrency mining will be banned in the country until September 22, blaming illegal mining for causing a recent series of power outages. (Al Jazeera)
Ireland–Israel relations, Ireland–Palestine relations The Dáil Éireann unanimously passes a motion introduced by the oppositional Sinn Féin condemning the Israeli settlements as representing a de facto annexation of Palestinian land, making Ireland the first European Union member to make such a condemnation. Yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney called for the government to adopt the motion. However, an amendment calling for the Israeli ambassador to be expelled and for sanctions to be placed on Israel was rejected by a vote of 87–43. (RTÉ)
President Hage Geingob and his wife Monica test positive for COVID-19. (Xinhuanet)
Swiss President Guy Parmelin announces that his country has broken off talks with the European Union over a possible framework agreement, highlighting impasses on the issues of state aid, wage protections, and freedom of movement. (France 24)
Switzerland–European Union relations Swiss President Guy Parmelin announces that his country has broken off talks with the European Union over a possible framework agreement, highlighting impasses on the issues of state aid, wage protections, and freedom of movement. (France 24)
Syrians head to the polls to elect their President. (Al Jazeera)
The Dáil Éireann unanimously passes a motion introduced by the oppositional Sinn Féin condemning the Israeli settlements as representing a de facto annexation of Palestinian land, making Ireland the first European Union member to make such a condemnation. Yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney called for the government to adopt the motion. However, an amendment calling for the Israeli ambassador to be expelled and for sanctions to be placed on Israel was rejected by a vote of 87–43. (RTÉ)
The Swiss government announces that indoor restaurants will be reopened and people will no longer be required to work from home beginning May 31 as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to decline. (France 24)
Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani pledges US$500 million to help rebuild the Gaza Strip following the cessation in violence between Palestine and Israel. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Syrian presidential election Parliamentary speaker Hammouda Sabbagh declares the re-election of President Bashar al-Assad, who received over 95.1% of votes. Several countries have expressed concerns about the fairness and legitimacy of the election and stated that they would not recognize the results. (RTE)
Parliamentary speaker Hammouda Sabbagh declares the re-election of President Bashar al-Assad, who received over 95.1% of votes. Several countries have expressed concerns about the fairness and legitimacy of the election and stated that they would not recognize the results. (RTE)
During an official visit to Kigali, French President Emmanuel Macron admits French involvement in the Rwandan genocide. Macron is the first French president to visit Rwanda in ten years, with relations between the two countries having deteriorated following the genocide. (DW)
Role of France in the Rwandan genocide During an official visit to Kigali, French President Emmanuel Macron admits French involvement in the Rwandan genocide. Macron is the first French president to visit Rwanda in ten years, with relations between the two countries having deteriorated following the genocide. (DW)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis The UN Human Rights Council authorizes an open-ended investigation into human rights violations committed during the conflict. The Palestinian National Authority welcomes the decision, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemns it as "yet another example of the UN Human Rights Council’s blatant anti-Israel obsession," and declares that Israel will not cooperate with the probe. (Al Jazeera)
The UN Human Rights Council authorizes an open-ended investigation into human rights violations committed during the conflict. The Palestinian National Authority welcomes the decision, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemns it as "yet another example of the UN Human Rights Council’s blatant anti-Israel obsession," and declares that Israel will not cooperate with the probe. (Al Jazeera)
2019–2021 Israeli political crisis Yamina leader Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid announces that they have agreed to form a coalition government, which would make Bennett the next Prime Minister of Israel until September 2023, and for Lapid to serve until November 2025. The agreement is expected to be announced by Bennett on Saturday night, and the government will be sworn-in on June 8. (The Jerusalem Post) (The Times of Israel)
2021 Colombian protests President Iván Duque Márquez deploys military forces to Cali following the deaths of at least three people in the protests. (The Independent)
COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi, COVID-19 lockdown in India The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi announces a "very, very slow" easing of its lockdown as the number of COVID-19 cases decreases in major cities. Beginning Monday, construction work and operation of factories will be resumed. (CTV News)
COVID-19 pandemic in India COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi, COVID-19 lockdown in India The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi announces a "very, very slow" easing of its lockdown as the number of COVID-19 cases decreases in major cities. Beginning Monday, construction work and operation of factories will be resumed. (CTV News)
Germany–Namibia relations The Federal Government of Germany officially recognizes the country's perpetration of the Herero and Namaqua genocide during its colonial rule of Namibia. German foreign minister Heiko Maas pledges reparations worth €1.1 billion (US$1.34 billion) for the descendants of the Herero and Nama people to be paid within 30 years. (France 24)
President Iván Duque Márquez deploys military forces to Cali following the deaths of at least three people in the protests. (The Independent)
The Federal Government of Germany officially recognizes the country's perpetration of the Herero and Namaqua genocide during its colonial rule of Namibia. German foreign minister Heiko Maas pledges reparations worth €1.1 billion (US$1.34 billion) for the descendants of the Herero and Nama people to be paid within 30 years. (France 24)
The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi announces a "very, very slow" easing of its lockdown as the number of COVID-19 cases decreases in major cities. Beginning Monday, construction work and operation of factories will be resumed. (CTV News)
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan inaugurates the Taksim Mosque in Istanbul. Its construction was considered controversial as its location was considered to be secular space, with earlier plans to build it near Gezi Park contributing to protests in 2013. (BBC News)
Yamina leader Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid announces that they have agreed to form a coalition government, which would make Bennett the next Prime Minister of Israel until September 2023, and for Lapid to serve until November 2025. The agreement is expected to be announced by Bennett on Saturday night, and the government will be sworn-in on June 8. (The Jerusalem Post) (The Times of Israel)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announces the extension of the state of emergency in nine prefectures for three weeks until June 20, the last day of emergency in Okinawa Prefecture, as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to remain high. (The Japan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record for the fourth consecutive day of 8,290 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 549,514. (CNA) In response to a record number of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia, the Prime Minister's Office announces a two-week nationwide "total lockdown" from June 1 to 14, which will ban all social and economic activities with the exception of essential economic and service sectors. (Malay Mail)
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announces the extension of the state of emergency in nine prefectures for three weeks until June 20, the last day of emergency in Okinawa Prefecture, as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to remain high. (The Japan Times)
2021 Brazilian protests Brazilian social movements organize demonstrations in Brazil's major cities against the government of President Jair Bolsonaro. Protestors demand Bolsonaro's impeachment over the perceived mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic by the government, with calls for faster and wider vaccination campaigns. (The Guardian)
Brazilian social movements organize demonstrations in Brazil's major cities against the government of President Jair Bolsonaro. Protestors demand Bolsonaro's impeachment over the perceived mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic by the government, with calls for faster and wider vaccination campaigns. (The Guardian)
China–Philippines relations, Spratly Islands dispute The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs files a diplomatic complaint against China for the continued presence of Chinese maritime and fishing vessels near Thitu Island, making this the 84th diplomatic complaint the Philippines has filed against China since the start of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's administration in 2016. (Al Jazeera)
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs files a diplomatic complaint against China for the continued presence of Chinese maritime and fishing vessels near Thitu Island, making this the 84th diplomatic complaint the Philippines has filed against China since the start of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's administration in 2016. (Al Jazeera)
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson marries political activist Carrie Symonds in a private ceremony at Westminster Cathedral. Approximately 30 people were in attendance. (BBC News)
2019–2021 Israeli political crisis Yamina leader Naftali Bennett announces that he and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid have formed a coalition government to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In response, Netanyahu accuses Bennett of committing the "fraud of the century". (The Times of Israel) (Haaretz)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, Malaysian movement control order The Malaysian government announces that all malls will have to close on total lockdown from June 1 to 14, while 17 essential service will be allowed to operate. The government also allow companies under 12 manufacturing sector to be continue operating with 60% capacity. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that the COVID-19 restrictions will be strengthened, which will include a nightly curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., a ban on gatherings of more than 100 people indoors and 250 people outdoors, and a requirement for all non-essential establishments to close at 10:00 p.m. as the country moves to the adjusted level 2 beginning tomorrow amid a third wave of COVID-19. (BusinessTech)
COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan The government signs a deal with Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp and United Biomedical Inc to provide up to 20 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccines in Taiwan. (Reuters)
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announces that the COVID-19 restrictions will be strengthened, which will include a nightly curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., a ban on gatherings of more than 100 people indoors and 250 people outdoors, and a requirement for all non-essential establishments to close at 10:00 p.m. as the country moves to the adjusted level 2 beginning tomorrow amid a third wave of COVID-19. (BusinessTech)
The government signs a deal with Medigen Vaccine Biologics Corp and United Biomedical Inc to provide up to 20 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccines in Taiwan. (Reuters)
Yamina leader Naftali Bennett announces that he and Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid have formed a coalition government to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In response, Netanyahu accuses Bennett of committing the "fraud of the century". (The Times of Israel) (Haaretz)
2021 Malian coup d'état The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States decide to suspend Mali's membership in the organization until the end of February 2022 or when the country appoints a civilian prime minister. (TRT World)
The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States decide to suspend Mali's membership in the organization until the end of February 2022 or when the country appoints a civilian prime minister. (TRT World)
Israel–United States relations U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem amidst speculation that a new government will be formed in Israel. During the meeting, both men discussed protecting Israel from future Hamas attacks. (The Hill) (The Jerusalem Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan The government approves the use of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 15, becoming the first vaccine to be approved used for children in Japan. (Kyodo News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Peru Peru announces a sharp increase in the COVID-19 death toll from 69,342 to 180,764 following a government review that reflects the severity of the pandemic. (Associated Press)
Fabio and Nicola Riva, the former owners of the Ilva steelworks in Taranto, Italy, are sentenced to 22 and 20 years in jail respectively for allowing their company to discharge harmful pollution. The carcinogenic dioxins and mineral particles discharged by the steelworks caused an increase in cancers in the city of Taranto. Several other people are also sentenced, including former President of Apulia Nichi Vendola, who was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. (Reuters)
Peru announces a sharp increase in the COVID-19 death toll from 69,342 to 180,764 following a government review that reflects the severity of the pandemic. (Associated Press)
The government approves the use of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 15, becoming the first vaccine to be approved used for children in Japan. (Kyodo News)
Norbert Hofer, chairman of the far-right Freedom Party of Austria, resigns following weeks of infighting with former Interior Minister Herbert Kickl over their conflicting approaches to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic. Hofer says that he will remain as one of the deputy presidents for the National Council until the next parliamentary elections. (France 24)
Chilean President Sebastián Piñera announces his government's support for a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Chile. (Reuters)
LGBT rights in Chile Chilean President Sebastián Piñera announces his government's support for a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in Chile. (Reuters)
The Vanuatuan opposition files a no-confidence motion against the government of Prime Minister Bob Loughman over allegations of excessive spending for self-interest in times of national crisis. The country's economy has been severely impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of Cyclone Harold last year. This motion is the first attempt to oust Loughman since he formed a government last year. (RNZ International)
Attempted assassination of Katumba Wamala Four gunmen on a car open fire against a convoy carrying Ugandan Minister of Transport Katumba Wamala, injuring him and killing his daughter and driver. (Deutsche Welle)
Four gunmen on a car open fire against a convoy carrying Ugandan Minister of Transport Katumba Wamala, injuring him and killing his daughter and driver. (Deutsche Welle)
Twitter suspends the account of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari for 12 hours for posting a tweet invoking the violence of the Nigerian Civil War, where he fought as a major general, in his threats against the Biafran separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Authorities blame IPOB for a recent series of attacks on government buildings in Rivers State. (Al Jazeera English)
Twitter suspensions Twitter suspends the account of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari for 12 hours for posting a tweet invoking the violence of the Nigerian Civil War, where he fought as a major general, in his threats against the Biafran separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Authorities blame IPOB for a recent series of attacks on government buildings in Rivers State. (Al Jazeera English)
2019–2021 Israeli political crisis Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid and opposition, informs outgoing President Reuven Rivlin that he and Yamina leader Naftali Bennett have reached a deal to form a coalition government, which will remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power. (The Times of Israel) Mansour Abbas, leader of the United Arab List party, agrees to join the coalition. This is the first time in Israel's history that an Arab party will be part of the ruling government. (Al Jazeera English)
Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid and opposition, informs outgoing President Reuven Rivlin that he and Yamina leader Naftali Bennett have reached a deal to form a coalition government, which will remove Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from power. (The Times of Israel)
