In the early hours, the Taliban announces a three-day ceasefire to observe the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday. A Taliban spokesman says that it is for the mujahideen to provide a peaceful and secure atmosphere to their compatriots. (Reuters)
Kyrgyzstan receives the second component of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. (Kabar)
Nepal reports a record 9,127 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 403,794. (Kathmandu Post)
Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announces a new nationwide movement control order from May 12 until June 7, with additional restrictions due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Malay Mail)
Sources in Russia's defense industry report that Russia will be carrying out three tests of the RS-28 Sarmat hypersonic ICBM during the third quarter of 2021 at the Kura Missile Test Range in Kamchatka Krai as part of flight design tests. Two of the tests are expected to test maximum capabilities for the ICBM with a specified range of 18,000 km and speeds of around Mach 20, prior to final deployment with the armed forces in 2022. (TASS)
Tamil Nadu enters a two-week complete lockdown until May 24 amidst an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Livemint)
Thailand reports its first two cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant in a woman and her four-year-old son who traveled from Pakistan and are currently in quarantine. (ABC News)
The Food and Drug Administration authorizes the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine for use in children between the ages of 12 and 15 years. (MSN)
The Philippines receives its first shipment of 193,050 doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine distributed through the COVAX initiative. (GMA News Online)
The United Kingdom lowers its COVID-19 Alert level to level 3 as vaccinations and lockdown restrictions ease pressure on the NHS, which means that the transmission of the virus is no longer rising exponentially. (The Independent)
The World Health Organization classifies the Lineage B.1.617 variant as a "Variant of Concern", becoming the fourth variant to be designated as being of global concern after the B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 variants. (The Wall Street Journal)
Ukrainian scientists report that, for an unknown reason, the levels of nuclear radiation have increased in the remains of the Chernobyl power plant. Most areas of containment have shown decreasing radiation levels, however, in one particular room, radiation counts have doubled over the last four years. These radiation levels are high enough to preclude installing sensors. Additionally, fuel containing materials, which were initially the consistency of lava, are disintegrating into radioactive dust. (Popular Mechanics) (Nature)
Variants of SARS-CoV-2 The World Health Organization classifies the Lineage B.1.617 variant as a "Variant of Concern", becoming the fourth variant to be designated as being of global concern after the B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and P.1 variants. (The Wall Street Journal)
Israel launches another series of strikes in the Gaza Strip, killing eight people and wounding several others, thereby bringing the total death toll from the strikes to 32. The Hanadi Tower is also destroyed during the incident. Hamas responds to the attacks by launching rockets towards Israel, including several towards Tel Aviv, killing three people. (Reuters)
Armed miners on seven boats attack the indigenous Yanomami community in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, opening fire against them and wounding one person. The Yanomami respond to the fire, killing three miners and wounding four others. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil The Brazilian federal government suspends the nationwide vaccination of pregnant women using Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after the death of an expectant mother in Rio de Janeiro from a stroke possibly related to the vaccination. (SABC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan The Taiwanese government prohibits outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people and indoor gatherings of more than 100 people, as well as banning all food and drink in trains until June 8, after reporting six new domestic COVID-19 cases with no clear source of infection. (Reuters)
Four Christian farmers are killed by East Indonesia Mujahideen militants during an attack at a coffee plantation in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. (UCA News)
Kazan school shooting Seven students and two teachers are killed and 21 others are wounded in a mass shooting at a school in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia. The attacker has been arrested. (Al Jazeera)
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signs Presidential Proclamation No. 1143, declaring a state of calamity for one year due to the African swine fever, two years after the disease was reported in the country. (Rappler)
Seven students and two teachers are killed and 21 others are wounded in a mass shooting at a school in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia. The attacker has been arrested. (Al Jazeera)
The Brazilian federal government suspends the nationwide vaccination of pregnant women using Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine after the death of an expectant mother in Rio de Janeiro from a stroke possibly related to the vaccination. (SABC News)
The Taiwanese government prohibits outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people and indoor gatherings of more than 100 people, as well as banning all food and drink in trains until June 8, after reporting six new domestic COVID-19 cases with no clear source of infection. (Reuters)
1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad sues units of Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and Coutts for a combined amount of US$2.9 billion on the basis of negligence and conspiracy to defraud. The lawsuit is a bid to recover lost assets of more than $23 billion. (RFI)
2020–21 Premier League Manchester City win the Premier League for the fifth time after rivals Manchester United were defeated 2–1 by Leicester City. (The Guardian)
According to a coroner's inquest report, ten people shot dead in the 1971 Ballymurphy massacre in Belfast were innocent civilians and their killings were unjustified. Nine of the people had been shot by the British Armed Forces. (The Guardian)
An Israeli-Arab man is killed and two more are wounded after a Jewish gunman opens fire against a group of protestors in Lod. (The Jerusalem Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Europe COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia Slovakia suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine for people that received the first dose after the State Institute for Drug Control ruled that the death of a 47-year-old woman was likely connected to the jab. (Euronews) COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Spain approves the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for people under the age of 60 years. (El Pais)
COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal Nepal reports a record 9,317 new cases and 225 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the total of confirmed cases to 413,111 and the nationwide death toll to 4,084. (Kathmandu Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia Slovakia suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine for people that received the first dose after the State Institute for Drug Control ruled that the death of a 47-year-old woman was likely connected to the jab. (Euronews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain Spain approves the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for people under the age of 60 years. (El Pais)
COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, Lineage B.1.617 The Philippines reports its first cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first detected in India in two Filipino seafarers who travelled to Oman and the United Arab Emirates. (CNA)
Kenya–Somalia relations The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority suspends all commercial flights to Somalia for three months, days after both countries announced the restoration of diplomatic relations. No reason is given for the suspension. (Al Jazeera)
Malaysian state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad sues units of Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and Coutts for a combined amount of US$2.9 billion on the basis of negligence and conspiracy to defraud. The lawsuit is a bid to recover lost assets of more than $23 billion. (RFI)
Manchester City win the Premier League for the fifth time after rivals Manchester United were defeated 2–1 by Leicester City. (The Guardian)
Nepal reports a record 9,317 new cases and 225 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the total of confirmed cases to 413,111 and the nationwide death toll to 4,084. (Kathmandu Post)
Pope Francis formally institutes the office of catechist as a ministry within the Church. With an apostolic letter entitled Antiquum Ministerium, released on May 11, the Pope establishes the lay ministry, and announces that the Vatican would soon publish a ritual for the commissioning of catechists. (Catholic World News) (Holy See Press Office)
Protests break out in London, New York City, and other cities across the world expressing solidarity with Palestine. In Manhattan, pro-Palestinian protesters gather at the Israeli consulate on East 42nd Street. Additionally, U.S. Reps Rashida Tlaib and André Carson participate in a protest at the State Department in Washington, D.C. (Arab News) (Gothamist) (Newsweek)
Slovakia suspends the use of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine for people that received the first dose after the State Institute for Drug Control ruled that the death of a 47-year-old woman was likely connected to the jab. (Euronews)
Spain approves the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine for people under the age of 60 years. (El Pais)
The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority suspends all commercial flights to Somalia for three months, days after both countries announced the restoration of diplomatic relations. No reason is given for the suspension. (Al Jazeera)
The Philippines reports its first cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first detected in India in two Filipino seafarers who travelled to Oman and the United Arab Emirates. (CNA)
The Troubles According to a coroner's inquest report, ten people shot dead in the 1971 Ballymurphy massacre in Belfast were innocent civilians and their killings were unjustified. Nine of the people had been shot by the British Armed Forces. (The Guardian)
Afghan officials confirm that Nirkh District, in Maidan Wardak Province, was captured by the Taliban yesterday as the group seized the district building and set it on fire after days of intense siege. Attacks by the group have significantly increased as United States troops have started to withdraw from the country before the final deadline of September 11. (DW)
UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab reports that war criminal and former Republika Srpska President Radovan Karadžić will serve the rest of his life sentence in the United Kingdom. Karadžić was handed the sentence by International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in 2019 for crimes against humanity committed during the Bosnian War. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Colombian protests President of Colombia Iván Duque Márquez announces that 65 officers have been given disciplinary actions for acts of brutality allegedly committed while repressing demonstrations. Of the actions, eight were for homicide, 27 for abuse of authority, and 11 for physical assaults. (MercoPress)
2021 Niger attacks Five villagers are killed and two more wounded as militants storm the village of Fantio, in the Tillabéri Region, Niger, during Eid al-Fitr celebrations. (Africa News)
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz is investigated by anti-corruption prosecutors for allegedly lying to Parliament about his role in the Ibiza affair. Kurz denies the charges. (Politico.eu)
Insurgency in the Maghreb 2021 Niger attacks Five villagers are killed and two more wounded as militants storm the village of Fantio, in the Tillabéri Region, Niger, during Eid al-Fitr celebrations. (Africa News)
Mullah Mannan Niazi, the deputy leader of a splinter group of Taliban led by Mullah Rasul, is wounded and left in a coma after attackers target the area where he lived in Herat Province. Three of Niazi's men are also killed and four others wounded during the clash. (TOLO News)
President of Colombia Iván Duque Márquez announces that 65 officers have been given disciplinary actions for acts of brutality allegedly committed while repressing demonstrations. Of the actions, eight were for homicide, 27 for abuse of authority, and 11 for physical assaults. (MercoPress)
The government of Sierra Leone decides to push for the abolition of capital punishment. (AFP via IOL)
A study published in Nature estimates that during the Last Glacial Maximum, low-to-mid latitude land surfaces at low elevation cooled on average by 5.8 °C relative to their present day temperatures. The study was based on an analysis of noble gases dissolved in groundwater rather than examinations of species abundances that have been used in the past. (phys.org) (Nature.com)
A total of 52 bodies have been found floating in the Ganges in the state of Uttar Pradesh with suspicions that villages may simply be disposing of pandemic deaths in the river. (The New Indian Express)
Amazon wins a legal dispute against a European Union order to pay back taxes of €250 million ($303 million). The setback renewed calls from EU lawmakers for a global corporate tax deal and for several to voice their support for the Biden administration's proposed 21% minimum tax rate on multinationals. (Reuters)
Child sexual abuse in the United Kingdom Twenty-nine men are charged with the sexual exploitation and rape of a teenage girl over a seven-year period in Calderdale and Bradford, West Yorkshire, between 2003 and 2010. (BBC News)
Climate change A study published in Nature estimates that during the Last Glacial Maximum, low-to-mid latitude land surfaces at low elevation cooled on average by 5.8 °C relative to their present day temperatures. The study was based on an analysis of noble gases dissolved in groundwater rather than examinations of species abundances that have been used in the past. (phys.org) (Nature.com)
COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba, Deployment of COVID-19 vaccines Cuba initiates its mass vaccination campaign for around 1.7 million people, using its locally-developed SOBERANA 02 and ABDALA vaccines, both of which have yet to complete its Phase III clinical trials. (The New York Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in France The French National Assembly approves the creation of a COVID-19 health pass to enable international travel and organization of large events. MPs also agree to end the state of emergency on June 1 and replace it with a transitional period that will last until the end of September, which will allow the prime minister to extend the 9 p.m. curfew until June 30. (Euronews) (The Connexion)
COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary Hungary announces that hospitals are resuming elective surgeries, which had been suspended during the pandemic. However, due to the workload, altered circumstances, the vaccination campaign, and other factors, waiting list times have effectively doubled and are now one to two years for most patients. (Hungary Today)
COVID-19 pandemic in India India reports a record 4,205 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 254,197. (The Times of India) COVID-19 pandemic in Uttar Pradesh A total of 52 bodies have been found floating in the Ganges in the state of Uttar Pradesh with suspicions that villages may simply be disposing of pandemic deaths in the river. (The New Indian Express)
COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan signs an agreement with the World Bank to purchase vaccines developed by Sinopharm. (Kabar)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record 39 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 1,761. (Malay Mail)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba, Deployment of COVID-19 vaccines Cuba initiates its mass vaccination campaign for around 1.7 million people, using its locally-developed SOBERANA 02 and ABDALA vaccines, both of which have yet to complete its Phase III clinical trials. (The New York Times) COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, COVID-19 vaccination in the United States The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel votes to recommend the use of Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine for children aged 12 to 15 years. (The New York Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Norway Prime Minister Erna Solberg announces that Norway will remove the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine from its vaccination programme due to the risk of rare blood clots. (Bloomberg)
COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Sri Lanka imposes a night travel ban from 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. until May 31 in order to combat the rise of COVID-19 cases. (The Hindu)
COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan Taiwan reports a record 16 new locally transmitted cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,231. (CNA)
COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand Thailand reports a record 34 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 486. (Bangkok Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, COVID-19 vaccination in the United States The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention advisory panel votes to recommend the use of Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine for children aged 12 to 15 years. (The New York Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Uttar Pradesh A total of 52 bodies have been found floating in the Ganges in the state of Uttar Pradesh with suspicions that villages may simply be disposing of pandemic deaths in the river. (The New Indian Express)
Five villagers are killed and two more wounded as militants storm the village of Fantio, in the Tillabéri Region, Niger, during Eid al-Fitr celebrations. (Africa News)
Hungary announces that hospitals are resuming elective surgeries, which had been suspended during the pandemic. However, due to the workload, altered circumstances, the vaccination campaign, and other factors, waiting list times have effectively doubled and are now one to two years for most patients. (Hungary Today)
In Milwaukee, protesters gather near The Calling sculpture in opposition to Israel's occupation. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
India reports a record 4,205 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 254,197. (The Times of India)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declares a state of emergency in the city of Lod following rioting between Arabs and Jews. It is the first use of emergency powers over an Arab community in Israel since 1966. (Times of Israel)
