A Nigerian Air Force plane crashes near Kaduna International Airport, killing Chief of Army Staff Ibrahim Attahiru and several of his aides. (Reuters)
A symbolic re-trial for medieval Italian writer Dante Alighieri, who was sentenced to exile in absentia in 1302, is held virtually in Florence. (DW)
An accident, believed to have been caused by an emission of methane, kills ten people, injures four others, and causes several more people to remain missing inside a water treatment plant outside the city of Taganrog, in Russia's Rostov Region. (TASS) (Pravda.ru)
Animal welfare and rights in Germany The Bundestag votes to ban the culling of male chicks starting on January 1, 2022. The ban makes Germany the first country to ban male chick culling by law. Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner, who sponsored the bill, says that she did not consider chick culling "to be ethically acceptable". (DW)
COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba, COVID-19 vaccine Over one million people in Cuba have received a dose of the Abdala and Soberana 02 vaccines. (UrduPoint)
COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt Egypt receives its first shipment of raw materials used to manufacture the Sinovac Coronavac vaccine, as well as a shipment of 500,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine. (Ahram Online)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lineage B.1.617 Germany declares the United Kingdom a "virus variant area" due to the spread of the Indian Lineage B.1.617 variant. It means that anyone from the UK will be required quarantine for two weeks on arrival, even if they have tested negative. (DW)
COVID-19 pandemic in Lebanon Lebanon eases some COVID-19 restrictions, allowing cinemas and theatres to reopen as well as allowing organized weddings, conferences, and trade shows at reduced capacity as the number of both cases and deaths continue to decline. (The National Herald)
COVID-19 pandemic in Louisiana, Lineage B.1.617 Louisiana reports its first two cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first discovered in India. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in North America COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba, COVID-19 vaccine Over one million people in Cuba have received a dose of the Abdala and Soberana 02 vaccines. (UrduPoint) COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Louisiana, Lineage B.1.617 Louisiana reports its first two cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first discovered in India. (AP)
COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan Pakistan surpasses 20,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Business Recorder)
COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea, COVID-19 vaccination in South Korea South Korea approves the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (The Straits Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announces that Spain will allow all vaccinated travelers to visit the country starting on June 7 regardless of their country of origin, and it will also allow British holidaymakers to visit as well starting on May 24, as it aims to revive its pandemic-hit tourism industry. (The Local Spain)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United States COVID-19 pandemic in Louisiana, Lineage B.1.617 Louisiana reports its first two cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first discovered in India. (AP)
Egypt receives its first shipment of raw materials used to manufacture the Sinovac Coronavac vaccine, as well as a shipment of 500,000 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine. (Ahram Online)
Germany declares the United Kingdom a "virus variant area" due to the spread of the Indian Lineage B.1.617 variant. It means that anyone from the UK will be required quarantine for two weeks on arrival, even if they have tested negative. (DW)
In Toronto, activists paint the Israeli consulate with a "river of blood" to symbolize the 200 Palestinians who were killed during the conflict. (CTV News)
Indonesian Islamists protest American support for Israel at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta. Protesters also demand an end to Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip despite the ceasefire going into force yesterday. (AP)
Insurgency in Balochistan, International protests over the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis 2021 Chaman bombing Seven people are killed and 14 others are wounded in a bombing at a Palestine solidarity rally in Chaman, Balochistan, Pakistan. (Dawn)
International protests over the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis Indonesian Islamists protest American support for Israel at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta. Protesters also demand an end to Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip despite the ceasefire going into force yesterday. (AP) In Toronto, activists paint the Israeli consulate with a "river of blood" to symbolize the 200 Palestinians who were killed during the conflict. (CTV News)
Israeli security forces fire stun grenades and rubber bullets at Palestinians attending Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and they also hit journalists at the scene with batons, injuring at least 20 people. (CNN)
Lebanon eases some COVID-19 restrictions, allowing cinemas and theatres to reopen as well as allowing organized weddings, conferences, and trade shows at reduced capacity as the number of both cases and deaths continue to decline. (The National Herald)
Louisiana reports its first two cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first discovered in India. (AP)
Over one million people in Cuba have received a dose of the Abdala and Soberana 02 vaccines. (UrduPoint)
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announces that Spain will allow all vaccinated travelers to visit the country starting on June 7 regardless of their country of origin, and it will also allow British holidaymakers to visit as well starting on May 24, as it aims to revive its pandemic-hit tourism industry. (The Local Spain)
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga announces the extension of the state of emergency to Okinawa from May 23 until June 20 after a record 207 new cases of COVID-19 are reported in the prefecture in the past 24 hours. (The Japan Times)
Seven people are killed and 14 others are wounded in a bombing at a Palestine solidarity rally in Chaman, Balochistan, Pakistan. (Dawn)
South Korea approves the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (The Straits Times)
Ten more bodies are found under the rubble of bombed buildings in Gaza, thereby bringing the Palestinian death toll to 243. Despite this, the ceasefire agreed by Israel and Hamas begins. (Al Jazeera)
The Bundestag votes to ban the culling of male chicks starting on January 1, 2022. The ban makes Germany the first country to ban male chick culling by law. Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner, who sponsored the bill, says that she did not consider chick culling "to be ethically acceptable". (DW)
The Group of Seven agreed on Friday to stop international financing of coal projects that emit carbon by the end of this year, and to phase out such support for all fossil fuels. (Reuters)
A nationwide lockdown begins as President Alberto Fernández says that the country is experiencing its worst moment of the pandemic. As the number of cases increases, only essential personnel are allowed to travel freely for the next nine days. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina A nationwide lockdown begins as President Alberto Fernández says that the country is experiencing its worst moment of the pandemic. As the number of cases increases, only essential personnel are allowed to travel freely for the next nine days. (BBC News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia The government announces additional restrictions for the third movement control order, including mandating 80% of public sector workers and 40% of private sector workers to work from home, restricting the operating hours of businesses from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and reducing the capacity of public transport and other mass transportation vehicles to 50 percent. These new restrictions will take effect on May 25. (Malay Mail)
COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, Lineage B.1.351 Thailand reports its first locally transmitted cases of the South African Lineage B.1.351 variant in three test samples from a cluster of infections that could be linked to illegal immigration in the southern portion of the country. (The Star)
The government announces additional restrictions for the third movement control order, including mandating 80% of public sector workers and 40% of private sector workers to work from home, restricting the operating hours of businesses from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and reducing the capacity of public transport and other mass transportation vehicles to 50 percent. These new restrictions will take effect on May 25. (Malay Mail)
2020–21 Bundesliga FC Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski scores his 41st goal of the season in a 5–2 win against FC Augsburg during the final matchday, setting the Bundesliga record for the highest number of goals scored by a player in a single season, which was previously held by Gerd Müller for scoring 40 goals during the 1971–72 season. (The Irish Times)
2020–21 La Liga Atlético Madrid win La Liga for the first time since the 2013–14 season, after defeating Real Valladolid 2–1 on the final matchday. (The Independent)
2021 Mount Nyiragongo eruption Mount Nyiragongo, located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, erupts. Thousands evacuate from the nearby city of Goma. (BBC News)
2021 Myanmar coup d'état In his first interview since the coup, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing says that deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi is in good health and that she will appear in court soon. (Reuters)
Atlético Madrid win La Liga for the first time since the 2013–14 season, after defeating Real Valladolid 2–1 on the final matchday. (The Independent)
Bangladesh removes a passage from its passport saying that it cannot be used for travel to and from Israel, thereby formally lifting the travel ban. (Jerusalem Post)
Bangladesh–Israel relations Bangladesh removes a passage from its passport saying that it cannot be used for travel to and from Israel, thereby formally lifting the travel ban. (Jerusalem Post)
COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, COVID-19 vaccination in Italy Italy reaches a milestone of 30 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, with 9.85 million people fully vaccinated. (Al-Arabiya English)
COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka reports a record 46 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 1,178. (Colombo Page)
Eurovision Song Contest 2021 Måneskin, representing Italy, wins in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 which took place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with the song "Zitti e buoni". It is the first time that the country has won since 1990. (Eurovision.tv) The United Kingdom becomes the first country to achieve "Nul points" from both the televote and jury since the current voting system was implemented in 2016. (News.com.au)
FC Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski scores his 41st goal of the season in a 5–2 win against FC Augsburg during the final matchday, setting the Bundesliga record for the highest number of goals scored by a player in a single season, which was previously held by Gerd Müller for scoring 40 goals during the 1971–72 season. (The Irish Times)
Gansu ultramarathon disaster Twenty-one runners die and eight more are injured when high winds and freezing rain strike a long-distance race in Jingtai, Gansu, China. (BBC News)
In his first interview since the coup, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing says that deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi is in good health and that she will appear in court soon. (Reuters)
India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology writes to all social media companies asking them to remove content referring to an "Indian variant" of COVID-19. (Reuters)
Italy reaches a milestone of 30 million COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, with 9.85 million people fully vaccinated. (Al-Arabiya English)
Måneskin, representing Italy, wins in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 which took place in Rotterdam, Netherlands, with the song "Zitti e buoni". It is the first time that the country has won since 1990. (Eurovision.tv)
Mount Nyiragongo, located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, erupts. Thousands evacuate from the nearby city of Goma. (BBC News)
Over 1,000 people gather at the Place de la République in Paris to protest in solidarity with Palestine. Unlike protests that occurred earlier this month, this one was approved by authorities. (UrduPoint)
Over 180,000 protesters gather in Hyde Park in London to show solidarity with Palestine, making it the largest pro-Palestinian protest in British history. Protests also occur in Bristol, Peterborough, and Nottingham. (The Guardian)
Protests against Benjamin Netanyahu Protests form outside the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, accusing him of intentionally escalating the conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip in order to maintain his power. (Jerusalem Post)
Protests form outside the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, accusing him of intentionally escalating the conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip in order to maintain his power. (Jerusalem Post)
Sri Lanka reports a record 46 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 1,178. (Colombo Page)
The United Kingdom becomes the first country to achieve "Nul points" from both the televote and jury since the current voting system was implemented in 2016. (News.com.au)
Twenty-one runners die and eight more are injured when high winds and freezing rain strike a long-distance race in Jingtai, Gansu, China. (BBC News)
Ryanair Flight 4978 The opposition to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko accuses the Belarusian government of diverting Ryanair Flight 4978 from Athens, Greece, to Vilnius, Lithuania, and forcing it to land in Minsk in order to arrest opposition journalist and activist Raman Pratasevich, who was on board. Although the motive for the forced landing was an alleged bomb threat, no explosives were found. (DW) NATO demands an international investigation into Belarus' diversion of the Ryanair flight. (The Daily Telegraph)
The opposition to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko accuses the Belarusian government of diverting Ryanair Flight 4978 from Athens, Greece, to Vilnius, Lithuania, and forcing it to land in Minsk in order to arrest opposition journalist and activist Raman Pratasevich, who was on board. Although the motive for the forced landing was an alleged bomb threat, no explosives were found. (DW)
Corruption in Iraq Iraqi President Barham Salih says that $150 billion in oil has been stolen from the country since the 2003 invasion due to corruption. (The National News) (WRAL-TV)
Iraqi President Barham Salih says that $150 billion in oil has been stolen from the country since the 2003 invasion due to corruption. (The National News) (WRAL-TV)
103rd PGA Championship In golf, Phil Mickelson wins his 6th major by winning the 2021 PGA Championship. At age 50, Mickelson becomes the oldest player to win a major championship. (CBC)
2020–21 Ligue 1 Lille OSC win Ligue 1, the top tier of the French football league system, after defeating Angers SCO 2–1 on the final match day. It is Lille's first title since 2011 as they end Paris Saint-Germain's run of three consecutive titles. (CNA)
A total of 125,900 school teachers have been suspended for joining the civil disobedience movement and opposing the military junta. A teachers' union federation spokesman said that this move comes just before the start of the new school year in the country. (Reuters)
Aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état A total of 125,900 school teachers have been suspended for joining the civil disobedience movement and opposing the military junta. A teachers' union federation spokesman said that this move comes just before the start of the new school year in the country. (Reuters)
An unidentified source says a North Korean 5,500-ton freighter named Chongbong, which is on the U.N. Security Council blacklist, sinks with 6,500 tons of iron off the coast of Shimane Prefecture in western Japan. All 21 crew members on board are rescued by a North Korean oil ship passing nearby. (Yonhap News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Germany, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic Germany begins to implement a two-week quarantine for German citizens and residents who have travelled from the United Kingdom, regardless of whether they have been vaccinated. Additionally, all non-essential travel to the UK is banned amidst an outbreak of the Indian Lineage B.1.617 variant. (Euronews)
COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia Malaysia reports a record 6,976 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 512,091. (Malay Mail)
COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan Pakistan surpasses 900,000 cases of COVID-19. (Hindustan Times)
COVID-19 pandemic in Russia Russia surpasses five million cases of COVID-19. (ANI News)
COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom The cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the United Kingdom reaches 60 million. (Sky News)
Fourteen people are killed and another is wounded when the Stresa-Alpino-Mottarone Cable Car in Piedmont, Italy, collapses and falls to the ground. (La Stampa)
