Portal:Current events/May 2021

May 2021 was the fifth month of that common year. The month, which began on a Saturday, ended on a Monday after 31 days.

Portal:Current events[edit]

This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from May 2021.

May 1, 2021 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- Afghan peace process
  - The United States formally begins withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan to mark the final phase of the end to its longest war. Additionally, NATO also starts withdrawing their troops. (AP)
- Taliban insurgents overrun an Afghan National Army base in Ghazni Province, capturing dozens of troops and killing a "number of others". Acting Defense Minister General Yasin Zia confirms the fall of the security installation to the Taliban. (VOA)
2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan conflict
- Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov signs a decree that declares a two-day nationwide mourning effort for those who have died during border clashes with Tajikistan. (TASS)
- Kyrgyzstan accuses 1qTajikistan of building up troops and military equipment on the border. The Kyrgyz side also accuses Tajik forces of opening fire on Kyrgyz vehicles in the area. A Tajik spokesman speaking from Dushanbe says the country was sticking to the ceasefire and withdrawal of troops. (Reuters)
- Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan agree to a new ceasefire following border clashes, which includes withdrawing troops from the border. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urges both countries to honor the agreement. (Al Jazeera) (Trend News Agency)
ISIL insurgency in Iraq
- Seven members of the Kurdistan military force Peshmerga are killed in an ISIL attack in the Kirkuk Governorate. (Macau Business) (Rudaw)

Business and economy

Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic on cruise ships
- COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism
  - Italian cruise line Costa Cruises returns to service for the first time in nearly five months following a ban of cruises by the Italian government due to the pandemic. Several Costa ships had reported cases on board in the previous year. (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Disasters and accidents

Bharuch hospital fire
- A hospital fire in Bharuch, Gujarat, India, kills at least 16 COVID-19 patients and two nurses. (The Scottish Sun)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India reports a new global record of 401,993 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby marking the first time a country reported more than 400,000 new cases in a single day. This subsequently brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 19 million. (Nikkei Asia)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - Osaka Prefecture reports a record 1,262 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Jordan, Lineage B.1.617
    - Jordan reports its first three cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, which originally discovered in India. (Khaleej Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
    - The Singaporean government bans all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors who have been in Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in the last two weeks from entering or transiting through the country. It also tightens its social distancing rules in an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Bloomberg)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Syria
    - Syria's rebel-held Idlib Governorate begins its COVID-19 vaccination campaign, with a 45-year-old nurse receiving the first dose. (Arab News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand reports a record 21 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 224. (Bangkok Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya
    - Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta lifts the lockdown imposed in Nairobi and surrounding counties, allowing bars, restaurants, schools, and religious services to reopen and revising the evening curfew to 10:00 p.m. (U.S. News & World Report)

Politics and elections

2021 Salvadoran political crisis
- The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador votes to remove several judges from the Supreme Court and remove the Attorney General, both of which had been vocal opponents to the presidency of Nayib Bukele. The event is being referred to as a self-coup by the opposition and by news media outlets. (Al Jazeera)

Science and technology

International Space Station programme
- SpaceX Crew-1
  - The four-astronaut crew of SpaceX's Crew Dragon Resilience successfully splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Panama City, Florida, arriving from a six-month mission aboard the International Space Station. (NDTV)

Sports

2021 Kentucky Derby
- The 147th Kentucky Derby is held at Churchill Downs at a 50% capacity, with Medina Spirit winning the race. (CBS News)

May 2, 2021 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan conflict
- The death toll from the conflict increases to 46, with hundreds of people injured and more than 100 buildings destroyed. (BBC News)
- Over 30,000 Kyrgyz civilians are evacuated from the Batken Region near the border with Tajikistan. (Trend News Agency)
- The Kyrgyzstan Interior Ministry and Tajikistan both report that the situation at the border is stable and calm. Both countries also agree to withdraw troops from the border. However, an unexploded air missile is discovered at a house in Batken, Kyrgyzstan, near the border. (Rferl.org) (Prensa Latina) (Kabar)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan
    - Afghanistan reports 166 cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the total number of cases to 60,288. (TOLOnews)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
    - Cambodia reports a record 730 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 14,520. (Euronews)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India reports a record 3,689 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 215,542. (The Times of India)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, Lineage B.1.617
    - Malaysia reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant when the authorities screen an Indian national at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. (Malay Mail)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
    - Abu Dhabi updates its travel procedures for residents and visitors who are fully vaccinated. (Gulf Today)
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, Lineage B.1.617
    - Mexico reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant first discovered in India in the state of San Luis Potosí. (The Yucatan Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
    - Argentina surpasses three million cases of COVID-19. (Clarín)

International relations

Iran–United States relations, Iran–United Kingdom relations
- Iranian state media report a deal to release $7 billion of frozen Iranian funds has been reached between Iran, the United States, and the United Kingdom for the release of prisoners with Western-links, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in which the British government has agreed to pay a £400 million debt for her release. (Sky News)
  - The United States denies the claim that it had agreed to exchange either prisoners or money with Iran. The United Kingdom likewise denies that any definitive decision has been made in the case of Zaghari-Ratcliffe's repatriation. (AP)

Law and crime

2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan conflict
- The Kyrgyzstan Interior Ministry launches 11 criminal probe investigations into the events on the border with Tajikistan. (AKIpress)
Israeli–Palestinian conflict
- The Jerusalem District Court orders at least six families residing in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in East Jerusalem to vacate their homes, following decades of litigation by Jewish settler organizations claiming they are the rightful owners of the property. Hamas condemns this ruling as "dangerous, racist behavior", threatening retaliation. (Al Jazeera) (Jerusalem Post)
Terrorism in Canada
- The Proud Boys announces that they have dissolved in Canada after being labeled as a terrorist organization by the country earlier this year. (CTV News)
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad signs a decree that grants amnesty and reduces sentences for prisoners ahead of an election on May 26. (Middle East Eye)
Istanbul police announce that, on Wednesday, they arrested an Afghan man who served as a close aide to former ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and who had helped him hide in Syria's Idlib Governorate after the group lost its territory in 2019. The man lived in the Ataşehir district on the Asian side of the city. (Al Jazeera)

Sports

2020–21 Serie A
- Inter Milan wins Serie A, the highest tier in the Italian football league system, for the first time since the 2009–10 season, ending Juventus's run of nine consecutive titles. (CNN)
2020–21 Premier League
- A protest of over 200 fans causes the postponement of the Manchester United F.C. v. Liverpool F.C. Premier League football game. (The Guardian)

May 3, 2021 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Insurgency in the Maghreb
- 2021 Niger attacks
  - Sixteen Nigerien soldiers are killed and six others wounded when their patrol is ambushed in Tahoua. (Al Jazeera)
- Kodyel attack
  - At least 30 civilians are killed and 20 more wounded as several armed men assault a village in Foutouri, Burkina Faso. It is one of the deadliest attacks in the country's history. (Al Jazeera)
War in Afghanistan
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - A bomb explodes near a school in Farah, injuring 21 people, including ten students. (ABC News)
2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan conflict
- Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan complete the withdrawal of their forces from the border. (The Times of Central Asia)
- Tajikistan says the border clashes left several people dead on their side. The death toll for Kyrgyzstan reaches 36 following the death of a four-year-old boy. (Al Jazeera) (AKIPress)
- Tajik President Emomali Rahmon orders that all residential buildings destroyed in Chorkuh be restored. (Asia-Plus)
- Kyrgyzs in Germany and the United Kingdom organize rallies and protests at Tajik embassies. Additionally, citizens living in San Francisco protest in support of the residents of Batken and call for international institutions to "bring Tajik President Rahmon to justice". (Kabar)
Internal conflict in Myanmar
- The Kachin Independence Army says that it shot down a military helicopter of the armed forces. The separatist group's information department head reported that they were attacked with airstrikes and that they shot back. In a separate incident, a junta-appointed local administrator is stabbed to death in Yangon. (Reuters)

Arts and culture

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the arts and cultural heritage, COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
- Bavarian minister-president Markus Söder announces that the annual Oktoberfest celebrations in Munich, scheduled for late September to October, will be cancelled for a second consecutive year due to the pandemic. (ABS-CBN News)

Disasters and accidents

Mexico City Metro overpass collapse
- A viaduct collapses in the Tezonco–Olivos elevated interstation of Line 12 of the Mexico City Metro. At least 23 people are killed and at least 70 others injured a train subsequently fell onto the road below. (BBC News)
At least 26 people are killed when a speedboat collides with a vessel transporting sand on the Padma River in Bangladesh. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Telangana, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on animals
      - Eight Asiatic lions in Hyderabad Zoo test positive for COVID-19, the first such case in India. (Times of India)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Haryana, COVID-19 lockdown in India
      - Haryana imposes a seven-day complete lockdown due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases across the state. (The Hindu)
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi
      - Authorities in Delhi request help from the Indian Armed Forces amidst shortages of medical oxygen and a lack of beds in intensive care units in the city's overwhelmed hospitals. The local government wants the army to formally take over the administration of COVID-19 care facilities and intensive care units. (BBC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, Variants of SARS-CoV-2
    - Indonesia reports its first two cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, first discovered in India, in two people from Jakarta. The country also reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.351 variant, first discovered in South Africa, in a person from Bali. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines
      - President Rodrigo Duterte receives his first dose of the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine. (CNBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand reports a record 31 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 276. (Bangkok Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria, Lineage B.1.617
    - Algeria reports its first six cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, first discovered in India, in people from the coastal province of Tipaza. (Al-Arabiya English)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco, Lineage B.1.617
    - Morocco reports its first cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, which was first discovered in India, in two people from Casablanca. (Morocco World News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Tanzania, Variants of SARS-CoV-2
    - The Government of Tanzania announces that all travellers will be required to present negative COVID-19 test results at border points in order to reduce the spread of new variants. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
    - Denmark becomes the first country to exclude the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from its vaccination programme over a potential link to a rare but serious form of thrombosis. (The Copenhagen Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    - Cafés, restaurants, and bars in Greece reopen for the first time in six months as the government begins to ease its COVID-19 restrictions. A nightly 9:00 p.m. curfew is also changed to 11:00 p.m. (AP)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut
    - Governor Ned Lamont announces that Connecticut has fully vaccinated 50% of its adult population, thereby making it the first state to do so. (Connecticut Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Florida
    - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announces that, on July 1, the state will suspend all local COVID-19 emergency measures. (CBS News)

International relations

Iran–United States relations, Iran–United Kingdom relations
- Iran denies yesterday's reports of an agreement to exchange prisoners with the United States and the United Kingdom. (PressTV)

Law and crime

2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan conflict
- The prosecutor general's office of Tajikistan launches a criminal investigation into servicemen and citizens of Kyrgyzstan for "unleashing an aggressive war". (Trend News Agency)
- The Kyrgyz Prosecutor General's Office accuses the Tajikistan Armed Forces of invading the country and seizing their sovereign territory. (Katkus Media)
German police say that they have dismantled one of the world's largest child pornography networks on the dark web, with over 400,000 registered users. Four people have been detained in raids, including a man from Paraguay, on suspicion of running the network. Europol also says that several paedophile chat sites were taken down in the German-led intelligence operation. (BBC News)

Politics and elections

2021 Colombian protests
- Colombian President Iván Duque Márquez says that he is withdrawing a controversial tax reform proposal after thousands of predominantly working-class people took to the streets to protest against the plans, which they say unfairly target the poor. Seventeen people were killed in the protests. (BBC News)
Asylum in the United States
- U.S. President Joe Biden raises the cap on the number of refugees accepted each year, from 15,000 to 62,500. The move follows criticism from members of his party and refugee agencies over his prior proposal to retain the Trump-era cap. Biden also announces that he plans to further raise the cap to 125,000 next year. (BBC News)

Sports

2021 Indian Premier League, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cricket
- A match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore is postponed amidst a breach of the IPL's biosecure bubble as Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier, as well as a senior coach, all tested positive for COVID-19. (The Guardian)

May 4, 2021 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- 2021 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan
  - Afghan security forces fight a huge offensive by the Taliban in Helmand as the United States begins to withdraw troops from the country before the final deadline of September 11. (Reuters)
2021 Myanmar protests
- Yuki Kitazumi becomes the first foreign journalist known to be charged since the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, after being accused of spreading fake news. (BBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
    - Cambodia reports a record 938 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 16,299. (Khmer Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India surpasses 20 million cases of COVID-19, becoming the second country to do so after the United States. (ABC Australia)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
    - Singapore announces that social gatherings will be reduced to five people per group, and workplace capacity will be reduced to 50% from May 8 to May 30 as part of measures to reduce the community spread of COVID-19. In addition, indoor gyms and fitness centers will be closed because they are considered "high-risk settings". (The Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta
      - The Alberta government introduces tougher public health restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19, including moving all kindergarten to Grade 12 students to online learning, closing restaurants and bars to in-person dining, closing down personal care services such as hair salons, limiting outdoor gatherings to five people, and increasing fines for those violating public health measures. (CBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, Face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Michigan
      - Michigan relaxes several restrictions regarding face mask requirements and outdoor gatherings. (MLive.com)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
  - Authorities impose a lockdown on the island of Kalymnos beginning tomorrow until May 10 for urgent reasons to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Reuters)

International relations

2021 Colombian protests
- The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemns the excessive use of force by Colombian security forces during the ongoing protests that have killed at least 19 civilians. (Al Jazeera)
- The European Union calls for Colombia's security forces to avoid excessive force amidst the ongoing protests. (Reuters)
Post-Brexit United Kingdom relations with the European Union
- French maritime minister Annick Girardin says that France is prepared to impose "retaliation measures" against the United Kingdom over its new guidelines on requiring French fishing vessels to obtain permits to sail by the Channel Islands. (S&P Global)

Law and crime

Saudades massacre
- Three children and two staff members are killed during a mass stabbing at a nursery school in Saudades, Brazil. Another child is wounded. The attacker then stabs himself and is currently in critical condition. (BBC News)
The first secretary at the Swiss embassy in Tehran, Iran, is found dead after accidentally falling from the tower where she lived. (BBC News)

Politics and elections

2021 Madrilenian regional election
- The Assembly of Madrid holds a snap election after the ruling coalition of the People's Party and Ciudadanos breaks down. The People's Party, led by Isabel Díaz Ayuso, receives a landslide win in the election, doubling their number of seats, though falling four seats short of an absolute majority. (The Guardian) (BBC News)

Sports

2021 Indian Premier League, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cricket
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India halts the 2021 season of the Indian Premier League indefinitely following the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country, which several players tested positive. (The Guardian)

May 5, 2021 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Syrian civil war
- Israel's role in the Syrian civil war
  - Israel launches missiles at Masyaf, Syria, killing one person and injuring six others. Several more missiles are intercepted, including one which reached the port city of Latakia. (Al Jazeera) (AP)
2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan conflict
- The death toll at the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border rises to 55 people. (Anadolu Agency)
Insurgency in Balochistan
- Four Pakistani soldiers are killed and six others wounded when ambushed by militants near the border with Afghanistan. (DTNext)

Disasters and accidents

A plane crashes into a house in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States, killing four people. (Fox News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines
      - The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration issues an emergency use authorization for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (Rappler)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India reports a record 3,780 deaths from COVID-19 during the past 24 hours and 382,315 new cases. The World Health Organization says that nearly half of the worldwide cases reported last week were from India. (CNA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announces that Kuala Lumpur will be placed under the movement control order from May 7 until May 20 due to the emergence of seventeen COVID-19 clusters over the past week. (Malay Mail)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, variants of SARS-CoV-2
    - Thailand reports its first case of a SARS-CoV-2 variant that originated from Brazil in an overseas traveler who is currently in quarantine. (Yahoo! News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt
    - Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announces that the Eid Al-Fitr holiday will begin from May 12 until May 16, which means that all gardens, parks, public buses, and public beaches will be closed or will not operate during this period. In addition, all shops, shopping malls, restaurants, cafés, and cinemas will close at 9:00 p.m., and all gatherings at those venues will be banned for two weeks beginning tomorrow as part of measures meant to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Arab News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya, Lineage B.1.617
    - Kenya reports its first five cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant in five Indians who are working at a fertiliser plant in Kisumu. (The Star Kenya)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
  - COVID-19 vaccination in Canada
    - Health Canada approves the use of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine for children ages 12 to 15, becoming the first country to approve the vaccine for use in younger age groups. (CTV News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
  - Argentina reports a record of 663 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the national death toll to 65,865. (China Daily)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - The Biden administration announces that it will support waiving patent protections on existing COVID-19 vaccines so that other countries can produce generic variants, following weeks of pressure from the international community. (CNBC)

Law and crime

Rwandan genocide
- At a court in Rwanda, Beatrice Munyenyezi denies the charges against her stemming from the 1994 genocide. Munyenyezi alleges that she was a pregnant teenager at the time and that she could not have been involved in the crimes. She had been previously deported from the United States for lying on her naturalization process. Her husband and mother-in-law Pauline Nyiramasuhuko are already convicted for the genocide. (Reuters)
2021 Colombian protests
- Watchdog organization NetBlocks reports Internet connection disruptions in Cali, Colombia, amidst the ongoing anti-government protests. (Newsweek)
A police officer is shot dead during a narcotics raid in Avignon, France. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

2019–2021 Israeli political crisis
- Israeli President Reuven Rivlin taps Yair Lapid, leader of the oppositional centrist party Yesh Atid, to form a new government after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form one yesterday. (Al Jazeera)
Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov signs a decree approving the new constitution, which was approved following a referendum on April 11. (TASS)

Science and technology

Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Social media use by Donald Trump
- The Facebook Oversight Board upholds the social media giant's ban on former president Donald Trump. However, it calls for a review of the indefinite ban within six months. (The New York Times)
Starship development history
- SpaceX Starship SN15 makes its first successful vertical landing after launching from Boca Chica, Texas and climbing to an altitude of 10km during a test flight. (CNN)
Video-sharing platform LiveLeak shuts down after 15 years. The website has been controversial over the years, hosting videos such as the killing of captives by ISIL, the execution of Saddam Hussein and anti-Islamic film Fitna, which have resulted in the website's subsequent censorship in multiple countries. (Mashable)

May 6, 2021 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan conflict
- The Ministry of Emergency Situations reports that 136 houses and 84 facilities in the Batken region have been destroyed during clashes at the border. (AKIPress)
- Tajikistan authorities say that 19 people were killed and 87 others were injured during border clashes with Kyrgyzstan. (RFERL)
2021 Malé bombing
- Former president of the Maldives Mohamed Nasheed and four other people are injured in a bomb blast in the capital Malé. (BBC News)
2021 Jersey dispute
- France sends two patrol boats, the Athos and Le Themis, to Jersey in response to the British deployment of the HMS Severn and the HMS Tamar to Jersey. The dispute arose after French fishermen threatened to blockade the port of Saint Helier in protest of a new system for obtaining fishing permits. (Bloomberg)
Kivu conflict, Ituri conflict, Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo enacts a "state of siege" over the provinces of Kivu and Ituri for 30 days. During this time, both provinces will be placed under military rule. The provincial governments and entities of these provinces will either be replaced by offices of the FARDC or by the national police. Civil jurisdictions will also be replaced by military jurisdictions. (France 24)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Russia
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Russia
      - Russia authorizes the use of a single-shot "Sputnik Light" vaccine, which it says has an efficacy rate of 79.4%. (CNBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark
    - Gyms, theatres, and cinemas are reopened in Denmark as a part of the easing of restrictions and a reliance of the "corona pass", which confirms that a person has either tested negative in the past 72 hours, been vaccinated, or recently recovered from COVID-19. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in North Macedonia
    - Prime Minister Zoran Zaev receives his first dose of the BBIBP-CorV vaccine. (Xinhua News Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland, Lineage P.1
    - Poland reports its first three cases of the Lineage P.1 variant, which was first discovered in Brazil, in the southern voivodeship of Silesia. (The First News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cambodia
    - Cambodia ends a three-week blanket lockdown in Phnom Penh despite an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections, though tighter restrictions remain in place in some districts. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India reports a world record of 412,262 new cases in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 21 million. The country also reports a record 3,980 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 230,168. (ABC Australia)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - Due to public outrage, President Rodrigo Duterte apologizes for receiving a dose of the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV COVID-19 vaccine, which has not yet been authorized by the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration for emergency use. (BBC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Uzbekistan
    - Uzbekistan reports 452 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the highest single-day total this year, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 93,176. (Xinhuanet)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
  - The New South Wales government restricts the size of gatherings and reintroduces a mandatory mask-wearing policy for indoor areas and public transport after the wife of a man who tested positive for COVID-19 also tests positive. The restrictions will be in effect until Monday at 12:01 a.m. (The Sydney Morning Herald)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - A study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates that the true COVID-19 death toll in the United States is more than 900,000 people. (NPR)

International relations

Recognition of the Armenian Genocide
- Latvia's Saeima votes to formally recognize the massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during World War I as a genocide. (RFERL)
China has "indefinitely" suspended all activity under a China–Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue, its state economic planner said. This has occurred after China imposed sanctions on Australian wine and coal while failing to renew Australian hay import permits, and Australia states cancelled participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative and are reviewing Chinese company Landbridge Group's lease on the Port of Darwin previously provided for 99 years at A$506 million. (Al Jazeera – Suspension) (9News) (Al Jazeera – Port Darwin)

Law and crime

2021 Rio de Janeiro shootout
- At least 25 people are killed in a shootout between police and drug traffickers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is the deadliest police operation to occur in the country since 2016. (BBC News)
Lord's Resistance Army insurgency
- The International Criminal Court sentences Ugandan warlord and member of the Christian terrorist group Lord's Resistance Army Dominic Ongwen to 25 years in prison for charges including murder, rape and sexual enslavement. The former child soldier's lawyers had asked for a lenient sentence considering his childhood trauma. (DW)
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong is sentenced to a further 10 months imprisonment for participating in an unauthorized assembly on June 4, 2020 to commemorate the crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

Elections in the United Kingdom
- 2021 Senedd election, 2021 Scottish Parliament election
  - Wales and Scotland hold elections for their respective national parliaments. The elections use the proportional additional member system, unlike the first past the post system used in House of Commons elections. (The Guardian)
- 2021 Hartlepool by-election
  - In what is considered a major blow to the opposition Labour Party, the Conservative Party candidate Jill Mortimer wins the by-election in Hartlepool, becoming the first-ever Conservative and female MP in the constituency's history. Mortimer hails it as a "truly historic" result. (BBC News)

May 7, 2021 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- At least 178 Palestinians are injured in clashes with Israeli police at the al-Aqsa Mosque and elsewhere in East Jerusalem. (Al Jazeera)
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war
- Armenia says that it has returned all prisoners of war to Azerbaijan under Article 8 of the November 9 agreement. (Asbarez)
Insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria
- At least seven police officers are killed in a shooting spree in Rivers State, Nigeria. (BBC News)

Disasters and accidents

A tower block at New Providence Wharf, London, United Kingdom, catches fire. The block is clad in the same material as that which was on Grenfell Tower, which caught fire in 2017. More than 100 firefighters and 20 fire engines were sent to the scene. (Metro)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India reports a world record of 414,188 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 21.49 million. (Al Jazeera)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - Japan extends the state of emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo, and Kyoto until May 31. It also declares a state of emergency for Aichi and Fukuoka Prefectures. (The Japan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports 4,498 new cases in the past 24 hours, which is the first time the country has reported 4,000 new cases since February. It subsequently brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 432,425. (Malay Mail)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
  - The United Kingdom adds Turkey, the Maldives and Nepal to its "red list" of countries, where travellers will be required to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days upon their return to the UK at their own expense. Twelve countries are also added to the government's "green list", including Portugal and Israel. This new "traffic light system" will take effect on May 17, when international travel is no longer illegal. (BBC News)

International relations

France–Lebanon relations, Lebanese liquidity crisis
- French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian threatens to step up pressure against Lebanese politicians he accuses of committing "collective suicide" by failing to pull the country out of its economic meltdown. During his visit to Beirut, Le Drian said that punitive actions could be taken by France and the European Union. (Reuters)

Law and crime

Colonial Pipeline cyberattack
- Colonial Pipeline, which supplies 45% of the U.S. East Coast's fuel supply, suffers a malware attack that causes a shutdown of their system. (CNBC)

Politics and elections

Elections in the United Kingdom
- 2021 Senedd election
  - The Welsh Labour Party wins a record sixth term in office. With 52 out of 60 seats declared, Labour has won 30 seats in the Senedd, reaching a working majority and equalling their best performance. (BBC News)

Science and technology

A whole-genome study confirms the existence of four distinct species of giraffes, corroborating the conclusions of a 2016 DNA study; previously, it was believed that all giraffes were members of a single species. The study also supports the existence of seven subspecies of giraffes. (Sci-News)

Sports

UEFA reveals that nine of the 12 association football clubs that planned to participate in the suspended European Super League proposal agree, through a "club commitment declaration", to financial sanctions imposed by the governing body. This includes a five percent cut in their revenue for one season. Only Barcelona, Juventus, and Real Madrid did not sign the declaration, although UEFA has committed to "take appropriate action" against clubs still committed to the Super League. (IOL)

May 8, 2021 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - 2021 Kabul school bombing
    - A bombing outside a school in a Hazara area of Kabul kills 58 people and injures more than 150 others. The majority of the casualties are schoolgirls. The Taliban denies involvement in the attack, which is the deadliest in Afghanistan so far this year. (Al Jazeera)
Moro conflict
- Datu Paglas market occupation
  - More than 200 BIFF militants storm the town of Datu Paglas, Philippines, forcing many residents to evacuate. The town's market is occupied by the fighters, before being reclaimed by the army. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Further clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police in East Jerusalem's Old City injure at least 90 Palestinians. (Al Jazeera)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, Lineage B.1.617
    - Bangladesh reports its first six cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, which was discovered in India, prompting the authorities to extend the land border closure by two weeks. (Dhaka Tribune)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Kerala, COVID-19 lockdown in India
      - Kerala enters a nine-day complete lockdown, closing shops, suspending public transport, and severely restricting the on-road movement of people amidst an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (The Economic Times)
    - India reports 401,078 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 21.9 million. The country also reports a record 4,187 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 238,270. (Khaleej Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan
    - Pakistan declares an eight-day partial lockdown until May 16 ahead of the celebration of Eid al-Fitr next week. (BBC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka
    - Sri Lanka approves the emergency use of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as the country faces its third wave of the pandemic and the highest number of active cases since the pandemic began. The minister overseeing the situation says that Sri Lanka will try to secure five million doses of the vaccine as India has restricted the supply of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Madagascar
  - Madagascar receives its first shipment of 50,000 doses of the Covishield vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India. (Africanews)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, Lineage B.1.617
  - South Africa reports its first four cases of the Lineage B.1.617.2 variant in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, where all of these had a travel history to India. (SABC News)
- European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic
  - The European Commission signs a new deal with Pfizer and BioNTech to purchase 900 million doses of its vaccine with an additional option to purchase another 900 million doses for delivery from 2021 to 2023 which they intend to use as booster shots against the illness and to allow for the vaccination of children and teenagers. (The Irish Times)

Politics and elections

2021 Scottish Parliament election
- The Scottish National Party wins a historic fourth term in office. Along with the Scottish Greens, the majority of seats in the new Scottish Parliament will belong to parties favouring a proposed second independence referendum. Voter turnout also reaches a record high of 64%. (The Guardian)

May 9, 2021 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - 2021 Kabul school bombing
    - The death toll from yesterday's school bombing in Kabul increases to 68 people. (Reuters)
  - With multiple electricity pylons near Kabul being destroyed by bomb blasts, electricity supplier Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) is reporting a shortage of 530 megawatts of power and announced that it will take 20 days to repair the destroyed pylons. Residents are accusing DABS of discrimination during these outages, as the capital's elite had 24-hour electricity. (TOLO News)
Yemeni Civil War
- The United States Navy announces that it has seized a shipment of thousands of weapons in a stateless dhow on the Arabian Sea believed to be en-route to Yemen. (Politico)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- The Israeli Supreme Court agrees to delay its ruling on whether Palestinian residents in East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood can be evicted to make way for Jewish settlers to later this month, following a series of violent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters over this issue. (The Guardian)

Business and economy

Colonial Pipeline cyberattack
- U.S. President Joe Biden declares a state of emergency following Friday's ransomware cyberattack against Colonial Pipeline, the largest fuel pipeline in the U.S., which transports 2.5 million barrels a day – 45 percent of the U.S. East Coast's supply of diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel. (BBC News)
A day after appearing on Saturday Night Live and causing Dogecoin's value to drop by a third by calling the digital currency a "hustle", SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announces that his company will accept the cryptocurrency as payment for a DOGE-1 mission to the Moon. (Reuters) (CNBC)

Disasters and accidents

A landslide at a clandestine gold mine in Siguiri, Guinea, kills at least fifteen miners. (BBC News)
Rescue operations are underway in southwest London to help a small whale, believed to be a Minke, stranded in the River Thames, apparently stuck on the Richmond Lock's boat rollers. (BBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Germany
    - Germany lifts its curfew and some social restrictions, such as requiring a negative test result to enter certain venues, for those who have been vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID-19. These people are also no longer required to enter quarantine unless they have travelled to a high-risk country. (MedicalXpress)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
    - Taoiseach Micheál Martin receives his first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. (The Irish Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Spain
    - Spain lifts its state of emergency that had been imposed since October, allowing people to travel freely between regions for the first time in months. The country's curfew is also lifted. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Laos
    - Laos reports its first death from COVID-19. The patient is a 53-year-old woman who had been receiving treatment at a designated hospital in Vientiane since April 30. (Big News Network)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record 26 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 1,683. (New Straits Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka
    - Sri Lanka reports a record 2,672 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the cumulative number of patients to 125,906. (Newsfirst)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, Variants of SARS-CoV-2
    - Florida has reported more than 10,000 cases of the Lineage B.1.1.7, Lineage P.1, and Lineage B.1.351 variants since spring break. (ABC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Tunisia
  - Tunisia enters a seven-day strict lockdown during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which includes a curfew from 7:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

2021 Colorado Springs shooting
- Six people are killed by a gunman in a mass shooting during a birthday party at a residence in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The gunman, who committed suicide at the scene, is believed to have been a boyfriend of one of the victims. (BBC News)
Capital punishment in Egypt
- Coptic monk Wael Saad Tawadros, better known as Brother Isaiah, is executed over the killing of bishop Anba Epiphanius, the abbot of the Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great in Wadi El Natrun, in 2018. (Macau Business)

Politics and elections

2021 Colombian protests
- Claudia Blum, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Colombia, resigns from her post amidst the ongoing anti-government protests that have killed at least 26 people. (Semana)

Science and technology

Environmental issues in Kyrgyzstan
- A court in Kyrgyzstan fines a company owned by Centerra Gold 261.7 billion soms for environmental pollution at the Kumtor Gold Mine. (Business Recorder)
The China Manned Space Engineering Office says that remnants of the Chinese Long March-5B Y2 rocket made an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth's atmosphere into the Indian Ocean, just west of the Maldives. (CNN) (The New York Times)
South Korea reports that it now holds the world's largest number of standard-essential patents followed by the United States, Finland, and Japan. Standard-essential patents refer to major technologies that are vital in producing standardized products and that must be verified by standards organizations. (Yonhap)

May 10, 2021 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - Eleven people are killed and 29 more are injured when a roadside bomb hits a bus in Zabul Province. (Al Jazeera) (TOLO News)
  - Five members of the National Directorate of Security, the head of the economy directorate of the province, and a manager of the Central Bank branch in Logar Province are killed in three separate incidents, all of which involved attacks by unknown gunmen. In a fourth incident in the same province, two civilians are killed and six more are wounded after two mortar shells hit their house on Sunday evening. (TOLO News)
- Afghan peace process
  - 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)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Palestinian groups in the Gaza Strip including Hamas fire barrages of rockets at Israeli cities and towns near the Gaza border, as well as seven toward Jerusalem, injuring one person. Israel retaliates with airstrikes in Gaza killing 24 people and wounding 103 others. Nine children and a Hamas leader are among the dead. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Colombian protests
- President of Colombia Iván Duque Márquez orders a mass deployment of troops to the city of Cali and its surrounding area after 12 days of protests. (MercoPress)
- Human Rights Watch reports on the use of "horizontal high-speed multiple projectile launchers" meant to fire multiples of tear gas or stun grenades simultaneously. The Executive Director of the Americas Division, José Miguel Vivanco, publishes a corroborating video reportedly showing a Venom grenade launcher from Combined Systems being used against protesters. (MercoPress) (Twitter)
A US Coast Guard vessel fires roughly 30 warning shots on Monday to drive away Iranian fast-attack boats in an "unsafe" encounter in the Strait of Hormuz. (MSN)
2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan conflict
- Citizens who evacuated from the Batken Region due to clashes at the Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan border return to the area for the first time since the clashes. (AKIPress)

Disasters and accidents

Chernobyl disaster
- 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)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta
      - Alberta expands its vaccine eligibility to people over the age of 12 years. (Global News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 vaccination in the United States
      - The Food and Drug Administration authorizes the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine for use in children between the ages of 12 and 15 years. (MSN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Tamil Nadu, COVID-19 lockdown in India
      - Tamil Nadu enters a two-week complete lockdown until May 24 amidst an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Livemint)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan
    - Kyrgyzstan receives the second component of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine. (Kabar)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia, Malaysian movement control order
    - 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)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal
    - 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)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines
    - 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)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, Lineage B.1.617
    - 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece
    - Greece reopens primary and junior high schools for in-person classes for the first time in months. The courts also restart many activities. (U.S. News and World Report)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
    - Turkey surpasses 5 million cases of COVID-19, becoming the fifth country to do so after the United States, India, Brazil, and France. (Bianet)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina, variants of SARS-CoV-2
  - Argentina reports its first cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant in two people who travelled from Paris, as well as its first case of the Lineage B.1.351 variant in a person who travelled from Spain. (Reuters)
- 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)

International relations

COVID-19 pandemic in Bahrain, COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates establish “a safe travel corridor” for those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19, which will be in effect by the end of this week. (Al-Arabiya English)

Law and crime

2021 Dunedin Countdown stabbing
- A man stabs and injures four people in a Countdown supermarket in Dunedin, New Zealand. He is also injured and has been hospitalised. (ABC News)
A court in Paris dismisses the complaint of a French Vietnamese woman against several manufacturers of the Agent Orange chemical used by the United States military during the Vietnam War. The court rules it to be a sovereign case under the jurisdiction of the United States (VnExpress)

Politics and elections

The Federal Parliament of Nepal votes 124–93 in a no confidence vote against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli over both his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his attempts to lead a minority government after his party, the Nepal Communist Party, split into the Communist Party of Nepal–UML and Communist Party of Nepal–Maoist earlier this year. President Bidya Devi Bhandari is expected to name Oli caretaker Prime Minister until the next election. (Al Jazeera)

Science and technology

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)

Sports

Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina threatens to expel Juventus from Serie A, the highest tier of the Italian football league system, if the club does not withdraw from the proposed European Super League before the start of the next season. (BBC Sport)

May 11, 2021 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- 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)
- 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)
- Palestinian actress Maisa Abd Elhadi is injured after being shot by Israel Police in Haifa. (The Independent)
- 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)
Four Christian farmers are killed by East Indonesia Mujahideen militants during an attack at a coffee plantation in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. (UCA News)
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)

Arts and culture

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)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - 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 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)
  - 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)
- 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 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)
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)

International relations

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)

Law and crime

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)
Colonial Pipeline cyberattack
- Some gas stations in the U.S. states of Alabama, Florida, and North Carolina begin to run out of fuel as the Colonial Pipeline shutdown enters its fourth day after a cyberattack on May 7. (Bloomberg)
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)
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)

Sports

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)
2020–21 Primeira Liga
- Sporting CP win the Primeira Liga, the top tier of the Portuguese football league system, for the first time since the 2001–02 season. They become the first team other than Porto or Benfica to win the title in 19 years. (The Washington Post)

May 12, 2021 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - 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)
  - 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)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Thirty-seven more Palestinian civilians are killed after further airstrikes are executed by Israel in the Gaza Strip, thereby bringing the death toll to 69. Among the victims are a five-year-old child and their parents, who died when a residential building collapsed, while five more are farmers killed at their farms. The number of children killed rises to seventeen. At least 390 people have also been injured. The main Palestinian headquarters and all of the police stations in Gaza are destroyed by the strikes. Protests also erupt in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of three protesters. (Al Jazeera)
- Three additional people are killed by Hamas' rockets in Lod, while an IDF soldier is killed as a military jeep outside Gaza is bombed, thereby bringing the Israeli death toll to seven. (BBC News)
- The Israel Defense Forces says that it has conducted a "complex and first-of-its-kind operation" in the Gaza Strip, killing several senior members of Hamas. (AP) (Reuters)
- 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)
- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces that the Biden administration will send Hady Amr to help defuse tensions. Blinken also defends Israel's right to exist and condemns Hamas for firing rockets. (Ynet)
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)
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)

Business and economy

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)
Tesla announces they will no longer accept Bitcoin as payment. (AP)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - 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 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 Europe
  - 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 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 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)
- Lineage B.1.617
  - The World Health Organization says that the B.1.617 variant first detected in India in October has now been detected in more than 4,500 samples from 44 countries that were uploaded to an open-access database. (Khaleej Times)
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)

Law and crime

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)
The government of Sierra Leone decides to push for the abolition of capital punishment. (AFP via IOL)
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)
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)

Politics and elections

Protests against the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Protesters gather in Paris, France, in support of Palestine following attacks on the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Gaza Strip. During the protest, police dispersed crowds. (Anadolu Agency)
- Protests break out in Chicago, Illinois, at the Chicago Loop in opposition to Israel's occupation. (Voice of America)
- In Milwaukee, protesters gather near The Calling sculpture in opposition to Israel's occupation. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
United States House Republicans vote to remove Wyoming representative Liz Cheney as Chair of the House of Representatives Republican Conference, following her critical statements about former President Donald Trump. (BBC News)

May 13, 2021 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War In Afghanistan
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - Four separate bombings kill eleven civilians and injure many others across the country as the three-day ceasefire declared by the Taliban to observe Eid al-Fitr remains in place. No group claims responsibility for any of the bombings. (Reuters)
  - A week after two power pylons were destroyed in Kabul's Mir Bacha Kot district, an unidentified man blows up another power plant in Kalakan District on Wednesday night, removing a further 260 megawatts of electricity imported from Uzbekistan. (TOLO News)
- The last Spanish soldiers in Afghanistan arrive in Spain, ending the mission after 19 years. (El Periódico)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- The death toll from the airstrikes in the Gaza Strip increases to 113 people, while 600 others are wounded. The city of Rafah is attacked by multiple Israeli raids. Protests continue in the West Bank, resulting in injuries to 35 more Palestinian protesters. The number of children killed also increases to 31. (Al Jazeera)
- The Israel Defense Forces says that it has deployed two infantry units and an armoured unit to the border on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, and that a ground operation inside Gaza will be submitted to military chiefs later today, ahead of a potential approval by the Israeli government. (The Daily Telegraph)
- Israeli strikes destroy Hamas' internal security headquarters and Gaza's central bank, as the spokesman of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, says that the group has launched "massive rocket strikes", larger than any launched on Israel since the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. (The Jerusalem Post)
Syrian Civil War
- The Syrian Democratic Forces reports that it apprehended a 39-member ISIL cell in Al-Hasakah, Al-Hasakah Governorate, a few days ago. The cell was reportedly planning an attack during Eid al-Fitr. (Rudaw)

Arts and culture

Eid al-Fitr, the "Feast of Breaking the Fast" that marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan, is celebrated in Istanbul's Hagia Sophia for the first time in 87 years. (Anadolu Agency)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, COVID-19 community quarantines in the Philippines
    - President Rodrigo Duterte approves the recommendation of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases of downgrading the Greater Manila Area under the General Community Quarantine with "heightened restrictions" on indoor dining and personal care services. These downgrades include the reopening of hair salons and barbershops. (Rappler)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand reports a record 4,887 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours due to the emergence of jail clusters that have infected 2,835 prisoners. This subsequently brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 93,794. (Bloomberg)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
    - The United Arab Emirates approves the emergency use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 15. (The National)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, COVID-19 vaccination in Australia
  - The government signs an agreement with Moderna to purchase 25 million doses of its vaccine. (ABC Australia)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Russia, Lineage B.1.617
  - Russia reports its first cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant in 16 Indian students studying at Ulyanovsk State University. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii
    - Hawaiian Governor David Ige says that the state will keep its mask mandate despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention saying that fully vaccinated Americans can go to places without wearing a mask. (Hawaii Tribune-Herald)
  - The CDC announces that all fully vaccinated individuals are no longer required to wear masks or practice social distancing, unless the person is immunodeficient or still displaying symptoms of the virus. (CNN)

International relations

2021 Armenia–Azerbaijan border crisis
- Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan accuses Azerbaijan of moving its army more than 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) across Armenia's southern border to try to capture Lake Sev, and convenes an emergency meeting with his security council. (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

Protests against the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Kenya Police fire tear gas at a group of crowds protesting the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip in Nairobi. (Reuters)
Colonial Pipeline cyberattack
- The Colonial Pipeline attempts to restart a resource movement after a cyberattack six days ago. The ransomware attackers were reportedly paid $4–5 million in cryptocurrency prior to the restart. Meanwhile, it is revealed that the cyberattack targeted the corporate business computers and that the physical resource supply was turned off in response to the attack. Furthermore, 100 gigabytes of Colonial Pipeline corporate data was stolen prior to the attack. The hacker group, DarkSide, attempts to distance itself from the Colonial Pipeline attack, saying that it provides ransomware as a service, selling licenses to other criminals. (Tom's Guide) (Reuters) (Bloomberg) (Politico.eu) (Fox Business)
Gun violence in the United States
- Nine people are wounded, three of them critically, in a shootout between groups at a residence in Providence, Rhode Island. It is believed to be the largest shooting in Providence's memory. (AP)
Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol
- An active-duty major with the U.S. Marine Corps is arrested and charged for assault and obstruction in relation to the storming of the United States Capitol, thereby making him the first known active-duty service member to be charged in relation to the events of January 6. (USA Today)
After compromising the Washington, D.C., police department's computers in April, the Babuk group releases thousands of the department's sensitive documents on the dark web. Hundreds of police officer disciplinary files dating back to 2004 are found, as well as intelligence reports that include feeds from other agencies, including the FBI and the Secret Service. The group reportedly asked for $4 million in ransom and were offered $100,000 at which point negotiations stopped. (WMC-TV) (Al Jazeera)

Politics and elections

Attempted assassination of Mohamed Nasheed
- Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed is flown to Germany for further medical treatment after being seriously injured alongside three other people during an assassination attempt in Malé with a car bomb a week ago. Maldives authorities blame Islamic extremists, amongst whom Nasheed was considered unpopular. (DW)
2019–2021 Israeli political crisis
- Leader of the right-wing Yamina coalition Naftali Bennett calls off talks with oppositional leader Yair Lapid to form a new government in light of escalating violence. He instead voices his support for a unity government. (Haaretz)

Sports

2020–21 UEFA Champions League, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on association football
- UEFA decides to relocate the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final, which is to be played between English clubs Manchester City and Chelsea on May 29, to the Estádio do Dragão in Porto, Portugal. The Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, was originally scheduled to host the event, but stricter pandemic-related travel restrictions imposed by the British government on Turkey prompted the move by UEFA. (CNN)

May 14, 2021 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - 2021 Kabul mosque bombing
    - Twelve people, including an imam, are killed and 15 others are wounded when a bomb explodes inside a mosque in the Shakardara District on the outskirts of Kabul. The Taliban condemns the attack, for which nobody has so far claimed responsibility. (Reuters)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- The death toll from the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza increases to 137 people with more than 920 others wounded, as shellings and bombardments increase in the districts of Gaza. The Shati refugee camp is hit by bombings, resulting in the death of ten people, including eight children, thereby bringing the number of children killed to 36. The death toll in Israel rises to nine people killed, including a six-year-old boy. The International Criminal Court says that individuals involved in the conflict may be targeted by an investigation into war crimes. Violence also continues in the West Bank, with Israeli settlers attacking Palestinian homes in the city of Hebron, while eleven protestors in the West Bank are shot dead by soldiers, bringing the number of Palestinian protestors killed there to 15. Additionally, two men are killed in Lebanon during protests at the border against Israeli soldiers. (Al Jazeera)

Disasters and accidents

Cyclone Tauktae
- India's western state of Gujarat braces for cyclone Tauktae, reported to be the strongest storm to hit the region since 1998. (BBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - Due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Japan, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga extends the state of emergency to Hokkaido, Okayama, and Hiroshima prefectures from May 16 until the end of this month. He alsos declare a quasi-state of emergency in Gunma, Ishikawa, and Kumamoto prefectures from May 16 until June 13. (The Japan Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
    - The Singaporean Health Ministry announces that it will impose the strictest curbs since the circuit breaker last year, including limiting social gatherings to two people, making work from home default, and banning dining at restaurants. The new restrictions will be in effect from May 16 until June 13. (The Straits Times) (Forbes)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
    - The Taipei City Government announces the indefinite closure of entertainment venues and multiple public facilities such as libraries and sports centres beginning tomorrow after Taiwan reports a record 29 new locally transmitted cases in the past 24 hours. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam
    - The Vietnamese health ministry says the country will receive 31 million Pfizer vaccine doses this year and also register to buy about 10 million additional doses through COVAX. (Bloomberg)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Andorra
    - Andorran minister of Finances Èric Jover becomes re-infected with COVID-19, becoming the second minister in the past week to test positive for the virus after Minister of Economy Jordi Gallardo on May 12. (Diari d'Andorra)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Greece, impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism
    - Greece officially reopens its borders to all visitors who present a proof of vaccination, a negative PCR test result, or a document certifying a recent recovery from the COVID-19 as tourism season begins, hoping to revive the sector badly affected by the pandemic. (Balkan Insight)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Italian Health Minister Roberto Speranza signs a decree that will remove quarantine rules for travelers from the European Union, the Schengen area, the United Kingdom, and Israel, as long as they have tested negative for COVID-19. The decree will take effect on May 16. (Barron's)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Saskatchewan, Lineage B.1.617
    - Saskatchewan reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, which was first discovered in India. (CKCK-DT)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia
  - Colombia surpasses 80,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Reuters)

International relations

International reactions to 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, Czech Republic–Israel relations
- Czech Republic President Miloš Zeman orders the Israeli flag to fly at the Prague Castle to show support for the country amidst its conflict with Palestine. (Newsweek)

Law and crime

Protests against the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Jordan police disperse protesters who are trying to reach the Allenby Bridge near the border with Israel. Additionally, protesters from Lebanon also reach the Israeli border. (Al Arabiya) (Times of Israel)
- Pro-Palestinian protesters storm the Queensway tunnel in the United Kingdom, disrupting traffic. (Birmingham Mail)
- A court in France bans pro-Palestinian protests planned in Paris. However, activists say that protests will go as planned. (France 24)
Health Service Executive cyberattack
- The Irish Health Service Executive shuts down its IT systems nationwide after a cyberattack involving ransomware. (RTÉ)
Two men are arrested and charged with the theft of U.S. government property after allegedly obtaining and selling 1,875 stolen technical orders, including documents detailing the operations, maintenance, and schematics of equipment, from the United States Air Force between 2015 and 2020 in exchange for at least $132,280. The seller worked for Summit Aerospace, while the buyer operated a private company, LTC Products, listed only for aircraft rental services, and they were discovered because of sales to a third company, Newport Aeronautical Sales. (Military.com)
Venezuelan authorities seize the headquarters of oppositional newspaper El Nacional for failing to pay a US$13 million fine for allegedly defaming United Socialist Party of Venezuela assemblyman Diosdado Cabello. (DW)

Politics and elections

Taiwan's Central Election Commission approves three referendums in late August. The referendums will allow the public to decide on banning pork containing ractopamine, on holding referendums on the same day as general elections, and whether to change the location of a planned new liquefied natural gas terminal to protect the maritime environment. (Reuters)

Sports

2021 Formula One World Championship, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on motorsport
- The Turkish Grand Prix, originally scheduled for June, is canceled due to the recent upgrading by the British government of pandemic-related travel restrictions on Turkey. (Arab News)

May 15, 2021 (Saturday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- The death toll in Gaza from the Israeli airstrikes rises to 145 people, including 41 children. A second refugee camp is also bombed, after another was bombed yesterday resulting in multiple deaths. At least 950 people are wounded, while two protesters are killed in the West Bank. The headquarters of many media organizations in Gaza, including Al Jazeera and the Associated Press, are destroyed by bombings. A man also dies in Ramat Gan, in Tel Aviv District, during a rocket attack; another person is also killed in another city, bringing the death toll there to 10. (Al Jazeera)
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that airstrikes on Gaza will continue "as long as needed". He also warns Hamas leaders not to hide and that nobody is immune. (VOA)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China
    - The General Administration of Sport of China announces that the summits of Mount Everest used by climbers in China will remain closed through the spring, citing COVID-19 concerns in both mainland China and neighboring Nepal. (Reuters via Yahoo!)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kyrgyzstan
    - Kyrgyzstan surpasses 100,000 cases of COVID-19. (Kabar)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record 44 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, including one foreign citizen. This subsequently brings the nationwide death toll to 1,866. (Malay Mail)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
    - The Taiwanese government raises the alert level for Taipei and New Taipei City to level 3 for the next two weeks, urging citizens to limit gatherings to five people indoors and 10 people outdoors, avoid non-essential travel, and continue wearing masks outside homes. This comes after a record 180 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the past 24 hours. (The Washington Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France, COVID-19 vaccination in France
    - France reaches a milestone of administering 20 million first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. (France 24)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Poland
    - Poland reopens bars, restaurants, and other establishments for outdoor usage for the first time in seven months and relaxes its mask requirement as the number of COVID-19 cases declines and the number of vaccinations increases. (Daily Sabah)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia
    - Slovakia lifts its national state of emergency that has been in force since October as the number of COVID-19 cases declines, ending the curfew and all nationwide restrictions on gatherings. (The Slovak Spectator)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Trinidad and Tobago
  - Prime Minister Keith Rowley declares a state of emergency in Trinidad and Tobago from midnight and imposes a curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. due to a surging number of COVID-19 cases. (U.S. News and World Report)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela
  - Venezuela approves the use of the single-dose Sputnik Light COVID-19 vaccine. (Azeri Press Agency)

International relations

Foreign relations of Austria, Foreign relations of Iran
- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif cancels a trip to Austria after Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz orders the Israeli flag to be raised at the Chancellery and Foreign Affairs buildings yesterday. (Politico.eu)

Law and crime

Protests over the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- The Jammu and Kashmir Police arrest 21 people in Kashmir, India, for organizing protests in support of Palestine. (ThePrint)
- Police in Paris, France, use tear gas and water cannons against pro-Palestinian protesters. This comes a day after a French court banned protests in support of Palestine. (UrduPoint)
- Protesters gather in London and Madrid in solidarity with Palestine. In London, protesters gather at Hyde Park and the Israeli embassy. Former Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn also speaks at the London protest. (France 24) (Arab News) (The Independent)
- In the United States, protests are held in Atlanta, Boston, Louisville, Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia, and other cities to demand an end to Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip. (ABC News) (The Courier-Journal)
- In Toronto, several pro-Israel protesters are injured in clashes with pro-Palestine protesters at the Nathan Phillips Square. (The Jerusalem Post)

Politics and elections

2021 Ethiopian general election
- The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia delays the national elections, already postponed from August 2020, from June 5 to an unknown date, citing logistic issues. Prior to this, several oppositional parties were planning to boycott the election over the Tigray War. (Al Jazeera)

Science and technology

Chinese space program
- China National Space Administration rover Zhurong successfully lands at Utopia Planitia on Mars, making China the third nation on Earth to achieve a soft landing on the planet. (BBC News)
The Spectrometer for Heavy Atoms and Nuclear Structure, at the Heavy Ion Research Facility, in Lanzhou, China, is reported to have created a new uranium isotope, uranium-214. (Sci-News)

Sports

2020–21 Bundesliga
- Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski scores his 40th goal of the season to equal the Bundesliga record set by Gerd Müller during the 1971–72 season of the highest number of goals scored by a player in a season. (France 24)
2021 FA Cup Final
- Leicester City beats Chelsea 1–0 at Wembley Stadium to win the 2020–21 FA Cup with Youri Tielemans scoring the winning goal. It is Leicester City's first ever FA Cup title. (BBC Sport)
Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, 10-time WNBA All-Star and four-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings, three-time NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan, and 15-time NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett are inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Bryant is inducted posthumously following his death in January 2020. (The Japan Times)

May 16, 2021 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Israel continues airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, killing several more people, including 42 in Gaza City, which is the deadliest single attack in the past week. The total death toll there rises to 192 people, including 58 children and 34 women. (Al Jazeera)
- Hamas fires over 190 rockets at towns and cities in southern Israel, damaging numerous buildings, including a synagogue. Approximately 3,000 rockets have been fired in the past week. (Times of Israel)
- The Israeli Air Force destroys the office and home of Yahya Sinwar, the most senior Hamas official in Gaza. (Al Jazeera)
Afghan peace process
- After discussions in Qatar and Pakistan, Taliban representatives have reportedly agreed to substantive talks with the Afghan Republic team in Doha, and to attend a summit in Istanbul that they initially refused to attend. (TOLO News)

Arts and culture

Miss Universe 2020
- In Hollywood, Florida, United States, Andrea Meza of Mexico is crowned Miss Universe. (GMA News Online)

Disasters and accidents

Two people are killed and at least 100 others are injured when a tiered seating structure collapses at a partly-built synagogue in Giv'at Ze'ev, in the West Bank. (BBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, COVID-19 vaccination in Indonesia
    - The Ministry of Health suspends the distribution of around 450,000 doses of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine from batch CTMAV547 for toxicity and sterility tests following the death of a 22-year-old man who received the vaccine 11 days ago. (Jakarta Globe)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
    - The Singaporean Ministry of Education announces that they will close all schools and shift all primary, secondary, and junior college students to full home-based learning beginning May 19 due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the community. (The Straits Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
    - Taiwan reports a record 207 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, 206 of which are locally transmitted cases. This subsequently brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,682. (The Guardian)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand surpasses 100,000 cases of COVID-19. (Thai PBS World)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Maine, Lineage B.1.617
    - Maine reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant that originated in India. (Bangor Daily News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Algeria, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
  - Algeria announces that it will reopen air and land borders on June 1, but only five flights a day from and to Algerian airports will be allowed as precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom
  - The number of people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the United Kingdom surpasses 20 million. (Sky News)

International relations

Holy See–Myanmar relations
- Pope Francis condemns the violence and repression in Myanmar and again condemns the coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. He tells protesters to not despair "in the face of evil or allow themselves to be divided". (Reuters)

Law and crime

International protests over the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- A convoy covered with Palestinian flags drives through North London shouting antisemitic language. Four people are arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offenses. (The Jewish Chronicle) (Times of Israel)
- In Berlin, violent confrontations break out during a protest against Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, with an Israeli TV reporter being attacked. (Euronews)
- Montreal Police deploy tear gas to disperse a protest in downtown Montreal, which saw pro-Israeli protesters clash with pro-Palestinian protesters. (CBC)

Politics and elections

2021 Chilean Constitutional Convention election
- Chileans are summoned to a second consecutive day of voting to elect the 155 members of the Constitutional Convention to change its Pinochet-era constitution. The results show a majority victory for the center-left, with a very important role for independent candidates. (El País)

Sports

2020–21 UEFA Women's Champions League
- Barcelona wins the team's first Champions League after beating Chelsea in the final match at Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg, Sweden. (BBC Sport)

May 17, 2021 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that he has ordered the Israel Defense Forces to continue strikes in Gaza, including Hamas targets. (Times of Israel)
- The death toll in Gaza from the Israeli airstrikes rises to 212 people, including 61 children. (Al Jazeera)
- The Biden administration approves a $735-million weapons sale to Israel. (The Washington Post)
- The offices of the Qatar branch of the Red Crescent Society is destroyed by an Israeli air strike, killing two Palestinians and wounding ten others. The Qatari Foreign Ministry condemns the attack. (Al Jazeera)
- The Israeli military shells southern Lebanon after several Grad-type rockets were fired at Israel. (Deutsche Welle)
Kurdish–Turkish conflict
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says that security forces killed Sofi Nurettin, a high-ranking member of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, in northern Iraq. (AP)

Business and economy

Indonesian digital payment firm Gojek announces a merger with e-commerce site Tokopedia to form GoTo Group. Aiming for an IPO of between US$35 and 40 billion, Gojek claims that it is the country's largest business deal. (CNBC)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
    - Hong Kong and Singapore postpone the start date of their air travel bubble agreement, which was initially scheduled to begin on May 26, due to an increase in the number of unlinked community cases of COVID-19 in Singapore. (CNBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record 45 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 1,947. (The Star)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines
    - The government signs an agreement with Pfizer to purchase 40 million doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine, the Philippines' largest supply agreement for a COVID-19 vaccine. (Bloomberg)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
    - Saudi Arabia eases an international travel ban for those who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. However, citizens from 20 countries remain banned from entering the country and Saudi citizens are banned from travelling to 13 high-risk countries, either directly or indirectly. (The Independent)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
    - Taiwan reports a record 335 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, 333 of which are locally transmitted cases. This subsequently brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 2,017. (Taiwan News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand reports a record 9,635 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which includes 6,853 cases among prisoners from jail clusters. This subsequently brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 111,082. (The Straits Times)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Italy
    - Mario Draghi's government approves a decree that would gradually phase out curfew to 11 p.m. beginning tomorrow and making the six regions an lowest-risk "white zone" by the first week of June. The curfew then will start at midnight from June 7 and be abolished completely on June 21. (Wanted in Rome)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
    - Turkey begins to gradually lift its COVID-19 restrictions, including the 17-day full lockdown, which will end at 5:00 a.m. as the number of infections has declined. This gradual normalization will last until June 1. (Anadolu Agency)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom
    - Lockdown restrictions are eased in England, Wales, and Scotland with museums, cinemas, children's play areas, and hotels reopening. Pubs, bars, and restaurants can now serve customers indoors again with social distancing rules in place. In England, people can now gather in groups of 30 outdoors and meet indoors in groups of up to six. A ban on international travel is also lifted. (BBC News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa, COVID-19 vaccination in South Africa
  - South Africa begins the second phase of its vaccination campaign against COVID-19 for people aged 60 or older as the government has set a goal to vaccinate five million people by the end of June. (The New York Times)
Namibia bans all imports of poultry and poultry products from South Africa due to an outbreak of avian influenza that was detected there. (Reuters)
In the first global study of its kind, the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization find that working more than 55 hours a week can lead to higher risks of strokes and ischemic heart disease. The study, which was conducted between 2000 and 2016, also found that people living in the Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions, as well as men that are at least middle-aged, are particularly susceptible to risks from overworking. (Reuters)
Darwin's Arch collapses in the Galapagos Islands. (CNN)

International relations

European migrant crisis, Morocco–Spain relations
- More than 5,000 migrants cross the border into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in an unprecedented influx. The Spanish government in Ceuta says 50 additional Guardia Civil agents and 150 national police officers will be deployed to maintain security in the city. The crossings come amid tensions between Spain and Morocco over Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali's hospital treatment in Spain for COVID-19. (The Guardian)

Law and crime

International protests over the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Protesters gather in Sanaa, Yemen, to protest Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip. During the protest, demonstrators are seen calling for a boycott of Israeli and American goods, as well as chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel". (Al-Ahram)
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador apologizes for the Torreón massacre that happened during the Mexican Revolution in 1911, in which revolutionaries led by Francisco I. Madero targeted immigrant Asian merchants, among whom 303 Chinese Mexicans and five Japanese Mexicans were slaughtered. This is the first time the Mexican government apologizes for the massacre. (AP)
The United States approves the release of Saifullah Paracha, a 73-year-old Pakistani man who is currently the oldest prisoner held in the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He is expected to be formally released in the next few months. (Dawn)

Politics and elections

Elections in Chile
- Independent candidates win the largest number of seats in the election for the Constitutional Convention. The traditional center-right and center-left alliances reach their worst performance in an election since 1990, while the coalition between Broad Front and the Communist Party becomes the second-largest political force. (Reuters) (Al Jazeera)
- In the municipal elections, the center-right Chile Vamos loses some of the largest cities in the country, while Irací Hassler becomes the first Communist mayor of Santiago. In the first election of regional governors, Christian Democrat Claudio Orrego and leftist Karina Oliva move to the second round in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, while the officialist Catalina Parot gets fourth place. (Mercopress)
The Supreme Court of Samoa clears the way for Naomi Mata'afa to form a new government and thereby become the first female Prime Minister of Samoa, ending a political deadlock. This would end a long tenure by current Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi, who has held power since November 1998. (Reuters)

Science and technology

The Kyrgyzstan parliament announces that they have backed a plan to seize the country's Kumtor Gold Mine after Centerra Gold said it would take the Kyrgyzstan government to an international court. (Rferl)

May 18, 2021 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- A Hamas rocket kills two Thai workers and injures ten others in southern Israel, thereby bringing the death toll in the country to 12. (Times of Israel)
- The death toll from the Israeli airstrikes in Gaza rise to at least 217 Palestinians killed, including 63 children. About 1,500 others have been wounded. Gaza's main COVID-19 laboratory is destroyed by a strike, stopping all COVID-19 tests as a result. Four more protesters are also killed in the West Bank. (Al Jazeera)
- The IDF reports the death of 160 Hamas and Islamic Jihad members. However, the deaths are not confirmed by either the groups or Palestinian authorities, who reported a lower number of militants killed. (Jerusalem Post)
- Israeli police fire stun grenades, rubber bullets, and spray skunk water at protesters gathered at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem's Old City. (Sky News)
- One Palestinian is killed and dozens more are wounded after Israeli security forces open fire on protesters marching at a military checkpoint in the Beit El settlement in the West Bank. Further clashes are also reported in Hebron, Bethlehem, Nablus, and Budrus. (Al Jazeera)
Insurgency in the Maghreb
- Gunmen storm a church during a baptism in a village in Burkina Faso and open fire, killing 15 people. (Reuters)
Spillover of the Moro conflict
- Five Abu Sayyaf militants are killed during a shootout with police in Beaufort, Sabah, Malaysia. All of those killed are Filipinos. (Al Jazeera)
2021 Kyrgyzstan–Tajikistan conflict
- Officials in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan announce that they have agreed to joint security controls following clashes between the two countries at the border. (RFERL)

Arts and culture

The first semifinal round of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021 takes place in Rotterdam. (Eurovision.tv)

Business and economy

Three Chinese industry associations announce in a joint statement that financial institutions and payment firms are banned from offering services related to cryptocurrency transactions, highlighting their high volatility. China had previously banned or restricted access to cryptocurrency exchanges, and blocked websites that had initial coin offerings. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

Cyclone Tauktae
- At least 26 people are dead and 53 more are missing after an ONGC barge P305 sailing off the coast of Mumbai, India sank during severe weather. (BBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India reports a record 4,329 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 278,719. (The Times of India)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record for the second consecutive day of 47 deaths from COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 1,994. (Free Malaysia Today)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, COVID-19 vaccination in Singapore
    - The Singaporean Health Sciences Authority approves the use of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine for children between the ages of 12 and 15. (CNBC)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education
    - Taipei and New Taipei City close all elementary, middle, and high schools until May 28 amidst an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Kyodo News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand reports a record 35 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 649. (CNA)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
  - Argentina reports records of 35,543 new cases of COVID-19 and 745 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the total number of cases to 3.37 million and the death toll to 71,771. (Minuto Uno)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Austria
  - Austria announces that they will phase out the Oxford-AstraZeneca from its vaccination programme because of delivery problems and wariness among the population following reports of the vaccine's rare side-effects. (The Local Austria)

International relations

European migrant crisis, Morocco–Spain relations
- Spain deploys the Army in Ceuta to control the border with Morocco while immigrants continue to arrive in the face of the permissiveness of the Moroccan police. At least one migrant is reported dead while trying to cross the border in Melilla. (El País in English)
- The mayor-president of Ceuta Juan Jesús Vivas calls the situation an "invasion" and announces the suspension of the vaccination campaign against COVID-19 for Wednesday as the city is experiencing a "state of emergency atmosphere". (20 minutos)
- Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs Arancha González Laya summons the Moroccan ambassador, who is later recalled to Rabat for consultations. Ambassador Karima Benyaich advises that "there are actions that have consequences, and they have to be assumed", referring to the fact that the Polisario leader is receiving treatment for COVID-19 in Spain. (Europa Press) (BBC News)
Territorial disputes in the South China Sea
- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte issues a gag order that forbids his cabinet from publicly discussing the South China Sea dispute, which comes after some of his secretaries criticized the government of China over the presence of Chinese vessels in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. (Al Jazeera)
Lebanon–Saudi Arabia relations, Lebanon–United Arab Emirates relations
- Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates both summon their Lebanese ambassadors after Lebanese Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe accused the Gulf States of playing a role in the rise of ISIL in a heated exchange with a Saudi guest during an interview yesterday. Wehbe has since apologized for his remarks. (Al Jazeera)
Libya–Tunisia relations
- Tunisia's flag carrier Tunisair announces that it has resumed services to Libya in light of the UN-sponsored peace agreement, becoming the first foreign airline to connect to the country since the outbreak of the Second Libyan Civil War seven years ago. Yesterday, the airline flew its first flights to Benghazi and Tripoli, and it has scheduled five flights to both cities each week. (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- The U.S. House of Representatives votes 364–62 to pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. The bill, which would expedite anti-Asian hate crime reviews to the U.S. Justice Department, will head to U.S. President Joe Biden for his signature. (ABC News)

Politics and elections

2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- International protests over the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
  - Arab Americans in Dearborn, Michigan, stage a protest across the city during a visit by U.S. President Joe Biden to the Ford River Rouge Complex over the United States' support of Israel's response to attacks from Gaza. (Detroit Free Press)
  - Indonesians gather at the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta to stand in solidarity with Palestine and demand an end to Israeli airstrikes in Gaza. (AP)
- Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and communities inside Israel hold a general strike to protest Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip and the evictions of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah. The Central Committee of Fatah calls it a "day of rage". (Middle East Eye)

Sports

Transgender people in sports
- The French Rugby Federation allows trans women players to feature in top-level women's rugby union in the country starting next season, overturning World Rugby's advice against this. (CNN)

May 19, 2021 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian officials say that fighting between Israel and Palestine will continue while working toward a ceasefire. (Reuters)
- The United States rejects a United Nations Security Council resolution that calls for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Gaza. (The Washington Post) (Yahoo! News)
Spillover of the Colombian conflict
- Rebel forces confirm that former Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia leader Jesús Santrich has been killed in a cross-border operation in Zulia, Venezuela, by the National Army of Colombia. Five others were also killed in the operation on May 17. Santrich's rebel group says that the troops also cut off his little finger before withdrawing back across the border. Santrich was wanted by the United States on charges of drug trafficking. (The Guardian)
Spillover of the Somali Civil War
- Al-Shabaab militants ambush a patrol in Lamu County, Kenya, killing seven soldiers. (The Washington Post)
Manhunt for Jürgen Conings
- A manhunt is ongoing for a far-right extremist, identified as a soldier, in Dilsen-Stokkem, Limburg, Belgium, after threatening virologist Marc Van Ranst. The suspect is heavily armed and considered as a serious threat. Four rocket launchers were found in his car. (BBC News)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - It is revealed that the Ganges river in India has had hundreds of human bodies floating in its waters and buried in its banks in recent days, including some thought to have died of COVID-19. (BBC News)
    - An anti-fungal drug, Amphotericin B, used in the treatment of a rare infection called mucormycosis, or "black fungus", is in short supply across states in India. Immunity to this infection can be reduced by the use of steroids in severely ill COVID-19 patients. (BBC News)
    - India reports a new world record of 4,529 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 283,248. (The Straits Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record 6,075 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 485,496. (Free Malaysia Today)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines
    - Vice President Leni Robredo receives her first dose of the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine. (CNN Philippines)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
    - Taiwan raises its COVID-19 alert level to level 3 nationwide, which is the same level as Taipei and New Taipei City, where masks are required to be worn at all times and gatherings of more than five people indoors and ten people outdoors are banned amid an increase in the number of locally transmitted cases. (The Guardian)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus, Lineage B.1.617
    - Cyprus reports its first four cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, which was first discovered in India. (Cyprus Mail)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in France
    - Restaurants, bars, and cafés are reopened in France for outdoor dining for the first time in six months. Museums, theatres, and other cultural venues are also reopened as the curfew is changed to 9:00 p.m. as part of an easing of restrictions. (The Washington Post) (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
  - Argentina reports 39,652 new cases of COVID-19, a record for the second consecutive day. This subsequently brings the national total to 3.4 million. (Big News Network)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe, Lineage B.1.617
  - Zimbabwe reports its first cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant. The variant had been detected among a group of people in the central town of Kwekwe after a student returned from India on April 29. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - The U.S. surpasses 33 million cases of COVID-19. (KIRO-TV)
A tabular iceberg slightly larger than the size of Mallorca, dubbed A-76, calves from the Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica's Weddell Sea. (CNN)

International relations

European migrant crisis, Morocco–Spain relations
- Morocco closes its border with Spain following the escalation of diplomatic tensions generated by the massive influx of migrants into Ceuta on Tuesday. (Euractiv)
Russia–United States relations, Foreign policy of the Joe Biden administration
- The Biden administration lifts sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project between Russia and Germany. Despite Joe Biden's personal opposition to the project, the U.S. State Department says that it concluded that it was in the "U.S. national interest" to waive the sanctions. (BBC News)
International reactions to the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis, China–Israel relations
- Israel condemns an "antisemitic" report by China's state-owned China Global Television Network that claims that "wealthy Jews dominate the finance, media and internet sectors" in the United States. The report also claims that Israel is an American puppet state. The Israeli Foreign Ministry calls on CGTN to take down the video, citing its "racist and dangerous" ideas. (France 24) (The Jerusalem Post)

Law and crime

Presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, Corruption in Brazil
- The Federal Police of Brazil reveals an investigation against Environment Minister Ricardo Salles, IBAMA president Eduardo Bim and other high-ranking officials for facilitating illegal logging in the Amazon region. Salles's fiscal and banking secrecies are lifted, and Bim is suspended from his post. (The Independent)
Aftermath of the January 6 United States Capitol attack, January 6 commission
- The U.S. House of Representatives votes 252–175 to approve a commission that will investigate the January 6 riot at the United States Capitol. The bill will head to the U.S. Senate. (Voice of America)
International protests over the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Pro-Palestinian protesters gather at a UAV factory in Leicester over its ties to Israel arms manufacture Elbit Systems. (Newsweek)
- In Kuwait, protesters burn Israeli flags and rally in support of Palestine. Protesters also reject normalization agreements signed by Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. (Reuters)
The Spanish Audiencia Nacional summons the leader of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, to present himself in court on June 1 on accusations of multiple charges related to human rights violations by human rights groups and Western Sahara individuals. Ghali, who is currently hospitalized in northern Spain, refused to sign the summon, saying that he has to refer to the Algerian embassy first. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

2021 Qatari general election
- The Qatari cabinet approves a draft law scheduling elections to the Shura Council for October, after several years of delays. The law also provides guidelines for voter registration and campaigning, such as allowing government employees to run and limiting expenditures to QAR2 million per candidate. (Al Jazeera English)
List of U.S. state partition proposals
- In the United States, the Oregon counties of Baker, Grant, Lake, Malheur, and Sherman all approve measures that would require county officials to take steps to promote moving the Idaho border west to incorporate their populations. These counties join Jefferson and Union counties that have already passed similar measures, while Douglas and Harney counties are voting on similar measure in upcoming elections. (The Hill via MSN) (The New York Times)

May 20, 2021 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- 2021 Afghanistan attacks
  - Two separate roadside bombings kill 13 civilians in Helmand and Ghor Provinces. Meanwhile, militants stop a bus in western Afghanistan, targeting Hazara passengers and killing three of them. (ABC News)
Boko Haram insurgency
- Nigerian intelligence officials say that Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has either been killed or critically injured after detonating explosives in his house to avoid capture from the rival IS–West African Province faction. Several other Boko Haram members are also killed in the attack. However, no secondary sources have confirmed Shekau's death. (The Guardian)
Yemeni Civil War
- The United States sanctions two Houthi leaders for their roles in the Marib campaign. (Al Jazeera English)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Israel and Hamas agree to a ceasefire in order to stop airstrikes in Gaza and the launching of rockets in Israel. The 11 days of conflict have killed 232 people in Gaza and 11 in Israel. Egypt agrees to observe the implementation of the ceasefire. (BBC News)

Business and economy

ByteDance founder Zhang Yiming, whose company owns TikTok, announces that he will step down as CEO and that human resources chief Rubo Liang will succeed him. (Reuters)
Following recommendations from the Council on Ethics, the Government Pension Fund of Norway drops two firms from its portfolio for doing business with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The Norges Bank Investment Management also blacklists a company for owning factories in Myanmar. (Al Jazeera English)
Argentine cattle farmers begin a nine-day protest against the government's implementation of a month-long restriction on meat exports to deter inflation. Farmers have agreed to suspend their sales of cattles to slaughterhouses during the protest. (Radio France Internationale)

Disasters and accidents

2021 wildfire season
- Wildfires in Attica, Greece, prompt the evacuation of several villages and monasteries as the fires spread throughout the Geraneia mountain range. (Reuters)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario
      - Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveils a three-step reopening plan as the number of COVID-19 cases decline. Golf, tennis, basketball, and other outdoor sports will be allowed to reopen on May 22, but the stay-at-home order will remain in place until June 2. (CBC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa
      - Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signs a law prohibiting schools and businesses from imposing mask mandates. She also signs a law that limits vaccine passports in the state. (Quad-City Times) (The Des Moines Register)
    - COVID-19 vaccination in the United States
      - The FDA announces its approval for measures allowing the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be stored at regular refrigerator temperatures for up to 30 days before administration. Previously, the agency had only allowed such storage for five days. (Time)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Nicaragua
    - Nicaragua approves the emergency use of the single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine. (PharmiWeb)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Panama
    - Panama closes its border with Colombia due to COVID-19 concerns. The Colombian government had recently reopened the border, which had been closed since March 2020. Panama has so far recorded more than 370,000 COVID-19 cases and 6,300 deaths. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Brunei
    - Brunei suspends a reciprocal green lane arrangement with Singapore until further notice following the worsening situation of the pandemic in the latter country. (CNA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Laos
    - Laos extends its nationwide lockdown for another 15 days until June 4 as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to increase. (Big News Network)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record for the second consecutive day of 6,806 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 492,302. The country also reports a record 59 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 2,099. (Malay Mail)
- COVID-19 pandemic in South America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
    - President Alberto Fernández announces a nine-day nationwide lockdown to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil, Lineage B.1.617
    - Brazil reports its first cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, which was first discovered in India. The variant had been detected among a group of six crew members of a ship travelling from South Africa to deliver iron ore in São Luís, Maranhão. (Geo News) (Al Arabiya English)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom
  - Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (CBS News) (BBC News)
- COVID-19 vaccine
  - The European Commission signs a third contract with Pfizer and BioNTech to secure 1.8 billion doses of its vaccine. (Deutsche Welle)

International relations

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international relations, COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore
- The International Institute for Strategic Studies cancels the Shangri-La Dialogue intergovernmental forum which would have been held in Singapore on June 4–5 due to the worsening of the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country. (France 24)
China–Lithuania relations
- Three-fifths of the Lithuanian Parliament vote to pass a nonbinding resolution condemning the forced internment of Muslim Uyghurs as genocide, demanding the repeal of the Hong Kong national security law, and calling for international observers to be allowed to enter Tibet and for the Chinese government to begin negotiations with the current Dalai Lama. (Reuters)
Ethiopia announces that it will proceed with plans to start generating power from the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in the coming rainy season between June and August. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also says that it will not tolerate "any move that's aimed at disrupting the water filling process, its operation and water releasing scheme". (AP)

Law and crime

Colonial Pipeline cyberattack
- In the aftermath of the attack, it is revealed at a Senate Armed Services cyber subcommittee hearing that the Department of Homeland Security was not alerted to the ransomware attack and that the Justice Department was not alerted to the ransom type or the amount of money demanded, prompting discussion about the numerous information silos in the government and difficulties of information-sharing between them. (USNI News)
- Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic publishes a bitcoin wallet report showing that $90 million in bitcoin ransom payments were made to DarkSide or DarkSide affiliates over the last year, originating from 47 distinct wallets. According to a DarkTracer release of 2,226 victim organizations since May 2019, 99 organizations have been infected with the DarkSide malware – suggesting that approximately 47% of victims paid a ransom, and that the average payment was $1.9 million. The DarkSide developer has received bitcoins worth $15.5 million (17%), with the remaining $74.7 million (83%) going to the various affiliates. (The Washington Examiner) (Fox Business)
International protests over the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- In Midtown Manhattan, pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protesters clash at Times Square despite a ceasefire being announced between Israel and Hamas militants. One protester suffers a minor burn after fireworks were thrown from a car. (Fox News) (Newsweek)
Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic
- U.S. President Joe Biden signs the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, a bill that would expedite anti-Asian hate crime reviews to the U.S. Justice Department. (The New York Times)
A fight between rival gangs erupts in a jail in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, resulting in the deaths of seven people. (BBC News)
The French Constitutional Council strikes down Article 24 of the so-called global security law, which criminalized the sharing of images that could reveal the identity of police officers. (Euronews)

Politics and elections

2021 Ethiopian general election
- After delaying it twice, the National Election Board of Ethiopia schedules elections for June 21. (Reuters)
International reactions to the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont introduces a resolution that would block an arms sale of $735 million in weapons to Israel in response to the conflict between Israel and Gaza. (CBS News)
The Central Electoral Commission of Kyrgyzstan announces that it has invalidated the results of the Bishkek City Council elections. During a meeting, Chairwoman Nurzhan Shaildabekova called for free elections. (AKIpress News Agency)

Science and technology

Microsoft announces that it will discontinue support for Internet Explorer on June 15, 2022. (Reuters)

Sports

2021 Copa América, 2021 Colombian protests
- The CONMEBOL, South America's football governing body, announces that Colombia will no longer co-host the 2021 Copa América with Argentina as the country is currently experiencing social unrest. (Associated Press)

May 21, 2021 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

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)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- 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)
- 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)

Arts and culture

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)
New York art collector Stuart Pivar says that he has rediscovered a long-lost Vincent van Gogh masterpiece titled "Auvers, 1890" at an auction. The painting is being sent to the van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam because they have requested to see it and authenticate it. The painting, which is signed on the back as "Vincent" and dated 1890, is a 36" by 36" square panorama of the valley of Auvers-sur-Oise, showing its mosaic of wheat fields bisected by a railway line. The painting also bears the label of art collector Jonas Netter. If authenticated, the work would be van Gogh's largest painting and his only painting in a square format. (Page Six)
British Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden says that the government is considering penalizing the BBC for its 1995 interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, in which an independent inquiry conducted by former Justice of the Supreme Court John Dyson, Lord Dyson found interviewer Martin Bashir to be guilty of deceit and breaching the network's editorial conduct to obtain the interview. (The Economic Times)

Business and economy

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)
An outage in the Sabre passenger service system used by multiple airlines causes flight issues in multiple countries. The system is used for check-ins, selling tickets, and dispatching flights. Issues are reported with Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, JetBlue, Rex Airlines, and Virgin Australia. The vendor's redundancy systems are not activated during the outage. (9News) (MSN)

Disasters and accidents

A Nigerian Air Force plane crashes near Kaduna International Airport, killing Chief of Army Staff Ibrahim Attahiru and several of his aides. (Reuters)
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)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - The Japanese government officially approves the use of the Moderna and Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for people aged 18 and older. It comes after the Health Ministry panel recommended the approval of both vaccines. (The New York Times) (Kyodo News)
    - 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)
  - 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 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 Europe
  - 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 Norway
    - The Norwegian government announces that phase two of easing COVID-19 restrictions will begin on May 27, allowing bars to serve alcohol until midnight and raise the maximum number of guests in one's home to 10 people as the number of cases declined. (MedicalXpress)
  - 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 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 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)
- Director of the Pan American Health Organization Carissa F. Etienne announces that Latin America and the Caribbean have surpassed one million deaths caused by COVID-19. (EFE)

Law and crime

Health Service Executive cyberattack
- It is revealed that documents and patient records have already been leaked online from the Irish Health Service Executive ransomware cyberattack. These files were offered by the "ContiLocker Team", believed to be related to be the "Wizard Spider" group from Eastern Europe, as samples to prove that they had confidential information. The 27 files include personal records of 12 individuals, including admissions records and laboratory results. The group claims to have stolen 700GB of unencrypted files from the Irish health service, including patient and employee information, contracts, financial statements and payroll records. (News Talk)
- A decryption key for the hospital records has been provided to the Irish Health Service Executive. The government says that it had not paid and would not pay any ransom in exchange for the purported key. The group responsible for the cyberattack continues to threaten to sell patient data. (US News and World Report)
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)
CNA Financial, the seventh-largest commercial insurer in the United States, reveals that in March 2021, it was the target of a ransomware attack and had paid $40 million to a group named Phoenix two weeks after a trove of company data was stolen, and CNA officials were locked out of their network. The CNA hackers used malware called Phoenix Locker, a variant of ransomware dubbed Hades. Hades was created by a Russian cybercrime syndicate known as Evil Corp., according to cybersecurity experts. In December 2019, the Treasury Department announced sanctions on 17 individuals and six entities linked to Evil Corp. The designation by the Treasury Department made it illegal for a U.S. company to knowingly pay a ransom to Evil Corp. (Bloomberg)(FOX Business)
One Catholic priest is killed and another kidnapped in an armed attack on the parish in Malunfashi, Sokoto State, in northern Nigeria. Several other people are wounded in the assault. (Fides)

Politics and elections

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)
2021 Catalan regional election
- The Catalan government is formed after months of negotiations, with Pere Aragonès becoming the 132nd President, the first from the Republican Left of Catalonia in forty years and the youngest in the institution's seven-hundred-year history. Aragonès pledges to immediately restart independence talks with the Spanish government. (DW)

May 22, 2021 (Saturday)

Arts and culture

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)

Disasters and accidents

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)
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)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India releases information on a second, deadlier form of "white fungus" infection that has begun spreading among patients initially placed at risk because of COVID-19. The newly identified white fungus is known as candidiasis. Steroid treatment can cause white fungal infection in COVID patients while unsterile use of oxygen cylinders can also be a cause. White fungus infection is more dangerous because it rapidly affects vital organs and genitals along with the mouth, stomach and skin. The antifungal drugs fluconazole, itraconazole, caspofungin, and micafungin are being prescribed to treat patients. (New Indian Express)
    - 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)
  - 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 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)
  - 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)
- 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 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)
Australia reports that it is suffering a plague of mice across New South Wales, from the Queensland border all the way to Victoria. Mice are chewing through walls and ceilings, and are estimated to have caused $100 million in damage to crops and grain stores. Homeowners setting traps are reporting catching 500 to 600 mice per night. (9News)

International relations

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)
Belgium–Democratic Republic of the Congo relations
- Belgian officials announce that they will return the remains of Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba to his family, which is just a single tooth as his body was dissolved in acid following his assassination in 1961. The handover ceremony is expected to take place on either June 21 or 22 in Brussels. (Yahoo! News)

Law and crime

2020–2021 United States racial unrest
- New footage reveals that William Jennette, a truck driver, died in the Marshall County jail while gasping for breath minutes after police officers held him face down, with one taunting, "You shouldn't be able to breathe." Jennette's official post-mortem examination had ruled the death to be a homicide. (BBC News)

Politics and elections

International protests over the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
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)
April 2021 Samoan general election, 2021 Samoan constitutional crisis
- The Samoan head of state, Tuimalealiifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II, issues a proclamation preventing the Legislative Assembly of Samoa from meeting on May 24 without explanation, triggering a constitutional crisis. Opposition leader Naomi Mataʻafa of FAST was expected to be elected prime minister at the upcoming session following a Supreme Court ruling upholding the results of the general election. (Samoa Observer) (RNZ)
Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari dissolves parliament and calls for new elections in November. Her office says that the decision was made on the recommendation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. This is the second time in six months that the parliament has been dissolved amidst a political crisis. (DW)

Sports

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)
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)

May 23, 2021 (Sunday)

Disasters and accidents

Stresa–Mottarone cable car crash
- 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)
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)

Business and economy

Tribune Publishing shareholders approve a deal for the sale of nine newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, The Baltimore Sun, and the New York Daily News, to Alden Global Capital. Alden owns the Boston Herald, The Denver Post, and The San Jose Mercury News through its Digital First Media chain. With Tribune, Alden will be the second-largest newspaper company in the United States, after Gannett. (Fox Business)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India reports more than 8,800 cases of the deadly "black fungus" in a growing epidemic of the disease. The normally rare infection has a mortality rate of 50% and is believed to occur 12 to 18 days after recovery from COVID-19. Following the increase in the number of cases, India's states and territories are told to declare the disease as an epidemic. (BBC News)
    - A report is published documenting the ways people have been taking advantage of the pandemic to enrich themselves. Documented issues include selling false medical equipment or drugs, selling medical equipment or drugs at up to 10x the price, buying all available supplies so they will only be found on the black market, operating hospitals like expensive private hotels, charging twenty times the normal prices for ambulance services, charging a hundred times the regular cost for cremation services or supplies, selling false reports and records, and selling children orphaned by the pandemic. (The New Indian Express)
  - 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 Europe
  - 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 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)
Thailand orders strict controls on the movements of cattle and buffalo following an outbreak of a rarely-fatal disease that causes lumps to form on the animals’ skin and which can also reduce milk production. (Reuters)

Law and crime

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)
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)
2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Israeli police announce they have arrested over 1,550 demonstrators, most of them Palestinians, since May 9 for allegedly disrupting the peace, and that they will arrest hundreds more in the upcoming days. (Al Jazeera)

Politics and elections

2021 Samoan constitutional crisis, April 2021 Samoan general election
- The Supreme Court of Samoa overturns a proclamation by head of state Tuimalealiifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II which had suspended the opening of parliament on Monday. The ruling, which declared that Sualauvi had acted unlawfully, allows for the opening of parliament, as previously scheduled. (RNZ)
- Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Samoa Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi announces that he will not convene the new session of parliament on Monday, defying the new ruling by the Supreme Court. (RNZ)
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)

Sports

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)

May 24, 2021 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Internal conflict in Peru
- San Miguel del Ene attack
  - Sixteen people are killed in a mass shooting in a community in Vizcatán del Ene, department of Junín. A dissident faction of the Shining Path is suspected to be behind the attack. (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)

Arts and culture

Josep Almudéver Mateu, the last surviving member of the Spanish Civil War's International Brigades, dies in France at the age of 101. (Reuters)

Business and economy

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)

Disasters and accidents

2021 Mount Nyiragongo eruption
- Thirty-two people are confirmed dead following the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, two days ago. (The San Diego Union-Tribune)
2021 Kelana Jaya LRT collision
- An underground train collision between the KLCC LRT Station and Kampung Baru LRT Station on the Kelana Jaya line in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, injures 213 people, 47 of them seriously. (New Straits Times)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in India
    - India surpasses 300,000 deaths from COVID-19, becoming the third country to do so after the United States and Brazil. India recorded its last 100,000 deaths in less than a month. Experts warn that the real number of deaths could be much higher as many are not officially recorded; some models speculate that about a million people may have actually died. (BBC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Japan
    - Japan opens two mass vaccination centres in Tokyo and Osaka staffed by Japan Self-Defense Forces two months before the delayed Summer Olympics as the country aims to vaccinate up to 10,000 people per day in Tokyo and another 5,000 per day in Osaka for the next three months. (Time)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record 61 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 2,309. (CNA)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines
    - COVID-19 pandemic in Metro Manila, COVID-19 vaccination in the Philippines
      - Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte receives her first dose of the CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine. (The Philippine Star)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
    - Taipei bans all on-site dining and drinking in response to the continued increase in the number of domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases. All food and beverage vendors are only allowed to serve takeout or deliveries. (Focus Taiwan)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Delaware, Lineage B.1.617
    - Delaware reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant that originated in India. (WDEL-AM)
  - Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
    - The U.S. State Department tells Americans not to travel to Japan due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases there. (CNN)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Malta
  - Malta has vaccinated 70% of its adult population with at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot, thereby becoming the first country in the European Union to achieve this herd immunity-related milestone. (U.S. News & World Report)

International relations

Ryanair Flight 4978
- 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)
- Belarus–United States relations
  - U.S. President Joe Biden condemns Belarus for the hijacking and the arrest of Protasevich, and he says that his administration will "develop appropriate options". U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) urge Biden to ban flights to the country. (Bloomberg.com) (Business Insider)
- Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum rejects the claim by Belarusian authorities that the diversion was caused by a bomb threat from them. (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

2021 Colombian protests, Human rights in Colombia
- Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Marta Lucía Ramírez denies a request by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for on-site visits to investigate growing concerns of police brutality, censorship, and government repression amidst the ongoing civil unrest. (El Espectador)
Aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état
- Deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi appears in person in court for the first time since the February coup to face various charges, including "incitement to sedition". During the 30-minute hearing, Aung San Suu Kyi refused to respond on the protests due to alleged lack of information from the outside, wished her people good health and expressed support for her party, which faces dissolution under the junta. (DW) (Reuters)
International Criminal Court investigation in Darfur
- The International Criminal Court begins its trial against Janjaweed senior commander Ali Kushayb, who is charged with 31 counts of war crimes. He is the first person to be prosecuted by the Court for personal involvement in the violence committed during the Darfur conflict. (Al Jazeera)
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)
Omani police fire tear gas at protesters in Sohar as protests break out in the country's major cities. Omanis have been protesting since yesterday over a lack of jobs and worsening economic conditions. (Middle East Eye)
A suspicious package is sent to the home of U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY). The incident is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Capitol Police. (NBC News)

Politics and elections

2021 Samoan constitutional crisis
- Incumbent Prime Minister Tuilaepa Aiono Sailele Malielegaoi refuses to concede power to recently elected Prime Minister Naomi Mataʻafa and a disputed government ensues with a FAST spokesman calling Malielegaoi's move as a "coup". New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern calls for upholding of democracy and law but rejects any interventionist role whereas the Federated States of Micronesia is the first country to recognize the legitimacy of Mataʻafa's government. Mataʻafa and FAST MPs remain locked out of parliament on the opening day of the new legislative session. (RNZ) (Reuters)
2021 Ecuadorian general election
- Guillermo Lasso is sworn in as the 47th president, succeeding Lenín Moreno. (The Washington Post)
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)
Dame Cindy Kiro is announced as the next Governor-General of New Zealand. (Newshub)

May 25, 2021 (Tuesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

2019–2021 Iraqi protests
- One protester is killed and dozens are injured after police attack protesters gathered at Baghdad's Tahrir Square in the evening, where hundreds marched to demand the end of targeted killings of prominent journalists and activists. (Euronews)

Business and economy

COVID-19 pandemic in India, Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in India
- Tata Steel has said that it will support the families of its workers in India who have died of COVID-19. The firm said that it will pay deceased employees' salaries, housing and medical benefits until what would have been their retirement at the age of 60. The company has also pledged to cover the education costs of the children of deceased front line workers until they graduate. This is the third firm to make such an announcement, after hospitality group Oyo Rooms and glass manufacturer Borosil. (BBC News)
Costa Rica becomes the 38th member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (Barron's)

Disasters and accidents

The MV X-Press Pearl, a container ship sailing with a Singaporean flag and carrying cosmetics and chemicals, including 25 tonnes of nitric acid, catches fire off the coast of Sri Lanka after an explosion was detected onboard. Rescuers evacuated all crew from the ship and reported that two people were injured. (Reuters)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- 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 the United States
  - COVID-19 vaccination in the United States
    - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announces that 50% of the American adult population has been fully vaccinated. (NBC News)
  - COVID-19 vaccine
    - Moderna says that their vaccine is 100% effective in teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17. They say that they will seek approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in early June. (CNBC)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
  - Restrictions are tightened in Melbourne, Victoria, after an increase in cases, potentially linked to a hotel quarantine breach in South Australia. The mask mandate is reintroduced, public gatherings are limited to 30 people and private gatherings are limited to 5 people. Residents will also be expected to adhere to these rules when leaving the city. (The Guardian)

International relations

Palestine–United States relations; Israel-United States relations
- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announces the United States will reopen its consulate in Jerusalem at an unknown date. (Al Jazeera)

Law and crime

2020–2021 United States racial unrest
- George Floyd protests
  - George Floyd protests in New York City
    - New York City Mayoral candidate Shaun Donovan is arrested during a protest near the Holland Tunnel. (New York Daily News)
  - Protests break out across the United States to mark the anniversary of the killing of George Floyd. Floyd’s family also met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House and called for U.S. Congress to pass police reform legislation. (CNN) (AP)
Mass shootings in the United States
- Four people are killed in a mass shooting at an apartment complex in West Jefferson, Ohio. The killings mark the village's first homicides in nine years. (The Columbus Dispatch)
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. says that he has convened a grand jury in his criminal investigation into former U.S. President Donald Trump over his real estate business, as well as the Trump Organization. (CNBC)
Two women in Kyrgyzstan are arrested for calling for residents of Chaldybar to get rid of Tajikistan citizens. (Asia-Plus)

Politics and elections

2018–2021 Arab protests
- On the third day of economic protests, Omani protestors conduct sit-ins at a bridge in Sohar, and similar protests occur in Rustaq, Nizwa, and Sur. (Al Jazeera)
Islamophobia in the United Kingdom
- An independent report commissioned by the ruling Conservative Party on discrimination within the party details that two-thirds of the 727 discrimination complaints filed against the party from 2015 to 2020 are classified as Islamophobic incidents. Incidents listed include comments made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the attire of Muslim women, and comments by London Mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith about his opponent and current Mayor Sadiq Khan during the 2016 election. It also found "no evidence" that these complaints were treated significantly different from other complaints. (Al Jazeera)
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announces that it will begin making $4 billion of loan forgiveness payments for 13,000 loans that were made by the agency to Black, Hispanic and Indigenous farmers beginning in June. From there, the agency said that it will also distribute loan relief for another 3,000 loans which were made by banks and guaranteed by the USDA. The program has been delayed because of accusations of racism and is currently facing multiple lawsuits. (FOX Business)

May 26, 2021 (Wednesday)

Business and economy

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)

Disasters and accidents

Four people are confirmed dead and 156 more are reported missing after a ferry traveling between Niger State and Kebbi, Nigeria, sinks in the Niger River. (RTL)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record 7,478 new cases and 63 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 533,367 and the nationwide death toll to 2,432. (Free Malaysia Today)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives
    - The Maldives imposes a curfew from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. and will only allow people to travel for a few hours each day to obtain essential supplies in order to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
    - Taiwan reports a record 11 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 46. (South China Morning Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand reports a record 41 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 873. (Bangkok Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium
    - Belgium suspends the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine for people under the age of 41 following the death of a woman who had received the vaccine last week and who was showing "serious thrombosis and reduced blood platelets". (ABC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Cyprus
    - The Cypriot Ministry of Health issues a new recommendation that people under the age of 50 should not receive the Oxford–AstraZeneca vaccine and should receive an mRNA vaccine instead. However, people under the age of 50 who have already received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine should proceed normally with the second dose. (Cyprus Mail)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Slovakia
    - Slovakia authorizes the use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, becoming the second European Union country to do so after Hungary. (AP)
  - 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)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Namibia
  - President Hage Geingob and his wife Monica test positive for COVID-19. (Xinhuanet)

International relations

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)
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)
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)

Law and crime

2021 San Jose shooting
- Nine people are killed by a gunman during a mass shooting at a Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority rail yard in San Jose, California. The perpetrator commits suicide at the scene. It is the California Bay area's deadliest mass shooting since 1993. (BBC News) (The Mercury News)
Milieudefensie et al v Royal Dutch Shell
- In a landmark case, The Hague district court orders Royal Dutch Shell to cut its carbon emissions to 45% of its 2019 emission levels. This is the first time that a company has been legally forced to uphold the obligations laid out in the Paris agreement. A spokesperson for Shell states that the company will appeal the decision. (BBC News)
Hillsborough disaster
- Mr Justice William Davis of the High Court of Justice of England and Wales dismisses the cases against two retired South Yorkshire Police officers and a lawyer of fabricating police statements on the 1989 disaster at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, after Davis found that they had no case to answer. (Daily Jefferson County Union)
Former South African President Jacob Zuma pleads not guilty to multiple charges, including corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering, relating to a $2 billion arms deal in 1999. Zuma said that the charges were politically motivated by a rival section of the ruling African National Congress. (Reuters)
Iraqi security forces arrest Qasim Muslih, a senior commander in the Popular Mobilization Forces and head of the Anbar faction, for his role in the recent assaults on Al Asad Airbase and the killing of two civil activists. (Al Jazeera)
Lawmakers in Afghanistan's Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of Parliament, have accused the Ministry of Finance of hiding the names of people accused of embezzling $8 million per day, or $3 billion annually, from customs. The acting minister of finance did not deny the claims but did say that there are reports of corruption involving governors, police commanders, and employees of the Ministry of Finance as well as ordinary citizens. (TOLO News)
Jan Graffius, the curator of the Stonyhurst Collections states that the theft of the gold rosary that Mary, Queen of Scots took to her execution is a “very tragic loss” for Catholic history. Thieves broke into Arundel Castle in West Sussex, southern England, stealing the rosary and other items worth more than $1.4 million. (Catholic News Agency)

Politics and elections

2021 Syrian presidential election
- Syrians head to the polls to elect their President. (Al Jazeera)

Science and technology

May 2021 lunar eclipse
- A total lunar eclipse occurs, the second-shortest of the 21st century, with totality lasting for only 14 minutes. Nicknamed the Super Flower Blood Moon, the eclipse was visible over the Pacific Ocean and Oceania, with South and East Asia seeing the eclipse at moonrise, and the Americas seeing the eclipse at moonset. (Space.com)
The Galápagos National Park in Ecuador confirms that a female tortoise discovered by scientists two years ago is a Fernandina Island Galápagos tortoise, following recent genetic tests performed at Yale University. Prior to this rediscovery, the species was thought to have been extinct for over a century. (The Guardian)

Sports

2020–21 UEFA Europa League
- In association football, Villarreal win their first Europa League title and first major trophy in the club's 98-year history, after defeating Manchester United on penalties in the final at the Stadion Miejski in Gdańsk, Poland, which ended in a 1–1 draw after extra time. (ABS-CBN News)

May 27, 2021 (Thursday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
- 2021 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks
  - At least 22 civilians are killed in a mass stabbing attack with knives and machetes, during a raid on villages near the town of Beni in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Islamist militants are suspected to be behind the attack. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

In Kebbi State, Nigeria, 45 people are found dead following the sinking of a boat yesterday. More than 100 others are still missing. (Al Jazeera)
A boat crash off the coast of Florida leaves two dead. Eight others have been rescued. The boat had departed from Cuba on May 23. (WPLG-TV)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, COVID-19 vaccination in Indonesia
    - Indonesia resumes the usage of the temporarily suspended batch of the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after tests conducted by the Food and Drug Authority showed that there is no relation between the quality of vaccine batch number CTMAV547 and the death of a young man earlier in the month. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record 7,857 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 541,224. (The Star)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
    - Taiwan reports a record 13 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 59. (South China Morning Post)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand reports a record 47 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 920. (Bangkok Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in North America
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Canada
    - COVID-19 vaccination in Canada
      - Canada announces that it will purchase two million doses of the vaccine produced by Moderna. (Global News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico, COVID-19 vaccination in Mexico
    - The Mexican Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risk grants an emergency use authorization for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine. (Reuters)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
  - Argentina reports a record 41,080 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total to 3.66 million. (Perfil)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji
  - Fiji reports 28 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the most since the second wave began in mid-April, when a soldier breached protocol at the border and did not notify the authorities. This thereby brings the total number of cases to 308. (RNZ)

International relations

Ryanair Flight 4978, Austria–Russia relations
- Austrian Airlines cancels a passenger flight from Vienna to Moscow after the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency denied a reroute request to avoid Belarusian airspace. The request was made on the recommendation of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency for EU carriers to avoid the airspace in response to the hijacking and arrest of Belarusian opposition activist Roman Protasevich on May 23. (The Moscow Times)
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)
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)

Law and crime

2017 Barcelona attacks
- The National Audience court sentences three members of the jihadist organization which committed a series of 4 terrorist attacks across southern Catalonia in 2017. Two of the accused are sentenced to 53 and 46 years in prison, and the third is sentenced to eight years in prison for the crime of collaboration. The three accused are also banned from entering the town of Alcanar, where they prepared the attacks. (La Vanguardia)
Bill Cosby sexual assault cases
- American comedian Bill Cosby is denied parole, and will remain in prison. (People.com)
Muhammad Rizieq Shihab, the founder of the Indonesian hardline Islamist group Islamic Defenders Front, is sentenced to eight months in prison for holding several mass events in violation of Indonesia's COVID-19 regulations, and is fined Rp 20 million (US$1,400) for a specific event held at an Islamic boarding school in West Java. (Reuters)

Politics and elections

2021 Samoan constitutional crisis
- The Attorney General of Samoa, Savalenoa Mareva Betham Annandale, petitions to have the Supreme Court disqualified from presiding over further challenges to the results of the 2021 Samoan general election. Annandale criticized the Supreme Court for ruling in favor of the opposition FAST party, led by Naomi Mataʻafa, in four previous decisions. (RNZ)
2021 Somali presidential election
- Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble announces that Somalia's presidential election will be held within 60 days following a two-month deadlock triggered by incumbent president Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed's refusal to leave office beyond the expiration of his term on February 8. This deadlock has also resulted in violent public protests in Mogadishu. (Africanews)
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)
Politics of the Philippines
- President Rodrigo Duterte signs a law that would divide Maguindanao into two new provinces: Maguindanao del Norte and Maguindanao del Sur. A majority of Maguindanao's residents must approve the creation of the new provinces in a plebiscite to be held within 90 days. (Rappler)

May 28, 2021 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Israeli–Palestinian conflict, 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- Israeli forces shoot Zakaria Hamayel, a 28-year-old Palestinian man during a protest near Nablus. (The Palestine Chronicle) (Al Jazeera)

Arts and culture

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)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - 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)
  - 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)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia
    - Indonesia surpasses 50,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Beritasatu)
  - 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 Pakistan
    - Pakistan reports its first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, which was first discovered in India. (Arab News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
    - Taiwan reports a record 19 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 78. (Taiwan News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Hungary
    - Hungary reports its first two cases of the Lineage B.1.617 variant, which was first discovered in India. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo
    - Kosovo signs an agreement with Pfizer to buy 1.2 million doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine, with the vaccine rollout expected to begin on June 15. (Reuters)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland
    - Taoiseach Micheál Martin announces the further easing of the COVID-19 restrictions. Hotels in Ireland can reopen from June 2, followed by cinemas, gyms, outdoor service at restaurants and pubs from June 7. Meanwhile, indoor services of two establishments will be reopened on July 5, and international travel will be resumed on July 17 through EU Digital COVID Certificate. (BBC News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom
    - The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approves the use of the single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, becoming the fourth vaccine to be approved in the United Kingdom. (The Guardian)
  - European Union response to the COVID-19 pandemic, COVID-19 vaccine
    - The European Medicines Agency authorizes the usage of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 12 to 15 years old, becoming the first vaccine to be approved for children in the European Union. (France 24)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Oceania
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Australia
    - Victoria enters a seven-day circuit breaker lockdown until June 3 at 11:59 p.m. AEST in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19 after the outbreak reaches 26 cases. During the lockdown, all public and private gatherings are banned, schools are closed, restaurants and cafés are only allowed to offer takeout or delivery services, and masks must be worn outside homes. (ABC Australia)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Fiji
    - Fiji reports a record 46 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the national total to 360. (RNZ)

International relations

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)
Russia–European Union relations, Belarus–European Union relations
- Russia denies entry to European airlines for a second consecutive day. Air France and Austrian Airlines flights were rejected by Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency amid the continuing fallout over Ryanair Flight 4978 and the subsequent flight ban in Belarusian airspace. (BBC News)
The United Nations Security Council approves a resolution drafted by the United States to extend the arms embargo imposed on South Sudan since 2018 until May 31, 2022, due to the increasing violence and repeated human rights abuses in the country. (Barron's)

Law and crime

Aftermath of the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, January 6 commission
- Republicans in the United States Senate block a bill to form a commission to investigate the storming of the United States Capitol as the bill failed to pass by a vote of 54–35, making it the first filibuster used in the 117th United States Congress. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says that the Democratic Party will still "proceed to find the truth". (Forbes) (Bloomberg.com)
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)
Kamloops Indian Residential School
- A mass grave containing the remains of 215 indigenous children is discovered on the site of the former residential school in British Columbia, Canada. (The Globe and Mail)
- Archbishop J. Michael Miller of Vancouver said he was “filled with deep sadness” after learning of the discovery of the children's remains that were found buried on the site. (CRUX)
The Ireland Health Service Executive confirms that private medical data for approximately 520 patients was published online after the recent cyberattack. (The Irish Times)

Politics and elections

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 Malian coup d'état
- The Malian constitutional court declares Colonel Assimi Goïta as the country's interim president, following the arrest of President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane by the military on May 24. (The Hindu)

May 29, 2021 (Saturday)

Arts and culture

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)

Disasters and accidents

The number of people found dead following a boat accident in Kebbi State, Nigeria, three days ago, increases to 76. Many more people are still missing. (The Premium Times)
Seven people, including actor Joe Lara and his wife Gwen Shamblin Lara, are killed in a plane crash in Smyrna, Tennessee. (Chicago Tribune)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    - Malaysia reports a record for the fifth consecutive day of 9,020 new cases of COVID-19, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 558,534. The country also reports a record 98 deaths in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 2,650. (The Vibes) (The Straits Times)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan
    - Taiwan reports a record 21 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide death toll to 99. (Taiwan News)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam
    - Vietnam discovers a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 that combines the mutations from Lineage B.1.617 and Lineage B.1.1.7. (The Independent)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, COVID-19 vaccination in the United Kingdom
  - Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge receives her first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Sky News)
- COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
  - The United States reports nearly 11,976 new cases of COVID-19, the lowest in the country since March 23, 2020. (CNBC)

International relations

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)

Law and crime

A car explodes outside an apartment block in Arad, Romania. The driver, Ioan Crișan, a well-known fish farmer and businessman, was killed, and several windows were shattered. The authorities suspect foul play. (G4 Media)
A major Austrian Muslim organization files a lawsuit against the government for publishing a map on Thursday listing the location of the country's mosques and Islamic associations, saying it "represents an unprecedented crossing of boundaries". The Islamic Religious Community in Austria, the Turkish Foreign Ministry, and members of the ruling Green Party have also criticized the map's publication. (DW)

Politics and elections

International protests over the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis
- In the United Kingdom, protesters gather in Birmingham and Manchester to show solidarity with Palestine. In Manchester, protesters gather at the BBC building in MediaCityUK, while protesters burn Israeli flags in Birmingham. (Manchester Evening News) (Birmingham Mail)
- In Washington, D.C. protesters gather at the Lincoln Memorial to call for an end to aid from the United States to Israel. (Times of Israel)
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)

Science and technology

A team at Cardiff University has created the first 3D replica of a spin-ice material that allows for the generation of magnetic monopoles-like quasi-particles. Magnetic force microscopy was then used to visualize the magnetic charges present on the device, allowing the team to track the movement of the single-pole magnets across the 3D structure. (Phys.org)

Sports

2021 English Football League play-offs
- Brentford F.C. defeat Swansea City A.F.C. 2–0 in the 2021 EFL Championship play-off Final at Wembley Stadium, securing promotion to the 2021–22 Premier League after a 74-year absence from the top flight of English football. (BBC Sport)
2020–21 UEFA Champions League
- In association football, Chelsea defeat Manchester City 1–0 in the final at the Estádio do Dragão in Porto, Portugal, to win their second Champions League title. (CBS Sports)

May 30, 2021 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Boko Haram insurgency
- 2021 Niger attacks
  - Boko Haram jihadists raid the town of Diffa, killing four civilians and four soldiers. Six attackers are killed by responding security forces. (Reuters)

Disasters and accidents

Stresa–Mottarone cable car crash
- Three people arrested for the cable car crash that killed 14 people in Mottarone, Piedmont, Italy, are released by a court order. A technician who worked on the Stresa–Alpino–Mottarone Cable Car line which operated the cable car remains under house arrest and has been named the party responsible for the accident. (Euronews)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan
    - Afghanistan reports a record of 929 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, thereby bringing the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 71,690. (Big News Network)
  - 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 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)
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand
    - Thailand surpasses 1,000 deaths from COVID-19. (Bangkok Post)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Africa
  - COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya
    - Kenya extends its nightly curfew and ban on political gatherings and processions that could turn into superspreader events for 60 days as part of an attempt to reduce the spread of COVID-19. (News24)
  - 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 Spain
  - King Felipe VI receives his first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. (Royal Central)

International relations

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)

Law and crime

2021 Hialeah shooting
- Two people are killed and 20 more are wounded in a mass shooting at a hall near Hialeah, Florida, United States. The three perpetrators remain at large. (CNN International)
Sri Lanka's Marine Environment Protection Authority announces that it will take legal action against the owners of the Singaporean container ship X-Press Pearl for the marine pollution caused by the ship's fire off the coast of Colombo on May 20. The authority reports that plastic granules from spilled cargo had been washing up on the Sri Lankan coast since May 27. (Dawn)

Politics and elections

2020–2021 United States racial unrest
- Hundreds of Black gun owners from around the US marched in Tulsa, Oklahoma to remember those murdered in the Tulsa race massacre on the eve of its 100th anniversary. The Elmer Geronimo Pratt Gun Club of Austin, Texas and New Black Panther Party organized the event. Slogans of "Black Power" and "Black Lives Matter" were heard during the rally. (KJRH-TV)
2021 Cypriot legislative election
- Greek Cypriots head to the polls to elect a new session to the House of Representatives. Analysts predict a fragmented parliament, as issues of corruption spurred by a scandal involving the country's "citizenship through investment" program last year, and the lack of progress on the Cyprus dispute, has reduced support for the three main parties. (Deutsche Welle)
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)

Sports

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on association football
- 2021 Copa América, COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina
  - CONMEBOL announces that Argentina will no longer host the Copa América tournament, two weeks before its commencement, due to the worsening of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. (The Seattle Times)
2020–21 Liga MX season
- Cruz Azul defeat Santos Laguna in the final of the Guardianes 2021 championship, ending the second-longest championship drought in the top flight of Mexican soccer. Cruz Azul's drought lasted for 23 years and 6 months, while the current longest drought belonging to Atlas F.C. has been ongoing for 66 years. (Diario AS)
2021 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix
- Swiss professional motorcycle racer Jason Dupasquier dies following a collision with Ayumu Sasaki at a qualifying race for the 2021 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix in Scarperia e San Piero, Tuscany, Italy. (Sky News)
2021 Giro d'Italia
- Colombian cyclist Egan Bernal retains both the General Classification and the Young Rider Classification in the 2021 edition of the Giro d'Italia. (BBC Sport)
2021 IndyCar Series, 2021 Indianapolis 500
- Hélio Castroneves wins the 105th running of the Indianapolis 500. It is Castroneves' fourth victory in the race, becoming only the fourth driver to accomplish this feat. (CNN)

May 31, 2021 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Ituri conflict, Allied Democratic Forces insurgency
- 2021 Democratic Republic of the Congo attacks
  - At least 50 people are killed as suspected Allied Democratic Forces on seven trucks attack the villages of Boga and Tchabi in Ituri Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera English)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
  - COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
    - China reimposes travel restrictions in Guangdong province that require anyone travelling by plane, train, bus, or private vehicle after 10:00 p.m. to present nucleic acid test results from within the past 72 hours amid an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. (Voice of America)
  - 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 Vietnam
    - Ho Chi Minh City implements social distancing measures for the next two weeks following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the city. (VnExpress International)
- COVID-19 pandemic in France, Travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic
  - France begins implementing a seven-day quarantine and pre-departure testing for EU nationals, French residents, and anyone travelling to the United Kingdom for essential reasons in order to prevent the spread of the Lineage B.1.617 variant that originated in India as all non-essential travel to the UK is currently banned. (Evening Standard)
- COVID-19 pandemic in Palau
  - Palau announces their first recorded case of COVID-19 in a fully vaccinated person who travelled from Guam on May 9 and tested positive after 21 days in quarantine. (RNZ International)
- 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)
- Variants of SARS-CoV-2
  - The World Health Organization announces a new system of naming the COVID-19 variants using the Greek alphabet in order to avoid stigmatizing countries where variants are first detected. According to the new system, B.1.1.7 becomes Alpha, B.1.351 becomes Beta, and P.1 becomes Gamma. Meanwhile B.1.617, which split into sub-lineage B.1.617.1 and B.1.617.2, is called Kappa and Delta respectively. (France 24)
China announces that it will replace their existing two-child policy with a new three-child policy, allowing couples to have three children, in order to increase the country's declining birth rates. China's fertility rate is currently 1.3, which is below the level needed to maintain a stable population. (The Guardian)

International relations

2021 Malian coup d'état
- The Economic Community of West African States suspends Mali in response to last week's coup d'état. (Al Jazeera English)
United States–European Union relations, United States intelligence operations abroad
- Denmark's public service broadcaster DR reveals that the Danish Defence Intelligence Service helped the American National Security Agency spy on European leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2012 to 2014. Intelligence was also collected on other officials from Germany, France, Sweden and Norway. (BBC News)
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)

Law and crime

Hong Kong national security law, 2021 arrests of Hong Kong pro-democracy primaries participants
- The court proceedings against 47 pro-democracy activists accused of subversion will continue on July 8. After being presented with evidence, the defendants will be able to enter a plea before the case is moved to the High Court. Most of the activists have been denied bail recently, with the latest case being that of Claudia Mo, who was denied bail due to her WhatsApp messages with foreign journalists. (Reuters)
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)
Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reports that the National Intelligence Organization arrested the nephew of exiled Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen in an overseas operation, for alleged membership in a terrorist organization. While the agency did not state where he was captured, he was believed to be residing in Kenya, where a local court on May 6 blocked Turkey's extradition request for him. (Al Jazeera English)
Kyrgyzstan’s security service detains former Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov in a corruption investigation involving the Kumtor Gold Mine. Asylbek Jeenbekov, brother of former President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, is also detained. (The Times of Central Asia)
Corleonesi Mafia hitman Giovanni Brusca is released from prison after serving his 25-year sentence. He was convicted for his role in the Capaci bombing, which killed anti-Mafia magistrate Giovanni Falcone alongside four other people. His release is condemned by the leaders of the ruling Italian Democratic Party and the right-wing Lega Nord. (Al Jazeera English)

Sports

2021 French Open
- Tennis player Naomi Osaka, ranked Number 2 by the Women's Tennis Association, withdraws from the ongoing French Open, citing her mental health. (CNN International)

Elections and referendums

Recent

May
- 23: Vietnam, National Assembly
- 26: Syria, President
- 30: Cyprus, House of Representatives
- 31: Somaliland, House of Representatives

Upcoming

June
- 6: Mexico, Chamber of Deputies
- 6: Peru, President (2nd)
- 9: Mongolia, President (1st)
- 12: Algeria, People's National Assembly
- 13: Switzerland, Referendums

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