May 16, 2021 (Sunday)

2.3 minutes to read

Armed conflicts and attacks

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)

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The Israeli Air Force destroys the office and home of Yahya Sinwar, the most senior Hamas official in Gaza.

(Al Jazeera)

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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)

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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)

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Arts and culture

In Hollywood, Florida, United States, Andrea Meza of Mexico is crowned Miss Universe.

(GMA News Online)

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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)

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Health and environment

Thailand surpasses 100,000 cases of COVID-19.

(Thai PBS World)

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Maine reports their first case of the Lineage B.1.617 variant that originated in India.

(Bangor Daily News)

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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)

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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)

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Taiwan reports a record 207 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, 206 of which are locally transmitted cases. This thereby brings the nationwide total of confirmed cases to 1,682.

(The Guardian)

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The number of people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the United Kingdom surpasses 20 million.

(Sky News)

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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)

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International 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)

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Law and crime

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)

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Montreal Police deploy tear gas to disperse a protest in downtown Montreal, which saw pro-Israeli protesters clash with pro-Palestinian protesters.

(CBC)

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In Berlin, violent confrontations break out during a protest against Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, with an Israeli TV reporter being attacked.

(Euronews)

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Politics and elections

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)

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