earthquake

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has been dogged by reports of poor health, has returned to Luanda after nearly a month in Spain.
AMERICAS: Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles was tear-gassed during a protest in the capital, Caracas.
ASIA: In the Philippines, militants who have laid siege to the southern city of Marawi are aiming to establish a regional branch of the Islamic State group, the Philippine military said.
EUROPE: Deputy FM Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow was concerned that contacts with the US Trump administration had not yet led to positive shifts in the relations between the two nations.
MIDDLE EAST: Nighttime and early morning car bombings in Baghdad killed at least 31, one of which was claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group.
TECHNOLOGY: The EU will provide free internet access in thousands of cities and towns across Europe by 2020.

TOP STORY

Panama: Former dictator Manuel Noriega dies.
- Manuel Noriega, ex-Panamanian military dictator ousted by a US invasion, died at age 83.
- Noriega had been in intensive care since 07MAR after complications developed from surgery to remove what his lawyer described as a benign brain tumor.
- Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela announced the death on Twitter, saying that the passing closes a chapter in the country’s history.
- A strong supporter of the US in Washington’s attempts to battle the influence of communism in central America, Noriega was eventually imprisoned for drug trafficking and money laundering.
- Noriega was trained at the notorious US-run School of the Americas, whose graduates include the disgraced former Peruvian spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos and the former Argentinian dictator Leopoldo Galtieri.
- Coverage: BBC, Guardian, LAT, NYT, WP

AFRICA

Angola: President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has been dogged by reports of poor health, has returned to Luanda after nearly a month in Spain. (AFP)
Egypt: The government fired Minya provincial security chief Maj-Gen. Faisal Dewidar where Islamic State militants killed 29 Christians. (AP)
Somalia: A small plane chartered by US contracting firm Bancroft crashed at a Mogadishu airport, with all passengers surviving. (Xinhua)
South Sudan: A military court opened the trial of 13 soldiers accused of raping foreign aid workers and murdering a local journalist during fighting in Juba in JUL2016. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Region: Venezuelan Congress president Julio Borges accused Wall Street investment bank Goldman Sachs of financing Venezuela’s dictatorial regime following a report that it had bought USD 2.8B in bonds from the cash-strapped country. (Reuters)
Colombia: The government pushed back by 20 days the deadline for leftist rebels to turn over their weapons under a peace deal. (AP)
Venezuela: Opposition leader Henrique Capriles was tear-gassed during a protest in the capital, Caracas. (AP)

ASIA

Australia: The government will cancel the passports of convicted paedophiles to prevent them travelling overseas to offend again, a measure the government hailed as a “world first”. (AFP)
Myanmar: The UN named a trio of independent experts to investigate allegations of killings, rape and torture by Myanmar security forces against Rohingya Muslims. (Reuters)
Philippines: Militants who have laid siege to the southern city of Marawi are aiming to establish a regional branch of the Islamic State group, the military said. (AP)
South Korea: President Moon Jae-in ordered an investigation into the unauthorized delivery of four more mobile launchers of the US THAAD missile shield to the country. (Xinhua)

EUROPE

Region: Portuguese and Spanish rescue services have saved 34 migrants who leaped into the sea after their inflatable craft caught fire in the Mediterranean. (AP)
France: French customs officials intercepted 300 pounds of Captagon, dubbed the “jihadists’ drug,” a first for the country. (AFP)
Russia: Deputy FM Sergei Ryabkov said Moscow was concerned that contacts with the US Trump administration had not yet led to positive shifts in the relations between the two nations. (Reuters)
United Kingdom: Manchester Victoria train station next to the scene of last week’s suicide bombing in Manchester has reopened. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Iraq: Nighttime and early morning car bombings in Baghdad killed at least 31, one of which was claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. (AP)
Saudi Arabia: Two policemen were wounded when a bomb exploded in Awamiya, where many of the country’s Shi’ite Muslim minority live. (Reuters)
Syria: At least 13 civilians were killed when Islamic State militants shelled government-held neighborhoods in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour. (AP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: The EU will provide free internet access in thousands of cities and towns across Europe by 2020. (DW)

WORLD

Cyclones: Tropical Cyclone Mora
- Location: 78 NM S of Chittagong, Bangladesh
- Winds: 75 mph
- Movement: N at 17 mph
- Map
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquakes: 26km WNW of Kasiguncu, Indonesia
- Magnitude: 6.8
- Depth: 9.2
- Map
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 26MAY: 57,826 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 26MAY: 28,596 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 26MAY: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
    - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
- Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
  - Cases as of 29APR: 1,952 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
    - Deaths as of 29APR: 693 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
- Zika Virus
  - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
  - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
  - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (31MAY)

Global: World No-Tobacco Day – 1998
Israel: Anniversary of Israel’s flotilla raid – 2010
Namibia: Namibia to launch its fifth National Development Plan
South Africa: Anniversary of the Union of South Africa becoming the Republic of South Africa – 1961
Venezuela: OAS to meet on the Venezuela issue
United States: Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to visit US President Trump at White House

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: In Morocco, several thousand people took to the streets to demand the release of Nasser Zefzafi, the leader of months of protests in the neglected northern Rif region.
AMERICAS: Mexico’s top diplomat Luis Videgaray said Venezuela is no longer a functioning democracy.
ASIA: Philippine authorities vowed to secure the freedom of hostages in Marawi city where a week of fighting has killed 129 people.
EUROPE: UK investigators say Manchester suicide bomber Salman Abedi likely purchased most of the key bomb components himself and many of his actions were carried out alone.
MIDDLE EAST: Russian warships in the Mediterranean Sea fired four cruise missiles at the Islamic State group’s positions in the area of the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra.
TECHNOLOGY: The US Department of Homeland Security does not plan to announce an expansion of a ban on laptops in cabins on flights from Europe.

TOP STORY

Afghanistan: Massive bombing strikes diplomatic heart of Kabul.
- A massive blast tore through the diplomatic quarter of the Afghan capital of Kabul killing at least 80 people, underlining the fragility of the country as it buckles under a wave of rebel attacks.
- The attack struck close to the German embassy in Zanbaq Square, with civilians said to be the main casualties.
- In addition to the fatalities, 300 others were injured.
- It was not clear whether the embassy had been specifically targeted.
- The German foreign office said one of its embassy security guards was killed and some staff members were injured but all remaining staff was accounted for.
- The Taliban have denied they carried out the attack, with no word so far from so-called Islamic State.
- Coverage: BBC, CNN, LAT, NYT, Reuters, WP

AFRICA

Burundi: Fuel shortages have paralyzed the nation, threatening further damage to an economy already moribund after years of political violence. (Reuters)
Kenya: The country opened a major new railway between the port city of Mombasa and the capital, Nairobi – the biggest infrastructure project since Kenyan independence. (BBC)
Morocco: Several thousand people took to the streets to demand the release of Nasser Zefzafi, the leader of months of protests in the neglected northern Rif region. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Region: The Mexican government said their country is open to updating the North American Free Trade Agreement, but within limits. (EFE)
Venezuela: Mexico’s top diplomat Luis Videgaray said Venezuela is no longer a functioning democracy. (Reuters)
Venezuela: Police have arrested nearly 3,000 people in the two months since a wave of anti-government protests erupted. (AFP)

ASIA

Region: Japanese PM Shinzo Abe told China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi that he would like to work with China to try to rein in North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. (Reuters)
Korean Peninsula: South Korea returned six North Koreans rescued at sea to the North after Pyongyang did not respond to repeated attempts to communicate. (Reuters)
Philippines: Philippine authorities vowed to secure the freedom of hostages in Marawi city where a week of fighting has killed 129 people. (AP)
South Korea: The country’s parliament approved President Moon Jae-in’s selection of Lee Nak-yon as prime minister. (Reuters)

EUROPE

Region: Russia is ready to cooperate with its European partners to fight terrorism, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. (Xinhua)
Region: US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said he is open to continuing talks on a proposed trade pact with the EU. (CNBC)
Italy: The nation’s high public debt is “a factor of serious vulnerability” that Italian politicians must tackle more aggressively, central bank chief Ignazio Visco warned. (DPA)
United Kingdom: Investigators say Manchester suicide bomber Salman Abedi likely purchased most of the key bomb components himself and many of his actions were carried out alone. (Reuters)

MIDDLE EAST

Bahrain: A Bahraini court ordered the dissolution of the main secular National Democratic Action Society opposition group, accusing it of supporting terrorism. (Reuters)
Syria: Russian warships in the Mediterranean Sea fired four cruise missiles at the Islamic State group’s positions in the area of the ancient city of Palmyra. (AP)
Yemen: The UN warned the country is facing “total social, economic and institutional collapse”. (BBC)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: The US Department of Homeland Security does not plan to announce an expansion of a ban on laptops in cabins on flights from Europe. (Reuters)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 26MAY: 57,826 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 26MAY: 28,596 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 26MAY: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
    - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
- Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
  - Cases as of 29APR: 1,952 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
    - Deaths as of 29APR: 693 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
- Zika Virus
  - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
  - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
  - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (01JUN)

Global: Global Day of Parents – 2012
Global: Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism to meet in Tokyo (to 02JUN)
China: Restriction requiring Chinese Internet users to provide their real names when accessing online news sources to go into effect
Colombia: Original deadline for FARC to disarm and disband as part of peace agreement with government
Indonesia: Pancasila Day – 2016
Kenya: Madaraka Day (National Day) – 1963
Mexico: Mexican Navy Day – 1942
Russia: St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (to JUN03)
Samoa: Independence Day – 1962
Tunisia: Victory Day – 1952

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Four police officers and a civilian were killed and two more police are missing after their truck hit a landmine along the Kenyan northern coast.
AMERICAS: The Organization of American States fell short in their bid to reach agreement about how to address Venezuela’s deteriorating democratic crisis.
ASIA: The Afghan National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan’s primary intelligence agency, blamed the Haqqani network for the 31MAY Kabul bombing.
EUROPE: Some 4,000 US and European troops are taking part in the annual Baltic Operations navy exercise on the Baltic Sea.
MIDDLE EAST: Russian warplanes launched a series of strikes against Islamic State group jihadists fleeing their Syrian stronghold Raqqa, as US-backed forces edge closer to the city.
TECHNOLOGY: Social media companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google have stepped up the removal of hate speech on their platforms in response to EU pressure.

TOP STORY

Paris Climate Agreement: International community awaits Trump decision.
- US President Donald Trump said he would announce his decision whether to keep the US in a global pact to fight climate change.
- A source close to the matter said Trump was preparing to pull out of the Paris accord.
- Trump has repeatedly called into question the science behind climate change, once calling it a “very expensive hoax.”
- European Council President Donald Tusk appealed to Trump not to pull the US out of the Paris Agreement.
- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang vowed China would uphold its commitment to the Paris agreement, despite whether or not the US remains in the accord.
- With a US exit there’s more scope for fairly swift consensus as well as more room for China to take a greater leadership role.
- Coverage: ABC, AP, CNN, Reuters, Reuters-2

AFRICA

Kenya: Four police officers and a civilian were killed and two more police are missing after their truck hit a landmine along the country’s northern coast. (Reuters)
Niger: More than 40 West African migrants died in the Sahara desert after their truck broke down in the country’s arid north. (Reuters)
Rwanda: The country’s media regulator said the election body does not have the mandate to regulate social media use by presidential candidates, a measure seen as an assault on free speech. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Region: The Organization of American States fell short in their bid to reach agreement about how to address Venezuela’s deteriorating democratic crisis. (AP)
Panama: Panamanian authorities arrested 64 people and seized four tons of cocaine following a two-year investigation into a drug trafficking ring. (Reuters)
United States: A group of global power brokers including politicians, bankers, business titans and European royalty gathered to debate the merits of Donald Trump’s US presidency. (AFP)

ASIA

Region: South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s top security aide left for the US as the new leader tries to reassure Seoul’s main ally he won’t scrap a deal to host a missile defense system that has angered China. (Reuters)
Region: Pakistan accused India of attacking Pakistanis in border towns in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir. (AP)
Afghanistan: The Afghan National Directorate of Security, the country’s primary intelligence agency, blamed the Haqqani network for the 31MAY Kabul bombing. (Xinhua)
Bangladesh: The Bangladesh navy rescued 23 fishermen from the Bay of Bengal and is searching for scores more missing since a cyclone hit two days ago. (AFP)
Philippines: An air strike during Philippine military operations killed 10 government troops in a major blow to efforts to defeat fighters linked to the Islamic State group. (Reuters)

EUROPE

Region: Some 4,000 US and European troops are taking part in the annual Baltic Operations navy exercise on the Baltic Sea. (AP)
Greece: Human Rights Watch claimed EU officials were being pressured to reduce the number of refugees being classified as vulnerable in order to bypass laws that would otherwise bring people to the country’s mainland. (EFE)
Georgia: The opposition United National Movement party called for the interior minister and State Security Service chief to resign over a cross-border abduction of an Azerbaijani investigative journalist. (RFE/RL)
Germany: The country vowed to extend its relationship with China in an increasingly uncertain global environment, as a result of talks between Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. (Reuters)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Unknown assailants attacked an oil tanker in the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea near Yemen. (Reuters)
Region: A Palestinian woman stabbed an Israeli soldier in the northern West Bank before being shot and critically wounded. (AFP)
Syria: Russian warplanes launched a series of strikes against Islamic State group jihadists fleeing their Syrian stronghold Raqqa, as US-backed forces edge closer to the city. (AFP)
Syria: Syrian opposition activists say Baraa Kadek, the founder of one of the main Islamic State group media outlets, was killed in an airstrike. (AP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: Social media companies like Facebook, Twitter and Google have stepped up the removal of hate speech on their platforms in response to EU pressure. (Reuters)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Tropical Depression Two-E
- Location: 100 NM SW of Puerto Angel, Mexico
- Winds: 35 mph
- Movement: NE at 6 mph
- Map
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 26MAY: 57,826 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 26MAY: 28,596 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 26MAY: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
    - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
- Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
  - Cases as of 29APR: 1,952 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
    - Deaths as of 29APR: 693 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
- Zika Virus
  - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
  - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
  - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (02JUN)

Egypt: Anniversary of Egyptian ex-President Hosni Mubarak is sentenced to life in jail – 2012
Italy: National Day – 1946
United Kingdom: Anniversary of the coronation of Elizabeth II – 1953

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: The African Union joined the chorus of disapproval at US President Trump’s decision to pull out of the landmark Paris climate deal.
AMERICAS: Mexico’s ruling party squares off against its main leftist rival in a major state election.
ASIA: The Filipino police identified the gunman behind an attack on a casino that killed 36 people as a heavily indebted local man addicted to gambling.
EUROPE: Germany’s foreign minister is seeking assurances from Turkey putting “beyond doubt” that German lawmakers can visit troops stationed at a Turkish air base.
MIDDLE EAST: The country’s paramilitary Hashd Shaabi units recaptured the town of al-Baaj from Islamic State militants, as part of an operation to drive out the extremist militants from areas near Iraqi-Syrian border in west of Mosul.
TECHNOLOGY: US investigators are in Qatar to help probe the alleged hacking of the Gulf state’s news agency website.

TOP STORY

England: Terrorist attack in London
- A white van hit pedestrians on London Bridge.
- Additionally, three men got out and stabbed people in nearby Borough Market.
- Police said the three men were wearing fake bomb vests.
- Just eight minutes after police responded to reports of the bridge incident, they confronted the attackers in Borough Market killing them in a hail of gunfire.
- 7 have died and 48 victims have been taken to the hospital.
- Britain’s main political parties suspended campaigning Sunday.
- Ukip broke with the other parties by refusing to suspend its campaign.
- Coverage: NYT, NYT-2, NYT-3, WSJ, LAT, BBC, CNN, NBC, Telegraph, Telegraph-2, TIME

AFRICA

Regional: The African Union joined the chorus of disapproval at US President Trump’s decision to pull out of the landmark Paris climate deal. (AFP)
Gambia: A protester in the country died of gunshot wounds after being shot as supporters of former Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh clashed with West African forces. (AFP)
Libya: Forces loyal to east Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar announced they have taken an air base in the south, boosting their presence in the vast Libyan desert. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Regional: The Trump administration is concerned about any action by US companies that provides a financial lifeline to Venezuela’s government after Goldman Sachs Group Inc. came under fire for purchasing $2.8 billion of state oil company bonds at a discount. (Reuters)
Mexico: The country’s ruling party squares off against its main leftist rival in a major state election. (Reuters)
United States: Fake ICE notices urge Washington residents to report “illegal aliens.” (NYT)

ASIA

Cambodia: The country’s citizens voted in local elections that could shake longtime ruler Hun Sen’s grip on power. (AP)
Japan: A town in the country conducted an evacuation drill amid rising fear that a North Korean ballistic missile could hit Japanese soil. (AP)
Philippines: The country’s police identified the gunman behind an attack on a casino that killed 36 people as a heavily indebted local man addicted to gambling. (Reuters)

EUROPE

Regional: Germany’s foreign minister is seeking assurances from Turkey putting “beyond doubt” that German lawmakers can visit troops stationed at a Turkish air base. (AP)
Italy: Hundreds of Juventus soccer fans watching the Champions League final in one of Turin’s main squares were injured when loud bangs created a panic. (Reuters)
Russia: The country’s authorities say they have detained a man suspected of shooting dead eight people in a drunken dispute in a village outside Moscow. (RFE/RL)

MIDDLE EAST

Iran: Iran joined the international chorus of criticism against US President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. (AFP)
Iraq: The country’s paramilitary Hashd Shaabi units recaptured the town of al-Baaj from Islamic State militants, as part of an operation to drive out the extremist militants from areas near Iraqi-Syrian border in west of Mosul. (Xinhua)
Syria: The country’s army and allied fighters captured the last Islamic State group stronghold in the northern province of Aleppo. (Xinhua)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: US investigators are in Qatar to help probe the alleged hacking of the Gulf state’s news agency website, Arab and US law enforcement officials said. (Reuters)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 2JUN: 58,806 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 2JUN: 28,654 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 2JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
    - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
- Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
  - Cases as of 29APR: 1,952 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
    - Deaths as of 29APR: 693 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
- Zika Virus
  - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
  - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
  - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (05JUN)

Global: United Nations Conference on Oceans to be held in NYC (to 09JUN)
Global: World Environmental Day – 1972
Belarus: 26th OSCE PA session to be held in Minsk (to 09JUN)
China: Anniversary of the “Tank Man” staring down tanks in Tiananmen Square – 1989
Denmark: Constitution Day – 1849
Democratic Republic of the Congo: Anniversary of the beginning of the Six-Day War in Kisangani – 2000
Iran: Khordad Movement Anniversary holiday – 1963
Israel: Anniversary of the beginning of the Six-Day War – 1967
Jordan: Anniversary of the Great Arab Revolt – 1916
Serbia: Anniversary of Serbia’s declaration of independence from the State of Serbia and Montenegro – 2006
Seychelles: Liberation Day – 1977

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Israel’s ambassador to Senegal will return to his post after a year of diplomatic estrangement.
AMERICAS: Jailed Venezuelan opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez urged more street protests against the “tyranny” of President Nicolas Maduro.
ASIA: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China should do more on the issue of North Korea.
EUROPE: British police made several arrests in two dawn raids following the London attack claimed by the Islamic State group which left seven people dead.
MIDDLE EAST: The UN estimates 100,000 children remain in dangerous conditions in IS-held areas of Mosul, Iraq.
TECHNOLOGY: Facebook said it wants to be a “hostile environment” for terrorists after attackers killed seven people in London.

TOP STORY

Qatar: Multiple nations cut diplomatic ties, raising regional tensions.
- Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of destabilizing the region.
- They say Qatar backs militant groups including so-called Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda, which Qatar has denied.
- Qatar called the decision “unjustified” and with “no basis in fact”.
- The move marks a sharp escalation of a rift between the Persian Gulf states since late last month.
- US Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson offered to broker the impasse in hopes of preserving the Trump administration’s efforts to create broad coalitions against Iran and terrorist groups in the Middle East.
- Coverage: Al-Jazeera, AP, BBC, Guardian, NYT, WSJ

AFRICA

Region: Seven African migrants died after being locked for two days in a refrigerated truck abandoned by people smugglers on the Libyan coast. (Reuters)
Senegal: Israel’s ambassador to the country will return to his post after a year of diplomatic estrangement. (Reuters)
South Africa: President Jacob Zuma denied owning a “palace” in the United Arab Emirates, after local media reports to the contrary. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: Former Mexican state governor Roberto Borge was arrested at Mexico’s request in Panama on corruption charges. (Reuters)
Colombia: Marxist FARC rebels accused the government of “repeatedly breaking” terms of their peace deal, and threatened to delay their demobilization. (AFP)
Mexico: The country’s ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) likely won a key state election by a slim margin, according to an official preliminary projection of results that was quickly challenged by the leftist party seen in second place. (Reuters)
Venezuela: Jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez urged more street protests against the “tyranny” of President Nicolas Maduro. (AFP)

ASIA

Region: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China should do more on the issue of North Korea. (Reuters)
Australia: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis offered public reassurances to the country, despite disagreement with President Donald Trump policies. (AP)
Cambodia: PM Hun Sen said he was confident of keeping power in next year’s general election after the opposition’s gains in local elections fell short. (Reuters)
Korean Peninsula: South Korea will return four rescued North Koreans if they want to go to the North, the South’s Unification Ministry said. (Reuters)
Philippines: Opposition lawmakers asked the Supreme Court to reject President Rodrigo Duterte’s imposition of martial law in the south of the country. (AFP)

EUROPE

Region: Germany and Turkey continue to attempt to overcome an impasse over Turkey’s refusal to allow German lawmakers visit troops stationed at a Turkish air base. (AP)
Cyprus: Peace talks on divided Cyprus are to resume in Geneva this month, the UN said, ending a stalemate which threatened to derail two years of negotiations. (Reuters)
Turkey: Turkish authorities say US-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is blamed for last year’s coup, will lose his Turkish citizenship if he fails to return within three months. (AP)
United Kingdom: British police made several arrests in two dawn raids following the London attack claimed by the Islamic State group which left seven people dead. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Lawmakers from the Hamas militant group say they have not received their monthly salaries, in a move they suspect is orchestrated by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (AP)
Iran: China supports the country’s membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization security bloc, which will be discussed at the group’s summit this week. (Reuters)
Iraq: The UN estimates 100,000 children remain in dangerous conditions in IS-held areas of Mosul. (AP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: Facebook said it wants to be a “hostile environment” for terrorists after attackers killed seven people in London. (Reuters)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 02JUN: 58,806 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 02JUN: 28,654 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 02JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
    - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
- Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
  - Cases as of 04JUN: 1,980 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
    - Deaths as of 04JUN: 693 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
- Zika Virus
  - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
  - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
  - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (06JUN)

Global: US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley to address the UN Human Rights Council
Afghanistan: Afghanistan to hold an international conference on security and reconciliation
China: Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM8) and the Second Mission Innovation Ministerial (MI-2) in Beijing
France: Anniversary of the Allied Forces landing in Normandy during World War II – 1944
Iraq: Anniversary of the US air strike that killed Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi – 2007
Lebanon: Anniversary of the beginning of the Lebanon War – 1982
South Korea: Memorial Day – 1956
Sweden: National Day of Sweden – 1916
Turkey: German FM Sigmar Gabriel meet Turkish FM Mevlut Cavusoglu in Turkey to discuss German access to Incirlik military air base
United States: Anniversary of the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy – 1968

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: West African troops extended their military mission in Gambia by one year after entering the country in January to force out longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh.
AMERICAS: An intelligence contractor was charged with sending a classified report about Russia’s interference in the 2016 US election to the news media, the first criminal leak case under President Trump.
ASIA: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani invited the Taliban to peace talks, calling it their “last chance” to give up their 16-year insurgency and join the political process.
EUROPE: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said President Donald Trump asked him to rebuild the US relationship with Russia, despite ongoing political turmoil.
MIDDLE EAST: A US-backed rebel alliance says it began a battle to capture the city of Raqqa, the extremist group Islamic State’s stronghold in Syria.
TECHNOLOGY: Russian hackers attacked at least one US voting software supplier days before the US 2016 presidential election, according to a leaked government intelligence report.

TOP STORY

Qatar: Hopes for dialogue to resolve regional diplomatic crisis
- Qatar is backing plans for talks with its regional rivals as a diplomatic row gains momentum.
- Kuwait, one of the Gulf countries not involved in the dispute, has offered to mediate talks.
- Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar about resolving the dispute.
- The United Arab Emirates said Qatar would need to provide a “guaranteed roadmap” before it would consider mending ties.
- Qatari leader Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani is expected to address his nation later today.
- Al-Thani said no retaliatory measures would be taken against the Gulf countries.
- Coverage: AFP, BBC, CNN, WP

AFRICA

Region: West African troops extended their military mission in Gambia by one year after entering the country in January to force out longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh. (Reuters)
DR Congo: UN human rights chief Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said the country has until 08JUN to investigate violence in the Kasai province, or risk having an international human rights inquiry imposed. (Reuters)
Nigeria: President Muhammadu Buhari is recuperating fast and will be back home soon, his wife said after returning from Britain where he is on medical leave. (Reuters)
Zimbabwe: President Robert Mugabe called for an end to sanctions on his country so it can implement a series of global goals on sustainable development. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Colombia: The government will provide some initial funding for the Marxist FARC rebel group’s new political party, as soon as the group finishes a weapons handover. (Reuters)
Puerto Rico: The country declared the 2016 Zika epidemic over, saying transmission of the virus has fallen significantly. (Reuters)
United States: An intelligence contractor was charged with sending a classified report about Russia’s interference in the 2016 election to the news media, the first criminal leak case under President Trump. (NYT)
Venezuela: The Venezuelan opposition said several security officers abused demonstrators during anti-government protests in Caracas. (EFE)

ASIA

Region: Australia ordered an inquiry into espionage laws and foreign government interference amid growing concerns about Chinese influence. (AFP)
Region: Two US aircraft carriers left the Sea of Japan after engaging in exercises with Japanese defense vessels and fighter jets. (Kyodo)
Afghanistan: President Ashraf Ghani invited the Taliban to peace talks, calling it their “last chance” to give up their 16-year insurgency and join the political process. (AP)
Afghanistan: A rocket struck an Indian diplomatic compound in the capital, Kabul, but no one was injured in the blast. (Reuters)

EUROPE

Region: Germany will try to avoid damaging already strained relations with NATO partner Turkey during a withdrawal of German troops from the Incirlik air base. (Reuters)
Italy: Authorities in Sicily detained 15 people accused of running a migrant smuggling ring that planned to bring people with alleged links to jihadist groups into the country. (AP)
Russia: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said President Donald Trump asked him to rebuild the US relationship with the country, despite ongoing political turmoil. (AP)
United Kingdom: A new search was underway in a neighborhood near the home of two of the London Bridge attackers. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Top UN official Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein called for an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory, saying it would benefit both sides after 50 years of enmity. (Reuters)
Israel: A private security guard shot dead an Arab demonstrator during anti-police riots in the Arab town of Kfar Kassem. (AP)
Syria: A US-backed rebel alliance says it began a battle to capture the city of Raqqa, the extremist group Islamic State’s stronghold in the country. (RFE/RL)
Syria: US-led coalition airstrikes on the city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State group, have killed at least 12 people. (AP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: Russian hackers attacked at least one US voting software supplier days before the US 2016 presidential election, according to a leaked government intelligence report. (AP)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 02JUN: 58,806 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 02JUN: 28,654 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 02JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
    - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
- Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
  - Cases as of 04JUN: 1,980 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
    - Deaths as of 04JUN: 693 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
- Zika Virus
  - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
  - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
  - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (07JUN)

Global: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development ministerial meeting (to 08JUN)
Middle East: US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley to visit Israel and Palestine (to 09JUN)
Israel: Anniversary of Israeli troops entering Jerusalem during the Six Day War – 1967
Japan: Russian Senatorial delegation to visit Japan (to 10JUN)
Norway: Union Dissolution Day – 1905
Peru: Flag Day – 1880
Slovakia: Anniversary of the Memorandum of the Slovak Nation – 1861

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: France proposed the UN Security Council back a West African force to combat terrorism, drug and human trafficking by “eradicating the actions” of Islamist militants and organized crime groups in the Sahel region.
AMERICAS: Brazil’s electoral court began hearings that could topple scandal-tainted President Michel Temer.
ASIA: South Korean President Moon Jae-in suspended the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system, signaling a less friendly approach to the US agenda.
EUROPE: The EU is ready to increase support for the bloc’s first ever defense research program.
MIDDLE EAST: Russia denied allegations that Russian hackers planted a fake news story within Qatar’s state news agency, causing a split between Qatar and other Arab nations.
TECHNOLOGY: Australia will push its “Five Eyes” intelligence partners – the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand – to crack down on encrypted technology in the global fight against terrorism.

TOP STORY

Iran: Islamic State group claims first attack inside Islamic Republic.
- Attackers have opened fire at the Iranian parliament and Ayatollah Khomeini’s mausoleum in the capital, Tehran, causing a number of casualties.
- The attackers were holding a number of hostages inside the highly-fortified parliament building.
- At least seven people have been killed.
- The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, which are believed to be the terrorist group’s first major assaults within Iran’s borders.
- The Iranian Intelligence Ministry said security forces had arrested a “terrorist team” planning a third attack, without giving further details.
- Terrorist violence is rare in Iran, although analysts have said Tehran’s support for Syrian President Bashar Assad could make Iran a target for supporters of the Islamic State militant organization.
- Coverage: BBC, CNN, LAT, NYT, Reuters, WP, WSJ

AFRICA

Region: France proposed the UN Security Council back a West African force to combat terrorism, drug and human trafficking by “eradicating the actions” of Islamist militants and organized crime groups in the Sahel region. (Reuters)
Niger: A court handed opposition leader El Hadj Amadou Djibo a three-month suspended sentence for agitating for the overthrow of government. (Reuters)
Zambia: Dozens of Chinese nationals who had been held for illegal mining in the country have departed for home, China’s Foreign Ministry said. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Brazil: The country’s electoral court began hearings that could topple scandal-tainted President Michel Temer. (AFP)
Mexico: The leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) party called for a recount of 04JUN’s state of Mexico gubernatorial election. (Reuters)
Venezuela: Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez urged the country’s national guardsmen to refrain from using excessive force as they confront protesters. (AP)

ASIA

Region: Beijing dismissed a US report that predicted China would expand its global military presence, building overseas bases in countries like Pakistan. (AFP)
Afghanistan: A letter drafted by a senior Islamic State militant points to a growing power struggle within the group’s Afghan affiliate. (AP)
Australia: The country marked a world-record 26 years without a recession after official figures showed another quarter of economic expansion. (AFP)
Philippines: Filipino troops thwarted an original plan drawn up by the Islamist militants now holed up in Marawi City that would have given them full control of the town. (Reuters)
South Korea: President Moon Jae-in suspended the deployment of the THAAD missile defense system, signaling a less friendly approach to the US agenda. (NYT)

EUROPE

Region: The EU is ready to increase support for the bloc’s first ever defense research program. (Reuters)
Region: The EU slapped new security screening on imports from Bangladesh. (AP)
Region: Russian President Vladimir Putin said NATO has been constantly looking for an external enemy to justify its existence. (Xinhua)
France: The country created a new counter-terrorism task force to coordinate all intelligence services a day after attacks outside the Notre Dame cathedral. (Reuters)
United Kingdom: British police arrested a man under counter terrorism laws as part of an investigation into the London Bridge attack. (Reuters)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: The United Arab Emirates banned people from publishing expressions of sympathy towards Qatar, punishing offenders with a jail term of up to 15 years. (Al-Jazeera)
Region: Qatar said an ultimatum by Saudi Arabia and its allies for the emirate’s citizens to leave is a violation of human rights that requires UN intervention. (AFP)
Region: Russia denied allegations that Russian hackers planted a fake news story within Qatar’s state news agency, causing a split between Qatar and other Arab nations. (AP)
Syria: The US-backed campaign to capture Raqqa, Islamic State’s de-facto capital in the country, will accelerate, US envoy Brett McGurk said. (Reuters)
Syria: US-backed fighters gained ground against the Islamic State group in Raqa, a day after breaking into the jihadist’s Syrian bastion. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: Australia will push its “Five Eyes” intelligence partners – the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand – to crack down on encrypted technology in the global fight against terrorism. (Xinhua)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 02JUN: 58,806 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 02JUN: 28,654 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 02JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
    - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
- Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
  - Cases as of 04JUN: 1,980 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
    - Deaths as of 04JUN: 693 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
- Zika Virus
  - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
  - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
  - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (08JUN)

Global: World Ocean Day – 1992
Global: Anniversary of the death of Muhammed – 632
Kazakhstan: Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit to be held in Astana (to 09JUN)
United Kingdom: Parliamentary snap elections
United States: Former US FBI Director James Comey to testify before the Senate Intelligence Community

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: The DR Congo rebuffed a UN warning to launch an international probe into violence in the central Kasai province following the discovery of dozens of mass graves.
AMERICAS: Venezuelan opposition protests turned deadly when a teenager was killed at a march demanding an end to the government’s push to rewrite the nation’s constitution.
ASIA: North Korea fired four anti-ship missiles into the sea east of the Korean Peninsula, which South Korea said was intended to demonstrate its “precise targeting capability.”
EUROPE: A blast hit the premises of the US embassy in Kiev, Ukraine, but there were no casualties.
MIDDLE EAST: Kuwait stepped up efforts to mediate an end to the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and other Gulf States, in light of more detailed demands for how Qatar should end its alleged support of terrorism.
TECHNOLOGY: IT titan Microsoft and independent experts are pushing for a new global NGO tasked with the tricky job of unmasking the hackers behind cyberattacks.

TOP STORY

United Kingdom: General election voting begins amid heightened security.
- Voting in the UK general election is under way at more than 40,000 polling stations across the country amid heightened security warnings.
- The public is being asked to be alert and to report concerns to police as voters choose 650 lawmakers for the House of Commons.
- PM Theresa May called the snap election in April to boost her support in Parliament ahead of complicated negotiations to leave the EU, but polls show the race has unexpectedly tightened over the past few weeks.
- Factors such as the economy, the National Health Service and security have become the main topics for discussion.
- Whoever wins will be tasked with negotiating Britain’s departure from the EU, with formal talks due to start in little over a week.
- Coverage: Al-Jazeera, AP, BBC, CNN, WP

AFRICA

DR Congo: The country rebuffed a UN warning to launch an international probe into violence in the central Kasai province following the discovery of dozens of mass graves. (AFP)
Guinea: The country established diplomatic ties with Myanmar at the ambassadorial level. (Xinhua)
Somalia: Al Shabaab militants captured a town in the semi-autonomous Puntland region, as the group claimed it had killed at least 61 soldiers in the fighting. (Reuters)
South Africa: South African cabinet ministers are seriously concerned about leaked emails purported to show government officials were unduly influenced by business interests. (Reuters)
Zambia: Opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema will go on trial at a high court on treason charges, following a contested election last year. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: The US formally requested Guatemala to extradite former Guatemalan VP Roxana Baldetti on drug trafficking charges. (AP)
Region: Guatemala received a formal extradition request from Mexico for former Veracruz state Governor Javier Duarte. (Reuters)
Colombia: Marxist FARC rebels said they have handed over 30 percent of their weapons to UN officials as part of a peace deal. (AFP)
Venezuela: Opposition protests turned deadly when a teenager was killed at a march demanding an end to the government’s push to rewrite the nation’s constitution. (AP)

ASIA

Region: South Korea, Japan and China agreed to strengthen cooperation for environmental protection and scientific research in the Arctic. (Yonhap)
Region: Six suspected militants and an army soldier were killed in gunbattles in the disputed region of Kashmir between India and Pakistan. (AP)
Korean Peninsula: North Korea fired four anti-ship missiles into the sea east of the Korean Peninsula, which South Korea said was intended to demonstrate its “precise targeting capability.” (CNN)
Myanmar: Searchers found bodies and debris from a military transport plane that disappeared with 122 people, with no word of survivors. (NYT)

EUROPE

Region: The EU wants to expedite law enforcement requests for electronic evidence directly from tech companies, such as Facebook Inc and Alphabet Inc’s Google, even when stored in another European country. (Reuters)
Region: Lithuania warned a Russian military exercise later this year may serve as cover for an aggressive troop buildup on NATO’s eastern flank. (AFP)
Ukraine: A blast hit the premises of the US embassy in Kiev but there were no casualties. (AFP)
United Kingdom: London police arrested six in terrorism-related investigations, including three in connection with the London Bridge attack. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Kuwait stepped up efforts to mediate an end to the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and other Gulf States, in light of more detailed demands for how Qatar should end its alleged support of terrorism. (Guardian)
Iran: Police increased their patrols in the streets and subway stations of Tehran, a day after a pair of Islamic State-claimed attacks. (AP)
Iran: The country called the White House statement about the Tehran terrorist attack “repugnant” after it linked the assault to what it called Iran’s support for terror. (WP)
Iraq: The UN reported a “significant escalation” in civilians deaths at the hands of the Islamic State group in the battle for Mosul. (Reuters)
Syria: Russia, Turkey and Iran postponed a planned round of peace talks in Kazakhstan, which Moscow proposed to hold on 12-13JUN. (Reuters)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: IT titan Microsoft and independent experts are pushing for a new global NGO tasked with the tricky job of unmasking the hackers behind cyberattacks. (AFP)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 02JUN: 58,806 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 02JUN: 28,654 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 02JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
    - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
- Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
  - Cases as of 07JUN: 1,980 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
    - Deaths as of 07JUN: 699 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
- Zika Virus
  - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
  - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
  - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (09JUN)

Israel: Anniversary of Israel seizing the Golan Heights from Syria in the Six Day War – 1967
Jordan: Anniversary of the Ascension of King Abdullah II – 1999
Kosovo: Anniversary of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and NATO signed the Kumanovo Agreement -1999

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: In Somalia, President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo promised the Somali military would retaliate and avenge al Shabaab’s attack on a military base in the Puntland region that left at least 38 people dead.
AMERICAS: The National Liberation Army rebel group insisted it wanted a “bilateral ceasefire” with the Colombian government, as violence flared up in the northwestern Choco region.
ASIA: The Japanese parliament passed a law allowing Emperor Akihito to become Japan’s first monarch to abdicate in 200 years.
EUROPE: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on the US is “no longer interested in guaranteeing Europe’s security,” supporting the push for more defense and security cooperation on its own.
MIDDLE EAST: Qatar rejected allegations of supporting individuals and groups blacklisted as “terrorists” by a bloc of Arab neighbors amid a major diplomatic falling out.
TECHNOLOGY: The Philippine military asked Facebook to close dozens of accounts linked to Islamist militants, saying they were being used for propaganda.

TOP STORY

United Kingdom: PM May’s Conservative Party loses parliament majority.
- British PM Theresa May’s bet that she could strengthen her grip on power by calling an early election backfired spectacularly, with her Conservative Party losing its parliamentary majority.
- With most results declared, May’s party won the most seats — but not enough to govern without the support of minority parties.
- The Tories are set to get 319, Labour 261, the SNP 35 and the Lib Dems 12, as an overall majority requires 326 seats.
- May hinted her Conservative Party would try to form a government even if it did not have a majority, arguing that Britain needed “a period of stability.”
- European diplomats and politicians fear hung parliament and weak PM are ‘disaster’ that threaten Brexit negotiations.
- In wake of the election results, the pound lost more than 2 cents against the dollar.
- May is believed to have struck a deal, but not a formal coalition agreement, with the Democratic Unionist Party which will narrowly give her the numbers she needs to pass legislation in the House of Commons.
- Coverage: AP, BBC, CNN, Guardian, NYT, Telegraph, WP

AFRICA

DR Congo: UN human rights official Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein called an international investigation into massacres and other crimes committed in Kasai province where at least 42 mass graves have been found. (Reuters)
Lesotho: PM Pakalitha Mosisili conceded defeat in a parliamentary election to his opponent, Thomas Thabane. (Reuters)
Somalia: President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo promised the Somali military would retaliate and avenge al Shabaab’s attack on a military base in the Puntland region that left at least 38 people dead. (Reuters)
South Sudan: Rebel troops claimed responsibility for an ambush on a convoy of buses and other vehicles that killed at least 14 people. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Colombia: The National Liberation Army rebel group insisted it wanted a “bilateral ceasefire” with the government, as violence flared up in the northwestern Choco region. (Xinhua)
Colombia: Unknown attackers fatally shot human rights activist Bernardo Cuero in northern Malambo. (AFP)
United States: Two naturalized Americans were arrested, accused of operating on behalf of Shiite militant group Hezbollah in the US, Panama and Thailand. (AFP)

ASIA

Region: China said it was maintaining alerts and monitoring US military activities in the South China Sea, after US bomber training flights over the waters. (Reuters)
Region: China and Pakistan said they are investigating the Islamic State group’s claim that two Chinese teachers kidnapped in Pakistan have been killed. (AP)
Japan: The Japanese parliament passed a law allowing Emperor Akihito to become the country’s first monarch to abdicate in 200 years. (AP)
Myanmar: The tally of retrieved bodies rose to 31 as the hunt for a missing Myanmar military transport plane stretched into a third day. (Reuters)
North Korea: The country said it tested a new type of cruise missile that is a powerful means of attacking enemy warships. (AP)

EUROPE

Region: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on the US is “no longer interested in guaranteeing Europe’s security,” supporting the push for more defense and security cooperation on its own. (Reuters)
Region: NATO welcomes the EU’s initiative for a European defense fund as it will help to strengthen the military alliance, NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller said. (Reuters)
Spain: Catalonia will hold a referendum on splitting from the country on 01OCT, setting the stage for several month of heightened confrontation. (Reuters)
Sweden: Three men with links to a right-wing extremist group have been charged with attempted murder and endangering the public in connection with recent attacks targeting newly arrived migrants and a left-wing group. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Qatar rejected allegations of supporting individuals and groups blacklisted as “terrorists” by a bloc of Arab neighbors amid a major diplomatic falling out. (Al-Jazeera)
Iran: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the Islamic State-claimed dual attacks in Tehran will add to the hatred that Iranians harbor toward the US and Saudi Arabia. (AP)
Iran: Iranian authorities arrested two suspects linked to attacks in Tehran this week that killed 17 people. (Reuters)
Iraq: A suicide bomber detonated his explosive belt in a market east of the Shi’ite holy city of Kerbala, killing at least 20 and wounding 25. (Reuters)
Syria: Three new cases of polio have been recorded in the first outbreak of the virus in the country since 2014, the World Health Organization said. (AFP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Communications: The Philippine military asked Facebook to close dozens of accounts linked to Islamist militants, saying they were being used for propaganda. (AFP)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 02JUN: 58,806 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 02JUN: 28,654 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 02JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
    - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
- Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
  - Cases as of 07JUN: 1,980 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
    - Deaths as of 07JUN: 699 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
- Zika Virus
  - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
  - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
  - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (10JUN)

Middle East: Anniversary of the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire – 1916
Israel: Anniversary of the end of the Six Day War – 1967
Jordan: Army Day – 1916
Kazakhstan: EXPO Astana 2017 (to 10SEP17)
Portugal: Portugal Day – 1974

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Ethiopia’s government warned it will run out of emergency food aid starting next month.
AMERICAS: Voting kicked off in the first round of France’s parliamentary elections in Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and other French territories in the Americas.
ASIA: US forces are providing the Phillipines with technical assistance to end a siege of the southern town of Marawi by militants allied to the Islamic State group.
EUROPE: Countries across Europe have opened their doors to gay Chechen refugees on the grounds that they have been persecuted because of their sexual orientation.
MIDDLE EAST: Islamic State militant group’s propaganda has been hard hit by killings and battlefield setbacks.
TECHNOLOGY: China’s popular social media app WeChat has launched a new feature that warns users if a news item circulating on its accounts is false.

TOP STORY

Philippines: 13 Marines killed during Friday’s battle with militants
- Thirteen Philippine marines were killed in the battle for Marawi city, a setback in the government’s quest to retake the town from militants allied to Islamic State.
- Media reports said more than 40 have been wounded in the clash.
- It was believed to be the deadliest single-day toll for military forces battling Islamist militants from the Abu Sayyaf and Maute groups.
- Philippine troops have been battling to clear Marawi since May 23 but the insurgents have broken up into small groups and have proved elusive.
- The militants have used bomb-proof tunnels, anti-tank weapons and human shields to fortify their positions.
- The deaths take the number of security force members killed to 58, with 20 civilians and more than a hundred rebel fighters also killed in Marawi.
- Coverage: AFP, Al Jazeera, AP, NYT, Reuters, Xinhua

AFRICA

Ethiopia: The country’s government warned it will run out of emergency food aid starting next month. (AP)
Cameroon: Three girls recruited as suicide bombers were killed in Cameroon. (DPA)
Morocco: Protesters clashed with the country’s security forces in Al-Hoceima after more than a week of protests in the northern province. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Regional: Voting kicked off in the first round of France’s parliamentary elections in Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and other French territories in the Americas. (DPA)
Mexico: President Enrique Peña Nieto called for the defense of free trade, democracy and environmental protections during an appearance with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (LAT)
Venezuela: The country’s Vice President said investigations show the death of anti-government protester Neomar Lander “was planned.” (Xinhua)

ASIA

Afghanistan: Three civilians were killed and nine others wounded in a shooting at a mosque in the country’s eastern province of Paktia. (Xinhua)
Myanmar: The country’s navy ships battled high winds as they scoured the Andaman sea for wreckage from a military plane crash, bringing another body to shore as scores remained missing. (AFP)
Philippines: US forces are providing the country with technical assistance to end a siege of the southern town of Marawi by militants allied to Islamic State. (Reuters)
Thailand: The country’s parliamentary body votes to set up a new election commission. (Xinhua)

EUROPE

Regional: Countries across Europe have begun opened their doors to gay Chechen refugees on the grounds that they have been persecuted because of their sexual orientation. (NYT)
Finland: The eurosceptic Finns party will elect a new chairman in a vote that may toughen their nationalist policy line. (Reuters)
Kosovo: The country’s citizens vote to choose the new 120-seat parliament that will face some seemingly intractable problems. (AP)
Spain: Civil servants in Catalonia may not know which way to turn if the Spanish region holds an independence referendum that Madrid deems illegal. (AFP)

MIDDLE EAST

Regional: Islamic State militant group’s propaganda has been hard hit by killings and battlefield setbacks. (AP)
Iran: Authorities have arrested seven people suspected of helping militants involved in the attacks this week in Tehran. (Reuters)
Iraq: Up to 14 people were killed when a group of Islamic State (IS) militants attacked a village in Iraq’s northern central province of Salahudin. (Xinhua)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: China’s popular social media app WeChat has launched a new feature that warns users if a news item circulating on its accounts is false. (EFE)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 09JUN: 58,926 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 09JUN: 28,699 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 09JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
      - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
  - Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
    - Cases as of 07JUN: 1,980 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
      - Deaths as of 07JUN: 699 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
  - Zika Virus
    - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
    - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
    - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (11JUN)

France: First round of parliamentary elections
Kosovo: Parliamentary elections
Mexico: Anniversary of student protests and massacre in Mexico City – 1971

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Farmers and fishermen displaced by Boko Haram violence in the northeast of Nigeria want to return home, saying it will help ease chronic food shortages for the remote region’s starving millions.
AMERICAS: Puerto Rico’s citizens head to the polls to decide whether they want to become the 51st US state.
ASIA: Australia is to build its first prison aimed at isolating militants and stopping the spread of radical beliefs through the prison system as part of efforts to eliminate terrorism.
EUROPE: Two former Serbian intelligence chiefs go back on trial before UN judges on Tuesday, accused of running death squads which terrorised Bosnia and Croatia in the 1990s Balkans wars.
MIDDLE EAST: Nationals of countries that cut diplomatic ties with Qatar this week are free to remain in the Gulf state in line with existing regulations.
TECHNOLOGY: An anti-terrorism court in central Pakistan sentenced a man to death for posting blasphemous content on social media.

TOP STORY

Gulf nations may let some Qataris stay amid diplomatic rift
- Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have signaled they may allow some Qataris to stay in their countries amid a diplomatic rift with the Gulf nation.
- They also announced hotlines to help families with Qatari members.
- However, the three countries’ news agencies did not make clear what services the hotline would provide.
- The three Gulf nations originally cut ties to Qatar on June 5 over its alleged support of militants and ties to Iran and ordered all Qataris out within 14 days, while calling their own citizens back.
- Coverage: Al Jazeera, AP, Reuters

AFRICA

Namibia: Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, a nationalist leader who fought a long and dogged campaign for the country’s independence died on Friday in the country’s capital, Windhoek. (NYT)
Nigeria: Farmers and fishermen displaced by Boko Haram violence in the northeast of the country want to return home, saying it will help ease chronic food shortages for the remote region’s starving millions. (AFP)
Senegal: The country’s authorities have detained seven Chinese trawling vessels for illegally fishing in its waters. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Puerto Rico: The territory’s citizens head to the polls to decide whether they want to become the 51st US state. (Reuters)
United States: Attorney General Jeff Sessions will appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, less than a week after that panel heard testimony from former FBI Director James Comey. (ABC)
Venezuela: More than 55,000 of the country’s citizens have signed up to compete for seats in the National Constituent Assembly convoked by President Nicolas Maduro to rewrite the country’s constitution. (Xinhua)

ASIA

Australia: The country is to build its first prison aimed at isolating militants and stopping the spread of radical beliefs through the prison system as part of efforts to eliminate terrorism. (Reuters)
China: Hundreds of demonstrators marched through a shopping district in Shanghai protesting against changes to housing regulations, in a rare show of public dissent in the financial hub. (Reuters)
Sri Lanka: The country’s police arrested a key figure from an extremist Buddhist organization blamed for a series of hate crimes against Muslims that has drawn international censure. (AFP)

EUROPE

Regional: Two former Serbian intelligence chiefs go back on trial before UN judges on Tuesday, accused of running death squads which terrorised Bosnia and Croatia in the 1990s Balkans wars. (AFP)
France: Polling stations opened in the country for the first round of parliamentary elections with President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party hoping to secure a clear majority. (AFP)
Kosovo: Voters in the country are going to the polls in snap elections called last month after Prime Minister Isa Mustafa lost a confidence vote. (BBC)

MIDDLE EAST

Regional: Iran has sent five planes of food to Qatar days after Gulf countries cut off air and other transport links to the emirate. (AFP)
Iran: The country’s authorities said they have arrested six people involved in a twin attack on Tehran in which 17 people were killed last week. (Reuters)
Qatar: Nationals of countries that cut diplomatic ties with country this week are free to remain in the Gulf state in line with existing regulations. (Reuters)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: An anti-terrorism court in central Pakistan sentenced a man to death for posting blasphemous content on social media. (VOA)

WORLD

Cyclones: Tropical Depression Four
- 254 NM NW of Manila, Philippines
- Winds: 30 mph
- Movement: NW at 9 mph
- Map
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 09JUN: 58,926 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 09JUN: 28,699 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 09JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
      - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
  - Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
    - Cases as of 07JUN: 1,980 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
      - Deaths as of 07JUN: 699 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
  - Zika Virus
    - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
    - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
    - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (12JUN)

Global: World Day Against Child Labor – 2002
Global: IAEA board of governors to meet in Vienna (to 16JUN)
Finland: Helsinki Day – 1959
Germany: Anniversary of Ronald Reagan’s “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall” speech
Kosovo: Anniversary of the beginning of Operation Joint Guardian, where UN Peacekeeping forces entered Kosovo – 1999
Paraguay: Chaco Armistice Day – 2009
Philippines: Independence Day – 1898
South Africa: Anniversary of the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela – 1964
Syria: New round of Syria talks in Astana
Russia: Russia Day – 1992

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Kenya seized six men suspected of planning an attack sponsored by the al Shabaab militant group from neighboring Somalia.
AMERICAS: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said he would ask Pope Francis to persuade opponents that children should not participate in violent protests.
ASIA: Filipino forces and officials marked the Philippines’ Independence Day by raising the Philippine flag in the besieged city of Marawi, symbolizing the reclaiming of city hall and other areas by government forces.
EUROPE: Thousands of supporters of opposition politician Alexei Navalny protested across Russia, with several arrested as police warned organizers against holding an unauthorized rally in Moscow, including Navalny himself.
MIDDLE EAST: Qatar has begun shipping cargo through to Oman to bypass Gulf countries that have cut off sea routes to the tiny, energy rich nation.
TECHNOLOGY: University of Washington researchers developed a new system called SeaGlass that can indicate where and when cell phone surveillance devices are being used.

TOP STORY

Puerto Rico: Low voter turnout supports US statehood.
- Puerto Rico’s governor is vowing to turn the US territory into the 51st state after statehood won in a non-binding referendum hit by a boycott and low turnout that raised questions about the vote’s legitimacy.
- Ninety-seven percent of the votes favored statehood but voter participation was just 23%.
- Opposition parties who prefer independence or remaining a territory boycotted the special election, which they considered rigged in favor of statehood.
- The vote came a few weeks after Puerto Rico declared a form of bankruptcy in the face of USD 74B in debt and USD 49B in pension obligations it cannot pay.
- Governor Ricardo Rossello campaigned for statehood as the best avenue to boost future growth for the island.
- Coverage: AP, CNN, NYT, Reuters

AFRICA

Region: Kenya seized six men suspected of planning an attack sponsored by the al Shabaab militant group from neighboring Somalia. (Reuters)
Morocco: Thousands of Moroccans, led by an Islamist movement, rallied in the capital Rabat in a show of support for protests against corruption and official abuses. (Reuters)
Namibia: The country is planning a state funeral for Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo, an independence leader who was jailed alongside Nelson Mandela. (AP)

AMERICAS

Region: The US House of Representatives spending panel will vote on a USD 192.5B budget bill that includes permanent housing facilities for US military personnel at the Guantanamo Bay detention center. (Reuters)
Mexico: The country’s leftist National Regeneration Movement will not align with other traditional political parties in the run-up to the 2018 presidential elections. (Reuters)
United States: Attorneys general for the District of Columbia and the state of Maryland will sue President Trump, alleging he has violated anti-corruption clauses in the Constitution. (WP)
Venezuela: President Nicolas Maduro said he would ask Pope Francis to persuade opponents that children should not participate in violent protests. (Reuters)

ASIA

Region: Lawmakers in Taiwan launched a new group to help promote democracy in Hong Kong, a move likely to rile China. (AFP)
Region: Japan is seeking to increase its sales of military equipment to Southeast Asian nations amid growing tensions with China and North Korea. (AP)
Afghanistan: Afghan police arrested Qari Mohammad Allah, the Taliban plotter of a spate of suicide attacks in Kabul. (Xinhua)
Philippines: Filipino forces and officials marked the country’s Independence Day by raising the Philippine flag in the besieged city of Marawi, symbolizing the reclaiming of city hall and other areas by government forces. (AP)
Singapore: The country detained the first woman citizen suspected of trying to join Islamic State and to find a militant husband in Syria. (Reuters)

EUROPE

Germany: German authorities arrested four Syrian brothers on terrorism charges for allegedly fighting for an extremist group in their homeland five years ago. (AP)
Kosovo: Nearly complete national election results show a coalition of former ethnic Albanian leaders from the war of independence from Serbia is leading with a third of the vote. (AP)
Russia: Thousands of supporters of opposition politician Alexei Navalny protested across the country, with several arrested as police warned organizers against holding an unauthorized rally in Moscow, including Navalny himself. (AFP)
United Kingdom: London police arrested a 19-year-old man in their investigation of the London Bridge terrorist attack. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Qatar has begun shipping cargo through to Oman to bypass Gulf countries that have cut off sea routes to the tiny, energy rich nation. (AP)
Saudi Arabia: A Saudi soldier was killed and two security force members were wounded when an explosive device went off during a patrol in the eastern Qatif province. (Reuters)
Syria: The Syrian army and Iran-backed militia forces escalated attacks against a rebel-held part of the city of Deraa. (Reuters)
Yemen: Suspected al Qaeda militants launched a car-bomb and gun attack on an army camp near the town of Baddah, killing at least 10 militants and two soldiers. (Reuters)
Yemen: A multinational coalition of navies says it will step up patrols in waters around the country after several attacks there, including those launched by Somali pirates and others blamed on Yemeni rebel forces. (AP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: University of Washington researchers developed a new system called SeaGlass that can indicate where and when cell phone surveillance devices are being used. (Xinhua)

WORLD

Cyclones: Tropical Storm Merbok
- Location: 122 NM SSE of Hong Kong
- Winds: 45 mph
- Movement: NNW at 12 mph
- Map
Hurricanes: Tropical Depression Three-E
- Location: 70 NM SSE of Salina Cruz, Mexico
- Wind: 35 mph
- Movement: NNW at 5 mph
- Map
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 02JUN: 58,926 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 02JUN: 28,699 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 02JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
      - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
  - Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
    - Cases as of 07JUN: 1,980 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
      - Deaths as of 07JUN: 699 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
  - Zika Virus
    - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
    - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
    - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (13JUN)

Asia: International Conference on Regional Integration and Economic Resilience in Seoul
Europe: Germany and France to hold bilateral ministerial meetings
Korea: US Under Secretary of State Thomas Shannon to visit Korea (to 15JUN)
Iraq: Anniversary of a series of bombings across Iraq that killed 93 and wounded over 300 – 2012
United States: Anniversary of the New York Times’ beginning publication of the Pentagon Papers – 1971

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: A drop in global cocoa prices threatens to undermine efforts to stamp out child labor in Ghana and Ivory Coast.
AMERICAS: Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli was arrested in Florida and faces possible extradition back to Panama.
ASIA: A suspected US drone strike killed Abu Bakar, the commander of the Haqqani network in Pakistan.
EUROPE: France launched a judicial inquiry into the Syrian activities of French-Swiss cement and construction giant LafargeHolcim and possible “financing of a terrorist enterprise” and “endangering lives.”
MIDDLE EAST: The blockade against Qatar by Gulf states was a “very complex situation” and an area where common ground had to be found, US defense secretary Jim Mattis said.
TECHNOLOGY: Britain and France will join forces to tackle online extremism, PM Theresa May will say on her first foreign trip since the UK parliamentary election.

TOP STORY

China-Taiwan: Ties worsen as Beijing lures Panama away from Taipei.
- Panama established diplomatic ties with China and broke with Taiwan in a major victory for Beijing.
- A joint statement said Panama and China recognized each other, in addition to establishing ambassadorial-level relations the same day and Taiwan as an “inalienable part of China’s territory.”
- Taiwan expressed “anger and regret”, and accused Panama of “bullying”.
- Only 19 countries and the Vatican now recognize Taiwan.
- The past year has seen China ratcheting up the diplomatic pressure on Taiwan, barring its representatives from attending the World Health Organization’s annual conference and other international gatherings.
- Coverage: AP, BBC, Guardian, NYT, Reuters

AFRICA

Region: A drop in global cocoa prices threatens to undermine efforts to stamp out child labor in Ghana and Ivory Coast. (Reuters)
Egypt: The government has banned scores of news websites in a growing censorship crackdown. (Reuters)
Nigeria: The country’s anti-corruption agency is investigating Yakubu Dogara, the speaker of the lower chamber of parliament. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: Former Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli was arrested in Florida and faces possible extradition back to Panama. (BBC)
Argentina: Jorge Faurie was named as new minister of foreign affairs, as he pledged to provide “continuity” in his management of the role. (Xinhua)
Venezuela: The deadly unrest in the country could lead to “a blood bath” and spark a major refugee crisis, Peru’s President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski warned. (Al Jazeera)

ASIA

Indonesia: The Islamic State militant group has a presence in nearly all provinces across the country, military chief General Gatot Nurmantyo said. (Reuters)
Korean Peninsula: President Moon Jae-in asked the combined South Korean-US forces to maintain their strong defense posture to fend off North Korea’s nuclear and missile provocations. (Yonhap)
Korean Peninsula: A suspected North Korean drone photographed an advanced US anti-missile battery in South Korea before it crashed on its way home, the South Korean military said. (Reuters)
Pakistan: A suspected US drone strike killed Abu Bakar, the commander of the Haqqani network in the country. (DPA)
Philippines: The country’s military said Islamist militants hold 20 percent of the Marawi City, disputing an earlier claim by the Islamic State group. (Reuters)

EUROPE

Region: Hungary handed over to German authorities Horst Mahler, a neo-Nazi who fled Germany to avoid a prison sentence for Holocaust denial and anti-Semitic incitement. (AP)
France: The country launched a judicial inquiry into the Syrian activities of French-Swiss cement and construction giant LafargeHolcim and possible “financing of a terrorist enterprise” and “endangering lives.” (AFP)
Germany: A German policewoman was shot in the head when a man grabbed a police gun at a suburban station in Munich – an incident police said was not terrorism. (BBC)
Spain: Spanish lawmakers began debating a motion of no confidence against conservative PM Mariano Rajoy, citing a large number of corruption scandals involving his ruling Popular Party. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: The blockade against Qatar by Gulf states was a “very complex situation” and an area where common ground had to be found, US defense secretary Jim Mattis said. (Al Jazeera)
Region: Countries behind the economic sanctions on Qatar – Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, and others – demanded the closure of Al Jazeera – a charge Qatar rejected outright. (Al Jazeera)
Iran: European foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said she was confident the US would stick to the 2015 nuclear deal with the country, as the deal is working. (Reuters)
Syria: Human Rights Watch urged the US-led coalition make the protection of civilians a top priority in its campaign to retake Raqqa from the Islamic State group. (AP)
Syria: A new round of peace talks in Kazakhstan is likely to be held in early July, Russian Deputy FM Mikhail Bogdanov said. (Reuters)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: Britain and France will join forces to tackle online extremism, PM Theresa May will say on her first foreign trip since the UK parliamentary election. (Reuters)

WORLD

Cyclones: Tropical Storm Merbok
- Location: 47 NM NNE of Hong Kong
- Winds: 45 mph
- Movement: N at 10 mph
- Map
Hurricanes: Tropical Storm Calvin
- Location: 40 NM WSW of Salina Cruz, Mexico
- Wind: 40 mph
- Movement: NW at 5 mph
- Map
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 02JUN: 58,926 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 02JUN: 28,699 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 02JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
      - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
  - Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
    - Cases as of 07JUN: 1,980 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
      - Deaths as of 07JUN: 699 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
  - Zika Virus
    - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
    - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
    - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (14JUN)

Global: World Blood Donor Day – 2004
Argentina: Anniversary of the end of the Falklands war – 1982
Egypt: Anniversary of Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court rules to dissolve the lower house of parliament – 2012
Malawi: Freedom Day – 1994
United States: Flag Day – 1949

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Qatar pulled all its troops from the border of Djibouti and Eritrea, two nations who have a long-running dispute over the territory.
AMERICAS: The remaining Central American allies of Taiwan deflected the question of whether they could follow Panama in switching diplomatic allegiance to China.
ASIA: Armed US troops are on the ground near Marawi City, but are not involved in fighting Islamist militants, a Philippines military spokesman said.
EUROPE: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said legal action will be launched against the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland for failing to honor their pledges to accommodate refugees.
MIDDLE EAST: Human Rights Watch says the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq is endangering civilians by using artillery-delivered white phosphorous.
TECHNOLOGY: The US blamed North Korea for a number of cyber attacks stretching back to 2009 and warned more were likely.

TOP STORY

United Kingdom: Fire in West London kills several
- Several people have died and more than 50 people are in hospital after a huge fire engulfed a west London tower block.
- Witnesses described people leaping from Grenfell Tower in North Kensington, and of trapped children banging on windows as the blaze took hold.
- The fire, which was believed to have begun on one of the lower floors of the 120-unit public-housing building, was still burning as of 10 am in London, some nine hours after it began.
- The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
- A website run by the “Grenfell Action Group” said residents of the tower had expressed concerns over the safety of the building, specifically pointing to fire risks.
- Coverage: BBC, CNN, FT, WP, Guardian

AFRICA

Region: Qatar pulled all its troops from the border of Djibouti and Eritrea, two nations who have a long-running dispute over the territory. (AP)
Libya: The country’s UN-backed deputy FM Ahmad Maiteeg met here with Martin Kobler, the head of the UN support mission, to discuss solutions to the Libyan crisis. (Xinhua)
Zambia: The country’s parliament suspended 48 opposition lawmakers for boycotting a speech by the president, widening a political rift that has alarmed rights groups. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: The remaining Central American allies of Taiwan deflected the question of whether they could follow Panama in switching diplomatic allegiance to China. (Reuters)
Brazil: Former Rio de Janeiro state Gov. Sergio Cabral was sentenced to 14 years and two months in prison for corruption and money laundering in connection with a billion-dollar corruption investigation known as Lava Jato, or Car Wash. (LAT)
Colombia: The FARC rebel group disarmament reached nearly 60 percent, as agreed late last year with the government of President Juan Manuel Santos. (Reuters)

ASIA

Region: Nearly 2,000 detained asylum seekers in Papua New Guinea will receive USD 53M in a settlement with Australia. (Reuters)
Region: Japan will begin military drills amid multiple missile launches by North Korea in recent weeks, the Japanese Defense Ministry announced. (EFE)
Afghanistan: A suicide bomber targeted a checkpoint run by rival insurgents in the southern Helmand province, killing nine of them. (AP)
North Korea: The country said it is willing to respond to suggestions of any dialogue and cooperation on the humanitarian front. (Yonhap)
Philippines: Armed US troops are on the ground near Marawi City, but are not involved in fighting Islamist militants, a Philippines military spokesman said. (Reuters)

EUROPE

Region: European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said legal action will be launched against the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland for failing to honor their pledges to accommodate refugees. (AP)
Finland: The Finnish Security Intelligence Service raised its threat level, saying it had become aware of more serious terrorism-related plans in the country. (Reuters)
Russia: Several people were detained outside the Russian parliament at an impromptu protest against a plan to tear down Soviet-era apartments and relocate 1.6 million people. (AP)
United Kingdom: Talks between Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party and PM Theresa May’s Conservatives on supporting the British leader’s minority government restarted. (Reuters)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Human Rights Watch says the US-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq is endangering civilians by using artillery-delivered white phosphorous. (AP)
Region: Israeli officials denied claims by US State Secretary Rex Tillerson that the Palestinian National Authority agreed to freeze payments to the families of slain attackers. (Xinhua)
Bahrain: The Pearl roundabout, the focal point of the island kingdom’s 2011 Arab Spring protests, reopened to traffic after being guarded by security forces for years. (AP)
Bahrain: Prominent human rights lawyer Issa Faraj Arhama al-Burshaid was arrested after launching a lawsuit against the government over its restrictions imposed on Qatar. (Al Jazeera)
Yemen: The country’s Shiite Houthi rebels said they fired a missile at a Saudi-led coalition warship off Mokha coast in the Red Sea. (Xinhua)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: The US blamed North Korea for a raft of cyber attacks stretching back to 2009 and warned more were likely. (Reuters)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquakes: 3km S of San Pablo, Guatemala
- Magnitude: 7.0
- Depth: 98.0 km
- Map
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 02JUN: 58,926 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 02JUN: 28,699 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 02JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
      - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
  - Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
    - Cases as of 13JUN: 2,015 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
      - Deaths as of 13JUN: 703 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
  - Zika Virus
    - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
    - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
    - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (15JUN)

Global: Second round of talks on treaty to abolish nuclear weapons to be held in New York (to 07JUL)
Global: World Elder Abuse Day – 2006
Azerbaijan: National Salvation Day – 1993
Korean Peninsula: Anniversary of the North-South Joint Declaration adopted between leaders of North and South Korea; joint celebrations have been proposed by North Korea for this year – 2000

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Ethiopia registered an additional 54,107 refugees from January to May 2017, with most being Eritreans, South Sudanese, and Sudanese.
AMERICAS: Thousands of people in Venezuela participated in a religious demonstration to pray for peace and pay tribute to those who have died in the recent wave of protests.
ASIA: Fresh landslides in Bangladesh killed four people and sent hundreds fleeing, just days after the worst mudslides on record left more than 150 dead.
EUROPE: The EU activated civil protection efforts to help Portugal fight forest fires that have killed dozens.
MIDDLE EAST: 25 people were killed when a Saudi-led coalition warplane struck a popular market in northern province of Saada in Yemen.
COMMUNICATIONS: Venezuela’s President Maduro called Twitter an “expression of fascism,” after the accounts of some in his government were suspended.

TOP STORY

Portugal: The country continues to fight forest fires, as the death toll rises
- At least 58 people have died, and 60 more are reported injured, so far. Many of the dead perished in their cars, as they tried to flee the flames.
- Sixty forest fires rage across Portugal amid a severe heatwave on the Iberian peninsula.
- It is not yet known what caused the fires, but at least one was reportedly caused by a “dry thunderstorm,” which occurs when the rain water evaporates before reaching the ground.
- Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blazes, and the EU has activated civil protection efforts to help Lisbon. Spain sent firefighting aircraft.
- Prime Minister Antonio Costa called the crisis “the greatest tragedy we have seen in recent years.”
- Coverage: Guardian, AFP, AP-1, AP-2, Reuters, BBC, FT

AFRICA

Region: Heavy rains and flooding claimed at least 27 lives in Niger and the Ivory Coast. (DPA)
DR Congo: A soldier and 12 militants were killed in clashes in the restive eastern North-Kivu province. (AFP)
Ethiopia: The country registered an additional 54,107 refugees from January to May 2017, with most being Eritreans, South Sudanese, and Sudanese. (XIN)

AMERICAS

Region: Russia criticized the US for what it called an “anti-Cuban” approach, and said it sides with Havana. (REU)
Colombia: At least three people were killed and 11 injured in a bomb blast at a popular shopping centre in Bogota. (BBC)
Venezuela: Thousands of people participated in a religious demonstration to pray for peace and pay tribute to those who have died in the recent wave of protests. (EFE)

ASIA

Region: The bodies of seven US sailors who were reported missing after their destroyer collided with a cargo ship off the coast of Japan were found in the ship’s flooded compartments. (AP)
Afghanistan: Dozens of people were killed or wounded when as many as five suicide bombers attacked a police headquarters in Paktia province. (REU)
Bangladesh: Fresh landslides killed four people and sent hundreds fleeing, just days after the worst mudslides on record left more than 150 dead. (AFP)
India: One civilian was killed and dozens of police injured in clashes between police and protesters in Darjeeling. (AFP)

EUROPE

Region: British Brexit minister David Davis heads to Brussels to open divorce talks with the EU on Monday, with a message that there should be “no doubt — we are leaving the EU.” (REU)
Spain: Protesters rallied in Madrid to urge their government to fulfill its pledge to give shelter to refugees from war-torn countries like Syria. (AP)
United Kingdom: The government plans to extend parliament’s session from one to two years, in order to allow time for Brexit legislation to be scrutinized. (REU)

MIDDLE EAST

Iraq: The country’s security forces started storming the IS-held Old City, the last district in Mosul still under control of the militants. (REU)
Syria: A driver was wounded when the aid convoy they were part of came under fire in the Eastern Ghouta region. (AFP)
Syria: Russia said airstrikes carried out this month killed about 180 IS jihadists, including two field commanders.(AFP)
Yemen: 25 people were killed when a Saudi-led coalition warplane struck a popular market in northern province of Saada. (XIN)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Communications: Venezuela’s President Maduro called Twitter an “expression of fascism,” after the accounts of some in his government were suspended. (REU)
Communications: The Twitter account of Al Jazeera’s Arabic channel was briefly suspended due to what the network called “an organized campaign” to bombard the platform with complaints about the content of its posts. (BBC)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquake: South of the Fiji Islands
- Magnitude: 6.1
- Depth: 518.2 km
- Map
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 16JUN: 59,443 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 16JUN: 28,780 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 16JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
      - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
  - Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
    - Cases as of 13JUN: 2,015 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
      - Deaths as of 13JUN: 703 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
  - Zika Virus
    - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
    - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
    - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (19JUN)

Europe: EU leaders expect for Brexit negotiations to begin
Hungary: Day of the Independent Hungary – 1991
Iraq: Anniversary of the al-Khilani Mosque bombing in Baghdad that left 78 people dead and another 218 injured – 2007
Kuwait: Anniversary of Kuwait declaring independence from the UK – 1961
Spain: Anniversary of the ETA 1987 Hipercor bombing, where 21 people died and 45 were injured – 1987
United States: Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela to visit US President Donald Trump at the White House

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: The UN called on South Sudan’s leaders to take more responsibility for stemming the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis.
AMERICAS: Brazil suspended tear gas sales to Venezuela in response to its neighbor’s deadly repression of protests.
ASIA: A US Coast Guard investigation team arrived in the country to start piecing together the sequence of events that led to the collision between the destroyer USS Fitzgerald and a fully loaded container ship four times its size.
EUROPE: The EU and Britain started formal talks to separate after 44 years of UK membership.
MIDDLE EAST: Moscow sees the downing of a Syrian government warplane by the US as an “act of aggression and support of terrorists.”
TECHNOLOGY: Google will devote more resources to classifying content to combat extremists who use platforms like YouTube to spread their messages.

TOP STORY

United Kingdom: Deliberate attack on London mosque treated as terrorist attack.
- One man was killed and another eight have been injured after a van drove into worshippers close to a mosque in north London.
- The driver of the van, a 48-year-old man, was arrested after bystanders kept him from fleeing.
- Eyewitnesses reported chaotic scenes as the incident unfolded just after midnight, when worshipers had just finished evening Ramadan prayers.
- The incident is being treated as a terrorist attack and the UK’s Counter Terrorism Command is investigating.
- PM Theresa May confirmed the incident was being treated as a “potential” terrorist incident and that she would chair an emergency meeting later on Monday.
- There were conflicting witness accounts of the number of assailants, but police said there are no other suspects at this point.
- Coverage: BBC, CNN, NYT, NYT-2, WP, WSJ

AFRICA

Egypt: The Hasm militant group suspected of links to the banned Muslim Brotherhood claimed responsibility for an 18JUN deadly roadside bombing in Cairo. (AP)
Mali: French President Emmanuel Macron pledged full support to President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta after the 18JUN attack on a luxury resort in the country. (Reuters)
South Sudan: The UN called on the country’s leaders to take more responsibility for stemming the world’s fastest growing refugee crisis. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: Brazil suspended tear gas sales to Venezuela in response to its neighbor’s deadly repression of protests. (WSJ)
Colombia: President Juan Manuel Santos decided to cancel a state visit to Portugal after a terrorist attack in Bogota, which left three people dead. (Xinhua)
Venezuela: Antonio Benavides, the commander of the country’s Bolivarian National Guard, dismissed the reported abuse by soldiers during political protests against President Nicolas Maduro as “isolated events.” (Xinhua)

ASIA

Region: Warships from Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia held maneuvers to mark the launch of coordinated patrols in waters plagued by insurgencies and banditry. (Reuters)
Japan: A US Coast Guard investigation team arrived in the country to start piecing together the sequence of events that led to the collision between the destroyer USS Fitzgerald and a fully loaded container ship four times its size. (WP)
Korean Peninsula: South Korean President Moon Jae-in indicated a reduction of joint war games with the US if North Korea stops nuclear and missile activities. (Xinhua)
Thailand: A roadside bomb planted by suspected Muslim insurgents killed six Thai soldiers and wounded four in the southern province of Pattani. (Reuters)

EUROPE

Region: The EU and Britain started formal talks to separate after 44 years of UK membership. (AFP)
Region: The EU extended sanctions against Russia for a year over its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014. (AP)
Region: Reinforcements are due to arrive, including more water-dropping planes from Spain, France and Italy as part of an EU cooperation program, to help Portugal fight ongoing wildfires. (AP)
Region: France’s air force defended the Airbus A400M military airlifter, expressing a “positive outlook” for Europe’s new army plane despite German protests over missing defensive capabilities. (Reuters)
Region: Greece blocked an EU statement condemning China’s human-rights record at the UN body, sparking criticism from rights groups. (WSJ)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi headed to Saudi Arabia, the first leg of a Middle East tour that will also include Iran and Kuwait, in a diplomatic effort to foster regional reconciliation. (Reuters)
Region: Turkish troops arrived in Qatar for long-planned joint military exercises, amid a diplomatic rift between Doha and four other Arab states. (Reuters)
Iraq: Iraqi authorities dropped leaflets over Mosul warning civilians to stay inside and are telling jihadists to “surrender or die” after launching an assault to retake the Old City. (AFP)
Syria: Moscow sees the downing of a Syrian government warplane by the US as an “act of aggression and support of terrorists.” (Reuters)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: Google will devote more resources to classifying content to combat extremists who use platforms like YouTube to spread their messages. (Mashable)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Nothing to Report
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 16JUN: 59,443 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 16JUN: 28,780 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 16JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
      - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
  - Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
    - Cases as of 13JUN: 2,015 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
      - Deaths as of 13JUN: 703 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
  - Zika Virus
    - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
    - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
    - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (20JUN)

Global: World Peoples’ Conference to be held in Tiquipaya, Cochabamba to discuss idea of universal citizenship (to 21JUN)
Global: World Refugee Day – 2001
Argentina: Day of the National Flag – 1938
Eritrea: Martyr’s Day – 1993
Georgia: Next round of Geneva discussion on security in South Caucasus to be held (to 21JUN)
Mali: Anniversary of the Malian Federation’s independence from France – 1960

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: Uganda and the UN appealed for USD 8B in funding to deal with the crisis of refugees from South Sudan.
AMERICAS: The Organization of American States failed to approve either of the two declarations on the crisis in Venezuela.
ASIA: Admiral John Richardson, the US Navy’s top commander, met grieving families in Japan, as investigations continue into the cause of a deadly naval accident involving the USS Fitzgerald.
EUROPE: French Defense Minister Sylvie Goulard resigned over a fake jobs scandal that has hit her small centrist MoDem party, allied with President Emmanuel Macron`s party.
MIDDLE EAST: Australia suspended airstrikes into Syria following Russia’s subsequent threat against US-led coalition aircraft.
TECHNOLOGY: Activists, human-rights lawyers and journalists in Mexico filed a criminal complaint accusing the Mexican government of spying through software used to fight criminals and terrorists.

TOP STORY

North Korea: Returned prisoner, American Otto Warmbier dies mysteriously.
- Otto Warmbier, the University of Virginia student detained in North Korea for nearly a year and a half, died, days after he returned home in a coma.
- US doctors found no active sign of North Korea’s explanation of botulism, nor evidence of beatings.
- Despite evidence of severe brain damage, doctors do not know what caused Warmbier’s death.
- US President Donald Trump called North Korea a “brutal regime” in response.
- Young Pioneer Tours, the Chinese tour agency that organized the trip to North Korea by American student Otto Warmbier, will no longer take US citizens to the country.
- To date the Trump administration’s policy for dealing with North Korea’s increasingly aggressive pursuit of nuclear weapons has been to push Beijing to pressure Pyongyang, its longtime ally.
- Coverage: AP, AP-2, BBC, CNN, WP

AFRICA

Region: Uganda and the UN appealed for USD 8B in funding to deal with the crisis of refugees from South Sudan. (AP)
Region: Rwanda and Zambia signed three cooperation agreements after talks between Rwandan President Paul Kagame and his Zambia counterpart Edgar Lungu. (Xinhua)
DR Congo: Congolese security forces and militia members killed at least 3,383 people in the Kasai region since last October, the country’s Catholic Church said. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: The Organization of American States failed to approve either of the two declarations on the crisis in Venezuela. (EFE)
Colombia: National Liberation Army rebels are believed to be holding captive two Dutch journalists, who went missing in the country’s northeast. (AP)
Venezuela: At least one person was killed and another 48 were injured in Caracas during opposition marches. (EFE)

ASIA

Afghanistan: Afghan security forces opened fire on demonstrators, killing one, as they cleared away a protest camp that occupied a busy avenue for the last three weeks. (WP)
Afghanistan: At least eight Afghan security guards were killed when Taliban gunmen opened fire on them in the country’s northern Parwan province. (AP)
Japan: Admiral John Richardson, the US Navy’s top commander, met grieving families in the country, as investigations continue into the cause of a deadly naval accident involving the USS Fitzgerald. (AFP)
Philippines: Philippine aircraft bombed rebel positions and ground troops launched a renewed push against Islamist militants holed up in Marawi. (Reuters)

EUROPE

France: Four family members of a man killed after ramming his car into a police convoy on Paris’ Champs-Elysees are in custody as part of an anti-terrorism probe. (AP)
France: Defense Minister Sylvie Goulard resigned over a fake jobs scandal that has hit her small centrist MoDem party, allied with President Emmanuel Macron`s party. (AFP)
Germany: German authorities are taking action against 36 people suspected of posting hate speech online, most of them accused of far-right incitement. (AP)
Russia: The European Court for Human Rights ruled the country’s law banning dissemination of so-called gay propaganda to minors violates the right to freedom of expression. (AP)
United Kingdom: London mosque attack suspect, Darren Osborne, is being held on suspicion of attempted murder and alleged terror offenses. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Bahrain: Bahraini authorities arrested several suspects in connection with an explosion in Diraz, the village of a Shi’ite Muslim spiritual leader Ayatollah Isa Qassim. (Reuters)
Iran: The country protested against comments by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson backing “peaceful transition” in the Islamic republic. (AFP)
Syria: Australia suspended airstrikes into the country following Russia’s subsequent threat against US-led coalition aircraft. (Reuters)
Syria: Heavy air strikes hit the city of Deraa as a ceasefire declared by the government expired. (Reuters)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: Activists, human-rights lawyers and journalists in Mexico filed a criminal complaint accusing the Mexican government of spying through software used to fight criminals and terrorists. (Reuters)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Tropical Storm Bret
- Location: 30 NM S of Trinidad
- Winds: 40 mph
- Movement: WNW at 23 mph
- Map
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 16JUN: 59,443 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 16JUN: 28,780 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 16JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
      - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
  - Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
    - Cases as of 19JUN: 2,029 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
      - Deaths as of 19JUN: 704 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
  - Zika Virus
    - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
    - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
    - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (21JUN)

Canada: National Aboriginal Day – 1996
Greenland: National Day – 1983
Russia: India’s minister of defense, finance and corporate affairs to visit Russia (to 23JUN)
Togo: Day of the Martyrs
United Kingdom: UK Parliament to open
United States: US and China to hold their inaugural Diplomatic and Security Dialogue in Washington

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: In South Sudan, a four-month old famine has ended, the UN said, but extreme hunger has increased to its highest levels ever.
AMERICAS: Venezuela’s Supreme Court began an investigation that could lead to the removal of Attorney General Luisa Ortega from office, seen as an effort to silence the most outspoken government critic of President Nicolás Maduro.
ASIA: Islamist militants seized an elementary school in the southern Philippine town of Pigcawayan, which said that the gunmen might be holding hostages.
EUROPE: Belgian authorities now know the identity of a man who was fatally shot at Brussels Central Station after a failed bombing.
MIDDLE EAST: US-backed Iraqi forces said they began a push toward the mosque of Mosul, where Islamic State declared a self-styled caliphate three years ago.
TECHNOLOGY: Bots airing pro-Kremlin views have flooded the Russian-language portion of the social media platform Twitter, in an effort to scuttle political discussion and opposition coordination in Russia.

TOP STORY

Saudi Arabia: King Salman executes royal shake-up; names son his new heir.
- Saudi Arabia’s King Salman appointed his son Mohammed bin Salman as crown prince – replacing his nephew, Mohammed bin Nayef, as first in line to the throne.
- The royal decree appointed Bin Salman crown prince and deputy prime minister, retaining defense, oil and other portfolios.
- The surprise announcement arrives at a critical time for the Sunni Muslim kingdom as it grapples with the economic fallout from declining oil prices and a costly military campaign it leads against Shiite rebels in neighboring Yemen.
- Bin Salman has always had a visible role in the government, and has spearheaded the kingdom’s attempts to wean itself off oil as part of an economic strategy announced last year.
- Coverage: BBC, CNN, Reuters, WP

AFRICA

Region: The UN Security Council will vote on a draft resolution to back a West African force to combat terrorism and arms, drug and human trafficking in the Sahel region. (Reuters)
Central African Republic: At least 35 people were wounded in fighting a day after a peace deal was signed to end years of bloodshed in the country. (Reuters)
Nigeria: Nigerian refugees who fled Islamist militants are returning from Cameroon into a country that is still not equipped to support them, and they risk creating a new humanitarian crisis, the UN said. (Reuters)
South Sudan: A four-month old famine has ended, the UN said, but extreme hunger has increased to its highest levels ever across the war-torn country. (AFP)

AMERICAS

Region: Mexico is determined the General Assembly of the Organization of the American States will not end without any agreement on the crisis in Venezuela. (EFE)
Brazil: The federal police said investigators found evidence President Michel Temer received bribes to help businesses. (AP)
Colombia: The FARC rebel group began the final handover of individual weapons as part of the nation’s historic peace accord. (AP)
Venezuela: The country’s Supreme Court began an investigation that could lead to the removal of Attorney General Luisa Ortega from office, seen as an effort to silence the most outspoken government critic of President Nicolás Maduro. (NYT)

ASIA

Region: Japan and South Korea will strengthen pressure on North Korea to abandon its development of nuclear weapons. (Kyodo)
Australia: US officials are “in the final stages” of vetting up to 1,250 refugees rejected by the country for resettlement in the US. (AP)
Indonesia: The country is set to approve a law allowing authorities to jail citizens coming home after joining militant groups abroad for up to 15 years. (Reuters)
Philippines: Islamist militants seized an elementary school in the southern town of Pigcawayan, which said that the gunmen might be holding hostages. (NYT)

EUROPE

Belgium: Belgian authorities now know the identity of a man who was fatally shot at Brussels Central Station after a failed bombing. (CNN)
France: Justice Minister Francois Bayrou and European Minister Marielle de Sarnez are targeted in possible probes and have resigned. (AP)
Hungary: Four men went on trial in the country, charged with murdering 71 refugees found suffocated to death in the back of a lorry in 2015. (Reuters)
Netherlands: Dutch prosecutors say an 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of spreading propaganda for the Islamic State group. (AP)
Spain: Spanish police arrested three Moroccans, including a suspected member of the Islamic State group, who was considered a national security threat. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Egypt began to deliver fuel to Gaza, in an attempt to ease the Palestinian enclave’s desperate electricity crisis. (AFP)
Region: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas mingled with ordinary Palestinians in a rare trip outside his West Bank headquarters in an apparent attempt to dispel rumors that he suffered a stroke. (AP)
Iraq: US-backed Iraqi forces said they began a push toward the mosque of Mosul, where Islamic State declared a self-styled caliphate three years ago. (Reuters)
Syria: Australia will resume airstrikes against Islamic State targets in the country after operations were suspended because a US fighter jet shot down a Syrian warplane. (AP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Communications: Bots airing pro-Kremlin views have flooded the Russian-language portion of the social media platform Twitter, in an effort to scuttle political discussion and opposition coordination in Russia. (WP)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Tropical Storm Cindy
- Location: 230 NM S of Morgan City, Louisiana
- Winds: 60 mph
- Movement: NW at 7 mph
- Map
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 16JUN: 59,443 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 16JUN: 28,780 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 16JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
      - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
  - Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
    - Cases as of 19JUN: 2,029 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
      - Deaths as of 19JUN: 704 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
  - Zika Virus
    - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
    - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
    - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (22JUN)

Eastern Europe: Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Great Patriotic War – 1945
Afghanistan: Anniversary of attack on Afghan parliament, injuring 18 people – 2015
Croatia: Anti-Fascist Struggle Day – 1945
Latvia: Heroes Remembrance Day – 1945

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: South Africa’s top court ruled the Speaker of Parliament can decide to hold a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma by secret ballot, which the opposition hope could help to depose him.
AMERICAS: The Organization of American States failed to advance a plan to deal with Venezuela as it wrapped up a meeting where the country’s crisis took center stage.
ASIA: At least 30 people were killed in the Helmand province of Afghanistan when a car bomb targeted soldiers, government employees, and other civilians queueing to collect pay checks from a bank in the provincial capital.
EUROPE: Belgian authorities investigating the attempted bomb attack on Brussels’ Central Station detained four people after a series of raids in the Belgian capital.
MIDDLE EAST: An AP investigation revealed the United Arab Emirates and Yemeni forces run a secret network of prisons in Yemen, where torture and interrogation occurs.
TECHNOLOGY: Losses from cyber crimes rose 24 percent in 2016 to over USD 1.33B, according to a report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

TOP STORY

Iraq: Islamic State militants destroy ancient Mosul mosque
- Iraqi PM Haider al-Abadi says the destruction of an ancient mosque in the city of Mosul is “an official declaration of defeat” by the so-called Islamic State.
- The al-Nuri mosque, also known as Mosul’s Great Mosque, is where IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a so-called Islamic caliphate in the summer of 2014, shortly after Mosul was overrun by the militants.
- The mosque was located in the Old City area where remaining ISIS fighters are making a final stand with an estimated 100,000 civilians being used as human shields.
- The mosque was named after a noble who fought in the early crusades and had stood for more than 840 years.
- The terrorist group said US-led airstrikes had caused the damage, a charge the US military denied.
- Coverage: AP, BBC, Guardian, INDE, NPR

AFRICA

Angola: VP Manuel Vicente will face trial in Portugal over allegations he bribed a magistrate to drop two investigations against him. (AFP)
DR Congo: Clashes erupted in the eastern city of Beni with residents reporting the sound of gunshots and heavy weapons fire. (AFP)
South Africa: The country’s top court ruled the Speaker of Parliament can decide to hold a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma by secret ballot, which the opposition hope could help to depose him. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: The Organization of American States failed to advance a plan to deal with Venezuela as it wrapped up a meeting where the country’s crisis took center stage. (AFP)
El Salvador: Federal prosecutors say four National Civil Police officers and 15 soldiers participated in death squads that killed 36 people. (AP)
Venezuela: President Nicolas Maduro promoted several soldiers as he reshuffled his Cabinet to allow top officials to run for seats in a special assembly to rewrite the country’s constitution. (AP)

ASIA

Region: The Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia plan to closely cooperate to halt the flow of militants, weapons, funds and extremist propaganda across their borders. (AP)
Afghanistan: The Pentagon said the country’s Islamic State jihadist problem is “not getting any better.” (VOA)
Afghanistan: At least 30 people were killed in the Helmand province when a car bomb targeted soldiers, government employees, and other civilians queueing to collect pay checks from a bank in the provincial capital. (Guardian)
Myanmar: Security forces killed three people while clearing a suspected Rohingya insurgent training camp in the northwestern state of Rakhine. (Reuters)
Philippines: Islamist militants holed up in the southern town of Marawi have been cornered and their firepower is flagging, the Philippine military said. (Reuters)

EUROPE

Region: Germany’s Parliament approved to move reconnaissance jets flying anti-Islamic State group missions from Turkey amid ongoing friction between the two countries. (AP)
Belgium: Belgian authorities investigating the attempted bomb attack on Brussels’ Central Station detained four people after a series of raids in the Belgian capital. (Reuters)
France: President Emmanuel Macron’s new government presented a security bill to beef up police powers amid sustained extremist threats to Europe. (AP)
Turkey: Two Turkish soldiers died at the hospital where they were receiving treatment following clashes with militants in the mainly Kurdish southeast. (Reuters)
Turkey: A small explosion close to a NATO-owned military facility in the western city of Izmir damaged the installation’s perimeter walls, but caused no injuries. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and the new crown prince, agreeing to “increase efforts” to end tensions in the regional dispute with Qatar. (AP)
Region: Iran has begun exporting gas through a pipeline to Baghdad under a deal set to make Iraq the Islamic republic’s top customer. (AFP)
Qatar: India will run extra flights to Doha ahead of the Eid holiday to help citizens stranded there following an embargo imposed on Qatar Airways. (AFP)
Region: An AP investigation revealed the United Arab Emirates and Yemeni forces run a secret network of prisons in Yemen, where torture and interrogation occurs. (AP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: Losses from cyber crimes rose 24 percent in 2016 to over USD 1.33B, according to a report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. (Reuters)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Tropical Storm Cindy
- Location: 105 NM S of Lake Charles, Louisiana
- Winds: 50 mph
- Movement: NNW at 7 mph
- Map
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 16JUN: 59,443 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 16JUN: 28,780 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 16JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
      - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
  - Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
    - Cases as of 19JUN: 2,029 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
      - Deaths as of 19JUN: 704 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
  - Zika Virus
    - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
    - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
    - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (23JUN)

Global: UN Public Service Day – 2003
Global: International Widow’s Day – 2005
Europe: EU sanctions on Russia-annexed Crimea set to expire
Canada: National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism in Canada, commemorating the bombing of Air India Flight 182 – 1985
Estonia: Victory Day – 1919
Luxembourg: Grand Duke Henri’s birthday – 1955
Syria: Anniversary of the last of Syria’s declared chemical weapons being shipped away for destruction – 2014
United Kingdom: Anniversary of the UK’s referendum to leave the European Union – 2016

END

KEY STORYLINES

AFRICA: At least three people were killed and three others seriously injured by the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab in Kenya’s northeast.
AMERICAS: Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto dismissed allegations that his government was responsible for high-tech spying against journalists and human rights defenders.
ASIA: North Korea denied it cruelly treated or tortured American student Otto Warmbier who was detained for more than year and died days after being released in a coma.
EUROPE: European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said Britain’s proposals to protect the rights of EU nationals after Brexit were “not sufficient.”
MIDDLE EAST: The Syrian government will not allow its enemies to benefit from the creation of de-escalation zones in the country, the Syrian deputy FM Faisal Mekdad said.
TECHNOLOGY: Facebook is launching a UK initiative to train and fund local organizations to combat extremism and hate speech.

TOP STORY

Qatar: Regional neighbors present a list of demands to end crisis
- Four Arab states have sent Qatar a list of 13 demands it must meet if it wants them to lift their sanctions.
- Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are asking the Gulf state to shut down its broadcaster, Al Jazeera.
- Those countries have given Qatar 10 days to comply with all of the demands, which include paying an unspecified sum in compensation.Turkey rejected another key demand, saying Ankara has no plans to shut down its military base in the small Gulf country.
- The Iran provisions in the document say Qatar must shut down diplomatic posts in Iran, expel any members of the Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and only conduct trade and commerce with Iran that complies with US sanctions.
- A final demand stipulates, for the following 10 years, Qatar would be monitored annually for compliance.
- Coverage: Al-Jazeera, AP, AP-2, BBC

AFRICA

Botswana: The country declared three days of national mourning after the death of former President Sir Ketumile Masire, aged 91. (BBC)
Kenya: At least three people were killed and three others seriously injured by the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab in the country’s northeast. (Xinhua)
South Africa: The country reported an outbreak of a highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu at a farm in the Free State province. (Reuters)

AMERICAS

Region: The US suspended imports of fresh beef from Brazil because of safety concerns, dealing a blow to one of Brazil’s biggest industries. (NYT)
Mexico: President Enrique Pena Nieto dismissed allegations that his government was responsible for high-tech spying against journalists and human rights defenders. (AP)
United States: A former US military and the State Department consultant, Kevin Mallory, was arrested on espionage charges after he allegedly gave classified defense information to a suspected Chinese government agent. (WSJ)
Venezuela: A military police sergeant shot dead a protester, bringing renewed scrutiny of the force used to control riots that have killed at least 76 people. (Reuters)

ASIA

Afghanistan: Taliban leader Maulvi Haibatullah Akhunzadah said the war in the country will not end until a full withdrawal of NATO troops. (AP)
North Korea: The country tested a new rocket engine as part of its efforts to build a missile capable of reaching the American mainland. (BBC)
North Korea: The country denied it cruelly treated or tortured American student Otto Warmbier who was detained for more than year and died days after being released in a coma. (AP)
South Korea: A longtime friend of ousted president Park Geun-hye, was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of abusing her influence. (NYT)
Pakistan: A powerful car bombing near the office of the provincial police chief in southwest city of Quetta killed 11 people and wounded 20. (AP)

EUROPE

Region: European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said Britain’s proposals to protect the rights of EU nationals after Brexit were “not sufficient.” (AFP)
France: President Emmanuel Macron’s new government took a tough line on Calais migrants, saying the northern port should not become an “abscess”. (AFP)
France: The government announced it will stop granting new licences for oil and gas exploration on the mainland and in overseas territories. (AFP)
Greece: A small civilian helicopter has crashed north of Athens, killing two of the three people on board. (AP)

MIDDLE EAST

Region: The likelihood that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been killed is close to 100 percent, Russia parliament defense committee head Viktor Ozerov said. (Reuters)
Region: Turkey regards as a “positive step” a US pledge to take back weapons supplied to the Kurdish YPG militia in Syria after the defeat of Islamic State. (Reuters)
Iran: The country held anti-Israel rallies, with protesters condemning Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. (AP)
Syria: The Syrian government will not allow its enemies to benefit from the creation of de-escalation zones in the country, the Syrian deputy FM Faisal Mekdad said. (Reuters)
Syria: Russia fired cruise missiles on positions of the Islamic State group installations in the Hama province, destroying command centers and ammunition depots. (AP)

TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS

Technology: Facebook is launching a UK initiative to train and fund local organizations to combat extremism and hate speech. (BBC)
Technology: Russia accused the Telegram messaging app of violating Russian legislation and said it could be blocked if it did not provide the watchdog with information about its controlling company. (Reuters)

WORLD

Cyclones: Nothing to Report
Hurricanes: Tropical Depression Cindy
- Location: 80 NM NNE of Shreveport, Louisiana
- Winds: 20 mph
- Movement: NNE at 12 mph
- Map
Earthquakes: Nothing to Report
Volcanoes: Nothing to Report
Global Disease Outbreaks:
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
  - Cases as of 27MAR16: 28,646 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Italy)
    - Deaths as of 27MAR16: 11,323 (Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, United States)
  - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, BBC
- Chikungunya Virus Disease (CHIK)
  - Suspected Cases as of 16JUN: 59,443 (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, and Venezuela)
    - Suspected Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 349,936
  - Confirmed Cases as of 16JUN: 28,780 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, México, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Perú, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Martin (French part), and Venezuela)
    - Confirmed Cases (01JAN16-31DEC16): 152,250
  - Deaths as of 16JUN: 13 (Brazil)
    - Deaths (01JAN16-31DEC16): 172
      - Deaths (01JAN15-31DEC15): 91 (Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2
  - Novel Coronavirus (MERS-CoV, SARS-related)
    - Cases as of 19JUN: 2,029 (Saudi Arabia (KSA), Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), France, Tunisia, Italy, Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, Malaysia, Greece, Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Austria, Turkey, The Philippines, Germany, China, South Korea, and the US)
      - Deaths as of 19JUN: 704 (Saudi Arabia, France, Qatar, United Kingdom, UAE, Oman, South Korea)
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2
  - Zika Virus
    - Reported autochthonous Transmission as of 24MAY: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Bonaire (Netherlands), Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cabo Verde, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mexico, Micronesia (Federated States of), Montserrat, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Singapore, Sint Eustatius and Saba (Netherlands), Sint Maarten, Suriname, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos, United States of America, Vietnam, United States Virgin Islands, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of).
    - Outbreak Terminated as of 24MAY: Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Isla de Pascua (Chile), Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.
    - Locally Acquired Without Vector Borne Transmission as of 24MAY: Argentina, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Spain, and the United States of America.
    - Sourcing: WHO, WHO-2, CDC, CDC-2

TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (24JUN)

Finland: Day of the Finnish Flag – 1934
Germany: Anniversary of the beginning of the Berlin Blockade – 1948
Italy: Anniversary of the conviction of PM Silvio Berlusconi for abuse of power and sleeping with an underage prostitute – 2013
Netherlands: Veteran’s Day – 2005
South Africa: Anniversary of the passing of the Group Areas Act, which formally segregated races – 1950
Thailand: Anniversary of the renaming of the country of Siam to Thailand – 1939
United Kingdom: Armed Forces Day – 2006
Venezuela: Battle of Carabobo Day – 1821

END

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