Countries past their peak continue to ease Covid-19 restrictions, and human vaccine trials start in Australia

*)Countries lift Covid-19 restrictions

We start with the pandemic as several countries, including Japan, Germany, Greece,Italy and Spain, ease restrictions.

In the US, where the coronavirus death toll is nearly 100,000, Americans headed en masse to beaches and parks for Memorial Day weekend.

Latin America and Southeast Asia are slowly taking over as Covid-19 hotspots, with a massive uptick in cases in Brazil, India and Pakistan.

*)Hong Kong leader defends security law

Defending China’s proposal, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam says Beijing’s national security law will not infringe on the city’s rights and freedoms.

China earlier unveiled plans for national security legislation for Hong Kong that it says aim to tackle secession, subversion and terrorist activity.

Protesters responded by taking to the streets, saying the proposed law goes against Hong Kong’s "one country, two systems" governance formula.

*)Afghanistan frees 100 Taliban prisoners as Eid truce holds

Afghanistan has freed 100 Taliban prisoners as part of the government’s response to a ceasefire offered by the insurgents to mark Eid al Fitr.

The government plans to release up to 2,000 Taliban inmates as a “goodwill gesture” in response to the ceasefire offer.

Violence has escalated since Washington signed a deal with the Taliban to withdraw all US forces from Afghanistan by 2021.

*)Venezuela celebrates docking of Iranian fuel tanker

Venezuelan authorities celebrated as the first of five Iranian tankers loaded with gasoline docked in the South American country.

The tankers are delivering badly needed fuel to the crisis-stricken nation that sits atop the world’s largest oil reserves.

The shipments are arriving in defiance of sanctions imposed by the US against both nations.

And finally…

*)Novavax begins human trials with potential Covid-19 vaccine

US vaccine company Novavax has begun testing a prospective Covid-19 vaccine in Australia.

The company will inject 131 volunteers in the first phase of testing the safety of the vaccine and looking for signs of its effectiveness.

Novavax said animal testing suggested the vaccine is effective in low doses.

Hong Kong protesters slam China’s proposed security law, and first SpaceX astronauts break new ground for style

*) Hong Kong protesters slam China’s proposed security law

Hong Kong protesters rallied over the weekend against Beijing’s plans to impose a new national security law in the former British colony.

Police fired tear gas and water cannons at protesters and arrested more than 180 people during demonstrations which rocked the financial hub.

Protesters say China’s proposal goes against “the one country, two systems” framework.

Hong Kong’s security chief says the territory needs the law to tackle “terrorism”, referring to the protests.

*) Muslims celebrate Eid with social distancing

Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting.

But in most places, celebrations have been overshadowed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Restrictions and social distancing measures limited Eid traditions and many people were unable to travel home for celebrations.

*) Covid-19 pandemic continues its spread

India is now among the ten countries with the most coronavirus cases, with its confirmed infections nearing 139,000.

In Brazil, confirmed Covid-19 cases have risen past 360,000 over the weekend, second only to the US.

The pandemic has infected more than 5.5 million around the world, killing more than 345,000 people.

*) Russian fighters leave Libya after retreat of Haftar militia

A local mayor in Libya said Russia’s Wagner Group has left the country after the retreat of warlord Khalifa Haftar’s militia.

Salem Alaywan, the mayor of Bani Walid town, said fighters were flown out of western Libya to Jufra on three airplanes.

Haftar’s militias have recently suffered a string of setbacks while fighting Turkey-backed forces of the UN-recognised government in Tripoli.

And finally…

*) SpaceX’s first astronauts breaking new ground for style

The first astronauts to be launched by SpaceX are breaking new ground for style.

Nasa astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken will have hip spacesuits, gull-wing Teslas, and a sleek rocketship, all of it white with black trim.

Wednesday’s will be the first astronaut launch from Nasa’s Kennedy Space Center since 2011.

*) Brazil suffers record 1,188 daily coronavirus deaths

Brazil has confirmed a record of 1,188 daily coronavirus deaths, taking its total fatalities past 20,000.

Brazil now has more than 310,000 cases, the world’s third-highest number of infections after the US and Russia.

Most of the country's 27 states are under lockdown but many Brazilians are taking their lead from President Bolsonaro who is anti the restrictions.

*) Hong Kong activists call for protest against new security laws

In Hong Kong, activists have called for a protest march against China’s plans to impose national security legislation in the financial hub.

Beijing is moving to impose new national security legislation after last year's unrest which plunged Hong Kong into turmoil for months.

The introduction of Hong Kong security laws is on the agenda of the Chinese parliament, which begins its annual session today.

*) Libyan army continues advance against Haftar militia

Forces loyal to Libya's internationally backed government have recaptured the strategic town of Mizdah south of the capital, Tripoli.

The UN-backed government is now preparing to retake the city of Tarhuna, which has been a stronghold for warlord Khalifa Haftar's illegal militia.

If the government retakes control of Tarhuna, Haftar will lose his hold over western Libya.

*) Khashoggi family forgives his murderers

The family of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi says they have forgiven the people who killed their father.

The family’s decision effectively grants clemency to five convicted people on death row based on Saudi law.

Khashoggi's fiancee Hatice Cengiz says nobody has the right to pardon the men who killed and dismembered the journalist in Istanbul in 2018.

And finally…

*) Cher tweets joy as Pakistan decides to free elephant Kaavan

Cher has joined Pakistanis in celebrating a court’s decision to free a lonely elephant named Kaavan.

Outrage over the treatment of Kaavan went global with after it emerged he lived in chains at a zoo in the country’s capital Islamabad.

A high court ordered wildlife officials to consult with Sri Lanka to find Kaavan a “suitable sanctuary” within 30 days after, three decades of torture.

*) Brazil coronavirus outbreak worsens

We start in Brazil, which saw its worst single-day spike in Covid-19 cases on Wednesday – nearly 20,000 new infections.

With more than 291,000 cases and 18,000 deaths, Brazil has become the world’s third hardest-hit country by the pandemic after the US and Russia.

The total number of global coronavirus cases surged past five million on Wednesday.

*) UN envoy urges Israel to abandon annexation threats

UN's Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov says Israel must abandon its threat to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.

"The dangerous prospect of annexation by Israel of parts of Occupied West Bank is a growing threat," Mladenov told the UN Security Council.

His remarks came after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced he is ending "all agreements" with Israel and the US over the plan.

*) Cyclone leaves deaths in India and Bangladesh

Cyclone Amphan has slammed into coastal India and Bangladesh, killing at least 22 people.

Up to eight people have died in Bangladesh as India’s West Bengal state saw at least 12 fatalities.

At the moment, Cyclone Amphan’s damages are impossible to assess accurately; most of the deaths appeared to be a result of collapsing walls and drowning.

*) Michigan dam failure displaces thousands

More than 10,000 residents have evacuated their homes in the US state of Michigan after two dams failed following heavy rain.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared a state of emergency in Midland County, the site of the breached dams.

The National Weather Service warned of life-threatening flash floods and urged people in the area to seek higher ground immediately.

And finally…

*) Global warning turns Antarctica's snow green

“Green snow” caused by blooming algae is expected to spread in the Antarctic Peninsula with increases in global temperatures.

Researchers combined satellite imagery with on-the-ground observations to detect the current extent of green algae in the continent.

They identified more than 1,600 separate green algae blooms on snow across the peninsula, with a combined surface area of 1.9 sq km.

Brazil suffers record daily coronavirus deaths, and Dutch farm worker contracts Covid-19 from mink

*)Brazil suffers record coronavirus deaths

Brazil's daily Covid-19 death toll jumped to a record 1,179 as President Jair Bolsonaro doubled down on chloroquine as a possible remedy.

The pandemic has killed at least 17,971 people and infected more than 270,000 others in Brazil, according to the Health Ministry.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said he is considering a travel ban from Brazil.

*)Palestinian leader Abbas ends 'all agreements' with Israel, US

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ended “all agreements,” including security coordination with Israel and the United States.

The move comes in response to Israel's plans to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, which he said would ruin chances for peace in the Middle East.

The Palestinian leader also turned over responsibility of occupied territories back to Israel.

*)Haftar militias pull out of parts of Libya's Tripoli

Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar's illegal militia said it was retreating from parts of the capital, Tripoli.

The militia's pull out follows its loss of control over Watiya airbase to the UN-backed government in western Libya earlier this week.

Since then, the Libyan army has taken control of Badr, Tiji and Al Asabia towns.

*)Eight Afghan soldiers die fighting off Taliban attack on key city

At least eight Afghan soldiers were killed while repelling a fierce Taliban attack on Kunduz city in northern Afghanistan.

Officials said three civilians and 40 Taliban fighters were killed while 50 others were wounded in the assault.

In a separate incident in the north of Kabul, gunmen opened fire on worshippers at a mosque, killing at least seven people and wounding 12.

And finally…

*)Dutch farm worker contracted coronavirus from mink

A Dutch farm worker contracted the coronavirus from mink, the country's agriculture minister told the parliament in a letter.

Carola Schouten acknowledged that earlier advisories from her office, who alleged people could infect animals, but not the other way around, were wrong.

Outbreaks on mink farms in the Netherlands were first reported in April.

Trump threatens permanent freeze of WHO funding, and Rio launches pet delivery service for residents in isolation

*)Trump threatens permanent freeze of WHO funding

President Donald Trump has threatened to permanently stop funding to the WHO and reconsider US membership of the body.

Trump suspended US contributions to the WHO last month, accusing it of promoting China's "disinformation" about the coronavirus outbreak.

The UN-specialised agency is leading a global initiative to develop safe and effective vaccines, tests and drugs to prevent, diagnose and treat Covid-19.

*)Air strikes target militia escaping key base

Libyan air strikes are targeting militants loyal to warlord Khalifa Haftar after they fled a key airbase retaken by the government, Anadolu news agency reported.

The Libyan army on Monday retook the strategic Al Watiya airbase, which was under Haftar’s control since 2014.

A Libyan official said the government’s regaining control of the airbase was the end of Haftar's “coup plot”.

*)Limited data on US coronavirus vaccine shows early promise

Early data from Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine shows it produced protective antibodies in eight healthy volunteers.

The results from a safety trial in March offer an early glimmer of hope that the vaccine could provide protection against the virus.

Moderna expects to start a larger late-stage trial for the vaccine in July.

*)Lesotho premier steps down over wife's alleged murder

Lesotho's embattled Prime Minister Thomas Thabane announced his resignation over his first wife's alleged murder.

The announcement ends months of political uncertainty gripping the African kingdom since he was accused of being an accomplice in the murder.

His coalition was disbanded in parliament last week, and a new government is due to be installed on May 22.

And finally…

*)Rio delivers pet companions to Brazilians in isolation

An animal shelter in Rio de Janeiro has launched a pet delivery service for residents who seek a furry friend to pass the long days in isolation.

Rio's undersecretary for animal welfare Roberto de Paula said the demand for animal companions has been surging.

The shelter has delivered more than 50 pets since early April.

*) Is Brazil becoming the world’s next Covid-19 hotspot?

Brazil is becoming a new epicentre for novel coronavirus infections, as its number of cases pass 241,000 and deaths top 16,000.

The Latin American nation is now among the world’s top five countries with the highest number of Covid-19 cases.

The pandemic has so far infected more than 4.8 million people worldwide and killed over 316,000.

*) Car bomb kills at least five in east Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, a car bomb targeting an intelligence service base has killed at least five people and wounded 40 others.

The Taliban-claimed attack in Ghazni province comes hours after President Ashraf Ghani and his rival Abdullah Abdullah signed a power-sharing deal.

The agreement ends a bitter months-long feud that plunged the country into a political crisis.

*) Deaths from coronavirus-like symptoms surge in Yemen's Aden

Yemen’s medics have reported a surge in the number of deaths at least five times higher than normal in the port city of Aden.

This has ignited fears that Covid-19 is spreading unhindered in the port city of the war-torn country.

Six years of war against the Houthi rebels have left Yemen’s authorities ill-equipped to control the spread of Covid-19.

*) Iran complains to UN over US threat on Venezuela shipment

Iran has complained to the United Nations over possible measures the United States could take against an Iranian fuel shipment to Venezuela.

Iran also summoned the Swiss ambassador in Tehran, who represents US interests in the Islamic Republic.

Tehran’s reaction follows reports that the US was considering steps in response to Iran's shipment of fuel to crisis-stricken Venezuela.

And finally…

*) Jordan's first Air Jordan sneakers sold for record $560,000

NBA legend Michael Jordan's autographed sneakers from his rookie season have fetched a record $560,000 in an online auction.

Like most of Jordan's basketball shoes, they are a mismatched pair, size 13 on the left and size 13.5 on the right.

The shoes were sold by collector Jordan Geller, the founder of the sneaker museum Shoezeum in Las Vegas.

*) Global coronavirus death toll crosses 300,000

The number of people who died of Covid-19 around the world has crossed the 300,000-mark, with more than 4.5 million infected.

The US remains the hardest hit, with more than 1.4 million cases and over 86,000 fatalities.

The real global death toll from the coronavirus is believed to be far higher than current compiled figures.

*) US health official warns of ‘darkest winter in modern history’

Whistleblower Rick Bright has warned that the US could face “the darkest winter in modern history” if the virus rebounds as the country reopens.

Bright warned the US lacks a comprehensive battle plan against Covid-19 in areas including masks, testing, treatments and vaccines.

The government’s former vaccine scientist testified before Congress, pointing out that there was no coherent strategy to get supplies to where they’re most needed.

*) Libyan army inflicts losses on Haftar militia

Libya's army has killed and injured a large number of militiamen loyal to eastern-based warlord Khalifa Haftar as part of Operation Peace Storm.

The operation was launched on March 26 to counter attacks on the capital, Tripoli.

The army also destroyed equipment used by Haftar’s militia, including four aircraft, a helicopter and two drones, according to information obtained by Anadolu news agency.

*) Coronavirus could infect more than 200M in Africa – WHO

A study by the World Health Organization has revealed that Covid-19 could kill 150,000 people in Africa in one year unless urgent action is taken.

The study, published in the journal BMJ Global Health, also showed that nearly a quarter of a billion people in the continent will be infected by the virus.

The study cites concerns over increasingly overwhelmed healthcare services in the world’s poorest continent.

And finally…

*) UK govt green lights English football to return in June

The UK government is “opening the door” for English Premier League to return in June.

Britain’s Culture and Sport Secretary Oliver Dowden says football authorities will finalise the details under the government’s guidance.

Matches have been suspended since mid-March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Taliban bomb attack kills five in Afghanistan and online games trend as venues for concerts

*)At least five people die in Afghanistan bombing

At least five people have been killed in a bomb blast in Afghanistan's Gardez city.

The Taliban-claimed truck bombing comes a day after President Ashraf Ghani ordered the military to “resume operations against the enemy”.

Afghanistan is experiencing a spike in terror attacks, a potential setback to peace plans in the war-ravaged nation.

*)Coronavirus 'may never go away' – WHO

The coronavirus that causes Covid-19 could become endemic like HIV, the World Health Organization warned.

“This disease may settle into a long problem, or it may not," WHO emergencies expert Dr Mike Ryan said at an online briefing.

Though the world has some control over how it copes with the disease it requires a massive effort, he said, if a vaccine is found.

*)Clashes in Kashmir after troops kill civilian in 'cold blood'

Soldiers fatally shot a young man at a checkpoint in India-administered Kashmir, triggering fresh protests against New Delhi.

India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force said the man was driving a car and ignored signals to stop at two checkpoints.

The victim's uncle, a police officer who was also travelling with him, said his nephew was killed by troops in "cold-blooded" murder.

*)French parliament adopts controversial online hate speech bill

French lawmakers approved a controversial bill to ban hate speech on social media, a measure dismissed as censorship by detractors.

The law obliges platforms and search engines to remove offensive content within 24 hours or risk a fine of up to $1.35 million.

Critics say the proposal will make Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple the custodians of freedom of expression.

And finally…

*)In pandemic times, the gaming world is becoming a (concert) stage

With concerts on hold amid coronavirus lockdowns, the trend of artists becoming animated performers is gaining momentum.

The ultra-popular video game Fortnite morphed rapper Travis Scott into a massive psychedelic spaceman performing in a celestial dreamscape.

According to the platform, more than 27.7 million unique players participated in the show’s premiere and four encore presentations.

Offensive operations to resume in Afghanistan and Twitter employees might work from home forever

*)Afghan forces to resume offensive after infants, mourners attacked

Afghanistan's President Ashraf Ghani has ordered the country’s security forces to resume offensives after attacks on a hospital and a funeral.

At least 40 people, including newborn babies and nurses, were killed in two separate attacks in Kabul and Nangarhar province.

The Daesh terrorist group has claimed responsibility for both attacks.

*)Turkey lambasts joint declaration on Eastern Mediterranean

Ankara criticised a declaration signed by Greece, Egypt, France, the Greek Cypriot administration and the UAE over Turkey’s activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and in Libya.

Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy said the five countries were pursuing regional chaos and instability in the area.

He added that they were sacrificing Libyans’ hope for democracy for the reckless aggression of dictators.

*)US virus expert warns of dangers as countries reopen

Top US health official Anthony Fauci warned that ending lockdowns too quickly could trigger uncontrollable new outbreaks.

Opening up continues despite the toll spiking in some of the world's most populated countries, with Brazil, Russia and the US all reporting bad news.

Concerns were compounded by Fauci's warning to Congress that a run of 14 days with drop in cases was a vital first step before lifting lockdowns.

*)FBI accidentally reveals Saudi diplomat linked to 9/11

The FBI accidentally disclosed the name of a Saudi diplomat suspected of aiding two Al Qaeda hijackers in the 9/11 attacks.

Mussaed Ahmed al Jarrah was mistakenly named in a declaration by an FBI official in response to a lawsuit by families of 9/11 victims.

Al Jarrah was a mid-level Saudi foreign ministry official assigned to the Saudi embassy in Washington, DC in 1999 and 2000.

And finally…

*)Twitter says many employees may work remotely 'forever'

Twitter says it has told its employees that they will be allowed to permanently work from home.

The social media giant also said it is unlikely to open its offices before September.

The company said it was among the first to move to telework as a result of the health crisis and that it will continue to adopt that policy indefinitely.