KEY STORYLINES
- AFRICA: The Egyptian election committee will announce first round results of the presidential poll.
- AMERICAS: FARC said it plans to release a French journalist it has held for a month on 30MAY.
- ASIA: The Taiwanese military deployed cruise missiles capable of striking key military bases in China.
- EUROPE: French police arrested the military leader of ETA.
- MIDDLE EAST: The Yemeni military said government troops have retaken most of Zinjibar from al-Qaeda.
- TECHNOLOGY: China’s largest microblogging service Weibo introduced a code of conduct explicitly restricting the type of messages that can be posted.
TOP STORY
- Syria: International community calls for increased foreign action in Syria
- Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood called on Arab and other world powers to intervene.
- China called for an immediate investigation into the violence at Houla.
- Russia said it did not support President Assad but urged world powers to work for UN envoy Kofi Annan’s peace plan and not regime change.
- Annan is scheduled to meet with President Assad on 29MAY.
- Coverage: Reuters, Reuters-2, AFP, AFP-2
AFRICA
- DR Congo: The M23 rebel movement appealed for a cease-fire and affirmed that it was open to negotiations. (Xinhua)
- DR Congo: An internal UN report indicated that Rwanda is supplying recruits and weapons to rebels. (BBC)
- Egypt: The election committee will announce first round results of the presidential poll. (Reuters)
- Somalia: AU and government troops secured an aid corridor between Mogadishu and the former rebel stronghold Afgoye. (Reuters)
- Somalia: Police in Puntland arrested several suspected pirates. (AFP)
AMERICAS
- Canada: Quebec students and the provincial government are set to resume negotiations in the wake of widespread protests. (AP)
- Colombia: FARC said it plans to release a French journalist it has held for a month on 30MAY. (AFP)
- Mexico: A researcher at the Autonomous University of the State of Sinaloa reported an increased role for women in key management roles in drug cartels. (AFP)
ASIA
- Nepal: The PM called new elections for NOV after the term of the constituent assembly expired. (AP)
- Pakistan: A US drone attack killed at least five militants in North Waziristan. (BBC)
- Taiwan: The military deployed cruise missiles capable of striking key military bases along the southeast coast of the Chinese mainland. (AFP)
- Thailand: A roadside bomb killed two village defense volunteers and wounded four others in Pattani province. (Xinhua)
EUROPE
- France: Police arrested two members of ETA, including the group’s military leader Oroitz Gurruchaga Gogorza. (AFP)
- Georgia: Opponents of President Saakashvili staged a political rally in the capital ahead of Fall parliamentary elections. (NYT)
- Serbia: Defeated former president Tadic indicated interest in the position of PM. (DPA)
MIDDLE EAST
- Iran: The Foreign Ministry rejected the country’s alleged role in plotting to overthrow the government of Bahrain. (AP)
- Palestinian Territories: Election officials from the West Bank arrived in the Gaza Strip to prepare for elections. (AP)
- Syria: Lebanese Shiite pilgrims initially reported to have reached Turkey are still held in Syria. (AFP)
- Yemen: The military said government troops have retaken most of Zinjibar from al-Qaeda. (AP)
TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATIONS
- Social media: China’s largest microblogging service Weibo introduced a code of conduct explicitly restricting the type of messages that can be posted. (BBC)
WORLD
- Cyclones: Nothing to report.
- Tropical Storm: Beryl
- Location: 35 miles east of Jacksonville
- Movement: W at 8 mph
- Winds: 50 mph
- Map
- Earthquakes: Santiago Del Estero, Argentina
- Magnitude: 6.7
- Depth: 588 km
- Map
- Volcanoes: Mt. Shiveluch, Russia
- Eruption of ash. (Interfax)
TOMORROW’S OUTLOOK (29MAY)
- Global: International Peacekeeper’s Day celebrated.
- China: Marine forces from China and Thailand end joint military training.
END
