WORLD NEWS May 26: More than 200 cases of monkeypox in the world; Mariupol port reopens

Employees of the Bavarian Nordic vaccine company at a branch near Munich (Germany) look at pictures of monkeypox virus – Photo: REUTERS

* The number of cases of monkeypox in the country has reached 219 people. This is an announcement made by the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) on May 25. According to the ECDC, more than 10 countries, mostly in Europe, have reported at least one case of monkeypox.

This is the first time this chain of infection has been recorded in Europe, which has not much epidemiological link to West or Central Africa. Most of the cases are young men who self-identify as having sex with men.

The total number of cases of monkeypox in the world recorded by May 25 was 5 times higher than the number of 38 cases announced on May 20 – the time when the statistics of the number of people with this disease began. In the UK, which detected the first case earlier this month, currently has the highest number of patients (71), followed by Spain (51 patients) and Portugal (37 patients). Outside of Europe, Canada recorded 15 cases and the US 9 cases.

* On May 25, TASS news agency quoted the spokesman of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Major General Igor Konashenkov, announcing Mariupol port has been cleared of bombs and mines completely and is back to normal operation.

A day earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said that experts from the Black Sea Fleet and engineers had completed the work of clearing bombs and mines. More than 12,000 explosive devices and weapons were detected and neutralized. OLDRussian forces also cleared channels and waters with sunken ships and other obstacles. Currently, the port is preparing to ship the first shipment in the next few days.

* American voters are pessimistic about the economic situation ahead of the midterm congressional elections in November.

Page The Hill Citing the results of a poll released on May 25, the majority of American voters said their financial situation was deteriorating amid rising inflation and concerns about the risk of an economic recession.

According to a poll conducted by the Center for American Political Studies at Harvard University and market research firm Harris (Havard CAPS/Harris), 56% of voters said their financial situation is improving. worse than.

This is the highest percentage recorded in a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll and a sharp increase from 48% in last month’s survey. Meanwhile, only 20% of voters polled said their financial situation is improving.

The Polish Leopard 2PL tank opened fire on May 24 during an exercise with NATO members near Orzysz, Poland – Photo: REUTERS

* Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba criticized NATO for “doing nothing” to oppose Russia’s military action in Ukraine, while praising the European Union for its “revolutionary decisions”.

In an online speech at the World Economic Forum Davos (Switzerland) on May 25, Mr. Kuleba said: “We see NATO as an alliance, as a separate institution but do nothing.”

* May 25, Russia announces it will start paying foreign debt in rubles after the US stopped applying the exception allowing Moscow to pay in USD currency kept in the Russian market.

It is possible that the above debts will then be converted back to the original currency through Russian financial institutions acting as payment agents.

* The scandal of organizing parties at the British Prime Minister’s Palace while the country applied strict epidemic prevention measures resurfaced after the full report was published on May 25.

The report of senior female civil servant Sue Gray, who is considered to be incorruptible, has shown there were more gatherings than was allowed at the time at the British Prime Minister’s Palace, and there are low-ranking officials who think it’s permissible because… high-ranking officials are present.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was quick to speak before Parliament about taking “full responsibility” for the so-called “party scandal”, but he only apologized and did not talk about resigning.

Court bans decision to wear burkini

Burkini swimwear (right) has been banned in France since 2016 due to public safety and security concerns – Photo: AFP

The decision to allow the wearing of a full-body swimsuit (burkini) approved by the City Council of Grenoble (France) a week ago was blocked by the administrative court on the grounds of “violation of the neutrality of the service”. labour”.

Under a decision that was passed by a narrow vote and is expected to take effect from June 1, local Muslim women will be allowed to wear the burkini in the city’s swimming pools, men are allowed. wear long shorts, and women can also bathe topless in the pools.

* Director General of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Achim Steiner commented: The world is facing many crises at the same timefrom rising public debt to the impact of the conflict in Ukraine, to inflation in energy and food prices.

According to him, there are currently about 60-70 countries facing all three crises at the same time, and this is also the group that is most worrying and needs support from the international community but has not yet received appropriate support.

* Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro defends the police force as “warriors” after the raid on the Vila Cruzeiro slum in the city of Rio de Janeiro on May 24.

During this gunfight, which killed 24 people, Brazilian security forces seized a large number of weapons including dozens of pistols, 10 grenades and at least 13 rifles.

Vila Cruzeiro is one of the dens of Comando Vermelho – the most notorious drug trafficking organization in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Last May, a clash between police and drug traffickers in the Jacarezinho slum – another “base” of Comando Vermelho in the city of Rio de Janeiro, left 28 people dead.

The number of weapons that the Brazilian police seized from the drug cartel after the clash on May 24 in Vila Cruzeiro – Photo: REUTERS

* Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky orders an end to visa-free travel for Russian citizens, with the pretext of improving border security after the conflict with Moscow. According to Reuters news agency, Zelensky said he had sent a letter asking Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to work on ending visa-free travel.

Russian citizens were previously allowed to visit neighboring Ukraine without a visa.

Although he did not provide further details, Mr. Zelensky said he supported a citizen’s petition to end the mechanism.

* The Institute of International Finance (IIF) has cut its global GDP growth outlook for 2022 in half because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the COVID-19 epidemic in China and the tight monetary policy of the US.

According to Reuters, the IIF has cut its forecast for global GDP growth to 2.3% from 4.6%.

Among them, the US, Japan and the euro area are forecast to grow at a rate of 1.9% this year. IIF expects China’s growth to decelerate to 3.5% from 5.1% previously estimated.

The IIF also forecasts capital inflows to emerging markets will fall 42 percent year-on-year.

The same day, World Bank President David Malpass warned that Russia’s “special military campaign” in Ukraine could now trigger a global recession. The conflict in Ukraine is causing food, energy and fertilizer shortages around the world.

A police officer hugs his colleague as he recounts the need to identify the bodies of 19 children in the shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, USA on May 25 – Photo: REUTERS

* On May 26, a US federal judge rejected a lawsuit filed by a group of gun manufacturers, distributors and retailers. According to Reuters, the lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of a law in New York that allows the state and people affected by gun violence to sue the industry.

* On May 25, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak announced that both Russia and Iran have huge oil and gas reserves, but the export of this item is limited due to Western sanctions.

Speaking to Iranian television, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said: “Iran can become a strategic transit point for transport and logistics, thereby ensuring the circulation of goods.”

On the same day, the Shana News Agency reported that Iran’s Oil Minister Javad Owji also shared the same view.

According to Mr. Owji, the two sides have potential to cooperate in energy, banking, transportation, agriculture, nuclear energy, industry and trade, and “the two countries plan to strengthen trade relations in various fields. this sector to 40 billion USD/year”. Russia and Iran also reached an agreement to switch to using their local currencies as much as possible.

An injured man is transported to a hospital after a bomb blast in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif, northern Afghanistan, May 25 – Photo: AP

* On May 25, the European Commission (EC) approved the second annual work program of the European Defense Fund (EDF) with a budget of up to 924 million euros.

According to a statement on the EC’s website, a week after a joint discussion on the defense investment gap, the EC has disbursed new capital to invest in and improve strategic defense capabilities.

In addition, EDF 2022 introduces a series of new tools to accelerate defense innovation, within the framework of the European Union Defense Innovation Program (EUDIS).

EUDIS will work closely with the European Defense Agency’s Innovation Hub. The work program, which includes 33 themes set out under eight proposals, will begin in early June to launch certain iconic projects, from cybersecurity to space or naval warfare. army.

* Announced on Telegram, the so-called Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for an attack in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif, northern Afghanistan.

According to the newspaper Washington PostA series of explosions have rocked Afghanistan, including one inside a mosque in the capital Kabul that killed at least five worshipers.

On May 25, the Taliban announced that in addition to the explosion inside the mosque, there were also three truck bombs in the city of Mazar-i-Sharif that killed nine passengers.

During the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which ends on April 30, many attacks have occurred against prayer facilities and civilians in this southwestern Asian country.