‘Chilling effect’: Israel’s ongoing surveillance of Palestinians

Palestinians say Israel's newly exposed facial recognition programme Red Wolf is another way to entrench the occupation.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/7/chilling-effect-israels-ongoing-surveillance-of-palestinians

Sudan fighting in its 23rd day: A list of key events

Fighting continues as warring sides begin pre-negotiation talks with Saudi Arabia and the US as mediators.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/7/sudan-fighting-in-its-23rd-day-a-list-of-key-events

Blasts rock Russia-annexed Crimea as sirens blare across Ukraine

Pro-Moscow official says Ukraine launched more than 10 drones on Crimean peninsula, including three on Sevastopol port.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/7/multiple-explosions-rock-russian-annexed-crimea

Who is Zakhar Prilepin, target of car bomb in Russia?

Novelist and politician has been sanctioned by European nations for his ardent support of Russia's war in Ukraine.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/7/who-is-zakhar-prilepin-target-of-car-bomb-in-russia

Nine people shot, wounded at mall in Allen, Texas; gunman dead

Police in US confirm fatalities, but say they are not able to confirm how many people died in Allen, a Dallas suburb.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/7/nine-people-shot-wounded-at-mall-in-allen-texas-gunman-dead

Ukraine says no sign of Russia’s Wagner force Bakhmut withdrawal

Ukraine military officials say Wagner fighters are being sent to Bakhmut to reinforce their positions, not withdraw.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/6/ukraine-says-no-sign-of-russias-wagner-force-bakhmut-withdrawal

Doha Diamond League: Sha’Carri Richardson, Chopra steal the show

India's Neeja Chopra overcomes windy conditions to win men's javelin as Richardson of the US stuns in women's 100m race.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2023/5/6/doha-diamond-league-shacarri-richardson-chopra-steal-the-show

Pakistan set to host trilateral dialogue with China, Afghanistan

The meeting is taking place following the Chinese and Afghan foreign ministers' arrival in Islamabad.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/6/pakistan-set-to-host-trilateral-dialogue-with-china-afghanistan

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 437

As the war enters its 437th day, we take a look at the main developments.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/6/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-437

Third-place finisher in Paraguay’s presidential election arrested

Paraguayo Cubas Colomés was broadcasting on Facebook Live when he was detained for allegedly 'breaching the peace'.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/5/third-place-finisher-in-paraguays-presidential-election-arrested

US congresswoman introduces bill to restrict aid to Israel

The measure, backed by 17 Democrats, would ban US aid to Israel from contributing to detention of Palestinian children.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/5/us-congresswoman-introduces-bill-to-restrict-aid-to-israel

Sudan army sends envoys for truce talks as fighting rages

Sudanese army sends delegation to Saudi Arabia for talks on humanitarian situation in the capital, Khartoum.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/5/sudan-army-sends-envoys-for-truce-talks-as-fighting-rages

Serbia hit by second mass shooting day after deadly school attack

At least eight were killed and 13 injured after attacker in moving car opened fire on people in town south of Belgrade

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/5/serbia-hit-by-second-mass-shooting-day-after-deadly-school-attack

White House tells tech CEOs they have ‘moral duty’ on AI

US President Joe Biden tells CEOs their work on AI has 'enormous potential and enormous danger'.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/5/5/white-house-tells-tech-ceos-they-have-moral-duty-on-ai

‘Very happy’ Ed Sheeran wins Thinking Out Loud copyright case

Civil lawsuit brought by heirs of Marvin Gaye co-writer closely watched over implications for creative freedom.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/5/very-happy-ed-sheeran-wins-thinking-out-loud-copyright-case

At least one drone downed in new air attack on Ukraine’s Kyiv

Kyiv military administration head Serhiy Popko says city suffered most intense attacks since 'beginning of this year'.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/4/drones-downed-in-fresh-attacks-on-ukrainian-capital

Russia accuses Ukraine of attempting to assassinate Putin

Russia claimed Thursday that the United States was behind an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin that it said was a Ukrainian attempt to assassinate President Vladimir Putin.

The accusation, made without citing any evidence, comes less than 24 hours after Moscow said that it had foiled an overnight drone strike on a building that is the heart of the country’s government and Putin’s residence.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed Thursday that Washington had masterminded the incident. The U.S. swiftly rejected the accusation, saying it had nothing to do with it, as did Ukraine.

“We are well aware that decisions on such a level of terrorist attacks are made not in Kyiv, but in Washington,” Peskov said in his daily briefing with reporters. “Kyiv only does what it is told to do.”

Peskov dismissed American and Ukrainian attempts to “disown” the drone incident as “absolutely ridiculous.”

A Russian investigation into the incident is ongoing, he said, adding that Moscow’s response would involve “thoughtful, balanced and appropriate steps in the interests of our country,” without specifying what they might be. Russia’s security council, chaired by Putin, is due to meet Friday.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby dismissed Peskov’s claim.

“I can assure you there was no involvement by the United States. Whatever it was didn’t involve us,” he said in an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” early Thursday. “We had nothing to do with this, so Peskov is just lying there, pure and simple.”

He added that the U.S. did not “encourage or enable” Ukraine to strike Russia.

Three American officials, speaking to NBC News on Wednesday, said the U.S. had no prior knowledge of any attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also denied that his country was behind the attack. “We are not attacking Putin or Moscow,” he said at a news conference in Finland on Wednesday.

“We are fighting on our own territory, defending our villages and cities,” he added. “We do not have enough weapons even for this. That is why we do not use them elsewhere. We have a deficit. We cannot use everything and everywhere.”

Asked how Putin reacted when told of the alleged attack, Peskov said that the Russian leader “always remains calm, collected, clear in the assessments and commands that he gives out in extreme situations.”

Putin was in the Kremlin on Thursday and the staff were working normally, he said.

Peskov said earlier that Putin was not in the building at the time of the alleged attack, and analysts have dismissed suggestions that this was a serious assassination attempt.

But hard-liners have demanded a reaction, with some calling for a retaliatory strike against Zelenskyy.

The incident took place ahead of Russia’s celebration Tuesday of the then-Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II — an important public holiday that will present a high-profile opportunity for Putin to rally Russians behind the war.

Peskov said air defenses would be tightened, and that this was happening anyway for the military parade in the Red Square. He said the parade would go ahead as normal and include a speech from Putin.

Russia has frequently accused the U.S. of making key decisions for Ukraine during the war. Putin, his officials and state media have repeatedly said that Russia is at war with NATO. The military alliance's expansion into central and Eastern Europe was one of the pretexts for Russia’s invasion.

The U.S. has given Ukraine more than $77 billion in military and humanitarian aid, but has sought to ensure its weapons were not used in attacks on Russian soil.

Washington announced a further $2.6 billion in funding Wednesday, including $500 million in battlefield weaponry such as artillery, tank ammunition, mortars, rockets and fuel tankers.

The news comes ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive that will see Kyiv’s military try to seize back land captured by Russian forces.

A wave of recent incidents has seen blasts hit sites inside both countries as the two sides seemingly lay the ground for the fight to come.

China denies claims it tried to ‘coerce’ Canadian MP, relatives

Denial comes after a media report claimed China tried to target Conservative MP Michael Chong and his family.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/4/china-denies-claims-it-tried-to-coerce-canadian-mp-relatives

‘Time for a new way’: Thais look for change as election nears

Analysts warn failure to honour the outcome could leave the country weak, divided and at risk of crisis.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/4/time-for-a-new-way-thais-look-for-change-as-election-nears

Google, Meta threaten to limit services in Canada over news bill

Proposed legislation would force tech giants to pay Canadian news publishers for their content.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2023/5/4/google-meta-threaten-to-limit-services-in-canada-over-news-bill

Guantanamo prosecution asks for 2025 date in Bali bombing trial

Lawyers leading case against Hambali say more time needed to prepare as defence criticises delays.

source https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/4/guantanamo-prosecution-asks-for-2025-date-in-bali-bombing-trial