Sénégal: president Faye dismisses prime minister. A significant political shift has occurred in Sénégal, as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye officially terminated the tenure of his Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, via a decree issued this Friday, May 22. This abrupt decision concludes several months of underlying tensions, internal power struggles, and latent disagreements at the very top of the executive branch. The dismissal came just hours after Sonko delivered a symbolically charged address to Parliament. During his appearance before lawmakers, Ousmane Sonko had openly acknowledged his differing views with the head of state, emphatically asserting his role as a Prime Minister empowered to “make decisions without permission.” Sonko, a highly popular figure among Sénégal’s youth, had been barred from participating in the 2024 presidential election, subsequently endorsing Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his replacement in the race.

United States: green card applicants must apply from their home countries. The Trump administration announced on Friday a new directive requiring applicants for permanent residency to return to their country of origin to apply for the coveted Green Card. This measure significantly complicates what has traditionally been the most common pathway for legal immigration. Previously, individuals holding temporary resident visas could initiate their Green Card application processes from within the United States, utilizing a “status adjustment” provision that allowed them to remain in the country while their cases were under review. Under this new guidance from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), this option will no longer be available. Democratic Representative Chuy García condemned the decision on X, labeling it “absurd and cruel,” warning it would force “thousands of LEGAL immigrants, including spouses of American citizens, to abandon their homes, families, and jobs for weeks, or even months, to secure their Green Card.”

Tulsi Gabbard resigns as us national intelligence chief. Tulsi Gabbard, who served as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and advocated for a more measured foreign policy approach, tendered her resignation to Donald Trump on Friday. She cited her decision to step down to support her husband, who is battling a rare form of bone cancer. Her departure, effective June 30, marks the end of a tumultuous period for Ms. Gabbard at the helm of the 18 U.S. intelligence agencies. Throughout her tenure, she was largely excluded by the White House from key national security discussions, particularly concerning military operations in Iran and Venezuela.

EU and Mexico bolster trade agreement. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa convened on Friday to strengthen the commercial partnership between Mexico and the European Union (EU), which initially came into force in 2000. The revised agreement aims to eliminate tariffs on nearly all Mexican food exports to Europe, alongside enhancing cooperation in critical areas such as security, migration, clean energy, and digital trade. The European Commission highlighted that, at a time when protectionist measures are increasingly prevalent, this renewed partnership sends a powerful message, affirming both parties’ continued commitment to free trade.

New hantavirus case linked to MV Hondius cruise ship. A further case of hantavirus associated with the MV Hondius cruise ship was confirmed on Friday. The infected individual was a crew member who disembarked in Tenerife before being transferred to the Netherlands, bringing the total number of infections to twelve. The death toll remains at three fatalities, according to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). He noted that no new deaths have been recorded since May 2, which was when the outbreak was first reported to the WHO.