Tuesday, May 25

*) Israel launches crackdown on Palestinians Israel has launched a crackdown against hundreds of Palestinians who participated in recent protests against Israeli aggression, with a prison rights group saying more arrests are expected in coming days. At least 1,550 Palestinians have so far been arrested over the past two weeks in Israel and the occupied West Bank. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading for the Middle East to meet with Israeli and Palestinian officials, among other regional leaders, in a bid to bolster calm in the region. *) Sanctions imposed on Belarus for diverting plane International condemnation of Belarus is growing, after authorities forced a passenger jet to land in Minsk, and arrested a journalist on board. Many are calling it state piracy. The EU has issued sanctions on Minsk, including banning Belarusian airlines from using EU airspace. *) Mali junta detains senior state officials Mali's interim president and other top officials have been arrested by the junta after a government reshuffle excluded some military officers. Senior state officials have reportedly been detained at a junta base outside the capital Bamako. The interim government was brought to power by a military coup in August last year. *) Syrian tribes reject upcoming Assad-mandated elections Tribes in northern Syria have rejected the upcoming presidential election set to be held in areas controlled by the Assad regime. They say the elections are illegitimate, and violate the rights of the Syrian people to freely elect a government. It's the first poll to be held since 2014, and is widely expected to keep Assad in power for a fourth term. And finally ... *) US Open line judges to be replaced by Hawk-Eye Live Line judges will no longer feature at the US Open after the USTA will implement electronic line calling on all courts at the year's final Grand Slam. Hawk-Eye electronic technology was also used at last year's US Open, apart from the Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong stadiums. The tech was