Senegal: president Faye dismisses prime minister. A significant political upheaval has occurred in Senegal, as President Bassirou Diomaye Faye terminated the tenure of his Prime Minister, Ousmane Sonko, via decree this Friday, May 22. This abrupt development concludes several months of simmering crises, internal power struggles, and underlying tensions at the highest levels of government. The decision follows just hours after a highly symbolic and impactful address by Sonko to Parliament. During his appearance before lawmakers, Ousmane Sonko had openly acknowledged his disagreements with the head of state, emphatically asserting his role as a Prime Minister who “makes decisions without permission.” Sonko, a hugely popular figure among Senegalese youth, was barred from participating in the 2024 presidential election and subsequently endorsed Bassirou Diomaye Faye as his replacement in the race.

United States: green card applicants must apply from their home country. The Trump administration announced Friday that individuals seeking permanent residency will now be required to return to their country of origin to apply for the coveted green card. This measure significantly complicates what has been the most common pathway for legal immigration. Previously, temporary visa holders could initiate their green card applications from within the United States through an “adjustment of status,” which allowed them to remain in the country while their case was under review. Under this new directive from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USICS), this will no longer be possible. Democratic Representative Chuy García criticized the decision as “absurd and cruel,” stating it will compel “thousands of LEGAL immigrants, including spouses of American citizens, to leave their homes, families, and jobs for weeks, even months, to obtain their green card.”

Tulsi Gabbard resigns as US intelligence chief. Tulsi Gabbard, who served as the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and advocated for a more restrained foreign policy, 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 turbulent period for Ms. Gabbard at the helm of the 18 American intelligence agencies. During her tenure, she was largely excluded by the White House from crucial national security matters, including military operations in Iran and Venezuela.

EU and Mexico strengthen trade agreement. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa collectively strengthened the trade partnership between Mexico and the European Union (EU) on Friday. This revised agreement builds upon the original pact that came into force in 2000. The updated accord aims to eliminate tariffs on nearly all Mexican food exports to Europe, alongside enhancing cooperation in areas such as security, migration, clean energy, and digital commerce. The European Commission highlighted that, in an era of increasing protectionist measures, both partners are sending a strong signal of their continued commitment to free trade.

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