Monday Briefing: Europeans threaten to limit Belarus air traffic after ‘state piracy’

The Reuters Daily Briefing Monday, May 24, 2021 by Linda Noakes Hello Here's what you need to know. Belarus is accused of a "warlike act" as it intercepts a passenger jet, Trump may face a legal probe in Scotland, and a dilemma for pot sellers Today's biggest stories George Floyd's cousin Shareeduh Tate (front R) holds a banner while marching with others during a rally hosted by the George Floyd Global Memorial, outside the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 23, 2021. REUTERS/Nicholas Pfosi U.S. Relatives of George Floyd, the African-American whose death triggered protests against racism and police brutality across the United States and around the world, gathered in a rally to mark the first anniversary of his death in the first of several events planned nationwide. Republicans in the U.S. Congress clashed over the need for an independent commission to investigate the January 6 Capitol riot, with one lawmaker warning that failure to create the panel could plague the party's election prospects in 2022 and beyond. The Scottish government is facing a new legal challenge over its February rejection of a motion to investigate former U.S. President Donald Trump's all-cash purchases of two golf courses, reviving an effort to force Trump to disclose how he financed the deals. Two Manhattan jail guards who were on duty the night Jeffrey Epstein killed himself admitted to falsifying records but will avoid prison under an agreement with U.S. prosecutors to resolve criminal charges. A Ryanair aircraft, which was carrying Belarusian opposition blogger and activist Roman Protasevich and diverted to Belarus, lands at Vilnius Airport in Lithuania May 23, 2021. REUTERS/Andrius Sytas WORLD European leaders threatened to limit international air traffic over Belarus and possibly target its ground transport as well, after Minsk forced an airliner down and arrested a dissident journalist. Eyewitnesses on the flight described the moment Roman Protasevich knew his time was up. Hospitals in Japan's second largest city of Osaka are buckling under a huge wave of new coronavirus infections, running out of beds and ventilators as exhausted doctors warn of a "system collapse", and advise against holding the Olympics this summer. Iran has informed the U.N. nuclear watchdog that it has decided to extend a monitoring deal with the agency for a month, avoiding a collapse that could have thrown wider negotiations on reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers into crisis. A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held into a third day as mediators spoke to all sides about extending the period of calm after the worst outbreak of fighting in years. BUSINESS The U.S. cannabis business has a very particular cashflow problem -- too much of it. We look at the pot sellers stashing the cash as banks leave them high and dry. South Korea's Hyundai Motor plans to ship a new series of fuel-cell trucks to Europe later this year, turning up the heat on rivals in a battle to test the viability of hydrogen-powered heavy goods transport. Cineworld said its UK reopening weekend had topped expectations as animated comedy 'Peter Rabbit 2' drew crowds after months of lockdown, in a promising sign for the cinema industry ahead of the release of summer blockbusters. Big U.S. banks are prepared for credit-card balances to start ticking up again this year as pandemic restrictions ease and stimulus checks stop arriving, setting up the industry for a bump in one of its most profitable businesses. Quote of the day "After the tulip bubble burst, there were still some beautiful flowers left. But when the virtual currency bubble bursts, what would be left are merely some computer codes" Chen Jiahe Chief investment officer of Novem Arcae Technologies China crypto mining business hit by Beijing crackdown Video of the day Thousands flee as Congo's Mount Nyiragongo erupts A volcanic eruption in eastern Congo left a smoking trail of destruction half a mile wide that buried hundreds of houses before halting just short of the city of Goma. And finally… Fifty and fabulous - Mickelson wins PGA Championship Phil Mickelson blocked out the distractions and kept his mind quiet in front of a raucous gallery to win by two strokes and become golf’s oldest major winner. More from Reuters COVID-19 Investigations Breakingviews Legal News Thanks for spending part of your day with us. Share your thoughts You are receiving this email because you signed up for newsletters from Reuters. No longer want to hear from us? Unsubscribe from The Reuters Daily Briefing. Terms, conditions, and privacy statement © 2021 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. 3 Times Square, New York, NY 10036