What a Week: May 1–7

1. Pentagon calls Iran’s military satellite a ‘security concern’

   • Amidst tension between U.S. and Iranian forces in the Gulf of Oman, Pentagon officials are concerned over Iran’s recent launching of a military satellite. While Tehran denies the allegations, the U.S. fears that Iran’s satellite development is a cover for ballistic missile activity.

2. DOJ is Dropping Case Against Ex-Trump Advisor Michael Flynn

   • On Thursday (5/7), the Justice Department announced, “After a considered review of all the facts and circumstances of this case. . . the government has concluded that [Flynn’s interview by the FBI in January 2017] was untethered to, and unjustified by, the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation into Mr. Flynn.” According to one federal prosecutor, “The justification for this move is not credible, and it may be used by criminals in the future to escape legitimate prosecution.”

3. Two white residents were arrested and charged with murder and aggrevated assault in the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery

   • The charges came more than two months after Mr. Arbery’s death had led to protests in Georgia.

4. Democratic Senators Demand Answers on U.S. Involvement in Foiled Venezuela Plot

   • Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro says two Americans will face trial for allegedly being part of a mercenary force that tried to invade the South American country, prompting “Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee [to call] on Trump administration officials to share information about [the] foiled military operation…”

5. ‘How the Covid-19 pandemic is threatening Africa’s wildlife’

   • According to park rangers and conservation experts in Africa, the closure of safari tourism, due to the coronavirus pandemic is not only presenting itself to be harmful to the safari industry, but it is also leading to an increase in illegal animal hunting.