May 27, Thursday, 2021 (1:30 p.m.) Newsline

1. The United Nations Security Council remains divided over the forced landing of a passenger plane in the Belarusian capital and the subsequent detention of a dissident journalist on board. Western members condemned the act, while Russia defended Belarus. 2. Syrian voters are heading to the polls in a presidential election in which incumbent Bashar al-Assad appears almost certain to extend his grip on power.
3. U.S. IT giant Amazon says it is acquiring film studio Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, or MGM, amid competition in the video-streaming business.