Portal:Current events/May 2017

See also: May 2017 in sports

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May 2017 was the fifth month of that common year. The month, which began on a Monday, ended on a Wednesday after 31 days.

Portal:Current events

This is an archived version of Wikipedia's Current events Portal from May 2017.

May 1, 2017 (2017-05-01) (Monday) Armed conflicts and attacks International Workers' Day Workers' Party of Belgium representative Raoul Hedebouw gets stabbed in the thigh, moments before holding a speech in Liège, Belgium. The presumed assailant is arrested. (Sudinfo) Turkish police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators marching to Taksim Square. Over 200 people are arrested at protests around the city of Istanbul. (Reuters) Marches in Paris are disrupted as French riot police fire tear gas at violent protesters ahead of the second round of the presidential election. (Evening Standard) Disasters and accidents A series of earthquakes, the largest registering 6.3, strike near Mosquito Lake, Alaska, near the Alaskan border with British Columbia, Canada. At least one office building and two schools were heavily damaged and evacuated in the Yukon. (USA Today) (CBC News) Severe clear-air turbulence on an Aeroflot flight from Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow to Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok, subjects 27 passengers to injuries including bone fractures. (CNN) International relations The Momentum Movement holds a pro-EU, anti-Russia march attended by approximately 10,000 in Budapest, Hungary, chanting “Europe, not Moscow” in support of the EU and against Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. (Euractiv) (BBJ) North Korea–United States relations Two Rockwell B-1B Lancer heavy bombers are flown over the Korean Peninsula by the United States, leading North Korea to accuse the US of preparing for nuclear warfare. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Law and crime Saudi Arabia announces the arrest of 46 of what it describes as militants connected with the summer 2016 suicide bombing of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina. (Reuters) A knife attack leaves one dead and three injured at the University of Texas at Austin. (CNN) May 2, 2017 (2017-05-02) (Tuesday) Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian civil war According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 38 people are killed, including civilians and Syrian Democratic Forces fighters, after ISIL militants attack a camp for displaced Syrian and Iraqi refugees near Al-Shaddadah, Al-Hasakah Governorate. (BBC) International relations North Korea and weapons of mass destruction, North Korea–United States relations North Korea vows to accelerate its nuclear weapons programme to "maximum pace" and test a nuclear device "at any time" in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive stance towards the regime. (The Guardian) Politics and elections 2017 United Kingdom general election Conservative leader Theresa May states she will be a "bloody difficult woman" in her negotiations with Jean-Claude Juncker regarding the rights of EU nationals after Brexit. (BBC) 2017 French presidential election Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is accused of plagiarising a speech by François Fillon. (BBC) Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka has announced that he will submit his government's resignation because of a disagreement with Finance Minister Andrej Babiš. (BBC) Philippine drug war Philippine vice president Leni Robredo faces an impeachment charge before the House of Representatives for condemning the country's war on drugs at the United Nations. (Philippine Star) 2014–17 Venezuelan protests President Nicolás Maduro announces the drafting of a new constitution amid massive protests. (Los Angeles Times) May 3, 2017 (2017-05-03) (Wednesday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) A suicide bombing attack on a NATO convoy in Kabul kills eight civilians and injures at least 28 people. (Reuters) Somali Public Works Minister Abbas Abdullahi Sheikh Siraji is shot and killed inside his vehicle by security forces near the Villa Somalia in the capital Mogadishu, after mistaking him for a militant. (BBC) (BNO News) Arts and culture Plans for a Chicago-based presidential library in honour of the former U.S. President Obama are revealed. (NBC) Business and economy Puerto Rico government-debt crisis Puerto Rico files for the largest "local government" bankruptcy in the United States. (Reuters) Disasters and accidents An explosion at a coal mine near Azadshahr, Iran, kills at least 35 miners and traps 39 others, according to state media. (BBC) A car crash at an auto auction in Billerica, Massachusetts, kills at least three and injures nine, two critically. (CNN) Politics and elections French presidential election, 2017 Candidates Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron face off in a debate. (The Guardian) United Kingdom general election, 2017 Conservative politician Theresa May accuses European Union officials of trying to influence the upcoming elections. (The Scotsman) May 4, 2017 (2017-05-04) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2017 Venezuelan protests A student is killed amid gunfire in El Tigre, raising the death toll in protests against Nicolás Maduro's government to at least 37 in the past month. (ABC News) Arts and culture Buckingham Palace announces that 95-year-old Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince consort of Queen Elizabeth II, will retire from royal duties in August. (BBC) Disasters and accidents Asian Dust A severe dust storm impacts North China, causing flight cancellations at Beijing Capital International Airport. (The Daily Star) International relations The Holy See and Myanmar establish full diplomatic relations following a meeting between Pope Francis and Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. (National Catholic Reporter) A memorandum is signed by Russia, Iran, and Turkey calling for de-escalation of the Syrian Civil War, although neither the Syrian government nor the Syrian opposition are signatories. (The New York Times) Politics and elections United Kingdom local elections, 2017 The British people vote locally. (The Telegraph) Georgia's 6th congressional district special election, 2017 The campaign of Jon Ossoff wins a lawsuit extending voter registration. (Atlanta Journal Constitution) Algerian legislative election, 2017 Voter turnout is predicted to be low as Algerians go to the polls to elect members of the People's National Assembly. (Al Jazeera) Efforts to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, American Health Care Act of 2017 The Republican-controlled United States House of Representatives votes in favor of the repeal of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and passage of the House's 2017 American Health Care Act, by a narrow, 217–213 vote. Twenty Republicans and all Democrats opposed the bill, which now heads to the United States Senate for its legislative action. (CNN) (Fox News) Science and technology Scientists confirm that Denmark has its first wild pack of Gray wolves for the first time in 200 years. (The Guardian) May 5, 2017 (2017-05-05) (Friday) Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian Civil War Russia, Iran and Turkey reach an agreement, effective this midnight, to establish four "safe zones" in Syria over which all military aircraft, including Turkish, Russian, and American aircraft, will be barred from flying. (Reuters) (Fox News) The United Nations welcomed the long discussed safe zones, although they have been rejected by Syrian rebels and the Kurdish PYD. (Reuters) (Fox News) (Reuters) Afghan border police and the Pakistani military clash at a border crossing near Chaman, killing at least 13 people and wounding over 80 others. Both sides blame each other for the flareup in fighting. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) International relations United States senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) file a bill restricting arms sales to the Philippine National Police over its drug war. (Rappler) Law and crime 2012 Delhi gang rape The Indian Supreme Court upholds the death sentences imposed on four men convicted in the 2012 gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old woman on board a bus in South Delhi. (Reuters) Hundreds of prisoners escape from an overcrowded jail in Pekanbaru, Indonesia. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Politics and elections United Kingdom local elections, 2017 Results from yesterday's elections show significant swings towards the Conservative Party and away from the Labour Party. (The Guardian) Algerian legislative election, 2017 Results from yesterday's election give a reduced majority of seats to Abdelaziz Bouteflika's incumbent coalition. (Al Jazeera) French presidential election, 2017 Files purportedly from the campaign of Emmanuel Macron are posted online. Macron campaign officials say the files are a mix of fake and authentic documents and drew parallels with what happened in the 2016 US Presidential elections. (CNN) Political appointments of Donald Trump Tennessee state senator and former Army flight surgeon Mark Green withdraws his name from consideration as Secretary of the Army because of political opposition. Green was the Trump Administration's second nominee for this position. (The New York Times) (AP via U.S. News & World Report) Science and technology The Comac C919 makes its maiden flight from Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China. (FlightGlobal) ISRO has successfully launched a new communications satellite for South Asia from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India. (BBC) May 6, 2017 (2017-05-06) (Saturday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Pope Francis criticizes naming the U.S. military's biggest non-nuclear explosive as the Mother of All Bombs, saying that the word "mother" should not be used in reference to a deadly weapon. (Reuters) Somali Civil War (2009–present) A United States Navy SEAL is killed, becoming the first U.S. service member killed in Somalia since 1993, and three others are injured in a gunfight with al-Shabaab militants, west of Mogadishu. (NBC News) 2017 Venezuelan protests A young man is shot dead in Valencia, Carabobo, amid ongoing protests against the government of Nicolás Maduro. Protesters tear down a statue of former President Hugo Chávez in Rosario de Perijá. (The Guardian) Boko Haram insurgency, Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping Nigerian officials report, as a result of negotiations, Boko Haram has released an estimated 82 schoolgirls who were among about 220 kidnapped from a secondary school in Chibok in Borno State in April 2014. (Reuters) Disasters and accidents 2016–17 South Pacific cyclone season Severe Tropical Cyclone Donna is upgraded to a Category Four, and continues to damage houses and infrastructure in the north of Vanuatu, particularly in Torba Province. (Radio New Zealand) As many as 30 people, mostly children, are killed after a school bus plunges off a road into a steep ravine in the Arusha Region of northern Tanzania. (BBC) At least 36 people are dead after two buses crash on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway in Nigeria. (Daily Post) International relations Pope Francis meets with Swiss President Doris Leuthard. During her discussions with the Pope and with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, the parties expressed a desire to strengthen Church-state collaboration. (Holy See Press Office) Politics and elections French presidential election, 2017 Voting begins in territories and diplomatic missions west of Metropolitan France for the second round of the presidential election between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen. (Bloomberg) France's electoral commission orders French media not to publish contents of Emmanuel Macron's leaked campaign emails to avoid influencing the presidential election, warning journalists could face criminal charges for publishing the material. (The Independent) Socialist Party National Assembly member Corinne Erhel dies after collapsing during a speech at a rally in support of Emmanuel Macron in Plouisy. (Sky News) The current French President François Hollande vows to respond to the Macron hack attack. (BBC) Hamas, which is seeking to reconcile with rival Palestinian organizations, elects former Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh its new leader, replacing term-limited Khaled Meshaal. Last week, Hamas dropped its longstanding call for Israel's destruction, and severed ties with the Muslim Brotherhood. (Reuters) Sports 2017 Kentucky Derby Always Dreaming wins the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Looking at Lee finished second and Battle of Midway was third. (Los Angeles Times) Canelo Álvarez vs. Julio César Chávez Jr. In boxing, Canelo Álvarez defeats fellow Mexican Julio César Chávez Jr. by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring Álvarez as the winner of all 12 rounds. (ESPN) May 7, 2017 (2017-05-07) (Sunday) Disasters and accidents At least 11 people are dead after a bus and truck collide in Vietnam's Gia Lai province. (The Straits Times) Around 50,000 people are evacuated from the German city of Hanover while bomb disposal experts defuse three bombs dropped by the Royal Air Force during World War II. (BBC) A state of emergency is declared in Montreal, Canada as 1,200 Canadian Forces personnel are deployed in the province of Quebec to help with rising floodwaters. 146 communities are affected and more than 1,500 residents have been evacuated from their homes. (CBC) In Chicago, 4 are killed and 5 injured when a speeding car accidentally hit a parked car and then crashed head-on into a CTA transit bus. (NBC Chicago) Law and crime France bans the breeding of killer whales and dolphins in captivity and orders aquariums and water parks to expand their pools within three years following a campaign by animal rights groups. (The Independent) In China city of Weihai, authorities eventually concluded that what appeared to be an accident was a school bus driver driving students from China and South Korea to an international school set fire to the bus in a tunnel, killing two adults and 11 children. The bus driver who died was angry that his overtime allowance had been suspended. (CTGN) (New York Post) Politics and elections French presidential election, 2017 Voters in France return to the polls for a run-off, to elect either Emmanuel Macron or Marine Le Pen as the new President of France. (BBC) Macron wins the election, earning 66.1% of the vote to Le Pen's 33.9%, becoming the youngest French head of state since Napoleon. (The New York Times) (Reuters) Science and technology The United States Air Force's unmanned spacecraft X-37B successfully lands at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility in Merritt Island, Florida, after spending a record-breaking 718 days in orbit. The landing was responsible for reports of sonic booms across central Florida. (CBS News) Sport 2016–17 A-League In association football, Sydney FC defeats the Melbourne Victory 4-2 in the A-League Grand Final after a penalty shootout. (The Canberra Times) May 8, 2017 (2017-05-08) (Monday) Business and economy At the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport, Spirit Airlines cancels eleven flights and delays 30 due to a dispute between the airline and its pilots (as talks occur between the airline and the pilots' union, Air Line Pilots Association, International). Protests break out and three travelers are arrested. (The New York Times) Law and crime Philippine Drug War The United Nations Human Rights Council conducts a periodic review of the human rights situation in the Philippines. (The Philippine Star) The Phoenix, Arizona police arrest the suspected Maryvale serial shooter. (ABC 15) Politics and elections Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections Sally Yates testifies before the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism concerning investigations into Russia's role in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and in the Trump administration. (CNN) Political appointments of Donald Trump The United States Senate confirms Heather Wilson as Secretary of the Air Force. (The Washington Post) Science and technology Rare specimens of daisies from the 1850s originally held in the National Museum of Natural History in Paris were reportedly destroyed by Australia in March allegedly due to incomplete paperwork. (BBC) The journal Genes & Development publishes research from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in a mouse-model study (which may translate over to humans) alluding as to why hair turns gray and goes bald. The scientists describe a protein called KROX20 which switches on skin cells that become a hair shaft, which then causes cells to produce another protein called stem cell factor. In mice, these two proteins are important for baldness and graying. (Time) May 9, 2017 (2017-05-09) (Tuesday) International relations Syria–United States relations, Turkey–United States relations Despite opposition from Turkey, President Donald Trump authorizes an arms deal with the Syrian Kurds to assist the Syrian Democratic Forces in their fight against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). (CNN) Law and crime Former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, popularly known as "Ahok", is found guilty of blasphemy and sentenced to two years in prison. The accusation that he insulted the Quran sparked large protests last November. (The Guardian) Politics and elections South Korean presidential election, 2017 South Koreans vote in a presidential election, with Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea winning the election. (TIME) (The Hill) Moon Jae-in pledges to make South Korea "a just, united country." (Reuters) Dismissal of James Comey U.S. President Donald Trump removes James Comey as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with Andrew G. McCabe stepping in as acting director. (BBC) The Assembly of California votes in favor of ending a ban which barred members of the Communist Party USA from holding positions in the state government. (NPR), (AP via Fox News) Georgia's 6th congressional district special election, 2017 The election between Democrat Jon Ossoff and Republican Karen Handel to replace the seat vacated by Tom Price becomes the most expensive congressional race in United States history. (CNN) May 10, 2017 (2017-05-10) (Wednesday) Arts and culture Pope Francis intends to canonize two of the children who had visions at Fatima. (The Salt Lake Tribune) International relations Cross-Strait relations A spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of People's Republic of China says Taiwan is barred from observing this year’s World Health Assembly because current President Tsai Ing-wen has not endorsed the Beijing view that both sides belong to a single China under the One-China policy; the spokesman further said that the health of people in Taiwan is not being put at risk by Taiwan's inability to attend. (Voice of America) (Reuters) Politics and elections Bahamian general election, 2017 Voters in the Bahamas go to the polls to elect all 39 members of the House of Assembly. (Miami Herald) Incumbent Prime Minister Perry Christie of the Progressive Liberal Party concedes defeat to Hubert Minnis of the Free National Movement. (Al Jazeera) Lawmakers in the Parliament Assembly of Kosovo vote in a no-confidence motion to remove the government of Prime Minister Isa Mustafa from office, triggering a snap election that is due to take place next month. (Al Jazeera) Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections The U.S. Attorney's Office in Alexandria, Virginia, through U.S. Attorney Dana Boente, issues subpoenas to former National Security Advisor Michael T. Flynn to assess the extent of his ties to Russia. (CNN) May 11, 2017 (2017-05-11) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks Battle of Mosul The Iraqi army's chief of staff, Lt Gen Othman al-Ghanmi, states that his security forces are only days away from completing the operation to recapture Mosul from ISIL. (BBC) Arts and culture The New Orleans City Council removes the statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis in New Orleans. This action is the second of four planned removals of Confederate monuments in the city. (NPR) Health and medicine 2015–16 Zika virus epidemic The federal government of Brazil informs the World Health Organization that it is ending its state of emergency concerning the Zika virus, following a 95.3% reduction in cases in early 2017 compared to early 2016. (AFP via Seven News) International relations Representatives of the Arctic Council, a group of eight countries that border the Arctic Circle, meet in Alaska to discuss oil drilling. (The Washington Post) Law and crime Triple Talaq in India The Supreme Court of India begins hearings on whether oral divorce is a fundamental right of Islam. (The Times of India) Moscow police detain five protesters after they attempted to deliver a petition to investigate the status of LGBT rights in Chechnya to the Prosecutor General of Russia. (BBC) The Federal Bureau of Investigation raids a Republican fundraising firm in Annapolis, Maryland. (Bloomberg) Politics and elections United Kingdom general election, 2017 An unknown person or organization leaks a 45-page draft campaign manifesto, described as "the most left-wing," of the Labour Party, that is due for official confirmation tomorrow. (BBC) (CNN) French parliamentary election, 2017 French President-elect Emmanuel Macron announces his slate of candidates for the upcoming elections for French Parliament. (Reuters) May 12, 2017 (2017-05-12) (Friday) Armed conflicts and attacks A bomb hits a convoy of the Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, near Mastung in the province of Balochistan, killing at least 25 people and injuring 35 others, including the Senate's Deputy Chairman. (Reuters) An explosion outside a prominent post office in Rome causes damage to a car; however, no injuries or deaths have been reported. A preliminary investigation indicated it was most likely “a demonstrative act, showing that it could be done”. (The Guardian) WannaCry ransomware attack A large scale international cyber-attack using the WannaCry ransomware package disrupts computer and telephone systems in thousands of cases across 99 countries. Affected organisations include: England's NHS, with doctors reporting messages demanding money; MegaFon and Sberbank in Russia; Telefónica, Iberdrola, and Gas Natural in Spain; and FedEx. (BBC) (AP/Reuters via ABC Australia) Arts and culture Catholics in Portugal converge in a shrine in Fatima for a visit by Pope Francis. (BBC) British author J. K. Rowling urges fans to refrain from buying a manuscript written by her, a Harry Potter prequel, which was originally auctioned off for charity but was later stolen. (People) Law and crime A judge in Alkmaar, the Netherlands, grants a 12-year-old boy the right to decide for himself on whether or not to continue chemotherapy. The ruling was based on a psychiatric evaluation of the patient as being "capable of a reasonable evaluation of his interests and realizes the consequences — including the negative ones — of his decision." (The Charlotte Observer) Costa Concordia disaster The Italian Supreme Court of Cassation upholds Francesco Schettino's 16-year sentence for his role as Captain of the Costa Concordia in the deaths of 32 people. (BBC) (Reuters) A shooting attack at a nursing home in Kirkersville, Ohio, kills four people, including a police chief and the shooter. (ABC News) Politics and elections Iranian presidential election, 2017 Candidates debate on live television with the rivals of frontrunner and current president, Hassan Rouhani, taking aim at his economic policies. (Bloomberg) Sports 2016–17 Premier League In association football, Chelsea have secured the Premier League title after winning away against West Bromwich Albion. (BBC) May 13, 2017 (2017-05-13) (Saturday) Armed conflicts and attacks Insurgency in Balochistan Gunmen open fire on construction workers at Gwadar Port, Pakistan, killing at least 10 people. The Balochistan Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack. (Al Jazeera) WannaCry ransomware attack A ransomware cyberattack continues to infect computers of private and public organisations around the world, and demand payment in bitcoin. The method used by the program, EternalBlue, was originally developed by the National Security Agency to exploit a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, and was leaked by The Shadow Brokers in April. (BBC/Reuters/RNZ via RNZ) Ivorian soldiers block access to Bouaké, the second-largest city in Ivory Coast amid a dispute over pay. The town of Odienné is also reported to be under mutineer control. (BBC) Arts and culture Pope Francis canonizes Jacinta and Francisco Marto, two of the three Fátima children who reported seeing the Virgin Mary in the spring and summer of 1917. The Martos, who died during the post-World War I international influenza pandemic, are the Catholic Church's youngest saints who did not die as martyrs. The other child, Lúcia de Jesus dos Santos, survived until the year 2005, when she was 97 years old. (NBC News) (The New York Times) The Venice Biennale awards its top prize, the Golden Lion for best national participation, to German artist and choreographer Anne Imhoff for her total totalitarianism exhibition "Faust." (The New York Times) (Art News) 2017 Eurovision Song Contest Salvador Sobral of Portugal wins the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Amar pelos dois. While the country debuted in the 1964 edition of the contest, this marks the first win by a Portuguese entrant. (Irish Times) Disasters and accidents A bus carrying tourists crashes near the resort town of Marmaris in southwest Turkey, killing at least 17 people and leaving 13 others injured. (Reuters) 2017 Adendro train derailment A TrainOSE passenger train derails near the Greek village of Adendro, leaving at least four people dead and five seriously injured. (Sky News) A 5.7 magnitude earthquake kills at least three people in the town of Pish Qaleh in northeast Iran. (The Australian) (Al Jazeera) Sports In motorsports, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Aric Almirola is cut from his vehicle and airlifted to a local hospital with undisclosed injuries after a crash late in the Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway. (FOX Sports) May 14, 2017 (2017-05-14) (Sunday) Armed conflicts and attacks Yemeni Civil War According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, a cholera outbreak has since April 27 killed at least 115 people and left another 8,500 ill across Yemen. (Al Jazeera) WannaCry ransomware attack Shortly after the attack began a researcher found an effective kill switch, which prevented many new infections, and allowed time to patch systems. This greatly slowed the spread. Cyber security authorities discover new versions that lack the kill switch. (The Hacker News) (Der Spiegel) (Tech Crunch) International relations North Korea and weapons of mass destruction, 2017 North Korean missile tests U.S. and South Korean officials confirm that North Korea launched a test missile from the west coast city of Kusong. The projectile travelled to the east for 30 minutes and 435 miles (700 km) reaching an altitude of more than 1,245 miles (2,004 km) before landing in the Sea of Japan, 60 miles (97 km) south of the Russian city of Vladivostok. (CBS via MSN) (BBC) (Reuters) The Government of China begins a two-day summit in Beijing, in an attempt to raise international support for its Belt and Road Initiative. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Politics and elections North Rhine-Westphalia state election, 2017 Voters in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia head to the polls, with the media suggesting a victory for Angela Merkel's CDU over the SPD, who have lead the state for all but five years since 1966. (Al Jazeera) French presidential election, 2017 France swears in Emmanuel Macron as the 25th President of France. (Reuters via ABC News Australia) May 15, 2017 (2017-05-15) (Monday) Business and economy Western Digital appeals to arbitration in an effort to prevent its partner Toshiba, from selling its chip-making operation, Toshiba Memory. (Reuters) Disasters and accidents A Philadelphia-originating Learjet crashes in Carlstadt as it approached Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, killing at least two people. (CNN) An Akron, Ohio fire kills seven people, including five children and two adults. (Fox News 8) Health and medicine A small study shows that two known carcinogens, o-toluidine and 2-naphthylamine, were found in greater amounts in the urine of e-cigarette users than in nonusers. Previous studies of traditional cigarette smokers have identified o-toluidine and 2-naphthylamine as the two most carcinogenic molecules for the bladder. (Medscape Medical News) International relations Donald Trump revelation of classified information to Russia According to a current and a former unnamed U.S. government official, President Donald Trump revealed classified information that jeopardized a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State during his Oval Office meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister and Ambassador on May 10. (The Washington Post) (The New York Times) (Reuters) Law and crime Papua New Guinean media reports confirm that 17 people were fatally shot by prison officers during a prison escape in Lae on May 12. (Al Jazeera) A trial at a court in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, opens to try former President Blaise Compaoré and members of his cabinet in absentia. Burkina Faso accuses Compaoré, who is in exile in the Ivory Coast, of ordering the killing of protesters during the uprising that ousted him in 2014. (Al Jazeera) Voter ID laws in the United States The U.S. Supreme Court rules that the North Carolina state legislative members do not have standing to request an appeal of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruling against a law which it found discriminated against black voters. (Reuters) Moors murderer Ian Brady, one of a pair of killers whose victims from 1963–65 were five children aged between 10 and 17, dies at the age of 79. (ITV) Mexican Drug War An unknown gunman shoots and kills veteran journalist Javier Valdez Cárdenas, who is noted for his investigative reporting on Mexico's war on drugs, in Culiacán, Sinaloa. (AP via Fox News) Politics and elections Iranian presidential election, 2017 Tehran Mayor Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf withdraws his candidacy. (Tehran Times) May 16, 2017 (2017-05-16) (Tuesday) Armed conflicts and attacks WannaCry ransomware attack The cybersecurity firms Kaspersky Lab and Symantec report that technical evidence connects the WannaCry ransomware attack to the North Korean-backed Lazarus Group. North Korea is also believed to be responsible for previous cyberattacks on the SWIFT banking system and against Sony Pictures. (The Guardian) (The New York Times) Business and economy The Office for National Statistics in the United Kingdom states that consumer prices in Britain rose by an annualized 2.7% in April, the highest level of inflation in almost four years. (Reuters) International relations Syrian Civil War Israeli Minister of Construction Yoav Galant states that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad should be assassinated. Yesterday, the United States Department of State accused the al-Assad government of using a crematory at Sednaya Prison to cover up the mass murders of thousands of political prisoners. The Syrian government denies the accusations. (Fox News) (The New York Times) Donald Trump revelation of classified information to Russia In a series of tweets, President Donald Trump acknowledges that he shared classified information with Russian envoys, contradicting earlier White House denials. (The Washington Post) U.S. intelligence officials had warned Israel not to share sensitive information with President Trump, out of fear that it could be leaked to Russia, and then from Russia to Iran. (Newsweek) Politics and elections Comey memos The New York Times reports that a memo from James Comey, read in part to a reporter by a Comey associate, revealed that President Donald Trump asked him to end the F.B.I. investigation of Michael T. Flynn. The White House denies the version of events in the memo. (The New York Times) Jason Chaffetz, the Chairman of the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sends a letter to the Federal Bureau of Investigation demanding all documents related to correspondence between President Trump and former FBI Director James Comey. (NBC News) Iranian presidential election, 2017 In an expected event, Eshaq Jahangiri withdraws his candidacy and urges his supporters to vote for incumbent president Hassan Rouhani. (BBC) Science and technology The first synchrotron in the Middle East, SESAME, opens in Jordan, marking a rare cooperation between Iran, Israel, Turkey, and the Palestinian Authority. (BBC News) May 17, 2017 (2017-05-17) (Wednesday) Armed conflicts and attacks Bundu dia Kongo followers free their leader and 50 other inmates with an attack on the Makala jail of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera) (Pulse Nigeria) Central African Republic Civil War According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, at least 115 human bodies are discovered in the border town of Bangassou, more than previously thought. A few days prior, militias attacked the town, with the United Nations reporting that at least 26 people were killed. (Al Jazeera) War in Afghanistan Four militants attack a state television building in Jalalabad, killing at least six people. The militants are also killed after engaging with Afghan police. ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack. (BBC) International relations Ukraine–European Union relations Representatives of the European Parliament and European Council sign a document formally granting Ukrainians visa-free travel to the European Union. The visa-free regime is due to enter into force on June 11. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Two Chinese aircraft intercept a US WC-135 aircraft over the East China Sea. (BBC) Law and crime United States Army soldier Chelsea Manning is released from prison after serving seven years. Manning was sentenced by a U.S. military court to 35 years in prison, but her sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama. (The Guardian) Politics and elections Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny announces that he will step down as leader of Fine Gael from midnight, but will remain Taoiseach until a leader is elected. (The Irish Times) President of France Emmanuel Macron nominates the full Édouard Philippe government. Jean-Yves Le Drian becomes foreign minister, Sylvie Goulard defence minister, Bruno Le Maire minister of economy, and Gérard Collomb minister of the interior. (The Independent) Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appoints former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the FBI’s investigation of Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 election. (ABC News) (Bloomberg) May 18, 2017 (2017-05-18) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks Syrian Civil War, American-led intervention in Syria United States aircraft bomb a convoy belonging to the Syrian pro-government militia within a so-called "deconfliction zone" around Al-Tanf. (CBS News) (Independent) During a failed offensive on the Damascus-Aleppo road, ISIS massacres 52 residents of a village east of Salamiyah, Hama Governorate. ( Morning Star Online) Dozens of displaced civilians from al-Khafse and nearby villages in the countryside of Manbij gather in the village of Arbaa al-Kabir to protest against the Bashar al-Assad government, demanding the removal of pro-Assad forces from their villages and calling for the intervention of the Syrian Democratic Forces after accusing regime forces of looting houses and threatening residents. (Ara News) In a shooting incident near Huwara in the West Bank, a mob of some 200 Arabs hurl stones and rocks toward an Israeli car and try to lynch the driver. The Israeli driver fires his weapon, killing one Palestinian. (Arutz Sheva) Arts and culture Roger Ailes, the former Chairman and founding CEO of Fox News, dies at the age of 77. (The Washington Post via MSN) Chris Cornell, the lead vocalist for the Seattle rock band Soundgarden, commits suicide by hanging in Detroit, Michigan after a concert at the age of 52. (The New York Times) The 2017 season of the Pemberton Music Festival, a prominent music festival scheduled to occur July 13–16 in the Canadian city of Pemberton, British Columbia, is cancelled following declaration of bankruptcy by the organizers. (Global News) Disasters and accidents 2017 Times Square car attack A car crashes into pedestrians in New York City's Times Square, killing one person and injuring several others. Police are investigating the incident as an accident. (NBC News) (CNN) (BBC) International relations Turkey–United States relations The U.S. summons Turkish ambassador Serdar Kılıç after violence between protesters and Turkish security personnel outside the Embassy of Turkey, Washington, D.C. leaves over a dozen people injured. U.S. Senator John McCain calls on the Trump administration to expel the ambassador. (BBC) Politics and elections Iranian presidential election, 2017 Official campaigning ends with opinion polling showing Hassan Rouhani and Ebrahim Raisi as the two leading candidates. (Euronews) May 19, 2017 (2017-05-19) (Friday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in Afghanistan A roadside bomb kills at least 11 people, all from the same family, in Logar Province. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) Law and crime Assange v Swedish Prosecution Authority Swedish prosecutors drop a seven-year sexual assault investigation into WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. (AP via Yahoo! News) (BBC) Anthony Weiner sexting scandals Former U.S. Congressman Anthony Weiner pleads guilty to sexting with a 15-year-old girl. (Reuters) Corruption in Brazil The Brazilian Supreme Federal Court releases a plea bargain testimony from JBS S.A., revealing that the company paid 500 million reais in bribes to politicians, including current President Michel Temer and his predecessors Dilma and Lula. (Reuters) Politics and elections Iranian presidential election, 2017 Voters in Iran go to the polls to elect the President of Iran. Final opinion polls continue to predict that the incumbent Hassan Rouhani of the Moderation and Development Party will receive a majority of votes, with the conservative Combatant Clergy Association's Ebrahim Raisi as his main competition. (BBC) A huge turnout estimated at more than 40 million out of 56 million registered voters, led to the vote being extended by several hours to deal with long queues. (Al Jazeera) Incumbent President Hassan Rouhani has a lead, citing an early official tally, and is on course to defeat his rival Ebrahim Raisi. (Reuters) Net neutrality in the United States The Federal Communications Commission votes to overturn a 2015 ruling requiring net neutrality. (BBC) California independence California independence supporters submit their second formal bid for a 2018 ballot concerning Calexit. (Los Angeles Times) Political appointments of Donald Trump Goldman Sachs banker Jim Donovan withdraws from consideration as Deputy Treasury Secretary in order to have time for his family. (Politico) May 20, 2017 (2017-05-20) (Saturday) Armed conflicts and attacks Second Libyan Civil War The death toll from an attack on a Libyan National Army-controlled airbase in southern Libya reportedly rises to 140 people. (BBC) Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping 82 of the female students recently released by Boko Haram reunite with their families in Abuja. (The Guardian) International relations Saudi Arabia–United States relations U.S. President Donald Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia, his first of three scheduled foreign trips. Trump signs an arms deal with King Salman worth more than US$100 billion. (Al Jazeera) (ABC News) U.S. President Trump is awarded his first foreign order, the Order of King Abdulaziz. (New York Times) China–United States relations Former United States officials report that 18–20 Central Intelligence Agency sources were killed or imprisoned by the Government of China between 2010 and 2012, which significantly hampered the United States Intelligence Community. (The New York Times) Enes Kanter, a Turkish basketballer playing in the American National Basketball Association, is detained at Henri Coandă International Airport after his Turkish passport was cancelled. (BBC) Politics and elections Iranian presidential election, 2017 Incumbent President Hassan Rouhani is re-elected with 23.5 million votes, defeating Ebrahim Raisi who received 15.7 million votes. (Al Jazeera) (AP via ABC News) 2017 Venezuelan protests Marking the 50th consecutive day of protests, hundreds of thousands demonstrate throughout Venezuela against President Nicolás Maduro, with civil unrest growing despite the increasing number of casualties. (The Guardian) Sport In American horse racing, Cloud Computing wins the 2017 Preakness Stakes in only his fourth race. (Yahoo! Sports) May 21, 2017 (2017-05-21) (Sunday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) A Taliban raid kills at least 20 Afghan police officers in southern Afghanistan. (AFP via Dunya News) An Indonesian maritime patrol boat, the KM Hiu Macan 001, intercepts five boats and arrested 55 Vietnamese crew members for allegedly poaching off Natuna Islands, but after an unexpected aggressive intervention by Vietnamese coast guards forces the Indonesian authorities to back off, release the arrested men and return to base empty handed. (The Star) Arts and culture After 146 years, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus comes to a close. (The New York Times) In a surprise appointment by Pope Francis, Bishop Anders Arborelius is the first ever person from Sweden to become a cardinal. (CNS) Disasters and accidents Mountaineers led by Tim Mosedale confirm suspicions that Mount Everest's famous Hillary Step had completely collapsed. (BBC) International relations North Korea and weapons of mass destruction South Korea reports North Korea fired a Pukguksong-2 intermediate-range ballistic missile that flew 500 km before landing in the Sea of Japan. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-21/north-korea-unidentified-projectile-south-military-says/8545408 (Reuters May 22, 2017 (2017-05-22) (Monday) Armed conflicts and attacks Manchester Arena bombing Greater Manchester Police (GMP) report deadly explosions at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, at the end of Ariana Grande’s performance on her Dangerous Woman Tour. (BBC) (The Guardian) The GMP confirms at least 19 people have been killed and 50 others injured and is treating the incident as a terrorist attack. Nobody immediately claimed responsibility. (The Northern Echo) (NBC News) (The Washington Post) Arts and culture "My Family's Slave" A controversial piece written in The Atlantic magazine about the Filipino servant caste and the Filipino American family involved in it triggers a debate in both the Philippines and the United States. (The Atlantic) Health and medicine Because of a nationwide shortage of intravenous sodium bicarbonate (i.e., baking soda solution), United States hospitals are rationing its use in heart surgery, chemotherapy, for patients whose blood is too acidic, and as an antidote to certain poisons. The two primary producers, Amphastar and Pfizer, indicate that supplies will not increase until late June. (The New York Times) (FiercePharma.com) International relations North Korea and weapons of mass destruction North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency reports the country's leader, Kim Jong-un, has approved deployment of the Pukguksong-2 intermediate-range ballistic missile, and ordered mass production of the system. The United Nations Security Council will hold a closed-door session Tuesday to discuss the test. (The New York Times) (USA Today) The Philippines clarifies a controversial remark about a potential "war" with China amid criticism from Filipinos. (Business Insider) 2017 clashes at the Turkish Embassy in Washington, D.C. Turkey summons United States Ambassador John R. Bass to protest alleged "aggressive and unprofessional actions" by American security personnel against Turkish bodyguards, calling for the United States to conduct a full investigation on the May 17 clashes. The American ambassador told Turkey's government that its guards violated U.S. laws. Last week, the U.S. summoned Turkish Ambassador Serdar Kılıç to discuss about Turkish security officers hitting and kicking peaceful protesters outside the Turkish ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C. (ABC News) (NPR) Philippines–Russia relations Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who later had to cut short his visit to Moscow because of terrorist attacks on the Philippine southern island of Mindanao, tells Russia President Vladimir Putin that the Philippines is looking to Russia for modern arms to fight ISIL. (Reuters) Law and crime North Carolina's congressional districts The United States Supreme Court rejects two of North Carolina's congressional districts because they violated the Constitution by relying too heavily on race in drawing them. (The New York Times) (The Washington Post) U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions narrows the scope of the order against so-called sanctuary cities. (NPR) The temporary protected status of Haitians living in the United States is extended for six months. (Newsweek) Politics and elections United Kingdom general election, 2017 British Prime Minister Theresa May faces backlash after accusations emerge that the Conservatives allegedly planned on reducing social welfare spending. (The Guardian) Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will visit families of victims of the IRA bombings in Hyde Park and Regent's Park. (The Guardian) Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections According to sources familiar with his decision, former U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Flynn invokes his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination and declines to comply with a subpoena from the Senate Intelligence Committee investigating possible Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. (Reuters) (The New York Times) 2017 Venezuelan protests The birthplace of late President Hugo Chávez is burned by protesters as violence and looting spreads through Barinas, Venezuela following the death of a protester. (AP via The Chicago Tribune) Science and technology Japanese scientists discover that mouse sperm held on the International Space Station for 9 months is able to produce healthy mice. (AP via The New York Times) May 23, 2017 (2017-05-23) (Tuesday) Armed conflicts and attacks Manchester Arena bombing Campaigning in the United Kingdom general election is suspended after the bombing at the Manchester Arena. The death toll is 22 with 59 injured. ISIL claims responsibility. Singer and actress Ariana Grande suspends her Dangerous Woman Tour. (AP) (BBC) (CNN) The man suspected of carrying out the Manchester attack is identified as 22-year-old Salman Abedi, who died at the scene. Abedi was born in Manchester to Libyan parents. (ABC News) (BBC) Prime Minister Theresa May says the government has raised its terrorism threat level to critical, the highest level, which indicates another attack may be imminent. (The New York Times) (The Washington Post) 2017 Marawi clash President Rodrigo Duterte declares martial law in the island of Mindanao after Maute militants clash with army troops in Marawi, Lanao del Sur. (Rappler) (The Washington Post) Al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen The U.S. Navy SEAL Team Six's raid on an Al Qaeda in Yemen compound in the Ma'rib Governorate kills at least seven militants. SEAL Team Six also suffered unspecified injuries that were treated at the site. (The New York Times) (Reuters) Arts and culture Freedom of speech in China A speech by a Chinese-national student in the University of Maryland creates controversy. (NPR) Sir Roger Moore, who played James Bond between 1973 and 1985, dies at age 89. (BBC) Business and economy Presidency of Donald Trump The White House releases a proposed budget that includes an increase in spending for the military but a decrease in healthcare and welfare. (BBC) Apple Inc. and Nokia agree to increase their partnership after settling a patent dispute. (The New York Times) Disasters and accidents An Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30 goes missing near the border with China and is presumed to have crashed along with its two pilots. (Times of India) Newark Liberty International Airport in northern New Jersey is closed for almost two hours after flames are spotted coming from a United Airlines Boeing 757 jet engine. All 124 passengers and seven crew members safely evacuate the plane. (Reuters) (CBSNewYork) International relations The World Health Organization (WHO) elects former Ethiopian Foreign Minister and Health Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as the international organization's new Director-General succeeding Dr. Margaret Chan, who has been in office since 2006. Tedros is the first African Director-General and the first non-medical doctor; he has a PhD in Community Health from the University of Nottingham. (The Washington Post) (Time) (World Health Organization) Law and crime LGBT rights in Indonesia Two Indonesian men are publicly caned by local authorities in Aceh on accusation of illegal homosexual intercourse. (NBC) Wikimedia Foundation v. NSA The United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals rules that Wikimedia Foundation has the legal right to challenge the National Security Agency Upstream program of mass online surveillance. This decision reinstates the suit that had been dismissed by a Federal district judge in Baltimore, Maryland. Eight other organizations, including Amnesty International USA and the Global Fund for Women, are also plaintiffs in this case. (Reuters) Politics and elections Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections Former CIA Director John Brennan tells the House Intelligence Committee he knew of contacts between Trump associates and Russian officials, but is not sure collusion existed. Brennan said he warned the Russian intelligence service last August against meddling in the U.S. election. (NBC News) Science and technology Scientists discover 7.2 million-year-old "pre-human" remains in the Balkans area near Bulgaria and Greece. (Phys.org) May 24, 2017 (2017-05-24) (Wednesday) Armed conflicts and attacks Manchester Arena bombing As part of an ongoing investigation, British police arrest six people in connection with Monday's deadly explosion, including a 23-year-old man who was taken into custody Tuesday. (ABC News) (Reuters) (Reuters²) The father, Ramadan Abedi, and younger brother, Hashem Abedi, of suspected bomber Salman Abedi are arrested in Tripoli by the Libyan Counter-Terrorism forces. (Chicago Tribune) (Hindustan Times) 2017 Jakarta bombings Three police officers are killed in a suicide bombing at a bus station in Jatinegara, Jakarta. (News.com.au) Five people are killed in a raid on a house of a Shia cleric in Bahrain. (BBC) Business and economy Economy of the People's Republic of China Moody's Investors Service downgrades the credit rating of the People's Republic of China from AA3 to A1. (CNBC) Disasters and accidents European migrant crisis The Italian Coast Guard reports that at least 20 migrants are killed when their 500-passenger boat capsizes in the Mediterranean Sea off Libya's coast. About 1,700 people have been rescued in 15 operations since Tuesday. (AP via ABC News) Four climbers are found dead on Mount Everest, bringing this season's death toll to 10. (BBC) A landslide at Big Sur blocks off a portion of California State Route 1 just south of Gorda; no injuries have been reported. (CNN) Law and crime LGBT rights in Taiwan After the Supreme Court rules in favor, same-sex-marriage is on its way to being legalized in Taiwan, the first country in Asia to do so. (GMA News) Philippine Drug War During a phone call between U.S. president Donald Trump and Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, Trump allegedly congratulates Duterte on his drug war, which has been widely criticized for its brutality by human rights organizations. (Reuters) (The Washington Post) Murder of Seth Rich Fox News retracts their claims regarding the murder. (Fox News) (BuzzFeed) Politics and elections Legality of cannabis Vermont governor Phil Scott vetoes a bill legalizing marijuana in the state. (The Hill) 2018 United States federal budget President Donald Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2018, titled "America First: A Budget Blueprint to Make America Great Again," has a $2 trillion accounting error over 10 years because it uses the same money twice for two different purposes. (NBC News) Protestors set fire to the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters in Brasília amid calls for the impeachment or resignation of Michel Temer as President of Brazil over allegations of corruption. (BBC) Montana's at-large congressional district special election, 2017 Republican Greg Gianforte bodyslams a reporter from The Guardian who then reports the situation to police. Gianforte is running against Democrat Rob Quist. (The Guardian) American Health Care Act of 2017 The Congressional Budget Office predicts that in the next decade, the new health care bill recently approved by the U.S. House of Representatives will reduce the federal deficit by $120 billion and leave 23 million more Americans uninsured, as opposed to current law. (NPR) (The New York Times) Sport 2017 UEFA Europa League Final Manchester United beat Dutch opponents Ajax 2–0 at the Friends Arena in Solna, Sweden, to win the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League and qualify for next season's UEFA Champions League group stage. (BBC) May 25, 2017 (2017-05-25) (Thursday) Armed conflicts and attacks Former Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos is injured when a booby-trapped package explodes inside his vehicle in Athens. Authorities report his injuries are not life threatening. (BBC) (Reuters) Battle of Mosul The United States military reports that their investigation found 105 civilians were killed and 36 people are still missing from the bombing of a Mosul building on March 17. (NBC News and AP) International relations United Kingdom–United States relations, 2017 Brussels summit British police suspend sharing intelligence with the United States in connection with Monday's Manchester bombing attack for most of the day, after U.S. officials allegedly leak "sensitive information" to The New York Times. British Prime Minister Theresa May emphasized the sensitive nature of said information when she met with U.S. President Donald Trump during their meeting at the NATO summit in Brussels. Trump calls for an investigation into the leaks. (CNN) (Reuters) (The New York Times) Territorial disputes in the South China Sea The USS Dewey sails within 12 nautical miles of the disputed Mischief Reef in the South China Sea. (BBC) Law and crimes Immigration policy of Donald Trump The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit refuses to reinstate Executive Order 13780 on the basis of religious discrimination, upholding the District Court for Maryland's March 7 ruling. (The New York Times) (Reuters) Politics and elections Montana's at-large congressional district special election, 2017 Voters in Montana pick between Republican Greg Gianforte and Democrat Rob Quist in the special congressional election to replace Ryan Zinke, who is now President Trump's Secretary of the Interior. (NPR) Gianforte is officially charged with misdemeanor assault for allegedly body slamming reporter Ben Jacobs from The Guardian; the Missoulian, Billings Gazette, and Independent Record newspapers rescind their endorsements of Gianforte. (Fox News) (CNN via KTLA) (Billings Gazette) Gianforte wins the election with over 50% of the vote to Quist's 44%. The political fallout if any is unknown as many voters cast unchangable absentee ballots before the incident took place. (The New York Times)(Bloomberg) Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections Jared Kushner, son-in-law of and Senior Advisor to the President of the United States, is identified as a main focus of investigations into Russian ties by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. (The Washington Post) Science and technology 2017 Atlantic hurricane season The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says warm ocean waters could fuel an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season. The forecast calls for 11 to 17 named storms with five to nine hurricanes, warmer-than-average waters across the tropical Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, and a weak or nonexistent El Niño. (CBS News) Results of the Juno mission are announced by NASA researchers, revealing new and unexpected information concerning Jupiter's poles, meteorology, and magnetic and gravitational fields. (CNN) Rocket Lab launches its 3D-printed Electron rocket on a test flight from Māhia Peninsula in New Zealand. This is the first launch from New Zealand and the first from a private facility. Electron is 17 meters high, is intended for frequent launches of small payloads, and costs $5 million per liftoff. SpaceX's Falcon 9 stands at 70 meters, carries up to 22,800 kilograms to the ISS, and costs $62 million per launch. (BBC) (Smithsonian) Sports NCAA Division I conference realignment The Missouri Valley Conference officially announces that Valparaiso University will join the conference on July 1. The Crusaders will move from the Horizon League to replace the Wichita State Shockers, departing for the American Athletic Conference on the same date. (Chicago Tribune) May 26, 2017 (2017-05-26) (Friday) Armed conflicts and attacks 2017 Minya attack Gunmen open fire on buses carrying Coptic Christians in Minya Governorate, Egypt, killing at least 28 people and injuring dozens more. (The Independent) The Egyptian Air Force strikes militant camps in eastern Libya in retaliation to the Minya attack, according to state media. (BBC) War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Taliban militants attack an Afghan National Army base in Shah Wali Kot District, Kandahar Province, killing at least 15 soldiers. (BBC) Syrian Civil War United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid bin Ra'ad calls on all air forces in Syria to better distinguish between military targets and civilians. (Reuters) Arts and culture The National Constitutional Convention of Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders at Mutitjulu concludes with Indigenous leaders calling for a treaty and reforms to the Constitution of Australia, beyond the proposed written recognition, including entrenchment of representative bodies and commissions for Indigenous rights. (Aus. Broadcasting Corp.) Right-wing media personality Katie Hopkins is to leave LBC with "immediate effect" after Hopkins posted on Twitter calling for a so-called "final solution" to the United Kingdom's Islamic terrorism problem following the Manchester Arena bombing which left 22 people dead. (The Independent) Disasters and accidents 2017 Sri Lankan flood and landslide Disaster Management Centre of Sri Lanka reports that 91 people are killed and 110 people from 14 districts are missing due to flood and landslide. (BBC) International relations The Turkish government issues an arrest warrant for NBA Oklahoma City Thunder player Enes Kanter suspected of being a member of a "terror group." Kanter, a vocal supporter of Fethullah Gülen, was returning to the U.S. from a charity tour when, last Saturday, he was detained in Bucharest, Romania, because his Turkish passport had been revoked. Kanter says he plans on becoming a United States citizen. (ESPN) Law and crimes A spokesman for the Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant chain reveals that hackers stole customer payment data from most of their stores over a span of three weeks starting from the end of March. (Reuters) 2017 Portland train attack Two men are stabbed to death in a train in Portland, Oregon, after they attempt to intervene while a man shouts racial slurs at two teenage girls, one of them wearing a hijab. (CBS News) Politics and elections Polish-American diplomat Zbigniew Brzezinski, counselor to President Lyndon B. Johnson (1966–1968) and President Jimmy Carter's National Security Advisor (1977–1981), dies at the age of 89. (The Washington Post) (New York Daily News) Science and technology Construction begins on the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in northern Chile. The ELT is expected to become operational in 2024. (Reuters) May 27, 2017 (2017-05-27) (Saturday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) At least 18 people are killed and 6 others injured in a car bomb explosion in Khost, eastern Afghanistan. (The Independent) Second Libyan Civil War Ansar al-Sharia announces it is formally dissolving amid heavy losses that have wiped out its leadership and decimated its fighters. The group was responsible for the 2012 Benghazi attack. (Reuters) Arts and culture Gregg Allman, co-founder, vocalist and keyboard player of the Allman Brothers, dies in Savannah, Georgia. (New York Times) Business and economy British Airways cancels all flights from Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport amid a "major IT system failure", that is causing severe disruption to flight operations worldwide. (BBC) Disasters and accidents Summit Air Flight 409 A Summit Air Let L-410 crashes after hitting a tree while landing at Lukla Airport in Nepal following a cargo flight. Both pilots die. A third crewman survives. (The Aviation Herald) International relations 43rd G7 summit The meeting of Group of 7 leaders in Taormina, Italy, concludes with a disagreement on whether to uphold the Paris Agreement; U.S. President Donald Trump is the only leader not to confirm commitment to the agreement, due to his climate change denial. (BBC) Law and crime Colombey authorities report the tomb of French national hero Charles de Gaulle has been vandalized. (Reuters) Manchester Arena bombing Theresa May announces that the British terror threat level has been downgraded from "critical" to "severe" and that Operation Temperer will be phased out shortly, following productive counter-terrorism investigations. (The Guardian) Marawi crisis President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte tells soldiers fighting in Mindanao, where he proclaimed martial law earlier this week, that he will accept responsibility for abuses they commit, and jokes that "[i]f you had raped three, I will admit it, that's on me." (Reuters via Aus. Broadcasting Corp.) Police search for a driver who witnesses believe was driving aggressively around campers in Grays Harbor County, Washington, and deliberately backed over two campers while yelling racial slurs, killing one and injuring a second. Both victims are from the Quinault Indian Nation. (The Seattle Times) Police announce charges of attempted murder against 150 protestors from Dhaka University over a protest to restore a statue of Lady Justice outside the Supreme Court. Protestors and police clashed near the High Court, with police firing tear gas and water cannons after protestors breached a barricade. Police claim protestors wielded sticks and stones in a bid to murder on-duty officers. (Dhaka Tribune) Sport 2017 FA Cup Final Arsenal beat London rival Chelsea 2–1 at Wembley Stadium to win the 2016–17 FA Cup. (Daily Mail) 2016–17 Scottish Cup Celtic wins the 2017 Scottish Cup, defeating Aberdeen 2–1 in the final. Celtic have the Treble for the fourth time. (AP via ABC Australia) May 28, 2017 (2017-05-28) (Sunday) Armed attacks and conflicts CPP-NPA-NDF rebellion The government of the Philippines and the Communist Party cancel peace talks after president Rodrigo Duterte declares martial law in Mindanao. (teleSur) Marawi crisis The Philippine military announces that it has discovered the bodies of 16 people, believed to have been killed by the ISIL affiliated Abu Sayyaf. Authorities say that the death toll after six days of fighting is 95, including 19 civilians. (The New York Times) Arts and culture 2017 Cannes Film Festival The Square, a Swedish film directed by Ruben Östlund, wins the Palme d'Or, the top award at the Cannes Film Festival. (Reuters) Disasters and accidents 2017 Sri Lankan flood and landslide At least 126 people are dead, and 97 missing, after mudslides and floods caused by heavy rain in Sri Lanka. Over 100,000 people have been displaced. (AP) Four people, including a pregnant woman, are killed and dozens injured when a rush of fans try to enter an already-at-capacity Tiburcio Carías Andino Stadium before the Honduran Clausura final in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Police are investigating possible overselling of tickets. (Sporting News) (The Sun) (AP) Law and crime 2017 Mississippi shootings Eight people, including a Lincoln County Sheriff's Department deputy, are fatally shot overnight at three locations in rural Mississippi. A suspect is in custody; he says he intended for it to be "suicide by cop." (NBC News and AP) Politics and elections German federal election, 2017 In a speech in Munich, Angela Merkel says that Europe must not rely on its former allies. (The Guardian) Science and technology The Russian Irkut MC-21 airliner makes its maiden flight. (TASS) Sport 2017 Indianapolis 500 Takuma Sato of Japan wins the 2017 Indianapolis 500 ahead of Helio Castroneves of Brazil. Sato is the first Japanese driver to win the event. (Yahoo! Sports) (Los Angeles Times) May 29, 2017 (2017-05-29) (Monday) Armed conflicts and attacks Battle of Marawi Philippine forces continue to battle Maute militants for the city of Marawi. (CNN) Syrian Civil War Damascus's governor says the last group of rebels and civilians have left the city's besieged Barzeh district. (Reuters) Iraqi Civil War Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, assisted by Iran, say they cleared ISIL out of several villages north of Ba'aj on the border with Syria. (Reuters) Arts and culture Canadian Indian residential school system Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asks Pope Francis for a public apology for the Roman Catholic Church's role in the abuse of indigenous children in the residential school system. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI issued an expression of sorrow after an audience with Assembly of First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine. (BBC) Business and economy Japan Tobacco announces plans to quadruple its output of smokeless tobacco by the end of next year. (Reuters) Disasters and accidents A zookeeper is killed at Hamerton Zoo Park in Cambridgeshire, England, following an incident in the zoo's tiger enclosure. (BBC) At least 11 people are killed and 69 are injured as a severe thunderstorm hits Moscow, Russia. (BBC) International relations North Korea and weapons of mass destruction North Korea launches a Short-Range Ballistic missile near Wŏnsan towards the Sea of Japan, according to South Korea. The missile reportedly lands in Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) after traveling 450 km. (The Japan Times) (CNN) Law and crime Tiger Woods, an American professional golfer, is arrested for driving under the influence due to mixing medications, no alcohol was detected in his system. (Sports Illustrated) Politics and elections United Kingdom general election, 2017 Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn debates with Conservative leader Theresa May. (The Telegraph) Venezuelan protests Eighteen people, including two opposition leaders, Henrique Capriles and Carlos Paparoni, are injured in Caracas as security forces stop protestors from reaching the government ombudsman's office. (Reuters) (AP) Sport 2017 EFL Championship play-off Final Huddersfield Town win the final match of the 2017 English Football League play-offs, defeating Reading 4–3 on penalties after a 0–0 draw, thereby earning promotion to the 2017–18 Premier League. (BBC Sport) May 30, 2017 (2017-05-30) (Tuesday) Armed conflicts and attacks Iraqi Civil War Al-Faqma ice cream parlor bombing A car bomb explosion outside a popular ice cream parlor in central Baghdad kills 13 people and injures 24. ISIL claims responsibility for the attack. (AP) Business and economy China Labor Watch says one of its team was arrested and two others are missing when they were investigating labor practices at Ganzhou Huajian International Shoe City Co., whose products include Ivanka Trump-branded shoes. (Time) International relations North Korea–United States relations A formation of United States B-1B bombers from Guam flew over Korea, staging a nuclear bomb dropping drill. North Korea calls it a military provocation. (Yonhap) (Terra) Ukraine–European Union relations The Dutch Senate approves the European Union's Association Agreement with Ukraine, setting the stage for it to be ratified as early as July, pending royal promulgation. The process was previously delayed by a non-binding referendum where a majority of Dutch voters rejected ratification of the agreement. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) South Korea–United States relations South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who had campaigned on a parliamentary review of the country's missile defense system, orders an investigation of the anti-missile system after discovering the government was not informed when four more U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system launchers had been brought in and installed. (Reuters) Disasters and accidents 2017 North Indian Ocean cyclone season More than 300,000 people are evacuated in Bangladesh as Cyclone Mora approaches. (AFP via Malaysia Sun) Politics and elections Former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega dies aged 83. (New York Daily News) Michael Dubke resigns as President Trump's White House Communications Director after three months on the job. (BBC) May 31, 2017 (2017-05-31) (Wednesday) Armed conflicts and attacks War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) May 2017 Kabul attack A suicide bombing occurs in Kabul near the German embassy with at least 90 killed and 461 injured. (Reuters via SBS) (The Guardian) (AFP via Channel News Asia) Syrian Civil War The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) says they will counter Iraq’s mostly Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMU) militants if the latter enters areas under SDF control, insisting that SDF will never accept the presence of Iran and SDF will never under any circumstances act as a bridge between PMU and the Syria's Assad regime. (Al Arabiya) (Middle East Eye) Arts and culture CBS terminates its contract with Scott Pelley as anchor, managing editor and reporter of CBS Evening News. Pelley will remain with CBS News as a correspondent in 60 Minutes. (The Hill) CNN terminates its New Year's Eve Live contract with Kathy Griffin after she released a photograph of her holding a mock severed head of President Donald Trump. (USA Today) Business and economy Kenya opens the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway, the East African country's largest infrastructure project since gaining independence. (BBC) Disasters and accidents A Turkish Air Force Eurocopter AS532 Cougar helicopter crashes in Şırnak Province after hitting an electricity line, killing all 13 soldiers on board. (Al Jazeera) Politics and elections Iranian presidential election, 2017 Guardian Council officially confirmed the result of the election which saw Incumbent President Hassan Rouhani reelected for another four years in office. (PressTV)

May 2017 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31  Ongoing events Disasters Atlantic hurricane season Oklahoma earthquake swarms Pacific typhoon season Law Philippine Drug War Political European migrant crisis (timeline) French Guiana unrest Romanian protests South China Sea disputes United States immigration ban Venezuelan protests (timeline) More details on ongoing conflicts below  Sport Association football 2016–17 UEFA Champions League 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup 2018 FIFA World Cup qual. Tennis 2017 French Open 2017 ATP World Tour 2017 WTA Tour Motorsport 2017 Formula One season 2017 MotoGP season 2017 World Rally Championship 2017 NASCAR Cup Series 2017 IndyCar Series Sports seasons 2017 NBA Finals (NBA season) 2017 Stanley Cup (NHL season) 2017 MLB season 2017 UCI World Tour 2017 PGA Tour 2017 AFL season 2017 Super Rugby season 2017–18 snooker season More details – current sports events  Elections and referendums Recent May 4: Algeria, People's National Assembly 6: Niue, Assembly 7: France, President (2nd round) 9: South Korea, President 10: The Bahamas, House of Assembly 19: Iran, President 21: Switzerland, Referendum 24: Cayman Islands, Legislative Assembly Upcoming June 3: Lesotho, National Assembly 3: Malta, Parliament 8: United Kingdom, House of Commons 11: France, Parliament (1st round) 11: Kosovo, Parliament 11: Puerto Rico, Status referendum 24: Papua New Guinea, Parliament 25: Albania, Parliament 26: Mongolia, President  Recent deaths May 2017 31: Jiří Bělohlávek 31: Fred J. Koenekamp 30: Dasari Narayana Rao 29: Manuel Noriega 29: Konstantinos Mitsotakis 28: John Noakes 27: Gregg Allman 27: Frank Deford 26: Zbigniew Brzezinski 26: Jim Bunning 26: Zhao Liping 25: Alistair Horne 25: Eva Estrada Kalaw 24: Jared Martin 23: Cortez Kennedy 23: Roger Moore 23: Jerry Perenchio 22: Barbara Smith Conrad 22: Nicky Hayden 22: Dina Merrill 21: Jimmy LaFave 21: Bill White 21: Shulamit Cohen-Kishik 20: Joy Corning 19: Wayne Walker 18: Roger Ailes 18: Jacque Fresco 18: Reema Lagoo 18: Jim McElreath 18: Frankie Paul 17: Chris Cornell 17: Rhodri Morgan 15: Javier Valdez Cárdenas 15: Oleg Vidov 14: Powers Boothe 14: Thomas Vose Daily 14: Brad Grey 14: Steve Palermo 12: Mauno Koivisto 12: Yale Lary 11: Mark Colvin 10: Geoffrey Bayldon 9: Robert Miles 9: Michael Parks 9: Qian Qichen 9: Wilburn K. Ross 8: Lou Richards 7: Gran Apache 7: Gholam Reza Pahlavi 6: Steven Holcomb 6: Hugh Thomas 5: Adolph Kiefer 5: Buhe 5: Ely Ould Mohamed Vall 4: William Baumol 4: Edwin Sherin 3: Mishaal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud 3: Daliah Lavi 2: A. R. Penck 2: Leo K. Thorsness 2: Moray Watson 1: Bruce Hampton 1: Mike Lowry 1: Sam Mele  Trials Recently concluded Australia: Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara Cambodia: Sam Rainsy China: Wan Qingliang, Wu Changshun, Ling Jihua, Zhao Liping, Zhou Bin, Guo Boxiong Netherlands: Geert Wilders Philippines: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Nur Misuari, Joel Villanueva Romania: Gheorghe Ștefan, Gabriel Sandu, Dorin Cocoş, Dumitru Nicolae Spain: Lionel Messi United Kingdom: Chris Denning, Ched Evans, Thomas Mair, Fred Talbot, Rolf Harris United States: Pedro Hernandez, Bob McDonnell, Paul Anthony Ciancia, Graham Spanier, Tim Curley, Gary Schultz Ongoing China: Bai Enpei, Pan Yiyang, Yang Weize Germany: Beate Zschäpe Indonesia: Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, Mary Jane Veloso Kazakhstan: Mukhtar Ablyazov Pakistan: Waseem Azeem, Mufti Abdul Qawi Philippines: Andal Ampatuan Jr., Leila de Lima, Leni Robredo, Rodrigo Duterte, Jovito Palparan Romania: Dan Șova, Elena Udrea, Radu Mazăre, Gheorghe Nichita Russia: Alexei Navalny South Korea: Park Geun-hye and Choi Soon-sil Spain: Gürtel case, Spanish Royal House, Bárcenas affair United Kingdom: Barry Bennell International ICC: Laurent Gbagbo ICTY: Ratko Mladić Upcoming Egypt: Mohamed Morsi Estonia: Edgar Savisaar Libya: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi United States: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Bill Cosby  Ongoing conflicts Africa Algeria and Tunisia Maghreb insurgency ISIL insurgency in Tunisia Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria Boko Haram insurgency Central African Republic Civil war Democratic Republic of the Congo Kivu conflict ADF insurgency Ituri conflict Lord's Resistance Army insurgency Libya Civil war Mali Northern Mali conflict Somalia Civil war South Sudan Ethnic violence (South Sudanese Civil War) Sudan War in Darfur South Kordofan conflict Sudanese nomadic conflicts Americas Mexico Mexican War on Drugs Peru Internal conflict in Peru Asia Afghanistan Afghanistan War China Xinjiang conflict India Naxalite–Maoist insurgency Insurgency in Northeast India India and Pakistan Kashmir conflict Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines Moro conflict Cross border attacks in Sabah Indonesia and Papua New Guinea Papua conflict Myanmar Internal conflict in Myanmar Pakistan War in North-West Pakistan Balochistan conflict Philippines CPP-NPA-NDF rebellion Thailand South Thailand insurgency Europe Armenia and Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict Georgia Abkhaz–Georgian conflict Georgian–Ossetian conflict Russia Chechen–Russian conflict North Caucasus insurgency Ukraine War in Donbass Russian military intervention in Ukraine Middle East Egypt Sinai insurgency Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria Arab–Israeli conflict Iran Iran–PJAK conflict Iraq American-led intervention in Iraq Iranian intervention in Iraq Iraq and Syria (map) Military intervention against ISIL Israel and Lebanon Israeli–Lebanese conflict Israel and Palestine Gaza–Israel conflict Israeli–Palestinian conflict Syria American-led intervention in Syria Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War Turkish military intervention in Syria Syrian Civil War spillover in Lebanon Turkey Turkey–PKK conflict Turkey–ISIL conflict Yemen Yemeni Civil War Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen Al-Qaeda insurgency