Current Events May 2008
World
U.S. Missile Kills Top Militia Leader in Somalia (May 1): American officials say Aden Hashi Ayro, the leader of Shabab, an Islamic militant group with ties to al-Qaeda, was killed in a missile attack. U.S. intelligence officers had been tracking him for several weeks.
Pakistan Leaders Agree to Reinstate Judges (May 2): Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif announces that on May 12, 2008, the Supreme Court justices who were dismissed in November 2007 by President Pervez Musharraf will resume their positions. (May 12): The agreement falls apart when the junior member of the governing coalition, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, led by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, says it is withdrawing from the cabinet because the senior coalition partner, the Pakistan People's Party, insists on retaining the judges who replaced those who were dismissed. In addition, the two parties disagree on how to reinstate the justices. Sharif wants the judges immediately reinstated by executive order; Asif Ali Zardari, the leader of the Pakistan People's Party prefers it be done through Parliament, a process that may be protracted.
Zimbabwe Announces Presidential Election Results (May 2): More than a month after the election, officials announce that opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, defeated President Robert Mugabe, 47.9% to 43.2%. A runoff election is necessary because neither candidate won more than 50%.
New President of Russia Is Sworn In (May 7): Dmitri Medvedev succeeds Vladimir Putin as the president of Russia. Although he's a Putin loyalist, Medvedev is said to be moderate and pro-Western. (May 8): Parliament elects Putin, head of the United Russia party, as prime minister.
Hezbollah and Government Supporters Battle in Beirut (May 7): Members of Hezbollah, a Shiite militia backed by Iran, block city streets to support a labor union strike and fight with supporters of the pro-Western government in Lebanon. (May 9): Hezbollah takes control of large swaths of western Beirut, force a government-supported television station off the air, and burn the offices of a newspaper loyal to the government. The government accuses Hezbollah of staging an "armed coup." The fighting is mainly sectarian, with Shiites fighting against Sunnis. (May 14): In an attempt to end the violence and the threat of a civil war, the government rescinds plans to shut down a telecommunications network run by Hezbollah and backs off attempts to dismiss a Hezbollah-backed head of airport security. In return, Hezbollah agrees to dismantle roadblocks that have paralyzed Beirut's airport. The decisions are seen as a major victory for Hezbollah.
North Korea Discloses Information on Plutonium Program (May 8): North Korea gives U.S. officials about 18,000 pages of documents detailing its efforts in 1990, 2003, and 2005 to reprocess plutonium for nuclear weapons. It does not, however, hand over information on its uranium program and its efforts to sell nuclear material.
Sudanese Rebels Attempt to Attack Capital (May 10): In an unusually bold move, about 3,000 members of the Justice and Equality Movement move to within a few miles of Khartoum before being repulsed by government troops. It was the first time that the conflict in Darfur has threatened to spill over into Khartoum.
Iraqi Government and Shiite Militia Reach Cease-Fire (May 10): Government and militia led by Moktada al-Sadr agree to end the fighting in the Sadr City area of Baghdad. As part of the deal, the government will assume control over Sadr City and the rebels who didn't actively participate in the battles, which killed hundreds of people, will avoid arrest. Iran helped to broker the truce. The cease-fire, however, fails to stem the violence in Sadr City.
Business/Science/Society
Storms Cause Wide Damage and Death in Arkansas (May 2): At least seven people are killed, more than a dozen are injured, and about 350 homes and businesses are badly damaged or destroyed in tornadoes and storms in Arkansas.
Microsoft Withdraws Bid for Yahoo (May 3): After Yahoo rejects Microsoft's offer of $33 per share, or about $47.5 billion, up from $29.40 a share, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer announces the company has rescinded its offer.
Cyclone Devastates Myanmar (May 3): Cyclone Nargis ravages the Irrawaddy Delta and Yangon, killing 78,000 people and leaving up to a million homeless. About 28,000 people are reported missing and are feared dead. Most of the death and destruction are caused by a 12-foot high tidal wave that formed during the storm. (May 10): The ruling military junta goes ahead with a constitutional referendum intended to cement its grip on power.
Tornadoes Strike in Midwest and South (May 11): More than 20 people die and hundreds more are injured when tornadoes hit Missouri, Oklahoma, and Georgia. Racine, a town about 170 miles south of Kansas City, Missouri saw the most damage, leaving about 9,000 people without electricity for over three days.
Earthquake Kills Thousands in China (May 12): At least 15,000 people are killed and thousands injured when a 7.9 magnitude earthquake strikes Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan Provinces in western China. Nearly 900 students are killed when Juyuan Middle School in the Sichuan Province collapses. It is China's worst natural disaster in three decades.
Pakistan rejoins Commonwealth (13 May) : The Commonwealth restored Pakistan's membership yesterday in recognition of the democratic steps taken there since the country rescinded emergency rule late last year.
Polar Bear Designated as Threatened (May 14): Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announces that the polar bear has been listed as threatened, thus protected by the Endangered Species Act. The Interior Department includes provisions, however, that allow oil exploration to continue in the Arctic, somewhat watering down the protection.
Current Events May 2008
Current events of May 2008
Current events of May 6, 2008 (2008-05-06)
Chilean authorities order the total evacuation of the towns of Chaitén and Futaleufú as the eruption of the Chaitén volcano continues to worsen.
The Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, officially resigns after ten years, ten months and ten days as head of government.
2007–2008 world food price crisis: Mogadishu residents protest for a second day over high food prices as traders reject old Somali shilling notes due to high inflation.
Cyclone Nargis
Myanmar state government reports that the death toll from the cyclone has reached 22,000, with 41,000 people missing.
The State Peace and Development Council announces that the Burmese constitutional referendum, 2008 will proceed on the weekend except in 47 township worst affected by the cyclone.
The President of the United States George W. Bush pleads for the Myanmar government to accept help from the United States and the rest of the international community. USAID donates an additional $3 million to cyclone victims.
Chinese President Hu Jintao begins a landmark five-day state visit to Japan.
United States voters go to the polls in the North Carolina and Indiana Democratic Party primaries. Illinois Senator Barack Obama is projected to win North Carolina while New York Senator Hillary Clinton has taken an early lead in Indiana.
Current events of May 5, 2008 (2008-05-05)
The United States Federal Reserve System reports that banks are tightening lending standards on home mortgages, other types of consumer loans and business loans in response to the subprime mortgage crisis.
Crude oil futures contracts reach US$120 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange for the first time.
Somalian troops open fire killing at least two people during food riots in Mogadishu.
Media reports the death toll from Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar to have passed 10,000.
Three people are killed and another three injured after an explosion on a bus in Shanghai, China. In Bolivia's Santa Cruz department, 86% of voters supported proposals for greater autonomy in a referendum. Bolivian President Evo Morales condemned the referendum, calling it illegal.
Current events of May 4, 2008 (2008-05-04)
Cyclone Nargis: Myanmar's State Peace and Development Council declares that five states in the Irrawaddy River delta are a disaster area following the cyclone with at least 351 deaths.
12 people are dead and dozens others missing after a boat carrying 110 passengers sinks on the Solimões River in the Brazilian Amazon.
9 people dead after 40 men attack the ranch of Rogaciano Alba in Guerrero, Mexico.
Current events of May 3, 2008 (2008-05-03)
Microsoft withdraws its bid for Yahoo! after the two companies fail to reach agreement on a price.
United States presidential election, 2008: The Guam caucuses result in a near-perfect tie, with Barack Obama ahead by only 7 ballots in 4,521.
Big Brown wins the 2008 Kentucky Derby. Eight Belles, the only filly in the field, breaks down after finishing second in the race, and is euthanized.
At least 18 prisoners are killed during a fight in a jail in Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras. This follows the recent deaths of nine prisoners in a riot in
Current events of May 2, 2008 (2008-05-02)
Conservative Party candidate Boris Johnson is elected as the Mayor of London replacing Ken Livingstone, capping huge gains by the Conservatives in local elections, which gave them a net gain of 256 council seats and a net gain of 12 city councils.
The Olympic flame is back on Chinese soil as the Olympics torch relay continues in Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
May 2008 tornado outbreak: Tornadoes affecting the south-central United States kill at least seven in Arkansas.
Over 10,000 people gather in Seoul, South Korea, to protest against the importation of U.S. beef, which is alleged to have a danger of mad cow disease.
Zimbabwean presidential election, 2008 The opposition Movement for Democratic Change proposes a power sharing arrangement with the President of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe's party, the Zimbabwe African National Union, but not involving Mugabe.
Robert Mugabe proposes a run-off election to determine the outcome.
The foreign ministers of the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, France, Russia and China agree to make a new offer to Iran over its nuclear program.
A plane crash kills more than a dozen in Southern Sudan, including defense minister Dominic Dim Deng.
United States non-farm payrolls fall by 20,000 jobs with the unemployment rate falling to 5 per cent.
A $38 million compensation deal is completed for victims of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse.
Teams in both Russia and the United States identify the remains of Tsarevich Alexei of Russia and his sister Grand Duchess Maria after the discovery of their bone shards on August 23, 2007.
2007 royal blackmail plot: Ian Strachan and Sean McGuigan are jailed for five years each for attempting to extort money from an unidentified royal ("Witness A"). They demanded £50,000 from Witness A in exchange for audio tapes alleging gay sex.
Current events of May 1, 2008 (2008-05-01)
The United States Air Force grounds all T-38C training aircraft following two fatal accidents within 8 days.
Sudanese cameraman Sami Mohy El Din Muhammed Al Hajj is released from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp after more than six years in captivity.
The President of the United States George W. Bush authorises tougher sanctions on Myanmar including a freeze on assets held by Myanmar state owned companies held in the United States.
The United States Federal Reserve System auctions off $24.12 billion in Treasury securities to help relieve the subprime mortgage crisis.
The President of the United States George W. Bush calls on the United States Congress to approve a $US700 million food aid package to help relieve the 2007-2008 world food price crisis.
News anchor Barbara Walters admits to having affair with US Senator Edward Brooke.
Sir Anthony Mamo, who was the first President of the Republic of Malta and the world's oldest former head of state, dies at the age of 99.
Eight people are killed and at least 20 injured after a bus carrying North American and European tourists crashes on the Sinai peninsula in Egypt.
In Australia, a collision between a fishing boat and a runabout on Sydney Harbour kills five people.
Voters in England and Wales go to the polls for the United Kingdom local elections, 2008. Early results showed the opposition Conservative Party performing strongly with 44 per cent of the vote while the governing Labour Party was performing poorly with 24 per cent of the vote.
Aden Hashi Farah "Eyrow", a leader of Al-Shabaab in Somalia, is reported as being killed in a U.S. airstrike.
The London Agreement on translation of European patents, concluded in 2000, enters into force in 13 of the 34 Contracting States to the European Patent Convention.
