Portal:Current events/2020 May 31

May 31, 2020 (Sunday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Somali Civil War
- At least six civilians are killed when a minibus hits a roadside bomb near Mogadishu. There has been no claim of responsibility. (Reuters)
Second Libyan Civil War
- At least three civilians are killed and several others are injured in Tripoli when a park comes under shelling from suspected Libyan National Army forces loyal to Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. (Reuters)
Herder–farmer conflicts in Nigeria
- Hundreds of men on motorcycles, some armed with assault rifles, kill at least 18 people, including a local official in Sabon Gari, and steal thousands of livestock in Katsina State, Nigeria. (Reuters)
A 20-year-old Kurdish man was stabbed multiple times by three men in Ankara, Turkey, killing him. The attack, described as a xenophobic murder, was carried out as the victim was playing Kurdish music. (Middle East Eye)

Disasters and accidents

Anglo-Australian mining corporation Rio Tinto admits blowing up the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge caves in Pilbara, Western Australia, on May 24. The firm issues an apology to Aboriginal Australians who are the traditional owners of the site, saying "We are sorry for the distress we have caused". (BBC News)
A plane crash in Nettuno, Lazio, Italy, kills two Italian competitive swimmers, Fabio Lombini and Gioele Rossetti. (Khaleej Times)
A plane crash near St. Louis, Missouri kills four people. (WCRZ)

Health and environment

COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19 pandemic in Rwanda
  - Rwanda reports its first death from COVID-19, a 65-year-old who had severe respiratory complications and was being treated at a specialised center. (Reuters)
- The number of worldwide confirmed cases of COVID-19 surpasses six million. The United States remains the global epicenter, accounting for approximately 29% of all reported and confirmed cases in the world. (CNN)

International relations

India–Pakistan relations
- India expels two officials at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, accusing them of being involved in espionage activities. Pakistan condemns the expulsion and alleges that the two were detained and tortured by Indian authorities. (DW)

Law and crime

George Floyd protests
- Shooting of James Scurlock
  - Police investigate the overnight shooting death of a protester, James Scurlock, by a bar owner in Omaha, Nebraska. Eyewitness video indicates the shooter was attacked by a group of people, one of whom was apparently Scurlock, before the fatal shots were fired. (Omaha World-Herald)
- George Floyd protests in New York City
  - A woman is facing four counts of attempted murder, as well as counts of attempted arson, reckless endangerment, criminal possession of a weapon, and assault for throwing a Molotov cocktail at an occupied NYPD van during a riot in Brooklyn. (Fox News)
- Rioting and looting continue overnight in cities all over the United States as 12 states activate the national guard to defuse the situation. (Al-Jazeera) (Voice of America)
- At least 1,383 people have been arrested in 17 cities during the protests since Thursday. (Yahoo! News)
- During protests in Indianapolis, two people are shot dead and two others injured after unidentified assailants open fire against protesters. (Fox News)
- President Donald Trump announces his plans to designate Antifa as a terrorist organization after saying they were responsible for the looting and arson occurring during the protests. Various government and non-government officials claim that designating domestic terrorist groups is prohibited by the First Amendment. (CNN)
- The media is revealed to have been the target of violence and harassment at least 50 times on Friday and Saturday. (The Guardian)

Politics and elections

Presidency of Jair Bolsonaro
- Anti-fascist protesters gather in the Brazilian cities of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte in response to police brutality and President Bolsonaro's defence of unconstitutional measures. A pro-government crowd forms in São Paulo, with police reporting neo-Nazi flags hung from a sound truck. (The Republic)
2020 New Caledonian independence referendum
- In New Caledonia, the largest pro-independence party Caledonian Union agrees to postpone the referendum on independence from France due to COVID-19 pandemic concerns. Anti-independence parties welcome the decision. (RNZ)
2020 Niuean general election
- In Niue, Sir Toke Talagi loses his seat at the Common Roll and is now leaving his position as Premier of Niue. Former Secretary to Government Richard Hipa, a first-time candidate, topped the Common Roll votes with 440 and now looks to be a contender for the premiership. (RNZ)

Science and technology

Crew Dragon Demo-2
- SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft successfully docks with the International Space Station (ISS) with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Douglas Hurley joining the existing crew aboard the space station. (CNN)