Portal:Current events/2025 May 20

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Somali Civil War
  • Islamic State insurgency in Puntland
    • Puntland counter-terrorism operations
      • Puntland authorities confirm the killing of Ahmed Muse Said, a senior leader of the Islamic State in Somalia who led the recruitment of members from local clans, during a security operation in the Togga Miiraale area of the Bari Region, Puntland. (Garowe Online) (Hiiraan Online)
  • 2025 Mogadishu military base bombing
    • Al-Shabaab claims at least six rounds of mortar fire caused damage to properties in the Aden Adde International Airport area of Somalia's capital Mogadishu, which includes the Halane base camp. The facility houses United Nations offices, African Union personnel, and diplomatic missions. (Garowe Online)
  • 2025 Shabelle offensive
    • An Al-Shabaab mortar attack kills three Somali army personnel in Hiilweyne military barracks near Bal'ad in Middle Shabelle, Somalia. (Hiiraan Online)
• Sudanese civil war
  • Battle of Khartoum
    • The Sudanese Armed Forces announces full control of Khartoum State following the withdrawal of the last remaining Rapid Support Forces units from the region. (AP)
• Gaza war
  • Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip
    • Israeli strikes kill at least 85 Palestinians in Gaza. (AP)
• Mexican drug war
  • Seven people are killed, including minors, in a mass shooting by Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel gunmen in San Felipe, Guanajuato, Mexico. (CBS News)

Arts and culture

• International Booker Prize
  • Indian author Banu Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi win the 2025 International Booker Prize for Heart Lamp, a collection of short stories. (The Guardian)

Disasters and accidents

• Four people are killed and two others are reported missing amid power outages and widespread damage from flooding in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. (BBC News) (Sky News)

International relations

• European Union–Russia relations
  • The European Council adopts a 17th sanctions package against Russia, including 189 additional vessels of Russia's shadow fleet. (European Commission)
• Israel–United Kingdom relations
  • The United Kingdom suspends negotiations on a new free trade agreement with Israel and summons the Israeli ambassador amid the recent Israeli offensive in Gaza. (BBC News)

Law and crime

• 2025 New Orleans jailbreak
  • A fifth escapee is captured in New Orleans following the largest jailbreak in United States history. Five escapees remain at large. (CBS News)
• An attack in Mexico City, Mexico, kills two of mayor Clara Brugada's top aides. (BBC News) (NOS)
• Three students are injured in a mass stabbing attack at a school in Pirkkala, Pirkanmaa, Finland. The suspect, a 16-year-old, released a manifesto saying his target was women. (Yle)

Politics and elections

• 2025 Australian federal election
  • The federal wing of the National Party leaves the Liberal-National Coalition for the first time since 1987, citing poor performance in the recent federal election and growing policy differences. (The Guardian Australia)
• 2025 Bolivian general election
  • Former Bolivian president Evo Morales fails to secure his candidacy for the presidential election as the deadline expires amid a court's decision to uphold his ban to run for a fourth term. Morales announces he will appeal the decision. (Reuters)

Sports

• Chess grandmaster Magnus Carlsen and 143,000 players draw in an online freestyle chess match on Chess.com lasting 46 days. The game sets a new record with the biggest number of opponents. (The Guardian)