Major Events of May 2007: Key Historical Moments from the Month
Each month is marked by defining moments that shape the course of history. Whether through political shifts, cultural movements, or world-changing events, these periods leave a lasting impression. Dive into the most important events from May 2007 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of May 2007: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 May 2007 Bush Vetoes Iraq War Funding Measure on Mission Accomplished Anniversary: On the fourth anniversary of his "Mission Accomplished" speech, President George W. Bush vetoed an Iraq War funding measure. The bill included provisions setting a deadline for withdrawing U.S. troops, improving resting and training standards for combat troops, and establishing binding benchmarks for the Iraqi government.
- 02 May 2007 ICC Arrest Warrants for Darfur War Crimes: The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Ahmed Haroun, Sudan's humanitarian affairs minister, and Ali Kushayb, a Janjaweed leader, charging them with war crimes committed during the Darfur conflict.
- 03 May 2007 Madeleine McCann Disappearance: Three-year-old British girl Madeleine McCann disappeared from her family's apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, sparking what would become the most extensively reported missing-person case in modern history. Her disappearance captured global media attention and led to years of investigation and speculation.
- 04 May 2007 Greensburg, Kansas Tornado Devastation: A catastrophic EF5 tornado, measuring 1.7 miles wide, almost completely destroyed Greensburg, Kansas. This was the first tornado to be rated using the new Enhanced Fujita scale, marking a significant moment in meteorological documentation.
- 05 May 2007 Kenya Airways Flight 507 Tragedy: A devastating aviation disaster occurred when Kenya Airways Flight 507 crashed in Cameroon, resulting in the complete loss of all passengers and crew. The crash was a significant aviation incident that highlighted critical safety concerns.
- 06 May 2007 Nicolas Sarkozy Elected President of France: Nicolas Sarkozy was elected President of the French Republic, defeating Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal with 53 percent of the vote in the presidential election.
- 07 May 2007 Nicolas Sarkozy Elected President of France: Nicolas Sarkozy was elected as the President of France, marking a significant moment in French political history.
- 08 May 2007 Northern Ireland Restores Devolved Government: A historic moment in Northern Ireland's peace process, with Ian Paisley of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Martin McGuinness of Sinn Fein jointly leading the government, symbolizing the end of decades of sectarian conflict.
- 09 May 2007 Truck Bombing in Arbil, Kurdistan: A devastating truck bomb explosion in Arbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Regional Government, kills at least 12 people, underscoring the ongoing instability in the region.
- 10 May 2007 Tony Blair's Resignation Announcement: Tony Blair announces his resignation as British Prime Minister, effective June 27, which will trigger a Labour Party leadership election. This marks the end of Blair's decade-long tenure as Prime Minister, a period characterized by significant political and social reforms.
- 11 May 2007 Tony Blair Endorses Gordon Brown: British Prime Minister Tony Blair officially endorsed Gordon Brown as his successor, marking a significant transition in UK political leadership.
- 12 May 2007 After losing the primary election to become the Democratic Progressive Party candidate for the 2008 Taiwanese presidential elections, Su Tseng Chang resigns from the position of Premier of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
- 13 May 2007 Taliban Leadership Eliminated: NATO confirms the death of Mullah Daullah, the most powerful military leader of the Taliban, during a battle, marking a significant blow to the insurgent group.
- 14 May 2007 Palestinian Internal Conflict Escalation: Hani Kawasmeh, a top Palestinian security official, resigned in protest after a broken ceasefire. Intense fighting between Hamas and Fatah in Gaza resulted in 8 deaths and 40 wounded, with both sides using kidnappings and checkpoints as tactical measures.
- 15 May 2007 Peshawar Hotel Bombing: A devastating bomb attack on a hotel in Peshawar, Pakistan, results in at least 24 fatalities, underscoring the persistent terrorism challenges in the region.
- 16 May 2007 Nicolas Sarkozy Becomes French President: Nicolas Sarkozy officially assumed the presidency of the French Republic, succeeding Jacques Chirac in a historic political transition.
- 17 May 2007 Gordon Brown to Succeed Tony Blair: Gordon Brown is confirmed as the next leader of the British Labour Party, set to succeed Tony Blair as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on June 27th.
- 18 May 2007 Passing of Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, Nobel Physicist: Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, distinguished French physicist and Nobel Prize for Physics laureate, died. His groundbreaking work significantly advanced understanding of soft matter physics and complex systems.
- 19 May 2007 FA Cup Final at New Wembley Stadium: The historic 126th FA Cup Final is held at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium, with Chelsea defeating Manchester United 1-0 in an intense match, marking a significant moment in English football history.
- 20 May 2007 Dubai Ruler's Historic Charitable Donation: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum makes an unprecedented charitable contribution of 7.41 billion euros to an educational foundation in the Middle East, setting a new benchmark for philanthropic giving in the region.
- 21 May 2007 Bill Richardson Presidential Campaign Launch: Bill Richardson, the Democratic Governor of New Mexico, officially announced his candidacy for the 2008 United States Presidential Election in Los Angeles. This marked the beginning of his national political campaign to seek the presidency.
- 22 May 2007 Israel-Gaza Conflict Escalation: Intense conflict between Israel and Gaza Strip involved rocket launches from Gaza, resulting in an Israeli woman's death, followed by retaliatory Israeli Air Force strikes on a munitions facility in Jabaliya, Gaza City.
- 23 May 2007 Israel-Gaza Conflict Escalation: In the ongoing 2007 Israel-Gaza Conflict, eight rockets were fired by militants from the Gaza Strip at southern Israeli cities Sderot and Kibbutz Nir Am. The Israeli Air Force retaliated by destroying two buildings in Gaza Strip during an air strike.
- 24 May 2007 2007 Israel-Gaza Conflict: Escalating tensions in the Israel-Gaza conflict included multiple significant events: Israeli soldiers arrested 33 Hamas members in the West Bank, including Palestinian Education Minister Naser al-Shaer; Palestinians fired eight Qassam rockets into the western Negev; and the Israeli Air Force conducted two retaliatory air strikes in the Gaza Strip, destroying Hamas-associated infrastructure.
- 25 May 2007 2007 Israel-Gaza Conflict: Escalating tensions between Israel and Gaza resulted in military confrontations, with multiple incidents of airstrikes and potential civilian casualties, highlighting the ongoing complex geopolitical situation in the region.
- 26 May 2007 Russia's Superpower Status Recognized: The United States officially recognizes Russia as a full-fledged superpower, signaling a significant shift in international geopolitical dynamics.
- 27 May 2007 US Forces Liberate Iraqis from Al-Qaeda: United States military forces rescued 42 Iraqis from an al-Qaeda hideout northeast of Baghdad. Some of the captives showed clear signs of torture, underscoring the brutal conditions under terrorist control.
- 28 May 2007 Baghdad Car Bombing: During the Iraq insurgency, a car bomb explosion in Baghdad killed at least 19 people, underscoring the ongoing violence in the region.
- 29 May 2007 Nigeria's First Civilian-to-Civilian Power Transfer: Umaru Yar'Adua was inaugurated as President of Nigeria at the Abuja Eagle Square, marking a historic moment as the first peaceful civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's political history.
- 30 May 2007 UN Security Council Creates International Tribunal for Lebanese Political Murders: The United Nations Security Council established an international tribunal to investigate the murders of Lebanese political leaders, with a specific focus on the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. This action signifies international efforts to address political violence and seek justice in Lebanon.
- 31 May 2007 Pro-Taliban Insurgent Attack in Pakistan: Approximately 100 pro-Taliban insurgents attacked a government official's residence in northwest Pakistan, killing 13 people and highlighting regional instability.