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Major Events of May 2017: 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 2017 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

history

Major Events of May 2017: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 May 2017 US Bombers Escalate Tensions with North Korea: Two Rockwell B-1B Lancer heavy bombers flew over the Korean Peninsula, prompting North Korea to accuse the United States of preparing for potential nuclear conflict.
  • 02 May 2017 North Korea Nuclear Tensions: North Korea escalated its nuclear rhetoric, vowing to accelerate its nuclear weapons program to 'maximum speed' and threatening to test a nuclear weapon 'at any moment' in response to perceived aggressive stances from the United States under President Donald Trump.
  • 03 May 2017 Trump and Putin Discuss Global Issues: President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a 'very good' phone conversation discussing critical international issues including North Korea, Syria, and Middle East terrorism.
  • 04 May 2017 Russia, Iran, and Turkey Sign Syrian Peace Memorandum: Russia, Iran, and Turkey signed a memorandum calling for an end to the Syrian Civil War, though notably, neither the Syrian government nor the opposition were signatories to the agreement.
  • 05 May 2017 House Passes Obamacare Replacement Plan: The US House of Representatives narrowly approved a Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), representing a significant step in healthcare reform efforts.
  • 06 May 2017 Russia, Iran, Turkey Establish Syria De-escalation Zones: In a diplomatic effort to reduce violence in Syria's six-year civil war, Russia, Iran, and Turkey agreed to create four 'de-escalation zones' aimed at providing temporary relief from the ongoing conflict.
  • 07 May 2017 French Presidential Election: Emmanuel Macron won the French presidential election, defeating Marine Le Pen with 66.1% of the vote. At 39 years old, he became the youngest French head of state since Napoleon, signaling a significant political shift.
  • 08 May 2017 Emmanuel Macron Wins French Presidential Election: Centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron secured a decisive victory over far-right candidate Marine Le Pen in the French presidential election, marking a significant moment in contemporary European political history.
  • 09 May 2017 James Comey Fired from FBI: President Donald Trump removed FBI Director James Comey from his position, with Andrew G. McCabe temporarily taking over as acting director. This unexpected dismissal created significant political controversy and raised questions about the independence of federal law enforcement.
  • 10 May 2017 Trump Shares Classified Information with Russian Officials: U.S. President Donald Trump shared classified information about an ISIS plot with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a meeting in the Oval Office, causing significant diplomatic controversy.
  • 11 May 2017 Trump Establishes Election Integrity Commission: US President Donald Trump signs an Executive Order establishing the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, with Vice President Mike Pence as chair and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach as vice chair.
  • 12 May 2017 WannaCry Ransomware Global Cyber Attack: A massive international cyber attack utilizing the WannaCry ransomware program disrupted computer systems in over 400,000 computers across 99 countries. Major organizations impacted included the United Kingdom's National Health Services (NHS), Telefónica in Spain, MegaFon and Sberbank in Russia, and FedEx. The attack highlighted significant vulnerabilities in global cybersecurity infrastructure.
  • 13 May 2017 WannaCry Global Ransomware Cyberattack: A massive global ransomware cyberattack using the EternalBlue exploit, developed by The Shadow Brokers to target Microsoft Windows vulnerabilities, infected numerous private and public organizations. Attackers demanded bitcoin payments, causing significant digital disruption worldwide.
  • 14 May 2017 WannaCry Ransomware Global Cyberattack: A significant global cybersecurity incident occurred with the WannaCry ransomware attack. A researcher discovered a critical kill switch that prevented new infections and provided crucial time for system patches. Cybersecurity experts continued to analyze and develop strategies to mitigate the attack's impact.
  • 15 May 2017 Trump Classified Information Controversy: President Donald Trump allegedly revealed classified intelligence information to Russian officials in the Oval Office, potentially compromising sensitive intelligence sources related to the Islamic State.
  • 16 May 2017 Trump Reveals Classified Information to Russia: President Donald Trump admitted to sharing classified information with Russian envoys, contradicting previous White House statements. U.S. intelligence officers had warned Israel against sharing sensitive information with Trump, fearing potential leaks to Russia and Iran.
  • 17 May 2017 Mueller Appointed Special Counsel in Russia Investigation: Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Robert Mueller, former FBI Director, as Special Counsel to oversee the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 United States presidential election.
  • 18 May 2017 ISIS Massacre in Hama Governorate: A brutal ISIS attack resulted in the killing of 52 civilians from Salamiyah in the Hama Governorate, highlighting the ongoing terrorist threat in the Syrian region.
  • 19 May 2017 Brazil Corruption Scandal Exposed: A plea bargain testimony from JBS S.A. revealed massive corruption, alleging 500 million Brazilian reais in bribes paid to high-profile politicians, including President Michel Temer and his predecessors.
  • 20 May 2017 Historic U.S.-Saudi Arms Deal: President Trump signed a record-breaking US$350 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the largest in world history. The comprehensive agreement included tanks, combat ships, missile defense systems, and advanced technological components, strategically positioned as a counterbalance to Iranian regional influence.
  • 21 May 2017 North Korea Missile Test: South Korea reported that North Korea launched a Pukguksong-2 intermediate-range ballistic missile, which flew 500 km before landing in the Sea of Japan, escalating regional tensions.
  • 22 May 2017 Manchester Arena Bombing: A devastating terrorist attack occurred at the Manchester Arena during an Ariana Grande concert, resulting in the tragic deaths of 22 people and injuring 59 others. The suicide bombing was carried out by Salman Abedi, a 22-year-old British-born Libyan, shocking the United Kingdom and the world.
  • 23 May 2017 Manchester Arena Terrorist Attack: A devastating terrorist bombing occurred at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, resulting in the deaths of 22 people, including children, and injuring 59 others. The attack was carried out by 22-year-old Salman Abedi, who died at the scene. In response, the United Kingdom raised its terrorism threat level to critical, indicating a potential imminent threat.
  • 24 May 2017 Manchester Arena Bombing Investigation: British police arrested six suspects in connection with the Manchester Arena bombing. The Libyan Counter Terrorism Forces took into custody Ramadan Abedi (father) and Hashem Abedi (brother) of the suspected bomber Salman Abedi.
  • 25 May 2017 Jared Kushner Focus of FBI Russian Interference Investigation: Jared Kushner, Senior Advisor and son-in-law to President Trump, became the main focus of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's investigations into potential Russian election interference.
  • 26 May 2017 2017 Minya Attack on Coptic Christians: On May 26, 2017, a tragic terrorist attack occurred in Minya Governorate, Egypt, where gunmen opened fire on buses carrying Coptic Christians. The assault resulted in at least 28 fatalities and dozens of injuries. In response, the Egyptian Air Force conducted retaliatory strikes against militant camps in eastern Libya.
  • 27 May 2017 G7 Summit Climate Disagreement: The 43rd G7 Summit in Taormina, Italy, concludes with tension over the Paris Agreement, with U.S. President Donald Trump being the only leader to not confirm commitment to the climate accord.
  • 28 May 2017 Marawi Crisis Intensifies: The Philippine military reported discovering 16 bodies during the Marawi crisis, believed to be victims of the ISIL-affiliated Abu Sayyaf group. After six days of intense fighting, the death toll had reached 95, including 19 civilians, highlighting the severe conflict in the region.
  • 29 May 2017 Canadian Indigenous Residential Schools: Trudeau Seeks Papal Apology: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau formally requested Pope Francis to publicly apologize for the Roman Catholic Church's historical involvement in the systemic abuse of Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools, continuing efforts for reconciliation and acknowledgment of past injustices.
  • 30 May 2017 Manchester Arena Bombing Aftermath: More than a week after the tragic terrorist bombing at the Manchester Arena that claimed 22 lives, the city continued to mourn and recover from the devastating attack.
  • 31 May 2017 Kabul Bombing Near German Embassy: A devastating car bomb exploded in a crowded intersection in Kabul near the German embassy during rush hour, resulting in a massive loss of life and numerous injuries. The attack targeted a highly secure area in the city center, causing widespread destruction and chaos.