Major Events of May 2019: 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 2019 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.
Major Events of May 2019: Key Historical Moments from the Month
- 01 May 2019 Emperor Naruhito Ascends to the Chrysanthemum Throne: In a historic moment, Emperor Naruhito became the 126th Emperor of Japan, succeeding his father Emperor Akihito. This transition marked the beginning of the Reiwa era, symbolizing a new period of peace and harmony in Japanese imperial history. During a symbolic ceremony, Naruhito inherited two of the Three Sacred Treasures, formalizing his ascension.
- 02 May 2019 Pelosi Accuses Barr of Lying: US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused US Attorney General William Barr of lying to Congress regarding the Mueller Report, escalating tensions in the ongoing political investigation.
- 03 May 2019 Cyclone Fani Devastates Odisha: Cyclone Fani struck Odisha State in India and Bangladesh, resulting in 33 fatalities. The disaster prompted one of the largest human evacuations in history, with 1.2 million people relocated in just 24 hours.
- 04 May 2019 Gaza-Israel Conflict Escalation: Israeli Air Force conducts airstrikes in Gaza Strip in response to Hamas rocket launches, with Turkish officials protesting the bombing of Anadolu Agency's media office
- 05 May 2019 Gaza-Israel Conflict Escalation: Hamas and other militant groups in the Gaza Strip launched hundreds of rockets into Israel, resulting in the deaths of two Israeli civilians in Ashkelon and another in Ashdod. In retaliation, Israeli strikes on Gaza killed at least 23 Palestinians, including a senior Hamas commander.
- 06 May 2019 UN Report: Mass Species Extinction Risk: A landmark UN report warned that one million plant and animal species are currently at risk of extinction, underscoring the critical state of global biodiversity and ecosystem health.
- 07 May 2019 US-Iran Tensions: Pompeo's Emergency Iraq Visit: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made an emergency trip to Iraq amid escalating tensions with Iran. He met with Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi and President Barham Salih, reaffirming U.S. policy of non-interference in Iraq.
- 08 May 2019 Iran's Nuclear Program Developments: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced a partial withdrawal from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, signaling potential escalation in international tensions by ceasing exports of heavy water and uranium.
- 09 May 2019 Migrant Boat Tragedy off Tunisia: The United Nations reported a devastating maritime disaster where at least 65 migrants lost their lives when their boat sank off Tunisia's coast. The vessel was attempting to cross from Libya to Europe, underscoring the ongoing humanitarian crisis of Mediterranean migration.
- 10 May 2019 Trump Doubles Tariffs on Chinese Goods: President Trump doubled tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, further escalating the trade tensions between the United States and China.
- 11 May 2019 Record-Breaking Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels: The Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii recorded atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reaching 415 parts per million, a concentration not seen in 3 million years, signaling significant climate change concerns.
- 12 May 2019 Syria's Secret Torture Network Exposed: The New York Times obtained memos revealing that President Bashar Al-Assad's government operated a widespread network of secret torture facilities designed to systematically crush political opposition through routine imprisonment and torture.
- 13 May 2019 China-US Trade Conflict Escalation: China announced a significant tariff increase from 10% to 25% on US imports worth $60 billion, effective June 1, 2019, further intensifying the ongoing trade tensions between the two economic superpowers.
- 14 May 2019 US-China Trade Tensions Escalate: The United States and China announced further escalation of their trade war, with the US targeting an additional $300 billion in Chinese goods for potential tariff hikes, and China responding by raising levies on $60 billion worth of US goods starting June 1.
- 15 May 2019 Alabama Passes Strict Abortion Ban: Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signs the Human Life Protection Act, effectively banning all abortions in the state except those necessary to prevent grave health risks to the woman. The law reclassifies abortion and attempted abortion as Class A felonies, sparking intense national debate about reproductive rights.
- 16 May 2019 Theresa May's Brexit Resignation Timeline: UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced she would outline her resignation timeline following the Brexit vote in June, signaling the end of her tumultuous premiership.
- 17 May 2019 Taiwan Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage: Taiwan's Legislative Yuan approved groundbreaking legislation allowing same-sex marriages, making Taiwan the first Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage. The bill, drafted by President Tsai Ing-wen, limits joint custody rights and represents a significant milestone for LGBTQ+ rights in Asia.
- 18 May 2019 First Republican Supports Trump Impeachment: Justin Amash, a Republican U.S. Representative from Michigan, becomes the first Republican to publicly support impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.
- 19 May 2019 Rocket Explosion in Baghdad's Green Zone: A rocket exploded within the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq, landing less than one mile from the U.S. Embassy amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States.
- 20 May 2019 Ukrainian Presidential Transition: Volodymyr Zelensky, a former comedian and TV actor, was sworn in as Ukraine's 6th President. He immediately dissolved parliament and called for a snap election, with Prime Minister Volodymyr Grysman announcing his resignation in protest.
- 21 May 2019 Christchurch Mosque Shootings Aftermath: Brenton Tarrant was formally accused of killing 51 people and wounding 49 more in two mosques in New Zealand, with charges of terrorist acts, marking a significant moment in the country's history of hate crime and terrorism.
- 22 May 2019 Trump Financial Records Court Ruling: Judge Edgardo Ramos of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled that Capital One and Deutsche Bank can release President Trump's financial records to Congress.
- 23 May 2019 Interpol Breaks Up Major Pedophilia Ring: Interpol's Operation Blackwrist successfully arrested nine individuals from Australia, Thailand, and the United States, and rescued 50 children from a massive 63,000-member online pedophilia network. Investigators from over 60 countries participated in the operation.
- 24 May 2019 Theresa May Resigns as Conservative Party Leader: Under immense political pressure due to her unsuccessful Brexit negotiations, British Prime Minister Theresa May announced her resignation as Leader of the Conservative Party, effective June 7, marking a significant moment in UK political history.
- 25 May 2019 Trump Approves Weapons Sale to Saudi Arabia: U.S. President Donald Trump circumvented Congressional approval to authorize a multi-billion dollar weapons sale to Saudi Arabia, citing potential Iranian threats and escalating regional tensions.
- 26 May 2019 Teva Pharmaceutical Opioid Settlement: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries agreed to pay $85 Million to Oklahoma just before a scheduled trial, acknowledging allegations of contributing to the U.S. opioid crisis.
- 27 May 2019 Amazonas Prison Massacres: Brazilian prison officials reported at least 42 prisoners were found dead across four different jails in Amazonas state. A violent brawl in Manaus resulted in 15 prisoners being killed by rival prison gangs, highlighting severe security issues in the Brazilian prison system.
- 28 May 2019 Beverly Hills Supper Club Fire: A tragic fire at the Beverly Hills Supper Club in Southgate, Kentucky, resulted in the deaths of 165 people on May 28, 1977.
- 29 May 2019 Pediatrician Arrested for Child Sexual Abuse: Ricardo Russo, a 55-year-old pediatrician and Chief of the Immunology Department at Hospital Garrahan in Buenos Aires, was arrested on serious charges of sexually abusing minors and possessing and distributing child pornography involving children and babies with disabilities. The case attracted international attention, with both U.S. FBI and Brazilian prosecutors involved.
- 30 May 2019 Mueller Speaks on Trump Investigation: Special Counsel Robert Mueller stated that charging President Trump was 'not an option' and that his two-year investigation did not clear Trump of possible obstruction of justice crimes, leaving the decision to Congress.
- 31 May 2019 Virginia Beach Municipal Building Shooting: A tragic mass shooting occurred at the Virginia Beach municipal building, resulting in the deaths of 12 victims and the shooter, with four others injured. The incident shocked the community and reignited national discussions about gun violence.