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Major Events of May 2021: 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 2021 and discover how they influenced the world both then and now.

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Major Events of May 2021: Key Historical Moments from the Month

  • 01 May 2021 U.S. Military Withdrawal from Afghanistan: On May 1st, 2021, President Joe Biden officially announced the complete withdrawal of U.S. military forces from Afghanistan, marking the end of America's longest military engagement. This historic decision signaled a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, concluding a nearly two-decade-long military presence that began in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The withdrawal was planned to be completed by September 11, 2021, symbolically marking the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
  • 02 May 2021 Berlin Labor Day Protests and Arrests: On May 2, 2021, Berlin experienced significant social unrest during its annual Labor Day demonstrations. At least 354 protesters were detained by local law enforcement during the protests, highlighting tensions between demonstrators and authorities. The protests, traditionally marking International Workers' Day, involved large crowds expressing various social and economic grievances, leading to widespread arrests and potential clashes with police.
  • 03 May 2021 German Police Dismantle Major Child Abuse Website: German law enforcement conducted a major operation targeting 'Boystown', an international child abuse image website with approximately 400,000 members worldwide. The operation resulted in significant arrests and the disruption of this criminal network.
  • 04 May 2021 Mexican President Apologizes to Mayan People: Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador delivered a historic apology to the Mayan people, acknowledging the systemic abuses and injustices suffered over five centuries since the Spanish conquest. This significant gesture represents a step towards reconciliation and recognition of historical wrongs.
  • 05 May 2021 Biden Supports Lifting COVID-19 Vaccine Patent Protections: US President Joe Biden announced support for temporarily lifting patent protections on COVID-19 vaccines through the World Health Organization, a move aimed at increasing global vaccine accessibility and addressing pandemic inequities.
  • 06 May 2021 Biden Administration Supports Global COVID-19 Vaccine Access: The Biden administration demonstrated global health leadership by expressing support for waiving patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines, aiming to increase worldwide vaccine accessibility and combat the pandemic's global spread.
  • 07 May 2021 Palestinian-Israeli Tensions in East Jerusalem: Intense clashes erupted between Palestinian protesters and Israeli police at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and surrounding areas in East Jerusalem, resulting in at least 178 Palestinian injuries and escalating regional tensions.
  • 08 May 2021 Deadly School Bombing in Kabul: A devastating car bomb exploded in front of a school in Kabul, Afghanistan, targeting a predominantly female student population. The attack killed at least 55 people, with over 150 wounded, primarily teenage girls. This tragic incident highlighted the ongoing violence and instability in Afghanistan, particularly as the United States was preparing to withdraw its military forces.
  • 09 May 2021 Deadly Bombing at Girls' School in Kabul: A tragic terrorist attack targeted a girls' school in Kabul, Afghanistan, resulting in at least 50 fatalities, with many victims being young students aged between 11 and 15 years old. The bombing highlights the ongoing threats to education and women's rights in the region.
  • 10 May 2021 Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Escalates in Jerusalem: Tensions dramatically escalated between Palestinians and Israelis after Israeli security forces entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The confrontation quickly spiraled into violence, with Hamas firing rockets from Gaza and Israel conducting retaliatory airstrikes, resulting in at least 31 fatalities and heightened regional tensions.
  • 11 May 2021 Israel-Hamas Conflict Escalates with Airstrikes: Tensions between Israel and Hamas intensified on May 11, 2021, with Israel launching retaliatory airstrikes against the Gaza Strip following rocket attacks by Hamas. This incident represented another chapter in the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, resulting in significant regional instability.
  • 12 May 2021 Intense Israel-Hamas Conflict Escalates with Rocket Attacks and Airstrikes: A severe military confrontation erupted between Israel and Hamas, with intense rocket barrages and retaliatory airstrikes. The conflict resulted in significant casualties, including at least 28 Palestinians (10 of them children) and three Israelis. Rockets reached as far as Tel Aviv, overwhelming Israel's Iron Dome defense system. The fighting represented the most significant escalation between the two sides since the 2014 war, underscoring the ongoing tensions in the region.
  • 13 May 2021 CDC Announces Mask Guidelines for Fully Vaccinated Individuals: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidance stating that individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can cease wearing masks in most indoor and outdoor settings. This landmark decision signaled a potential turning point in the United States' pandemic response strategy.
  • 14 May 2021 Israel-Palestine Conflict Escalates: The Israel-Palestine crisis intensifies with devastating consequences. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza result in 137 deaths and over 920 wounded, including a tragic incident at the Shati refugee camp where ten people, including eight children, are killed. The International Criminal Court announces potential investigation into war crimes. Concurrent violence in the West Bank includes Israeli settler attacks on Palestinian homes and eleven protestors shot by soldiers.
  • 15 May 2021 China Successfully Lands Rover on Mars: China achieved a significant milestone in space exploration by successfully landing a rover on Mars, marking another step in the country's growing space program capabilities.
  • 16 May 2021 Biden Supports COVID-19 Vaccine Patent Waiver: In a significant global health policy move, US President Joe Biden announced the United States' support for temporarily lifting patent protections on COVID-19 vaccines, aiming to increase global vaccine accessibility through the World Health Organization.
  • 17 May 2021 WHO Study Reveals Deadly Impact of Long Working Hours: In a groundbreaking global health study published in 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that excessively long working hours resulted in 745,000 deaths worldwide in 2016. This landmark research highlighted the significant health risks associated with prolonged work, emphasizing the urgent need for better workplace regulations and employee well-being policies.
  • 18 May 2021 Global COVID-19 Pandemic Updates: On May 18, 2021, the world continued to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by significant developments. The United States announced plans to share more vaccine doses internationally, while India struggled with a severe outbreak of rising cases and deaths. In Canada, Quebec began easing pandemic restrictions. Notably, the U.S. reported a positive trend of declining COVID-19 cases across all 50 states, signaling potential progress in pandemic management.
  • 19 May 2021 India Reports Record COVID-19 Daily Deaths: On May 19, 2021, India recorded 4,529 COVID-19 deaths in a single day, setting a global pandemic record. The death toll exceeded the previous record set by the United States in January. While new coronavirus cases were declining from a peak of over 400,000 to 267,000, public health experts believed the actual pandemic impact was likely underreported. Urban centers like New Delhi and Mumbai saw reduced infections due to lockdowns, but rural areas remained critically vulnerable with limited testing and overwhelmed medical infrastructure.
  • 20 May 2021 Israel-Hamas Ceasefire in Gaza: After nearly two weeks of intense conflict, Israel and Hamas reached a bilateral ceasefire agreement in Gaza, marking a temporary halt to the violent hostilities. The agreement came after significant international diplomatic intervention and mounting pressure to de-escalate tensions in the region.
  • 21 May 2021 Israel-Palestine Crisis and Chaman Bombing: On May 21, 2021, multiple tragic events unfolded: A bombing at a Palestine solidarity rally in Chaman, Balochistan, Pakistan killed seven people and wounded 14. In Gaza, ten more bodies were discovered under bombed buildings, raising the Palestinian death toll to 243. Israeli security forces also used stun grenades and rubber bullets against Palestinians at Al-Aqsa Mosque, injuring at least 20 people.
  • 22 May 2021 Israel-Palestine Ceasefire: A ceasefire was established between Israel and Palestine, ending 11 days of intense conflict that resulted in over 250 fatalities. International humanitarian aid was permitted to enter Gaza, marking a critical moment in the ongoing regional tensions.
  • 23 May 2021 Ryanair Flight Forced Landing in Belarus: Belarusian authorities forcibly diverted Ryanair Flight 4978, compelling the aircraft to land in Minsk with the explicit purpose of detaining dissident journalist Roman Protasevich. This action was widely condemned as an international violation of aviation protocols and human rights.
  • 24 May 2021 Death of Last International Brigades Veteran: Josep Almudéver Mateu, the final surviving member of the International Brigades who fought during the Spanish Civil War, passed away in France at the remarkable age of 101, marking the end of a generation of anti-fascist volunteers.
  • 25 May 2021 United States Reaches Major COVID-19 Vaccination Milestone: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on May 25, 2021, that the United States had achieved a significant vaccination milestone. Half of all US adults were now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with 61% having received at least their first vaccine dose, marking substantial progress in the nation's pandemic response.
  • 26 May 2021 Biden's Statement on COVID-19 Origins Investigation: President Joe Biden addressed the ongoing investigation into the origins of COVID-19, highlighting the complexity of determining the virus's source. He noted that the U.S. Intelligence Community had not reached a definitive conclusion but identified two primary scenarios. Biden emphasized the need for continued international research and collaboration to uncover the pandemic's origins.
  • 27 May 2021 Biden Demands COVID-19 Origin Investigation: President Joe Biden directed U.S. intelligence agencies to intensify their investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. He specifically called for increased scrutiny and requested China's full cooperation with international investigative efforts, signaling a diplomatic push to understand the virus's initial emergence.
  • 28 May 2021 Senate Republicans Oppose January 6 Commission: Senate Republicans prepared to block legislation establishing an independent commission to investigate the January 6 Capitol attack, highlighting deep political divisions in the aftermath of the unprecedented event.
  • 29 May 2021 Kamloops Residential School Mass Grave Discovery: In a deeply disturbing revelation, the remains of 215 Indigenous children were discovered at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia, Canada. This discovery highlighted the tragic legacy of Canada's residential school system, which forcibly separated Indigenous children from their families and communities, resulting in widespread cultural trauma and loss of life.
  • 30 May 2021 Biden Infrastructure Negotiations Intensify: President Biden continued high-stakes negotiations with Senate Republicans over a comprehensive infrastructure package, with significant financial disagreements persisting. The two sides remained approximately $1 trillion apart in their proposed spending, highlighting the complexity of reaching a bipartisan agreement on critical national infrastructure investment.
  • 31 May 2021 Danish Intelligence Spying Scandal Revealed: Denmark's public broadcaster DR exposed a significant intelligence breach, revealing that the Danish Defence Intelligence Service collaborated with the U.S. National Security Agency to conduct surveillance on European leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, between 2012 and 2014. This revelation raised serious concerns about international diplomatic trust and privacy.