Current Events Around the World - May 2014

This is a quick recap of major current events throughout the world. Of course, keep up to date with news via your favorite channel, website, or newspaper.

THAILAND is usually thought of as one of the most stable, peaceful countries in Southeast Asia. However, protests supporting and opposing the government have led to a startling action by the army. BBC, Reuters, and other news sources report that the Thai army declared martial law on Tuesday, May 20th in Thailand's time (late Monday, May 19th in the United States and surrounding areas).

ARGENTINA — The Huffington Post and other sources reported that paleontologists discovered bones from seven dinosaurs in the southern Argentina's Chubut province. Even more exciting is a possibility that the remains could belong to a dinosaur species larger than the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Argentinosaurus!

AUSTRALIA — Another major earthen discovery was made in late April. The Huffington Post and other sources reported that a new purplish pink mineral was discovered by miners north of Norseman, near Lake Cowan in western Australia. Found on volcanic rock, the mineral is called Putnisite.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA, SERBIA & KENYA — Deadly floods have recently affected the Balkan States: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. The BBC reports that areas in the Great Rift Valley of Kenya are also flooded.

TURKEY — CBS News reports that a mining company manager and two others were arrested for neglecting safety concerns in connection to the devastating Turkey mine explosion and collapse. The disaster occurred on Tuesday, May 13th in Soma of western Turkey.

UNITED STATES — Five Chinese army officials have been charged in a cyber-espionage case in which they stole information, documents, and trade secrets from five American companies and a labor union, according to the BBC.