Portal:Current events/2012 May 11
May 11, 2012 (Friday)
Armed conflict and attacks
- Syrian uprising: the death toll of the May 10 Damascus double bombing reaches 55, with as many as 370 reportedly injured. Syrian authorities claim that over 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) of explosives were used in the attacks. (Daily Mail)
- Mexican Drug War: Gunmen open fire on an El Mañana newspaper office in the border city of Nuevo Laredo, shortly after drug-related massacres in the city. (Washington Post)
- The United States Armed Forces are embroiled in controversy over a defunct officer training course called Perspectives on Islam and Islamic Radicalism, which taught that Islam is America's irreconcilable enemy. (AP via The Guardian) (BBC) (Wired) (San Francisco Gate) (Democracy Now)
International relations
- An American study reveals that North Koreans have an increasing level of informal access to foreign media, despite the intense censorship efforts of the North Korean government. (BBC)
- Security is tightened in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, ahead of anti-China protests amid an ongoing Sino-Philippine territorial dispute in the South China Sea. (Reuters)
Law and crime
- A woman is arrested on suspicion of murder after five children die in a suspected arson fire in the English city of Derby. (BBC)
- William Balfour is found guilty of murdering the mother, brother and nephew of American entertainer Jennifer Hudson. (ABC News America)
- At the Leveson Inquiry into British media practices, former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks discloses an email that appears to show that Britain's Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, sought advice from News International over how Downing Street should respond to the News of the World phone hacking scandal. (The Guardian)
Science
- Chinese scientists use quantum teleportation to transmit photons over a distance of 97 kilometres (60 mi) – a world record for quantum teleportation. (PopSci)
- A panel of American health experts recommends formal approval of the Truvada anti-HIV drug for prescription to non-infected men who have sex with multiple male partners, a decision opposed by some health workers and groups active among those with HIV. (BBC)
- American researchers report that preventable infections are the leading cause of child mortality worldwide. Of the 7.6 million children who died before their fifth birthday in 2010, over 60% died of infections such as pneumonia. (BBC)
Sport
- Thousands of fans attend a memorial service for the late San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau at Qualcomm Stadium. Team president Dean Spanos announces that Seau's #55 will be retired by the team. (ESPN)