May 7, 2014 (Wednesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Islamist insurgency in Nigeria:
- At least 125 people are killed in a massacre in Gamboru Ngala, Borno State. (BiharPrabha) (Reuters)
- 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine:
- Pro-Russian militants recapture the city hall of the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol hours after the Ukrainian government forces took control of the building from the militants. (BBC News)
- Five pro-Russian militants are killed and fifteen more are captured during clashes with the Ukrainian military in the outskirts of the southern city of Mariupol. (CNN)
- Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Ukraine's presidential election on May 25 is a step "in the right direction", calling on anti-Kyiv protesters to postpone a May 11 federalization referendum. Putin also added qualifying conditions.(BBC News)
- Syrian Civil War:
- Rebels withdraw from the besieged city of Homs in accordance with the U.N.-brokered deal between them and the Syrian government. (BBC News)
International relations
- Vietnamese naval ships and Chinese vessels collide in the South China Sea; the incident occurred while the Vietnamese navy was trying to prevent China from setting up an oil rig in an area to which both nations lay claim. (BBC News)
Law and crime
- An alleged American FBI agent is arrested in Pakistan for carrying ammunition while trying to board a flight, which is in violation of their anti-terror laws. (BBC News)
Politics and elections
- The Constitutional Court of Thailand finds that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is guilty of abuse of power when she transferred the National Security Council chief in 2011 and that she cannot remain in office. (ABC News Australia)
- South African general election, 2014:
- Voters in South Africa go to the polls for a general election. (The Guardian)
- Alan Shatter resigns from the Irish government after scandals over him came out in February. (RTÉ)
- Indian general election, 2014:
- In India over 60 million people vote in 64 constituencies today across 7 states for 16th Lok Sabha. (Times Of India)
Science
- The "Pinocchio Rex" (Qianzhousaurus sinensis) is discovered in Ganzhou, China. (National Geographic)
- Argentinosaurus is named as the heaviest species of dinosaur ever while a sparrow-sized Qiliania is named as the smallest. (Reuters)