Portal:Current events/2020 May 4

May 4, 2020 (Monday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

War in Afghanistan
- The Taliban claims responsibility for an attack on Sunday on an Afghan military centre in southern Helmand where they say that "dozens were killed or wounded". (Reuters)
Ituri conflict
- The armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo announce that 12 soldiers were killed in an attack by militants in Ituri Province over the weekend. (Anadolu Agency)
Macuto Bay raid
- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says "13 terrorists", including two U.S. citizens working for Jordan Goudreau's private security company Silvercorp USA, have been detained after foiling a plot to assassinate him, accusing them of "playing Rambo". State television broadcasts footage of captured mercenaries in Aragua. (Reuters)
- Opposition leader Juan Guaidó denies any involvement with the Silvercorp USA operation. Jordan Goudreau claims his company signed a contract with Guaidó to remove Nicolás Maduro from power by force, but says he has only been paid "a tiny share of the amount agreed upon." (AP via Toledo Blade)

Arts and culture

Business and economy

Coronavirus recession, COVID-19 pandemic in the United States
- The U.S. government announces plans to borrow $3 trillion for the second quarter, five times more than the previous record set during the 2008 financial crisis. (BBC News)

Health and environment

Law and crime

COVID-19 pandemic in Colorado
- A Colorado man who organized planned armed protests against the state’s stay-at-home orders is arrested after pipe bombs were discovered at his house. (ABC News)

Politics and elections

UK Trade Minister Conor Burns resigns after a watchdog group recommended suspending him from parliament for making "veiled threats" towards a company his father had financial disputes with. (BBC News)

Science and technology

A team of British and Kenyan scientists announce the discovery of Microsporidia MB, a parasitic microbe in the Microsporidia fungi group that blocks mosquitos from carrying malaria. While acknowledging they need to understand how the microbe spreads and how it blocks the disease, the team believes it has potential to be used in malaria control. (BBC News) (Nature)
A previously undetected Apollo group asteroid 2020 JJ passes 4,350 miles (7,000 kilometres) away from Earth. It is the closest near-Earth object since 2019 UN13. (CNET)