Portal:Current events/2017 May 12

May 12, 2017 (Friday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

A bomb hits a convoy of the Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, near Mastung in the province of Balochistan, killing at least 25 people and injuring 35 others, including the Senate's Deputy Chairman. (Reuters)
An explosion outside a prominent post office in Rome causes damage to a car; however, no injuries or deaths have been reported. A preliminary investigation indicated it was most likely “a demonstrative act, showing that it could be done”. (The Guardian)
WannaCry ransomware attack
- A large scale international cyber-attack using the WannaCry ransomware package disrupts computer and telephone systems in thousands of cases across 99 countries. Affected organisations include: England's NHS, with doctors reporting messages demanding money; MegaFon and Sberbank in Russia; Telefónica, Iberdrola, and Gas Natural in Spain; and FedEx. (BBC) (AP/Reuters via ABC Australia)

Arts and culture

Catholics in Portugal converge in a shrine in Fatima for a visit by Pope Francis. (BBC)
British author J. K. Rowling urges fans to refrain from buying a manuscript written by her, a Harry Potter prequel, which was originally auctioned off for charity but was later stolen. (People)

Law and crime

A judge in Alkmaar, the Netherlands, grants a 12-year-old boy the right to decide for himself on whether or not to continue chemotherapy. The ruling was based on a psychiatric evaluation of the patient as being "capable of a reasonable evaluation of his interests and realizes the consequences — including the negative ones — of his decision." (The Charlotte Observer)
Costa Concordia disaster
- The Italian Supreme Court of Cassation upholds Francesco Schettino's 16-year sentence for his role as Captain of the Costa Concordia in the deaths of 32 people. (BBC) (Reuters)
A shooting attack at a nursing home in Kirkersville, Ohio, kills four people, including a police chief and the shooter. (ABC News)

Politics and elections

Iranian presidential election, 2017
- Candidates debate on live television with the rivals of frontrunner and current president, Hassan Rouhani, taking aim at his economic policies. (Bloomberg)

Sports