A round-up of major developments reported worldwide on May 31 highlighted fresh economic pressure in Sri Lanka and a series of incidents across West Asia, China and the United States.
Sri Lanka raised petrol and diesel prices again, citing supply disruptions linked to heightened West Asia war tensions. The increase—effective for the fifth time since March—puts petrol up by 5.85% per litre and diesel up by 3.83%, triggering public concern.
In Turkey’s Denizli province, a passenger bus reportedly lost control and hit highway barriers before catching fire early in the morning. Eight people, including a nine-month-old baby boy, were killed and 33 others were injured.
In China’s Yunnan province, a landslide occurred during illegal mining activity in Baiwu village of Huize county. Six people were rescued and taken to hospital, but five later died.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said its air defence shot down a US MQ-1 drone that allegedly entered Iranian airspace, and added that controls in the Strait of Hormuz have been tightened. Separately, the Israeli military claimed it has taken control of the 900-year-old Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon, while a large meteor reportedly exploded over the northeastern US, startling residents as homes shook from the shockwaves.
