Your second place to come to for international news
Curated by Peter Hulm
Breaking news
Nigeria and U.S. forces announce they killed over 20 Islamic State group militants in weekend offensive (LINK) — ground.news: 53 media reports (LINK) — 19 May 2026
Starbucks Korea CEO fired after 'Tank Day' promo evokes brutal 1980 crackdown on democracy (LINK) — 19 May 2026
US: Trump administration unveils $1.7bn fund to compensate his allies who allege they were unfairly investigated by the Biden administration as he drops tax lawsuit (LINK) — 18 May 2026
— BBC: Democrats criticised the settlement as a "slush fund" paid out of taxpayer money for Trump and his cronies from a federal agency overseen by him. The lawsuit's plaintiffs, which include Trump's elder sons and the Trump Organization, will receive an apology, but no monetary compensation, the department said.
Trump drops 'unprecedented' $10 billion lawsuit against IRS over leaked tax records (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Trump says attack on Iran held off upon Gulf states' request (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Iran says it responded to 'excessive' US proposal, after Trump warns 'clock ticking' (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Israel says it killed the leader of Hamas' military wing, one of the architects of Oct. 7 attacks, in Gaza City air strike on 15 May (LINK) — ground.news: 346 media reports (LINK) — 18 May 2026
— Known as the 'Ghost of al-Qassam', Haddad assumed leadership of the militant group's military wing after his predecessor, Mohammed Sinwar, was killed. Mohammed Deif, the longtime commander of Hamas's armed wing and considered an architect of the attack, was also killed during the war.
Netanyahu says Israel 'very close' to eliminating Oct 7 attack masterminds — (LINK)
Bessent grants a 30-day extension for Russian oil in tankers as Iran war squeezes supply (LINK) — ground.news: 101 media reports (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Strategists see European oil shortages within weeks as inventories are depleted (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Israeli law for execution of Palestinian prisoners of terror-related murders against Israelis goes into force in West Bank (New Arab: LINK) — ground.news: media reports (LINK) — 17 May 2026
— The Knesset passed legislation on March 30, 2026, with 62 lawmakers in favour and 48 against, allowing military courts to impose capital punishment for terrorism-motivated killings while removing pardon authority.
Global scramble to contain new Ebola outbreak as US looks to relocate 'small number' of citizens affected (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Three adults killed and two teen suspects dead in shooting at San Diego Islamic Center, police say (LINK) — ground.news: 305 media reports (LINK) — 18 May 2026
— The teenagers, 17 and 19, were found dead in a vehicle nearby of gunshot wounds that appeared to be self-inflicted. A security guard who was killed apparently helped prevent deaths.Police said the guard "played a pivotal role in assisting from this being much worse."
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UN: Housing crisis takes centre stage at World Urban Forum in Baku (LINK) — 18 May 2026
World Health Assembly rejects Taiwan-related proposal (Taiwan's participation as an observer) for tenth consecutive year (LINK) — 18 May 2026
US sanctions 9 senior Cuban officials as tensions escalate: Cuba warns of 'bloodbath' (LINK) — ground.news: 29 media reports (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Trump administration ends civil, criminal cases against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani over alleged violations of Iran-related sanctions tied to LPG imports after $10 billion investment promise (LINK) — ground.news: 86 media reports (LINK) — 18 May 2026
US: Judges toss charges against 9 over Wyoming Attorney Darin Smith's 'deeply concerning' misconduct in native American cases (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Alibaba selling high-powered laser guns (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Fox News has claimed for months that Iran's military had been destroyed. New reporting says US intelligence agencies have concluded otherwise (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Iran reportedly launches Bitcoin-based shipping insurance for Hormuz passage (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Bitcoin price falls below $77,000 as US-Iran war trigger $500m liquidations (LINK) — 18 May 2026
52 dead after weekly barrage of 4,500 Russian missiles and drones — Zelensky (LINK) — 17 May 2026
Israel and Lebanon agreed on 15 May to extend ceasefire by 45 days, U.S. State Dept says: UN chief welcomes accord (LINK) — ground.news: 307 media reports (LINK) — 17 May 2026
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh to visit Geneva on 19 May, two days after Meghan Markle. The information about Sophie's trip to Switzerland has been kept to a minimum (LINK) — 19 May 2026
— Megan, the Duchess of Sussex, appeared at Place des Nations in Geneva on 17 May for the inauguration of The Lost Screen Memorial, a striking tribute honouring young lives lost to online dangers.
UK: Satellites and AI used to track UK hedgehogs in bid to slow decline (LINK) — 19 May 2026
Humanity's oldest known cave art has been discovered in Sulawesi, Indonesia (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Pollock sells for $181m at Christie's S.I. Newhouse auction (LINK) — ground.news: 12 media reports (LINK) — 18 May 2026
— Brancusi's bronze Danaïde also set an artist record at $107.6 million as the late media mogul's 16-work collection smashed expectations. According to ARTnews, the sale makes it the fourth most expensive work ever sold at auction. The previous auction record for the abstract expressionist painter was US$61.2 million, set in 2021. Other works by him have been sold privately for up to US$200 million.
Guardian: list of things Zohran Mamdani has done in just four months: cartoons (LINK) — 18 May 2026
Nepo baby actor-musician Kiefer Sutherland cancels US tour over dismal ticket sales (LINK) — 16 May 2026
— The news comes on the heels of a successful European tour by the two-time Emmy winner.
Gonet Geneva Tennis Open 2026: 17-23 May (LINK) — 13 May 2026
— Taylor Fritz, Alexander Bublik, Casper Ruud, Learner Tien, Cameron Norrie and Arthur Rinderknech are all in the Geneva field. Stan Wawrinka will lead the home charge. The prize money for the Gonet Geneva Open is €612,620. Winner: € 93,175, Finalist: €54,360.
Advancing universal health coverage through Traditional Medicine: 79th World Health Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland, 18–23 May 2026 (LINK) — 13 May 2026
The World Health Assembly, the main decision making body of the World Health Organization, is meeting this year in Geneva starting next Monday. "This meeting may represent the last chance for the U.S. to reverse course and remain a member of the WHO" (LINK) — 13 May 2026
25 to 27 October 2026: UNCTAD World Investment Forum 9: in Doha (LINK) — 22 January 2026
Road to the First International Conference of the Global Framework on Chemicals being held in Geneva on 16 to 20 November 2026 (LINK) — 11 February 2026
11 to 15 July 2027: International AIDS Society announces Geneva as host city for IAS 2027:: Around 5,000 people from more than 130 countries are expected to attend. Registration for IAS 2027 will open in November 2026 (LINK) — 22 January 2026