Headlines: 11-17 May 2026

Sunday, 17 May 2026

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo a global health emergency (LINK) — 17 May 2026

— However, it said the outbreak in DR Congo's eastern Ituri province, which has seen around 246 suspected cases and 80 deaths reported, does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency. The current strain of Ebola is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, the health agency said, for which there are no approved drugs or vaccines. The global health agency added the virus has spread beyond DR Congo, with two confirmed cases reported in neighbouring Uganda.

More than 500 Ukraine drones strike at Russia, killing 3; US allows Russian oil sanctions waiver to lapse (LINK) — 17 May 2026

— Zelenskyy on Friday vowed retaliation for earlier Russian strikes: day 1,544 of war.

Drone strikes UAE nuclear plant highlighting risk of renewed war (LINK) — 17 May 2026

Al Jazeera: Trump holds prayer rally to 'rededicate' US as 'one nation under God': Critics have denounced the event as a blurring of the separation of church and state mandated by the US Constitution (LINK) — 17 May 2026

Britain's problems with its prime ministers (LINK) — 17 May 2026

Two US Navy jets crash midair as crew successfully ejects during Idaho military base air show (LINK) — 17 May 2026

Physicists just debunked the idea that we're living in a simulation: new theoretical study argues the universe includes truths beyond computation, making a full simulation of reality impossible (LINK) — 17 May 2026

Saturday, 16 May 2026

China throws major roadblock at US' Iran Resolution; Trump team left stunned at UN (LINK) — 16 May 2026

— Beijing openly opposed a U.S.-backed resolution demanding Iran halt attacks and mining operations in the waterway. Chinese UN Ambassador Fu Cong said the "timing and content" of the proposal were inappropriate and warned that passing it would not help ease tensions. Reports suggest both China and Russia could veto the resolution if it reaches a vote at the UN Security Council.

Federal funding for Trump ballroom in trouble after Senate ruling (LINK) — 16 May 2026

— Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled on Saturday that the proposed funding, as written in a spending bill, does not comply with the chamber's budget rules, a Democratic lawmaker said. Republicans seek to use taxpayer money for security upgrades linked to President Donald Trump's planned White House ballroom.

Declare climate crisis a global public health emergency, experts on the independent pan-European commission on climate and health, which was convened by the WHO, tell the organization (LINK) — 16 May 2026

US planning to criminally indict ex-Cuban leader Raúl Castro, 94, over the shooting down of two aircraft three decades ago (LINK) — 16 May 2026

NY Times: With possible Raúl Castro indictment, U.S. eyes Venezuela playbook — (LINK)

Meta staff push back after company installs mouse tracking on every work device (LINK) — 16 May 2026

— According to Reuters, flyers have been posted in Meta offices across the U.S., encouraging workers to sign a petition opposing the mouse-tracking software. One flyer read, "Don't want to work at the Employee Data ?Extraction Factory?" according to the photos seen by Reuters. More broadly, privacy advocates, labor groups, and regulators have been calling for clearer rules around employee surveillance and AI accountability.

Friday, 15 May 2026

Dozens of European nations sign off on new interpretation of rights convention in migration cases, including how it applied to the controversial use of deportation centers set up in third countries (LINK) — 15 May 2026

— AP: It said that nations "exposed to mass arrivals" can pursue new approaches to deter irregular migration including "third country 'return hubs', and cooperation with countries of transit." Rights groups criticized the political declaration, saying it could loosen prohibitions on torture and weaken Europe's human rights protections for migrants.

Trump-Xi summit: China, US disagree on what they agreed on: US touted trade deals; China said it warned Washington over Taiwan. Neither side confirmed the other's claims (LINK) — 15 May 2026

Trump and Xi conclude 'very successful' talks but no deals confirmed (LINK) — 15 May 2026

Meghan Markle announces surprise weekend outing in Switzerland for a key cause: advocacy for safer online spaces (LINK) — 15 May 2026

4 supertankers cross Hormuz safely (LINK) — 15 May 2026

— Gotrade: According to Bloomberg Technoz, four supertankers transited the Strait of Hormuz carrying roughly 2 million barrels each. Most of the cargo originated from Iraq based on vessel tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. As reported by IDX Channel, Iranian state media said roughly 30 vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz on May 14, 2026. That figure suggests the trade route remains active even as geopolitical tensions stay elevated.

Trump bought up to $5 million of Nvidia stock, then OK'd AI export deals that sent shares soaring (LINK) — 15 May 2026

Mexico: Ex-Sinaloa security chief appears in US court on bribes charges for drug cartel, first of 10 indicted Mexican officials to surrender to US authorities (LINK) — 15 May 2026

Colorado's Democratic governor will let Trump ally Tina Peters out of prison early (LINK) — 15 May 2026

— NPR: Peters was convicted for her role in facilitating a security breach of Mesa County's voting machines when she was clerk and recorder. The incident occurred six months after the 2020 election, as part of her effort to prove Trump's baseless claims of a rigged election. In April, a state appeals court upheld Peters' 2024 conviction but ruled that she should be re-sentenced, saying that the trial court judge who issued her nearly nine-year sentence improperly factored in her protected speech. She was sentenced on Oct. 3, 2024, so that means on June 1, she will have spent more than 600 days incarcerated. Trump issued a pardon to Peters in December that was considered symbolic, because a president doesn't have jurisdiction over state-level crimes.

US: NH Senate kills looser rules on childhood vaccine exemptions; approves bill requiring DHHS to inform parents of exemptions (LINK) — 15 May 2026

US: Supreme Court rejects Virginia's bid to restore congressional map favouring Democrats (LINK) — 15 May 2026

— AP: In recent days, the justices have sided with Republicans in Alabama and Louisiana who hope to redo their congressional maps to produce more GOP-leaning seats following the court's voting rights decision. It stemmed from a 4-3 ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court that struck down a constitutional amendment that voters narrowly passed just last month. The state court found that the Democratic-controlled legislature improperly began the process of placing the amendment on the ballot after early voting had begun in Virginia's general election last fall.

The US and Cuba intensify negotiations as the island's collapse deepens (LINK) — 15 May 2026

Politico: Geneva is paying the price of Trump's retreat from the UN (LINK) — 15 May 2026

President Trump discloses Coinbase, Robinhood and Bitcoin mining stock trades among more than 3,000 securities trades (LINK) — 15 May 2026

— Decrypt.co: According to the filing, the president was assessed and paid a late fee for the more than 100 pages reported, which detail more than 3,000 securities trades. Although specific trade amounts are not indicated, the ranges highlighted show trade ranges from $1,001-$15,000 to those between $1 million and $5 million. While President Trump and his family have drawn scrutiny for their crypto ties, which reportedly led to more than $1 billion in crypto profits by October 2025, a spokesperson for the Trump Organization said that neither the president nor his family has any say in the trades reported on the ethics filings.

Coinbase stock stumbles as the Senate vote progresses the CLARITY Act; CEO critiques the Bill due to its rules on stablecoin rewards and increased surveillance (LINK) — 15 May 2026

Politifact: How are people doing economically? (LINK) — 15 May 2026

— "For the majority of Americans the economy is close to stagnant — little hiring (or firing), real wages nearly flat, sustained inflation, and little optimism that things will change."

• Prices for key goods and services have increased: from 3.2% for groceries to 8.7% for electricity
• Six key consumer costs have risen: today's per gallon gasoline price has been exceeded only for eight weeks in 2022
• Inflation is now close to eating away all wage gains under Trump
• By one metric, consumer sentiment is near its all-time low

US: Tennessee school district bans Alex Haley's Roots under 2022 state law (LINK) — 15 May 2026

Extra train capacity does little to relieve Gotthard tunnel queues (LINK) — 15 May 2026

— Drivers faced delays of around one hour and 40 minutes before entering the tunnel. Motorists were advised to divert via the A13 motorway and the San Bernardino Tunnel. Even there, however, queues of more than 4km had formed by late morning.

Thursday, 14 May 2026

Passblue: US pledges $1.8 billion to humanitarians (LINK) — 14 May 2026 US briefing (LINK)

PBS: Analysts break down Trump-Xi meeting and calls for stability and cooperation (LINK) — 14 May 2026

Five takeaways from the Trump-Xi summit in Beijing so far: Xi reserved his sharpest language for Taiwan, calling it "the most important issue in U.S.-China relations" (LINK) — 14 May 2026

Trump's $499 gold phone ships after months of delays (LINK) — 14 May 2026

Latvia's PM Evika Silina resigns in fallout over stray Ukrainian drones: left without a ruling majority in the parliament as of Wednesday, when the left-wing Progressive party said it was withdrawing its support. This followed the removal of former Defense Minister Andris Spruds, a member of the Progressives, over the handling of incidents of stray Ukrainian drones flying into Latvia from Russia (LINK) — 14 May 2026

— DW: Silina had forced Spruds to resign, saying that Latvia's drone defense had not been deployed quickly enough to neutralize the threat. She took on the role of defense minister herself on an interim basis.

Cuba says oil and diesel supplies have run dry under U.S. sanctions (LINK) — 14 May 2026

UK health secretary resigns, setting up a potential Labour leadership challenge to Keir Starmer and suggesting Starmer should step aside to allow a "broad" field of candidates to debate the future of the party (LINK) — 14 May 2026

Reform UK's Nigel Farage faces standards probe over Tether Billionaire's $6.7 million gift (LINK) — 14 May 2026

— The donor is Christopher Harborne, a Thailand-based cryptocurrency investor with a 12% stake in stablecoin giant Tether. Farage claimed "no obligation" to declare the gift, which was made in 2024 before he announced his candidacy for parliament.

Driverless bus rams into Swiss bank (LINK) — 14 May 2026

— The articulated bus started rolling at around 8:35pm on Thursday at the bus stop on Zullwilerstrasse in Nunningen, northern Switzerland, for reasons that are still unknown. The PostBus then rolled over a traffic island and crashed into the façade of a bank branch, according to the police statement.

Wednesday, 13 May 2026

Trump arrives in China for summit with Xi Jinping (LINK) — 13 May 2026

Netanyahu's coalition submits Bill to dissolve Parliament, trigger election(LINK) — ground.news: 61 media reports (LINK) — 13 May 2026

— Ultra-Orthodox parties accuse Netanyahu of failing to deliver on his promise to pass a legislation that would permanently exempt young men from their community studying in yeshivas, or religious seminaries, from compulsory military service.

Russia unleashes fatal barrage of 800 drones at Ukraine, one of the longest and largest attacks of the war: at least six people died (LINK) — 13 May 2026

Swiss convicted of supplying 'mass destruction' goods to Russia: suspended prison sentence of 16 months (LINK) — 13 May 2026

— For four years, the man supplied and offered to supply two men accredited with the Russian commercial agency in Bern with items distributed by his employer — a company that supplies dealers with laboratory equipment as well as medical and pharmaceutical products. Goods worth CHF75,000 actually found their way to Russia. The man made offers for goods worth CHF934,000. The purchase by the Russians never materialised due to the intervention of the authorities in 2024.

Recycled food-contact materials such as plastics need regulatory harmonization, FAO report says: calls for updating existing regulatory frameworks to ensure safe production and application of recycled food-contact materials. More research also needed on contaminants, exposure scenarios and traceability (LINK) — 13 May 2026

Two weeks of clashes in a southern Sudan region kill dozens, a local medical group says (LINK) — ground.news: 9 media reports(LINK) — 13 May 2026

Clashes with Balochistan militants in southwestern Pakistan kill 5 troops and 7 militants (LINK) — ground.news: 22 media reports(LINK) — 13 May 2026

Bahamas Prime Minister Davis declares victory for party in 12 May snap election, winning second consecutive term, the first leader to achieve this feat in nearly 30 years (LINK) — ground.news: media reports(LINK) — 13 May 2026

Court overturns Alex Murdaugh's murder convictions and orders new trial: disgraced lawyer was convicted of killing his wife and son (LINK) — 13 May 2026

— The state's supreme court on Wednesday ordered a new trial for Murdaugh over the June 2021 killings. In a 5-0 ruling, the South Carolina Supreme Court said Murdaugh deserved a new trial because the local county clerk had unfairly biased a jury against him. Last December, Hill pleaded guilty to charges of misconduct in office, obstruction of justice and perjury over accusations that she misused public funds as a clerk and shared sealed court information with a reporter, among other claims.

Solar Impulse 2, solar-powered aircraft that flew around the world, crashes off US coast (LINK) — 13 May 2026

— Gizmodo: The experimental aircraft crashed into the Gulf of Mexico on May 4 after losing power during an autonomous test flight, according to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board. There were no fatalities or injuries. The carbon-fiber aircraft stretched across 232 feet (70 meters) and weighed only 2,313 kilograms. It was equipped with 17,248 solar cells, which generated 66 kilowatts of peak power. The aircraft's non-pressurized cockpit included oxygen reserves and additional equipment, allowing for long-duration flights at a maximum altitude of 11,887 metres.

Natalie Harp, executive assistant behind Trump's late-night posting sprees — and what takes place (LINK) — 13 May 2026

— AlterNet: Each evening, Harp arrives with stacks of printed-out draft posts—material she and other advisers believe will appeal to the president. These proposed messages often recycle content from fringe social media accounts, partisan commentators, and anonymous users across X and other platforms. Once Trump approves the selections, Harp logs into the president's account—often during late-night and early-morning hours when most White House staff have gone home. She then posts batches of messages in rapid succession. On a single night in December, Trump's account posted nearly 160 times between 8:17 p.m. and midnight. Unlike typical White House operations, she does not share draft posts with the chief of staff's office, communications aides, or national security officials before they are posted.

Amazon launches its first Swiss Franc bond (LINK) — 13 May 2026

— Amazon plans to spend $200 billion on data centers, chips, and other equipment this year and has been tapping multiple currencies to fund the buildout.

Four financial journalists accused of being fake AI-generated puppets that shill crypto in Forbes, HuffPost, and more (LINK) — 13 May 2026

The science of dying: what happens in the last minutes of life (LINK) — 13 May 2026

Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Trump says Iran ceasefire is on 'massive life support': Tehran's peace proposal 'totally unacceptable' and 'a piece of garbage' (LINK) — 12 May 2026

Israel issues more forced evacuation orders for towns and villages in southern Lebanon

NYT columnist claims systemic sexual abuse in Israeli detention centers(LINK) — ground.news: 42 media reports(LINK) — 11 May 2026

Israeli officials denounce report — (LINK)

Israel Foreign Ministry condemns New York Times piece as 'one of the worst blood libels' in modern press — (LINK)

US moves to release more oil stockpiles under IEA agreement (LINK) — 12 May 2026

Honduras arrests powerful ex-mayor Adán Fúnez, accused of masterminding killing of environmental defender Juan López in 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 11 media reports(LINK) — 12 May 2026

— López was an anti-corruption campaigner who opposed an iron oxide mining project that activists said endangered jungles and protected areas in northwestern Honduras.

Brazil says the EU has moved to block its animal product exports starting from September(LINK) — ground.news: 19 media reports (LINK) — 12 May 2026

— Brazil is the first country to be removed from the list of states complying with the EU's antimicrobial use restrictions in animals, with the vote to ban its exports being unanimous.

Brazil's Lula launches $2 billion anti-organized crime project ahead of elections (LINK) — ground.news: 13 media reports (LINK) — 12 May 2026

Mass protests in Argentina decry Milei's funding cuts to prized public universities(LINK) — ground.news: 23 media reports (LINK) — 12 May 2026

US deportations to El Salvador double to 5,033 in first 2026 quarter as Bukele aligns himself with Trump agenda (LINK) — ground.news: 21 media reports (LINK) — 12 May 2026

Zelensky's ex-chief of staff in court as Ukraine corruption probe escalates (LINK) — 12 May 2026

'Work not over,' says WHO after hantavirus evacuation: extensive testing, contact tracing, and quarantine procedures are still needed to contain the outbreak (LINK) — 12 May 2026

US: Ship operator charged over deadly Baltimore bridge collapse that killed six people (LINK) — 12 May 2026

— Prosecutors allege the company misled investigators about conditions on the ship and failed to disclose hazards and other safety concerns to the US Coast Guard. The company said it "will defend against these allegations with vigor". Separately, Synergy and Maryland settled a civil case over the collapse for $2.25bn.

US appeals court spares Trump from paying $83 million defamation award to E. Jean Carroll — for now (LINK) — 12 May 2026

Bitcoin Suisse expands with Digital Asset License and Investment Business Act Registration Approval in Bermuda (LINK) — 12 May 2026

Heather Cox Richardson: The president of the United States is mentally unwell (LINK) — 12 May 2026

GM is firing 600 IT workers and hiring AI engineers. It calls it transformation, not termination (LINK) — 12 May 2026

US: Lawsuit claims ChatGPT gave drug-taking advice that led to teen's death (LINK) — 12 May 2026

ChatGPT 'advised school shooter to target kids to get more attention' (LINK) — 12 May 2026

Clarity Act 309-page text reveals stablecoin rules, crypto provisions ahead of hearing (LINK) — 12 May 2026

— The bill's language prohibits interest and yield payments for holding stablecoins, but still permits some activity-based and transaction-based rewards and incentives. Exemption for "rewards or incentives based on bona fide activities or bona fide transactions that are not economically or functionally equivalent to the payment of interest or yield on an interest-bearing bank deposit."

Millions died from the Super El Niño in 1877. What will happen this time? (LINK) — 12 May 2026

NASA satellite images show how a massive tsunami in Alaska changed the landscape forever (LINK) — 12 May 2026

— On August 10, 2025, a tsunami larger than the Eiffel Tower ripped through Tracy Arm fjord in southeast Alaska. The rapid retreat of the South Sawyer Glacier triggered a landslide that swept huge rocks down the picturesque waterway visited by millions aboard Alaskan cruises every summer. At least 64 million cubic meters of rock slid down the slope of the glacier. The rocks created an enormous tsunami that stripped trees and other vegetation from the opposing fjord wall up to 1,578 feet (480m) above sea level.

Trump shares AI image of Obama, Biden and Pelosi bathing in feces (LINK) — 12 May 2026

— The post was among several the president shared that referenced his controversial decision to repaint the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool.

Monday, 11 May 2026

Trump administration rejects UN migration declaration, says 'mass migration was never safe' (LINK) — 11 May 2026

Trump says he will suspend petrol tax amid soaring US fuel prices (LINK) — 11 May 2026

UK Cabinet split as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood calls on Starmer to set out timetable to go: more than 70 Labour MPs have urged him to resign (LINK) — 11 May 2026

— Guardian: It is understood Mahmood is in the minority in the cabinet over whether Sir Keir should set out a timetable. Six ministerial aides — the lowest rung of government — have been replaced by No 10, after they either quit or called for Sir Keir to set out a timetable for his replacement.

Hantavirus crisis: WHO recommendations (LINK) — 11 May 2026

More than 70 Venice Biennale artists withdraw from awards "in solidarity with the resignation of the jury" over participation of Israel and Russia (LINK) — 11 May 2026

Hungary has returned seized cash and gold shipment worth $82 million to Ukraine, President Zelensky confirms (LINK) — 11 May 2026

Southern California mayor resigns, will plead guilty to acting as agent for Chinese government (LINK) — 11 May 2026

"Trump's cuts are pushing the UN out of Geneva. That may be a win" — 11 May 2026 (LINK)

Thailand's former PM Thaksin Shinawatra released from prison (LINK) ground.news: 52 media reports 11 May 2026 (LINK)

— The Corrections Department approved parole after Thaksin served eight months of a 12-month corruption sentence, which was previously commuted from eight years by royal pardon.

China's factory inflation hits 45-month high on energy price shock — 11 May 2026 (LINK)