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The United Nations has lowered its forecast for global economic growth because of the war involving Iran. It expects the global economy to grow 2.5 percent this year and 2.8 percent in 2027, down from earlier predictions, mainly due to higher energy prices and disrupted oil supplies.
Key Facts
The UN now expects global GDP growth of 2.5% in 2026 and 2.8% in 2027, down from previous forecasts of 2.7% and 2.9%.
The growth cut is mainly due to the war that started on February 28 by the United States and Israel against Iran, affecting energy markets.
Rising oil prices and instability in financial markets caused by the war have reduced economic growth predictions.
The UN assumes oil prices will ease later in the year and that governments will use fuel reserves to help limit the damage.
In a worse case, global growth could slow to 2.1%, one of the lowest rates in decades outside the COVID-19 pandemic and 2007-2009 financial crisis.
Developing countries will be hit hardest, with growth 1.3 percentage points below pre-pandemic levels.
Western Asia faces the biggest slowdown, with growth forecast cut from 4.1% to 1.4% in 2026.
The Strait of Hormuz, a key oil shipping route, remains nearly closed due to safety concerns, severely limiting oil and gas supply.
The US and China’s growth forecasts remain unchanged at 2% and 4.6%, respectively.
The UN’s forecast downgrade follows similar cuts by the International Monetary Fund earlier in April.
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The Board of Peace, an international group created by President Donald Trump to oversee the ceasefire in Gaza, will ask the United Nations Security Council to pressure Hamas to give up its weapons. The ceasefire has stalled mainly because Hamas refuses to disarm and allow a civilian government transition in Gaza.
Key Facts
The Board of Peace was set up by President Donald Trump to manage the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.
The group will present a report to the UN Security Council, urging action to make Hamas disarm.
Hamas rejected the report, calling it inaccurate.
The ceasefire has been in place since October but has stalled due to Hamas not disarming.
President Trump’s 20-point plan asks Hamas to surrender weapons and remove its tunnel network.
The plan also calls for Israeli forces to leave Gaza and a new Palestinian government to take charge.
Reconstruction of Gaza cannot start until Hamas and other armed groups disarm.
Nickolay Mladenov, head of the Board of Peace, said that disarming Hamas is the key to moving forward.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and strengthen their countries’ partnership. They discussed energy, security, and trade, and agreed to extend a friendship treaty signed in 2001. Putin’s visit came just days after U.S. President Donald Trump met with Xi, showing China’s important role in global diplomacy.
Key Facts
Vladimir Putin met Xi Jinping in Beijing for talks on May 20, 2026.
The leaders discussed cooperation on energy, security, and trade issues.
Putin called Xi his “dear friend” and highlighted their close communication.
Xi Jinping praised the political trust and strategic cooperation with Russia.
They agreed to renew a friendship treaty that started in 2001.
China is Russia’s biggest trading partner since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
China says it remains neutral on the Ukraine conflict but keeps trade ties with Russia despite Western sanctions.
Putin’s visit followed closely after U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing, showing China’s global influence.
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India’s top judge, Chief Justice Surya Kant, called some young people “cockroaches” in a court statement about fraud and unemployment. This led to a social media protest called the “Cockroach Janta Party,” started by a young man named Abhijeet Dipke, which quickly gained millions of followers and supporters, including some politicians.
Key Facts
Supreme Court Chief Justice Surya Kant compared some young people to cockroaches due to unemployment and fraud concerns.
He later clarified his remarks were about fraud and not all youth, calling young people the "pillars of a developed India."
The comment angered many young Indians facing unemployment, inflation, and political divides.
Abhijeet Dipke, a 30-year-old public relations graduate, created the “Cockroach Janta Party” as a satirical protest against the judge’s comments.
The party’s social media accounts gained over 3 million followers in three days and 350,000 people signed up as members online.
Some established politicians and retired officials publicly supported or joined this new movement.
India faces high unemployment, especially among educated youth, with a 29.1% unemployment rate for graduates.
The protest reflects wider frustrations with political and economic issues under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.
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Bianca Adler, an 18-year-old student from Melbourne, became the youngest Australian to reach the top of Mount Everest. She reached the summit early Wednesday with the help of guides and family, and plans to descend soon.
Key Facts
Bianca Adler is 18 years old and a high school student from Melbourne.
She reached the 8,849 meter summit of Mount Everest around 6:30 am Melbourne time on Wednesday.
She was guided by Pemba and Ngdu and accompanied partway by her parents, Paul and Fiona, who are also climbers.
Bianca described the climb as physically tough, especially the technical parts near the summit, and noted large crowds at the peak.
This was her second attempt; she turned back last year 400 meters from the top due to strong winds.
Nepal issued 410 permits for foreign climbers this spring, with a climbing fee of $15,000 USD.
Bianca’s parents previously climbed Mount Everest in 2006 and 2007.
After descending, Bianca plans to return to Melbourne and continue her final year of high school.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing to discuss energy security and their strong bilateral relationship. Both leaders praised the high level of cooperation between China and Russia despite outside challenges, and Xi called for a ceasefire in the Middle East.
Key Facts
President Xi Jinping greeted President Vladimir Putin with an honor guard and a gun salute in Beijing.
The main focus of the visit was energy security and strengthening China-Russia ties.
Xi described the China-Russia relationship as “unyielding” and emphasized political trust and strategic cooperation.
Putin called their cooperation an “unprecedentedly high level” despite unfavorable external factors.
China is Russia’s top trading partner after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
China remains neutral on the Ukraine conflict but continues to trade with Russia, especially in oil and gas.
Xi urged for a comprehensive ceasefire and said further fighting in the Middle East is “inadvisable.”
Russia’s oil exports to China rose by 35% in early 2026, and Russia is a key natural gas supplier to China.
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Chelsea in London is hosting its largest free flower festival, Chelsea in Bloom, from May 18 to May 24. The 2026 theme is "Out of this World," featuring space-inspired floral displays like a giant moon, a UFO, and zodiac-themed decorations across over 145 local businesses.
Key Facts
Chelsea in Bloom is a free flower festival running from May 18 to May 24, 2026.
The festival involves more than 145 shops, restaurants, hotels, and businesses in west London.
The 2026 theme is "Out of this World," inspired by space travel, astrology, and spiritual symbols.
There is a large floral globe on King’s Road honoring Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday.
Other displays include a UFO over Pavilion Road, zodiac constellations in Sloane Square, and floral dragons and Pegasus on Sloane Street.
A standout installation features a four-metre astronaut made of roses and a six-metre floral moon by designer Ruth Davies.
The event is produced by Cadogan and the Royal Horticultural Society and runs alongside the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Preparations took five to six months, with installation completed over two days.
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The UK government has introduced new rules requiring people who keep pet monkeys, like marmosets, to follow "zoo-like" care standards or risk losing their animals. Some monkey owners worry the strict rules will force many to give up their pets, and animal experts fear many monkeys could be put down if owners cannot meet the new conditions.
Key Facts
New UK law demands pet monkeys be kept in conditions similar to zoos, including specific space, diet, and social needs.
The law started on April 6, 2026, and unlicensed primate owners could face jail time or fines.
Licensed enclosures must have certain outdoor and indoor sizes, such as at least 2.5m by 4m by 2.5m for two marmosets.
Many private owners live in homes or gardens with limits on space and building permissions, making it hard to meet the rules.
The government estimates 3,000 to 5,000 pet primates live privately in the UK.
Some animal welfare groups, like the RSPCA, say monkeys should never be kept at home and want a full ban.
Owners like Lisa-Marie Bearman, who have cared for their monkeys for years, worry about losing their pets or having to give them up.
Local councils are responsible for inspecting homes and granting licenses for keeping monkeys.
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A British couple, Lindsay and Craig Foreman, are on hunger strike in an Iranian prison where they were sentenced to 10 years for spying, charges they deny. Their family says they started the strike to demand their release after phone contact was cut off, and the UK government is working to bring them home.
Key Facts
Lindsay and Craig Foreman, from East Sussex, were arrested in Iran in January last year during a motorbike trip.
They were sentenced in February to 10 years in Evin prison in Tehran on espionage charges.
The couple deny all spying accusations.
Craig has been on hunger strike for about 12 days after losing phone access in early May.
Lindsay briefly stopped her hunger strike after being promised phone contact but has since resumed it.
Their family warns the hunger strike is a serious health risk and calls for urgent UK government action.
Supporters plan a motorbike ride and petition delivery in London to raise awareness.
The UK Foreign Office calls their imprisonment unjustified and continues diplomatic efforts for their release.
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Amin Abdullah, a security guard at a mosque in San Diego, was killed while protecting people during a gun attack. His family and community held a gathering to remember him and honor his bravery.
Key Facts
Amin Abdullah worked as a security guard at a mosque.
He was killed while confronting gunmen during an attack on the mosque.
The attack took place in San Diego.
Family members, including his daughter, described him as a loving father.
The community came together to honor Abdullah’s courage and sacrifice.
The event to remember him happened on a Tuesday.
Abdullah’s daughter called him the “absolute best dad in the world.”
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A new outbreak of Ebola is causing fear in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). People in different cities, including Bukavu and Kinshasa, are wearing face masks and asking for better protection as the number of cases increases.
Key Facts
Ebola cases are rising in eastern DR Congo.
Residents and street vendors in cities like Bukavu and Kinshasa are worried.
People are wearing face masks to protect themselves.
There are calls for stronger health protections to control the outbreak.
The fear comes from the serious nature of the Ebola virus and its spread across large distances.
Bukavu and Kinshasa are hundreds of miles apart, showing the outbreak affects a wide area.
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A study from Cardiff University found that UK broadcasters heavily rely on short interviews with the public, called vox pops, during election coverage. This focus limits deep examination of politicians' claims because rules require equal airtime for major parties, reducing opportunities to question or analyze their policies.
Key Facts
The study analyzed UK-wide TV news coverage of the 2024 elections in Wales, Scotland, and local elections in England.
Broadcasters spent 26.3% of Welsh election news airtime on vox pop interviews with the public.
Election rules require balanced coverage of major parties, including Labour, Conservatives, Reform, Liberal Democrats, Greens, Plaid Cymru, and SNP.
These rules limit broadcasters’ ability to deeply investigate and challenge political claims during campaigns.
Over 70% of politicians’ statements on TV news were given little or no scrutiny.
In coverage focused on policies or political claims, 49% had no scrutiny, 22% had brief scrutiny, and only 29% had substantial scrutiny.
Much of the coverage centered on election competition, events, public opinion, and voting process rather than policy details.
Vox pops featured more than candidate views but provided only quick opinions, not deep explanations of voter attitudes.
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Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said that only the people of Taiwan can decide its future, not foreign countries. He spoke after President Trump suggested that arms sales to Taiwan might be used as bargaining points with China, which claims Taiwan as its territory and threatens to use force.
Key Facts
President Lai said Taiwan’s future should not be controlled by “foreign forces.”
China claims Taiwan as its own and has threatened military action to take control.
President Trump mentioned using arms sales to Taiwan as leverage in talks with China.
Taiwan relies heavily on the United States for military support and advanced weapons.
Taiwan’s government is increasing defense spending to prevent war, not start one.
Taiwan passed a $25 billion defense budget, much of which is for buying US weapons.
Taiwan wants to maintain peace and stability and insists it will not give up its sovereignty.
A direct conversation between President Lai and President Trump would be a major change in US-China relations.
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James Roscoe, the deputy British ambassador to the United States, has unexpectedly left his position. British officials have not explained the reason for his sudden departure.
Key Facts
James Roscoe was the deputy to the British ambassador in Washington, a senior role.
He temporarily took over duties after Lord Peter Mandelson was removed last year.
Roscoe was once considered to become the ambassador but the role went to Sir Christian Turner.
He helped organize President Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK.
He also contributed to King Charles III’s recent visit to the US.
British Embassy and Foreign Office gave no further comments on Roscoe’s departure.
Roscoe could not be contacted for his side of the story.
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President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Greenland, Jeff Landry, has started a visit to Greenland to build relationships and improve ties. The visit comes after diplomatic tensions caused by President Trump’s earlier suggestion to buy Greenland, which Greenland’s leaders have firmly rejected.
Key Facts
Jeff Landry, Louisiana’s Governor, was appointed as President Trump’s special envoy to Greenland in December 2025.
Landry’s visit aims to listen, learn, and build friendships with Greenlanders.
Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory under Denmark, with local leaders opposing any US purchase.
The US previously caused a diplomatic crisis by suggesting it might buy Greenland and even considered taking it by force.
Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen told the US that the island is “not for sale” and Greenlanders have the right to decide their future.
Landry attended a business summit and the opening of a new US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital.
A US doctor accompanying Landry to assess Greenland’s medical needs faced criticism from Greenland’s Health Minister.
High-level talks involving the US, Denmark, and Greenland continue without final agreements on military presence or cooperation.
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Wellington, New Zealand, is facing a six-month wait until the city’s sewage treatment plant is fixed after a major failure on 4 February caused raw sewage to spill into the ocean. Repairs will cost NZ$53.5 million and full restoration, including fixing the design flaw, is expected by late next year.
Key Facts
The Moa Point wastewater plant failed on 4 February, causing sewage to flow into the Pacific Ocean near Wellington.
The plant will be partially operational by November, stopping most untreated sewage from spilling into the ocean.
Full repairs and a permanent fix to the plant’s design will be completed by late 2027.
The failure destroyed about 80% of the plant’s equipment due to flooding likely caused by an air bubble in a pipe.
More than 100 days of sewage pollution have hurt local marine life and disrupted businesses on Wellington’s South Coast.
Local businesses face losses estimated between NZ$3-4 million and are concerned about survival through the winter.
A $200,000 council subsidy to affected businesses is considered insufficient, and legal action is being considered.
The plant is managed by Wellington Water, and water management will shift to a new government-created entity called Tiaki Wai from 1 July.
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Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Beijing to discuss cooperation and coordination between their countries. They planned to update each other on issues like the Middle East and Ukraine and sign about 40 agreements in areas such as the economy, tourism, and education.
Key Facts
Xi Jinping welcomed Vladimir Putin in Beijing outside the Great Hall of the People.
The meeting marks 25 years of friendship between China and Russia.
Putin has visited China 25 times before this trip.
The two leaders were expected to discuss energy security as a main topic.
They planned to update each other on situations in the Middle East and Ukraine.
About 40 agreements were set to be signed covering economy, tourism, and education.
Putin was accompanied by a large group of Russian business and government officials.
The meeting followed a recent visit by US President Donald Trump to China.
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President Donald Trump will attend the G7 summit in France next month despite tensions with allies over issues like Iran and tariffs. Meanwhile, there are ongoing conflicts between Israel, Iran, and allied groups, including military actions and diplomatic talks.
Key Facts
President Trump will travel to the G7 summit in France in June.
Relations between the U.S. and its allies are tense due to disagreements on Iran and trade tariffs.
Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and transferred 430 activists to Israeli ships.
President Trump told lawmakers the U.S. will end any war with Iran quickly.
Iran has proposed a peace deal asking for lifting sanctions, releasing funds, reparations, and U.S. troop withdrawal.
Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon killed at least 10 people despite an ongoing ceasefire.
The U.S. Vice President said talks with Iran show progress but the U.S. is ready to restart military action if no deal is reached.
Israel fired on aid vessels sailing toward Gaza but reported no casualties.
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The bodies of two Italian divers who died in a deep underwater cave in the Maldives have been found. Authorities are looking into the reasons behind their deaths.
Key Facts
Five Italian divers died in an underwater cave in the Maldives.
The bodies of two of these divers have been recovered so far.
The group of divers was experienced.
The cause of the deaths is currently being investigated.
The incident involved diving in a deep underwater cave.
The Maldives is the location where this happened.
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The Pentagon announced it has reduced the number of US Brigade Combat Teams in Europe from four to three, returning troop levels to what they were in 2021. This change has temporarily delayed sending more US troops to Poland as the US encourages European allies to take more responsibility for their defense.
Key Facts
The Pentagon cut US Brigade Combat Teams in Europe from four to three.
Each Brigade Combat Team has about 4,000 to 4,700 soldiers.
Troop levels in Europe are now the same as in 2021.
The deployment of additional US troops to Poland is temporarily delayed, not canceled.
The US will decide future troop movements based on strategic needs and allied contributions.
This reduction comes as the US urges European countries to increase their defense efforts.
President Donald Trump supports lowering US troop presence and expects European allies to share defense duties.
Earlier in May, the US also announced it would remove 5,000 troops from Germany.
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