On 2025-05-18, Israeli forces killed at least 101 Palestinians, including 36 in al-Mawasi, a designated 'safe zone', amid preparations for a new ground assault on Gaza and resumed ceasefire talks with Hamas in Qatar. Hamas reported that Israeli air raids targeted tents of displaced people in al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, killing at least 78 Palestinians since the early hours of the day, including 36 people sheltering at the al-Mawasi tent camp, and held the US administration responsible.

On 2025-05-17, Moody's downgraded the U.S. sovereign credit rating to "Aa1", citing successive U.S. administrations and Congress's failure to reverse annual fiscal deficits and growing interest costs. Moody's estimated the nation's debt burden could reach 134% of gross domestic product by 2035, compared with 98% in 2024.

On 2025-05-17, Kentucky governor Andy Beshear reported that at least 14 people died in the storms. At least seven people were killed in Missouri due to storms, and authorities launched a search for people trapped in buildings; St Louis Mayor Cara Spencer confirmed that five deaths occurred in her city due to storms, affecting more than 5,000 homes; Sheriff Derick Wheetley reported that a tornado struck Scott County, killing two people, injuring several others, and destroying multiple homes.

On 2025-05-18, the Houthis claimed they struck Israel’s Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv with two ballistic missiles. The Israeli army reported that a ballistic missile fired at Israel was successfully intercepted at about 2am local time (23:00 GMT yesterday).

As of 2025-05-18, Thomas Germain observed an elevator in a New York City hospital operating on Windows XP, and Elvis Montiero stated that many ATMs still operate on legacy Windows systems, including Windows XP, despite Microsoft ending official support for Windows XP in 2014. The trains in San Francisco's Muni Metro light railway won't start up until someone sticks a floppy disk into the computer that loads DOS software on the railway's Automatic Train Control System (ATCS).

On 2025-05-17, the FBI declared an explosion near a reproductive health facility in Palm Springs, California, as "an intentional act of terrorism" resulting in one death. Authorities reported the explosion occurred around 11am (18:00 GMT) near North Indian Canyon Drive and East Tachevah Drive.

On 2025-05-17, following a meeting between US President Donald Trump and interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia, Washington announced it would lift sanctions on Syria.

On 2025-05-18, Romanians are voting in a presidential election run-off between a hard-right eurosceptic and a centrist independent, with potential implications for the country's economy and EU unity. On 2025-05-18, the Polish presidential election will test the strength of the PM's pro-EU vision against potential Trump-like influences.

On 2025-05-17, Syrian security forces killed three ISIL (ISIS) fighters and arrested four others in Aleppo, targeting multiple ISIL sleeper cells. One security officer was killed in the operation.

Published on May 18, 2025, the report indicates that Jon Bird learned about his layoff from Cleveland-Cliffs on WDIO. Approximately 1,200 employees were affected, with 600 in Minnesota.

On 2025-05-17, a Mexican Navy sailing ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City, resulting in at least two fatalities and 19 injuries. On 2025-05-18, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed deep sadness over the loss of two crew members in the Brooklyn Bridge incident, and the Mexican Navy reported that the Cuauhtemoc, an academy training vessel, sustained damage in the accident, preventing it from continuing its voyage. Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that its ambassador to the United States and officials from the Mexican consulate in New York were in contact with local authorities to provide assistance to “the affected cadets”.

On 2025-05-17, a heat advisory was issued for San Antonio and Austin in Texas, with temperatures ranging from 95F (35C) to 105F (40.5C).

On 2025-05-18, Iran, through spokesman Esmail Baghaei, denounced the ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza, reporting at least 53,200 deaths since 2023-10-07, and called for an end to impunity for Israeli leaders.

On 2025-05-18, the Gaza Health Ministry reported intensified Israeli strikes targeting the Indonesia Hospital in northern Gaza, injuring two patients, and noted that attacks have put the European Hospital in Khan Younis out of service.

On 2025-05-18, Al Jazeera Arabic reported injuries from Israeli shelling in the Abasan al-Kabira area east of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, and air raids on Batn as-Sameen south of Khan Younis, with no immediate reports of casualties.

On 2025-05-17, Israel and Hamas confirmed new Gaza truce talks in Qatar as the Israeli military expanded its ground offensive, despite international calls for a ceasefire. Seven European nations jointly called for an end to Israel’s military assault and blockade of Gaza, which has prevented humanitarian aid for two and a half months, highlighting that more than 50,000 people have died and many more could starve. The Council of Europe stated that Gaza was suffering from "deliberate starvation" and warned that Israel was sowing "the seeds for the next Hamas" in the territory, calling for a moral reckoning over the treatment of Palestinians.

On 2025-05-17, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei criticized Donald Trump's Middle East tour comments as disgraceful, accusing him of lying about using power for peace and referred to Israel as a "dangerous cancerous tumour". Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Trump is extending a message of peace while simultaneously threatening destruction and backing Israel’s "genocide" in Gaza Strip. On 2025-05-16, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Trump’s remarks as "deceptive", stating that the US hampered Iran through sanctions and military threats while backing Israel and attacking Syria.

On 2025-05-18, Delphine Horvilleur, a Paris-based rabbi, received death threats for criticizing the Israeli government's policies in Gaza after publishing an article advocating for a future for the Palestinian people.

On 2025-05-18, Anat Angerst, Vicky Cohen, and Herut Nimrodi, mothers of Israeli soldiers held captive in Gaza, denounced Netanyahu’s government for lacking a concrete plan to return their sons and urged Trump to pressure Israel to end the war and reach an agreement for the release of the approximately 58 remaining captives.

On 2025-05-17, Capital One agreed to pay a $425 million settlement after facing nationwide litigation accusing it of cheating savings depositors out of higher interest rates by failing to advertise higher-yield accounts; $300 million will go to depositors. Letitia James, the New York attorney general, sued Capital One on Wednesday on behalf of depositors in her state for failing to notify 360 Savings account customers, who faced “artificially low” rates, that they could have switched to the account with better interest rates.

On 2025-05-17, the largest associations of the mining, steel, and cement industries in Iran wrote a joint letter to President Pezeshkian, urgently requesting a review of the 90 percent electricity use restriction imposed on critical sectors.

On Friday, 2025-05-17, some Republicans on the U.S. House of Representatives' budget committee blocked progress of President Donald Trump's tax and spending legislation due to concerns about the federal deficit. Representative Jason Smith stated that Moody's downgrade was "a cover-up of President Biden’s economic failures," noting Republicans delivered $1.6 trillion in savings as part of the tax and budget legislation; Representative Andy Harris said that Moody's downgrade was a "signal that we can wait no longer to address the debt crisis" and that his support for the tax bill hinges on more spending cuts; Representative Chip Roy said they have to deliver in extending the tax cuts but also getting the spending cuts necessary to get deficits down; Representative Brendan Boyle stated, "We need serious, responsible budgeting - not another reckless scheme that robs working families to reward the ultra-wealthy," regarding the budget committee.

On 2025-05-17, President Donald Trump stated on social media that the U.S. Federal Reserve should cut rates "sooner, rather than later" and criticized Jerome Powell, the head of the central bank.

On May 17, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Walmart should absorb tariff costs instead of blaming them for increased prices, despite Walmart reporting billions in profits last year. Walmart stated that it consistently works to maintain the lowest possible prices, and CEO Doug McMillon said that the retailer could not absorb all tariff costs due to narrow retail margins but is committed to ensuring tariff-related costs on general merchandise do not increase food prices.