May 18, 2020 (Monday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- Second Libyan Civil War
- 2019–20 Western Libya offensive
- Turkish-backed GNA forces capture the strategic al-Watiya airbase from forces loyal to Khalifa Haftar, and seize a Russian Pantsir missile system. (Al Jazeera) (Libyan Express)
- 2019–20 Western Libya offensive
- War in Afghanistan; May 2020 Afghanistan attacks
- A car bombing at an intelligence agency installation in the central province of Ghazni kills at least seven people and wounds another 40. The Taliban claims responsibility. (Reuters)
Disasters and accidents
- 2020 East Africa floods
- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs announces that nearly 1 million people are affected and at least 24 people have died in the flash floods that hit Beledweyne and Jowhar, Somalia. (CTV)
- In Sweden, an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.1 strikes near Kiruna. No injuries are reported. (The Local)
Health and environment
- COVID-19 pandemic
- In an unprecedented move, the World Health Organization holds its annual World Health Assembly using video conferencing instead of in-person meetings. (NPR)
Law and crime
- COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda
- Ugandan police arrest Stella Nyanzi, a prominent academic and vocal critic of President Yoweri Museveni, for inciting violence as she protested against lockdown measures taken by the government to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
Politics and elections
- 2019–20 Hong Kong protests
- Fifteen pro-democracy activists are released on a HK$1000 bail. Notable political figures, including Benny Tai, University of Hong Kong academic and one of the Occupy Central founders; Civil Human Rights Front convener Jimmy Sham; former Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau; and others, flock to the court to show support for the activists. (The Standard Hong Kong)
- 2019–20 Chilean protests; COVID-19 pandemic in Chile
- Protests against the government resume in Santiago due to food shortages in the poorest neighborhoods of the city created by the lockdown to control the COVID-19 pandemic. (Reuters)
- Politics of Monaco
- The office of Minister of State announces that Serge Telle will leave the Headship of the Monegasque government on 31 August. (L'Observateur de Monaco)