May 17, 2008 (Saturday)
- Sri Lankan troops capture the town of Palampiddi Junction from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam killing at least 34 rebel troops. (Bloomberg)
- More than 3,000 people are evacuated from Lafayette, Louisiana, after two of six derailed train cars start leaking hydrochloric acid. (CNN), (AP via the Guardian)
- The President of the United States George W. Bush states that a Palestinian state can be "defined" by the end of his Presidency including the issue of borders and right to resettlement. (Bloomberg)
- An assassination threat delays the return of Morgan Tsvangarai to Zimbabwe to contest a runoff election to decide the presidential election. (The Guardian)
- Islamic Courts Union rebels claim to have captured the town of Jilib in Somalia. (AP via Forbes)
- 2008 Sichuan earthquake: China recommends the evacuation of seriously injured people from Beichuan due to concerns about rising water levels of a lake in the area. (Reuters)
- 2008 FA Cup Final: Portsmouth defeats Cardiff by a scoreline of 1-0 to lift the trophy for the second time in their history. (The Football Association)