1. Africa

A former Rwandan army chief has been sentenced to 30 years in jail for his role in the country's 1994 genocide. Augustin Bizimungu was found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. The general is one of the most senior figures yet to be tried by the tribunal.

2. Middle East

At least 15 people were killed during demonstrations on Israel's borders on 15 May. Israeli troops shot at protesters after they reportedly breached the fenced ceasefire line between Israel and Syria in the Golan Heights. The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, called for calm but remained defiant. "We are determined to defend our borders and sovereignty," he said.

3. North America

Donald Trump dropped out of the race for the Republican candidacy in the 2012 US presidential election. The businessman and reality TV show host declared that he was "not ready to leave the private sector". His explanation has led to claims that the run was a publicity stunt.

4. Asia

The Burmese government has started to release or reduce the sentences of approximately 15,000 prisoners as part of an amnesty announced on 16 May. Critics dismiss the move as a gimmick, pointing out that few of the country's estimated 2,200 political prisoners are among those being released.

5. Latin America

Twenty-seven farmworkers were killed in a massacre on a ranch in Guatemala on 15 May. According to one survivor, the men were killed by a Mexican drug cartel called the Zetas after refusing to reveal the location of the farm's owner, Otto Salguero, who is believed to have links with the drug industry.

6. Space

The penultimate flight of Nasa's 30-year-old space shuttle programme was launched on 16 May. The mission is led by Mark Kelly, whose wife, the federal congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, was shot by a gunman in Arizona in January. The final space shuttle mission will be flown in July.

7. Education

Dons at the University of Oxford are expected to pass a vote of no confidence in the universities minister, David Willetts, when the congregation, "the dons' parliament", meets in June.

8. Business

Inflation in the UK rose during April from 4 per cent to 4.5 per cent. The Bank of England blamed the rise of increased travel prices over the Easter period as families took advantage of the extra bank holidays to go abroad.

9. People

The former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger has confessed to fathering a love child with a member of his household staff ten years ago. The news emerged a week after he announced that he was splitting from his wife, Maria Shriver.

10. Nature

Between 20 and 50 tigers have been discovered living in the Thap Lan National Park in Thailand. The find has allayed conservationists' fears that the animal is close to extinction.