Wednesday, May 13, 2026

2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis

Chinese supertanker Yuan Hua Hu, which carries 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude, crosses the Strait of Hormuz after previously being stranded in the Gulf for two months following the Iran war.

2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis

Four other vessels from China cross the Strait of Hormuz within the past 24 hours, including vehicle carrier Xian Jiang Kou and oil chemical tanker Starway.

2026 Lebanon war

At least 22 people, including eight children, are killed by Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon.

Gaza war

ACLED reports that April was the deadliest month in Gaza this year, with more than 120 reported fatalities related to Israeli violence.

Russian attacks on civilians in the Russo-Ukrainian war

Nine people are killed and at least 28 others are injured in the latest Russian drone strikes across Ukraine.

Darfur campaign

At least two people are killed and several others are injured in a drone strike by the Sudanese Armed Forces in El Geneina, West Darfur, Sudan.

Insurgency in Balochistan

Clashes between Pakistani forces and the Balochistan Liberation Army in Balochistan, Pakistan, kill five soldiers, including an army major, and seven insurgents.

2026 Cuban crisis

U.S. secretary of state Marco Rubio says the U.S. has renewed a $100 million humanitarian aid offer to Cuba amid the island's crisis and urges cooperation from the Cuban government.

Ghana–South Africa relations

Ghanaian foreign minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announces plans to evacuate about 300 citizens from South Africa following attacks targeting sub-Saharan African migrants.

Controversies of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud

United Kingdom and United States-mediated talks in Mogadishu, Somalia, between president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the opposition led by regional president Said Abdullahi Deni have broken down without an agreement. The deadlock centres on bitter disputes over the country's upcoming electoral framework, technical delays, and regional vote-rigging accusations in South West State of Somalia.

2026 Niuean general election

Niuean prime minister Dalton Tagelagi is re-elected for a third term in office following a vote of 11–9.

2026 State Opening of Parliament

King Charles III makes the speech from the House of Lords opening the new UK parliamentary session.

Alberta separatism

A Canadian judge rules that Elections Alberta improperly approved a petition seeking a referendum on provincial independence without consulting Indigenous groups.

Attacks in Russia during the Russo-Ukrainian war

Russian president Vladimir Putin replaces the governors of the border regions of Belgorod and Bryansk Oblast, Vyacheslav Gladkov and Alexander Bogomaz respectively, with army general Alexander Shuvaev and former occupation official Yegor Kovalchuk, respectively, amid continuing cross-border attacks linked to the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Politics

Latvian prime minister Evika Siliņa loses her parliamentary majority after the Progressives withdraw support from the governing coalition and calls for talks on forming a new government.

Politics

In the Central African Republic, the Government of Prime Minister Félix Moloua resigns.

2026 Philippine Senate lockdown

Gunshots are reported at the Philippine senate building amid tensions surrounding a possible arrest of senator Ronald dela Rosa under an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged crimes against humanity.

Murder of Eric Richins

A U.S. court sentences author Kouri Richins to life imprisonment without parole after convicting her of murdering her husband with fentanyl in 2022.

Trial of Alex Murdaugh

The South Carolina Supreme Court overturns the sentence of Alex Murdaugh, convicted in 2023 for the 2021 double homicide of his wife and son, citing jury interference by a court clerk. Motions are made for a new trial.

Justice

Sussex Police say they have recovered the bodies of three women off a beach in Brighton, England, and are working to identify the women.

Justice

The U.S. Senate blocks a War Powers Resolution to curtail president Donald Trump's war powers in the Iran war for a 7th time in a 49–50 vote, with John Fetterman being the lone Democrat senator to vote against it.

Disasters

Over 104 people are killed and 59 others are injured from a powerful storm and heavy rain across about a dozen districts of Uttar Pradesh, India.

Disasters

Four people are killed in a two-story house fire in North Jakarta, Indonesia.

2026 Iran war fuel crisis

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that the oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz has fallen to 30% in the first quarter of 2026 as compared to the previous quarter.

Merger of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines

Korean Air announces plans to launch an integrated flag carrier for South Korea on 17 December following the completion of legal procedures for its acquisition of Asiana Airlines.

Business

Germany approves reforms to its heating law and adopts new electricity supply legislation that enables support for 9 GW of new gas-fired power plants.

Business

The Ocean Dream Diamond sells for US$17 million at a Christie's auction, setting a record price for a blue-green diamond sold at auction.

Business

The United States-based Allegiant Travel Company completes its acquisition of Sun Country Airlines, successfully merging it with Allegiant Air to combine the 14th and 17th largest airlines in North America.