Current events: 2026-05-18

[Wikipedia Current Events]

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Middle Eastern crisis
  • 2026 Iran war
    • 2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations
      • 2026 Iran war ceasefire
        • Pakistan reportedly shares a revised proposal with the United States from Iran aimed at ending the war. (Reuters)
        • Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says that talks between Iran and the U.S. are still ongoing via Pakistani mediation. (AA)
    • 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis
      • Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority announces that any passage through the Strait of Hormuz that is not coordinated with it and the Iranian armed forces is "illegal". (Al Jazeera)
    • U.S. president Donald Trump announces that he has called off planned military strikes against Iran for tomorrow at the request of Middle East allies including Qatari emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, and Emirati president Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, citing "serious negotiations" taking place. (PBS) (Middle East Eye)
  • 2026 Lebanon war
    • Hezbollah–Israel conflict
      • Hezbollah states that it shot down an Israeli military aircraft over Ayta al-Jabal in southern Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
    • The Lebanese health ministry announces that the death toll has surpassed 3,000 people, with at least 3,020 people killed and 9,273 wounded since the war began on March 2. (Al Jazeera)

Business and economy

• Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war, Economy of Kenya
  • Protests against the 2026 Iran war
    • Four people are killed and more than 30 others are injured after deadly nationwide protests and transport strikes triggered by a massive surge in fuel prices. Iran war raises petroleum costs by more than 20% to record highs in Nairobi, Kenya. (Reuters) (BBC)
  • 2026 Iran war fuel crisis
    • Oil prices rise amid fears of a prolonged war and the draining of world oil reserves, including West Texas Intermediate to US$102.76 per barrel and Brent Crude to US$112.89 per barrel. (The Wall Street Journal)
• Australia–China relations
  • Australian treasurer Jim Chalmers orders several China-linked shareholders to divest their stakes in Northern Minerals under foreign investment laws aimed at protecting the country's rare earths sector. (AFP via HKFP)

Disasters and accidents

• At least 13 people are killed and more than 20 others are injured, most seriously, when a tempo carrying wedding guests collides with a container truck on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway in Palghar district, Maharashtra, India. (CNN-News18)
• Five students drown while swimming in the Lo River in Phu Tho Province, Vietnam. (Xinhua)
• Three people are killed, and four others are still missing after flash floods caused a river to overflow in Xuan'en County, Hubei Province, China. (Xinhua)

International relations

• Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations
  • Reuters confirms that Pakistan has deployed 8,000 troops, HQ-9 air defense systems, and a full air force squadron, mostly of JF-17 fighter jets, to assist Saudi Arabia under their mutual defense agreement. (Reuters)

Law and crime

• 2026 Islamic Center of San Diego shooting
  • At least two people are killed and multiple others are injured in a mass shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego mosque in San Diego, California, United States. Both the perpetrators are killed. (BNO News)
• 2026 Mersin shooting
  • Six people are killed and eight others are injured in a shooting spree, including one inside a restaurant, in Mersin, Mediterranean region, Turkey. A widespread manhunt is underway to catch the suspect. (Mersin Haber in Turkish) (CBS News)

Politics and elections

• Second impeachment of Sara Duterte
  • The Philippine senate resumes the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte following last week's lockdown. (Reuters)

Continue reading...