May 14, 2026

U.S., ISRAEL, IRAN WAR | Day 76.

• The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations shipping information center says reports indicate a ship anchored off the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates was seized by unauthorized persons today and is heading toward Iran. [more]
• British maritime security advisory firm Vantage says an Indian cargo ship carrying livestock from Africa to the United Arab Emirates sank after being struck by a missile or drone today off the coast of Oman. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,538 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• Ukraine liberated more land in April than Russia seized during the month, according to analysts at the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War, who note that the last time Ukraine had a net monthly territorial control gain in the conflict was in August 2024. [more]
• Ukrainian officials say Russia launched more than 1,500 drones at targets across Ukraine from yesterday through this morning, including an overnight strike that destroyed an apartment building in Kyiv, killing at least four people and wounding more than 30 others. [more]
• Hungary summoned Russia's ambassador to the country yesterday after Russian drones struck targets near Hungary's border in the Ukrainian region of Transcarpathia. Newly installed Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said foreign ministry officials will ask the Russian ambassador "when Russia and Vladimir Putin plan to finally end this bloody war." [more]

U.S. AND CHINA | Meeting in Beijing today, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are reported to have discussed a variety of issues, including Taiwan, the war in Iran, trade, technology, and potential areas for increased cooperation. Chinese state media reports that Xi warned Trump that differences over the status and future of Taiwan, which China views as its own, could lead to clashes or conflict between the two countries. [more]

U.S. MEDICAID | Vice President JD Vance, who heads the Trump administration's anti-fraud task force, announced the deferral of $1.3 billion in Medicaid reimbursements to California yesterday over fraud concerns and warned other states of the risk of funding losses if they fail to investigate Medicaid fraud. [more]

U.S. ELECTIONS | Amidst ongoing efforts by numerous U.S. states to redraw congressional districting maps to favor one political party or another ahead of November's mid-term elections, state legislators in Louisiana advanced a plan yesterday to eliminate one of two majority-Black congressional districts. Also yesterday, the Republican governors of Georgia and Mississippi announced plans to move forward with efforts to implement new congressional districting maps that would take effect after this year. [more]

U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE | The Senate voted, 54-45, yesterday to confirm President Donald Trump's nomination of Kevin Warsh to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve. Warsh will replace Jerome Powell as head of the monetary policy-setting Fed, though Powell has indicated he will continue to serve out the remainder of his term as a Federal Reserve Board member, which expires in January 2028. [more]

FLORIDA | Residents of Miami, Florida, filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, Miami Dade College, and Florida state officials yesterday, claiming that the decision to donate a College-owned 2.63-acre parcel of downtown Miami property for Trump’s future presidential library violated the Domestic Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits states from giving a financial benefit to a sitting president. [more]

U.S. MILITARY | Army officials say the remains of the second of two soldiers who went missing last week in Morocco were recovered yesterday. Investigators say the soldiers were in Morocco for the annual African Lion military exercises and went missing while on a recreational hike. [more]

RUSSIA AND AFGHANISTAN | The Moscow-based Interfax news agency cites Russian Security ​Council official Sergei Shoigu as saying today that Russia is establishing a "full-fledged partnership" with Afghanistan's ruling Taliban and is encouraging other countries ​in the region to expand cooperation with ‌Kabul. [more]

INDIA | Authorities in northern India say at least 96 people in the region have died over the past few days due to dust storms, heavy rains and flooding, and damage from lightning. Reports note that powerful storms are common across northern India during the annual hot season from March to June. [more]

BRICS | Representatives of the 11-nation BRICS cooperation organization begin a two-day foreign ministers' summit in New Delhi, India, today, with disruptions in global energy supplies linked to the Iran war, health and financing challenges, and heightened economic uncertainty expected to be among the main topics of discussion. [more]

U.K. | British Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned today and is widely expected to announce plans to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer for leadership of the governing Labour Party. Reports say additional candidates for party leadership could arise in the coming days amidst ongoing calls for Starmer to resign following poor Labour showings in recent local and regional elections. [more]

PAKISTAN | The Baloch Liberation Army separatist militant group has claimed responsibility for an attack on security forces in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province yesterday. Pakistani military officials say five soldiers and seven militants were killed in the clash. [more]

SUDAN | At least 61 people, including nine children, have been killed in two weeks of escalating violence in Sudan's South Kordofan region, according to the Sudan Doctors Network medical group. Reports note that violence in the region has been linked to conflict between the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North rebel group and members of the Otoro tribe. [more]

CUBA | Amidst the Caribbean island nation's ongoing energy crisis, reports say hundreds of residents of Havana, Cuba, took part in protests yesterday to demand an end to rolling power blackouts and to the U.S. fuel embargo imposed in January. [more]

AUTO INDUSTRY | Japanese automaker Honda, citing heavy costs associated with plans for electric vehicle production, announced its first-ever full year loss today, saying it lost $2.7 billion in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. [more]

WORLD CUP | World soccer governing body FIFA announced today that this summer's men's World Cup final will be the first to feature a Super Bowl-type halftime concert, with featured performers including Madonna, Shakira, and the South Korean boy-band BTS. [more]

MUSIC PRESERVATION | Among the 25 albums and songs announced by the U.S. Library of Congress yesterday as being newly added to the National Recording Registry are: Beyoncé’s 2008 anthem "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),” The Go-Go’s debut album “Beauty and the Beat," Taylor Swift's 2014 album "1989," and the singles "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" and "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)” by Paul Anka and The Byrds, respectively. [full list of 2026 additions] [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1607, Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, was established by members of the Virginia Company. [more history]