Thursday

Several explosions are heard at a port in Qeshm and Bandar Abbas in the Hormozgan province of Iran. Israel denies any involvement in the explosion, while Fox News reporter Jennifer Griffin says that the U.S. military was behind the explosions. Officials say that the explosions does not mean the restart of the war or the end of the ceasefire. (AA) (BNO News) (Reuters)

The Iranian Ports and Maritime Organization says that ports in Iran are prepared to provide maritime services, technical support, supplies, and medical assistance to ships operating in the Strait of Hormuz. (AA) (The Economic Times)

A U.S. official tells Axios that the United States and Iran have reportedly exchange fire at the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran claiming to strike three U.S. Navy ships and the U.S. claiming to strike targets on the waterway. (Axios)

The U.S. Central Command confirms that the U.S. military carried out "self-defense" strikes against military facilities in response to Iran's attacks on the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason as the three ships were transiting the Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman. (Times of Israel) (CNN)

2026 Iran war ceasefire

Sherritt International suspends its mining operations in Cuba and withdraws expatriate staff, citing the risk of expanded United States sanctions affecting its operations. (AFP via News Abhiyan)

The Seoul High Court reduces former South Korean prime minister Han Duck-soo's prison sentence from 23 years to 15 years for crimes related to former president Yoon Suk Yeol's 2024 martial law declaration, citing a lack of evidence that Han played a leading or premeditated role in the declaration. (AFP via CNA)

Former Chinese defense ministers Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe are both sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve following their convictions on graft charges. (Politico)

Sri Lankan authorities arrest 30 Chinese and Vietnamese nationals in Colombo in a crackdown on cyberscams in the country, raising the total number of those detained to 261. (AFP via The Straits Times)

Voters in England elect six mayors and 5,066 council seats across 136 councils. In Scotland, voters elect 129 seats to the Scottish Parliament. In Wales, voters elect 96 seats to the Senedd. (BBC News) (The Guardian)

The parliament of the Solomon Islands debates a no-confidence motion against prime minister Jeremiah Manele. The debate is a culmination of a political crisis that started with mass resignations of the cabinet on 16 March, recently escalated by a ruling on 1 May by the Court of Appeal ordering the reconvening of Parliament. (RNZ)

Manele is ousted from the premiership following a successful no-confidence motion of 26–22, with two MPs absent. Manele remains as caretaker prime minister until governor-general David Tiva Kapu declares a new prime minister. (Reuters)

The International Olympic Committee lifts restrictions on Belarusian athletes participating in the Olympic Games from 2028, while Russian athletes remain limited to individual neutral participation because of the Russian Olympic Committee's suspension. (AFP via RFI) (BBC)

In basketba, the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament will expand to 76 teams beginning next year. (AP)