Portal:Current events/2024 March 13

March 13, 2024 (Wednesday)

Armed conflicts and attacks

Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Attacks in Russia during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
  - Ukraine launches a wave of drone strikes in Russia for a second consecutive day, causing a fire at a Rosneft oil refinery in Ryazan Oblast, while a Ukrainian drone is reportedly shot down near Kirishi refinery in Leningrad Oblast. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the attacks are an attempt to disrupt the upcoming presidential election. (Reuters)
- Attacks on civilians in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
  - Two people are killed and at least eight others are injured in a Russian drone attack on an apartment building in Sumy. (The Kyiv Independent)
- Military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War
  - The European Union agrees to provide an additional €5 billion to their Ukrainian military aid fund. (Reuters)
Piracy off the coast of Somalia
- Operation Atalanta
  - The European Union's counter-piracy mission says that one of its warships is currently shadowing the hijacked Bangladeshi bulk carrier Abdullah as it sails toward the coast of Somalia. At least 23 crew members are being held hostage by pirates on the ship. (AP)
Haitian crisis
- The United States deploys a Marine Corps Security Force Regiment platoon to secure the U.S. embassy complex in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. (NBC News)

Disasters and accidents

Seven people are killed and 27 others are injured in an explosion caused by a suspected gas leak at a restaurant in Langfang, Hebei Province, China. (China Daily) (China Daily)
Sixteen SWAT officers are injured in an explosion at a training center in Orange County, California, United States. (ABC News)

Law and crime

The British government announces that it will ban foreign state ownership of newspapers amid a controversial bid by a United Arab Emirates-led consortium to take over the Telegraph Media Group, which publishes The Daily Telegraph. (AP)

Politics and elections

2023–2024 Dutch cabinet formation
- Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders abandons his bid to become the next Prime Minister of the Netherlands citing a lack of support from other political parties in coalition formation talks. Wilders led his party to a surprise victory in the 2023 Dutch general election with 37 seats. (BBC News)