May 23, 2012 (Wednesday)
Armed conflicts and attacks
- A drone attack conducted by the United States kills five people in a tribal area of North Waziristan, Pakistan. (Xinhua)
- The Iranian navy assists an American cargo ship that was attacked by pirates off the United Arab Emirates. (San Francisco Chronicle)
Arts and culture
- Georgia-native Phillip Phillips is crowned the eleventh American Idol. Runner-up Jessica Sanchez is the first contestant of Asian ancestry to advance in the finals. [http://www.news-press.com/article/20120523/NEWS0101/120523009/Philip-Phillips-wins-American-Idol-over-Jessica-Sanchez?odyssey=mod