April 17
Disasters and accidents
Armed conflicts and attacks
United States president Donald Trump says that the U.S. naval blockade will remain in effect until a peace agreement is reached with Iran.
Source:
Al Jazeera 
Fars News Agency reports that the Iranian government considers the continuation of the blockade a violation of the ceasefire and would close the strait again if it is not lifted.
Source:
Iran International
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi announces that the Strait of Hormuz will be open for commercial traffic via a "coordinated route" with Iranian authorities while the 10-day ceasefire in Lebanon is in effect.
Source:
CNBC
An Iranian military official says that vessels must receive permission from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to pass.
Source:
Al Jazeera
Israeli defense minister Israel Katz says that the military will hold all of its positions in southern Lebanon, and that disarming Hezbollah remains its main objective.
Source:
Al Jazeera
Ten Maute Group militants, including a leader, are killed in a shootout with soldiers during a raid in Marantao, Lanao del Sur, Phillippines.
Source:
The Punch
Source:
Reuters
Health and environment
France announces that its social security system will reimburse the cost of reusable menstrual products for individuals under 26 and those with low income.
Source:
Iosco County News-Herald
Law and crime
Australian Army veteran and Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith is granted bail with travel restrictions after his previous arrest for alleged war crimes while deployed to Afghanistan.
Source:
Reuters
Business and economy
China and Turkmenistan begin expansion works at the Galkynyş Gas Field, the world's second-largest gas field, to increase production amid the fuel crisis.
Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war2026 Iran war fuel crisisChina–Turkmenistan relationsEnergy in Turkmenistan
Source:
AFP via SpaceWar.com
A South Korean tanker transports crude oil to the country via the Red Sea for the first time since disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz, as the government implements alternative supply routes to secure energy imports.
Source:
AFP via CNA
Oil prices, including Brent Crude and West Texas Intermediate, drop to less than US$90 per barrel, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average increases by over 1,000 points, following Iran's announcement of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
Source:
AP
April 16
Sports
In chess, Javokhir Sindarov wins the Candidates Tournament in Cyprus. The Women's Tournament is won by Vaishali Rameshbabu.
Source:
FIDE
Law and crime
The death toll in yesterday's school shooting in Onikişubat, Kahramanmaraş Province, Turkey, rises to 11, including the perpetrator, after a critically injured victim succumbs to his injuries.
Source:
AP
Police arrest singer d4vd in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on suspicion of killing a 14-year-old girl whose remains were previously found in a vehicle registered to him.
Source:
BBC News
Philippine president Bongbong Marcos says that Czech authorities have arrested former legislator Zaldy Co in Prague after he entered the country without proper documentation, following his designation as a fugitive in connection with graft and malversation charges linked to a flood control project.
Source:
AP
Sri Lankan customs officials arrest nine Chinese nationals at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo for attempting to smuggle communication equipment concealed on their bodies, which officials say is intended for use in internet fraud operations.
Source:
AFP via CNA
Surrey Police issue a disorder warning in Epsom, England, after protesters clash with riot police in the town. The protesters are demanding the description of men who gang raped a woman outside a Methodist Church the previous weekend.
Source:
BBC News
In South Africa, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema is sentenced to five years imprisonment for the unlawful discharge of a firearm at a 2018 rally.
Source:
AFP via France 24
In the United States, Fairfax County officials say that former Virginia lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax murdered his wife, then killed himself, after police find them dead at their home.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Armed conflicts and attacks
United States defense secretary Pete Hegseth says that the U.S. is prepared to resume combat operations if Iran does not agree to a permanent deal.
Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)2026 Iran war2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations2026 Iran war ceasefire
Source:
Al Jazeera
U.S. president Donald Trump announces that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, after his conversations with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese president Joseph Aoun.
Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)Hezbollah–Israel conflict2026 Lebanon war2026 Lebanon war ceasefire
Source:
NBC News
Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, including on Kyiv and Odesa, kill at least 22 people and wound more than 131 others.
Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)Russian attacks on civilians in the Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)
Source:
The Kyiv Independent
The Russian defence ministry publishes a list of locations in Europe that are reportedly supporting drone production for Ukraine, including in Germany and Italy, saying the locations are "potential targets for the Russian Armed Forces”.
Source:
Euractiv
U.S. troops complete their withdrawal from the Qasrak air base in Hasakah province, ending U.S. involvement in Syria after troops first arrived in 2015 to fight against the Islamic State.
Source:
The New York Times
Five gunmen are killed and a state trooper is wounded during a security operation in Los Herreras, Nuevo León, Mexico. Authorities implement coordinated surveillance in the area for more suspects.
Source:
Milenio
Disasters and accidents
A helicopter crashes in Sekadau Regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia, killing all the eight people on board.
Source:
Reuters
Business and economy
Arts and culture
A previously unknown poem by Federico García Lorca is found handwritten on the back of a manuscript. It was discovered by Spanish singer and collector Miguel Poveda.
Source:
in Spanish
International relations
Argentine president Javier Milei announces a trip to Israel where he is expected to receive the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor and meet Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to expedite the transfer of the Argentine embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Source:
Infobae
The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank restore official relations with Venezuela and recognize the administration of acting president Delcy Rodríguez, enabling engagement on economic policy and potential financial assistance.
Source:
AFP via France 24
Politics and elections
Hungarian prime minister-designate Péter Magyar says his election victory over Viktor Orbán will not lead to a policy shift on migration, saying his government will strengthen borders and "protect our country and Europe" from illegal immigration.
Source:
Newsweek
The Balen Shah cabinet establishes a five-member commission, led by a former Supreme Court judge, to investigate the assets of current and former Nepali public officials.
Source:
The Manila Times
The U.S. House of Representatives rejects the War Powers Resolution to stop military operations by a 214–213 vote.
Source:
Politico
April 15
Business and economy
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov states that Russia can supply energy to China and other countries affected by disruptions in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran war.
Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war2026 Iran war fuel crisisChina–Russia relationsChina in the 2026 Iran warRussia in the 2026 Iran war
Source:
AFP via CNA
Syria begins loading the first tanker carrying Iraqi oil at the Baniyas Refinery for export by sea under a bilateral arrangement to reroute shipments amid disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Economic impact of the 2026 Iran war2026 Iran war fuel crisisIraq–Syria relationsIraq in the 2026 Iran warSyria in the 2026 Iran war
Source:
AFP via SpaceWar.com
South Korea secures imports of 273 million barrels of crude oil (by the end of the year) and 2.1 million tons of naphtha through alternative routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz, providing several months of supply amid disruptions linked to the Iran war.
Source:
AFP via SpaceWar.com
The Iraqi transport ministry announces that Iraqi Airways will resume flights to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, beginning tomorrow and Istanbul, Turkey, on Saturday.
Source:
Iraqi News
Shoe company Allbirds announces it will be pivoting to providing computing infrastructure for artificial intelligence, with plans to rename itself to "NewBird AI". The company's shares rose nearly 600% on the news.
Source:
CNBC
Funding for the Second Avenue Subway in New York City is restored by the United States federal government following the Trump administration halting funding in the midst of the 2025 United States federal government shutdown and a lawsuit by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. ()
Politics and elections
The U.S. Senate rejects the War Powers Resolution by a 52–47 vote in the fourth Democratic-led attempt to stop hostilities until they are authorized by the U.S. Congress.
Source:
Reuters
Hungarian prime minister-designate Péter Magyar urges president Tamás Sulyok to resign as he is "unfit to serve as the guardian of legality [...] and to serve as a moral authority or a role model".
Source:
Sky News
Source:
The Gazette
Law and crime
Nine people are killed and 13 others are injured in a mass shooting at a school in Onikişubat, Kahramanmaraş Province, Turkey. The perpetrator dies by suicide. It is the deadliest school shooting in Turkish history.
Source:
Reuters
Two people are arrested in Watford on suspicion of arson in an attempted attack on Finchley Reform Synagogue in North Finchley, London, England. The Metropolitan Police are treating the attempted attack as a hate crime.
Source:
Politico
Papua New Guinea tightens security at military bases and imposes movement restrictions after a group of soldiers sets up roadblocks in Port Moresby to protest alleged irregularities in army recruitment linked to former defence minister Billy Joseph, who is under investigation.
Source:
AFP via SpaceWar.com
Indonesian police announce the arrest of six suspects for trafficking endangered Komodo dragons sourced from East Nusa Tenggara and intended for export to Thailand, and detain two additional individuals for smuggling pangolin scales.
Source:
The Straits Times
Gabonese intelligence agents arrest former prime minister and opposition figure Alain Claude Bilie By Nze at his residence over an alleged unpaid debt linked to a 2008 public event.
Source:
AP
A court in Nairobi, Kenya, sentences a Chinese national to one year in prison and imposes a fine after he pleads guilty to attempting to smuggle more than 2,200 ants out of Kenya without authorization.
Source:
AFP via CP24
Armed conflicts and attacks
A Pakistani delegation led by military chief Asim Munir arrives in Tehran, Iran, to facilitate the continuation of diplomacy between Iran and the United States.
Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)2026 Iran war2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations2026 Iran war ceasefirePakistan in the 2026 Iran war
Source:
Al Jazeera
Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif arrives in Jeddah to begin a four-day diplomatic trip through Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey to push for a second round of Iran–U.S. peace talks.
Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)2026 Iran war2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations2026 Iran war ceasefirePakistan in the 2026 Iran war
Source:
Arab News PK
The U.S. says that it has not formally agreed to extend the ceasefire, although there is ongoing engagement between Iran and the U.S. towards a peace deal.
Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)2026 Iran war2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations2026 Iran war ceasefire
Source:
Al Jazeera
The U.S. Central Command reports that ten vessels have been turned around since the start of the naval blockade of Iran.
Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)2026 Iran war2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis2026 Strait of Hormuz campaign
Source:
NBC News
Iran's military headquarters threatens to close the Red Sea in addition to the strait if the U.S. naval blockade continues.
Source:
Al Jazeera
A U.S. official says that over 10,000 additional U.S. military personnel, including sailors aboard USS and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit on the , will arrive in the region later this month.
Source:
AA
At least three paramedics are killed, six others are injured, and one remains missing after Israeli strikes hit incident response teams in Mayfadoun, Nabatieh Governorate, Lebanon.
Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)Hezbollah–Israel conflict2026 Lebanon warIsraeli attacks on the Lebanese health sector during the Israel-Hezbollah conflict (2023–present)
Source:
AFP via LBCI
The Israeli security cabinet convenes and does not make a decision about a ceasefire in Lebanon, following the previous day's negotiations.
Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)Hezbollah–Israel conflict2026 Lebanon war2026 Israel–Lebanon peace talks
Source:
Axios
At least 13 people are killed by Israeli attacks across Lebanon.
Source:
Al Jazeera
Lebanon's health ministry updates the total casualties to 2,167 killed and 7,061 injured.
Source:
Al Jazeera
Israeli military chief of staff Eyal Zamir says that Israel has approved plans for the continuation of military action in both Iran and Lebanon.
Source:
Al Jazeera
Source:
Sudan Tribune
The civil war in Sudan enters its fourth year between the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces.
Source:
AP
Three people are killed in an airstrike carried out by the United States Navy against an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific.
War on drugsOperation Southern SpearUnited States strikes on alleged drug traffickers during Operation Southern Spear
Source:
Reuters
Taliban authorities say that the Markazi High School in the Dangam district, Afghanistan, is damaged by rocket strikes from Pakistan.
Source:
KabulNow
Swedish civil defence minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin reports that the Swedish Security Service had prevented a cyberattack on a thermal power station in West Sweden in mid-2025, identifying the perpetrators as a group linked to Russian intelligence, with no significant disruption to operations.
Source:
Macau Business
International relations
Donors pledge €1.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) in foreign aid for Sudan at an international conference in Berlin, Germany, marking the third anniversary of the beginning of Sudan's civil war, as participants also discuss efforts to advance ceasefire negotiations.
Source:
Al Jazeera
International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Grossi reports increased activity at multiple nuclear facilities in North Korea, including the Nyongbyon site, indicating expanded capacity to produce nuclear weapons.
Source:
AFP via ABS-CBN News
Israel appoints Michael Lotem as the first Israeli ambassador to Somaliland, months after Israel officially recognised the breakaway region in Somalia. Lotem previously served as the Israeli ambassador to Kenya.
Source:
Horseed Media
April 14
Law and crime
The founder of the property development company Evergrande Hui Ka Yan pleads guilty to several charges, including fundraising fraud and illegally taking public deposits, at a trial in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Source:
ABC News Australia
A 19-year-old man opens fire at a school in Siverek, Şanlıurfa Province, Turkey, wounding 16 people, before killing himself.
Source:
CNN
International relations
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni announces that Italy is suspending the automatic renewal of an agreement with Israel on exchanging military equipment and technology "in view of the current situation."
Source:
Al Jazeera
The Norwegian government announces that Ukraine will produce drones in the country as part of a bilateral defence cooperation agreement. Norway will support the production of Ukrainian drones, while Ukraine will share data, information and knowledge of the technology with Norway.
Source:
Reuters
Business and economy
Oil prices decline, with West Texas Intermediate for May delivery falling 6.2% to US$92.94 per barrel and Brent Crude decreasing 3.77% to $95.61, amid expectations of reduced tensions in the Middle East.
Source:
AFP via NAMPA
The Pakistani energy ministry announces daily power outages of about two hours during evening peak demand periods throughout the country, except in Hyderabad and Karachi, to reduce fuel costs and limit tariff increases amid higher energy prices linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Source:
AFP via CNA
American stocks, including the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq Composite, rise amidst the possibility of renewed Iran–U.S. talks.
Source:
CNBC
Stocks in the United Kingdom increase amidst hopes of new Iran–U.S. talks.
Source:
Reuters
Armed conflicts and attacks
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian tells French president Emmanuel Macron that the Islamabad Talks did not lead to a deal because the United States took "maximalist positions" and had a "lack of goodwill".
Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)2026 Iran war2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations2026 Iran war ceasefire
Source:
Al Jazeera
Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif says that he will visit fellow mediators in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Ankara, Turkey, to push for a second round of talks between Iran and the U.S.
Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)2026 Iran war2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations2026 Iran war ceasefire
Source:
Al Jazeera
U.S. president Donald Trump reportedly tells the that a second round of talks between Iran and the U.S. could occur within the next two days.
Middle Eastern crisis (2023–present)2026 Iran war2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations2026 Iran war ceasefire
Source:
CNBC
At least three oil tankers pass through the strait, including the Panama-flagged , which took the new route through Iranian waters as instructed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Source:
Al Jazeera
Saudi Arabia asks the U.S. to end its naval blockade of the strait.
Source:
AA
Israeli and Lebanese officials meet in Washington, D.C., U.S., for the first direct peace talks between the countries in decades, with Israel prioritizing Hezbollah's disarmament and Lebanon limiting its mandate to ceasefire discussions.
Source:
The Economic Times
At the Washington meeting, Israeli and Lebanese officials agree to begin direct negotiations in the future.
Source:
AA
Three people are killed by an Israeli raid in Adloun, Sidon District, Lebanon.
Source:
Al Jazeera
The Israeli military announces that troops from the 205th Brigade and Yahalom have destroyed four Hamas tunnels over the weekend.
Source:
The Jerusalem Post
Two people, including a 14-year-old, are killed by Israeli gunfire in North Gaza Governorate.
Source:
Reuters
Médecins Sans Frontières reports that two people are killed and 56 injured following five drone strikes by the Sudanese military in West Darfur and Central Darfur, Sudan.
Source:
ReliefWeb
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher reports that around 700 people have been killed in drone strikes in Sudan since the year started as the conflict enters its fourth year.
Source:
The Straits Times
Four people are killed in an airstrike carried out by the United States Navy against an alleged drug boat in the eastern Pacific.
War on drugsOperation Southern SpearUnited States strikes on alleged drug traffickers during Operation Southern Spear
Source:
Al Jazeera
Ambazonian militant groups announce a temporary ceasefire in Cameroon after nearly a decade of conflict in anticipation of Pope Leo XIV's visit on April 15.
Source:
Vatican News
Eleven kidnapping victims, including two NDLEA personnel, are rescued and several suspected bandits are arrested by the Nigerian Army in raids across Nigeria.
Source:
The Punch
Four people are killed and at least 25 others are injured in a Russian drone attack in Dnipro, Ukraine.
Source:
RTÉ
In a joint operation with international support, Somali military and Jubaland regional forces kill at least 27 al-Shabaab militants in the semi-autonomous state of Jubaland.
Source:
Reuters
Health and environment
Japan records its lowest-ever net greenhouse gas emissions in fiscal year 2024, falling 1.9% to 994 million tonnes due to reduced energy use and increased reliance on nuclear and renewable energy sources.
Source:
Daily Sabah
Politics and elections
In the Republic of Ireland, the Government of the 34th Dáil wins a no confidence vote tabled by Sinn Féin over its handling of recent fuel protests.
Source:
BBC News
The Somali federal government fails to ensure the timely succession of the Federal Parliament, as its term expired on 14 April. The lapse creates significant uncertainty, with no clear plan for forthcoming elections following a series of constitutional crises.
Source:
Hiiraan Online
Source:
Reuters
Papuan soldiers block several roads across Port Moresby, protesting the military's recent recruitment controversies.
Source:
NBC PNG
Disasters and accidents
At least 14 people are killed and 20 others are injured in an explosion at a privately-owned power station in Chhattisgarh, India.
Source:
India Today
Eleven people are killed and another is injured when a van collides with a cement mixer in Thane district, Maharashtra, India.
Source:
Hindustan Times
Arts and culture
English artists Billy Idol, Iron Maiden, Joy Division / New Order, Oasis, Phil Collins, and Sade, and American artists Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan, are announced as the 2026 inductees of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S., in the performers category.
Source:
The Guardian