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April 21

International relations

Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te cancels his planned visit to Eswatini after the governments of Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles denied overflight permissions for his aircraft, with Taiwan attributing the decision to pressure from China.
Source: Reuters external link

Armed conflicts and attacks

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command announces that it stopped and boarded a stateless tanker, M/T , which it says is connected to Iran.
Source: Stars and Stripes external link

Disasters and accidents

Nine people are killed and 23 injured after an explosion at a fireworks manufacturing unit in Thrissur, India.
Source: The Indian Express external link

Law and crime

A joint investigation by the Indonesian human rights commission, the ombudsman, and the child protection commission finds that police and other state security personnel violated human rights, including arbitrary arrests, torture, and alleged child sexual abuse, during anti-government protests in 2025 that left at least 11 people dead and thousands detained.
Source: Reuters external link
South Korean police seek an arrest warrant for Hybe founder and chairperson Bang Si-hyuk over alleged violations of capital market laws related to Hybe's initial public offering, accusing him of misleading early investors and receiving profits through a related private equity fund.
Source: Reuters external link

Business and economy

Nepal resumes issuing work permits for its nationals seeking employment in the Middle East after a temporary suspension linked to the Iran war, citing guidance from the foreign ministry and demand from workers.
Source: Reuters external link

Politics and elections

The Indonesian parliament passes the landmark Domestic Workers Protection Bill into law after 22 years of deliberation
Source: The Straits Times external link
New Zealand prime minister Christopher Luxon secures the support of his caucus after initiating and winning a confidence vote on his leadership within the National Party.
Source: Reuters external link

April 20

Health and environment

Several Central European countries, including Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic, begin pulling baby food produced by Hipp Holding from supermarket shelves after rat poison was detected in some jars over the weekend.
Source: AP external link

International relations

Source: The Times of Israel external link
Pakistan places on hold a proposed US$1.5 billion arms and aircraft supply agreement with Sudan after Saudi Arabia withdraws financing and requests its termination.
Source: Reuters external link
The Philippines and the United States begin the 19-day Balikatan military exercises, described as the largest to date in terms of participating countries, involving more than 17,000 troops from seven nations and additional observers.
Source: Reuters external link

Disasters and accidents

An earthquake on a scale of 7.7 is measured off the coast of Sanriku, Japan. A subsequent 80-centimetre (2.6 ft) high tsunami is reported in Kuji, Iwate prefecture.
Source: Kyodo News external link
At least 21 people are killed and 45 others are injured when a passenger bus rolls into a gorge in Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Source: Al Jazeera external link
Six people are killed in a fire on two residential buildings in Urdaneta, Pangasinan, Philippines.
Source: The Star external link

Politics and elections

Preliminary results from yesterday's election in Bulgaria reveal that the left-wing nationalist and populist Progressive Bulgaria coalition, led by former president Rumen Radev, secured a majority of seats in the National Assembly.
Source: DW external link
The Royal Palace of Cambodia announces that King Norodom Sihamoni underwent surgery for prostate cancer in Beijing, China.
Source: The Straits Times external link
In Romania, the Social Democratic Party withdraws support for prime minister Ilie Bolojan of the National Liberal Party, a move that could lead to the collapse of the coalition government.
Source: Xinhua external link

Law and crime

A man opens fire around the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacán Municipality, Mexico, killing a Canadian tourist and wounding 13 other people, before killing himself.
Source: Al Jazeera external link
France is investigating allegations that two Lebanese banks transferred billions of U.S. dollars out of the country despite strict capital controls.
Source: Naharnet external link
At least 62 U.S. military veterans are arrested by police inside the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., during a anti-war protest against the Iran war after occupying the Cannon House Office Building.
Source: Latin Times external link

Business and economy

Apple Inc. announces that Tim Cook will step down as chief executive officer with senior vice president of hardware engineering John Ternus taking on the role from September 1.
Source: Reuters external link

Armed conflicts and attacks

A Iranian official says that Iran may attend ceasefire talks with the United States in Islamabad, Pakistan, following moves by Pakistan to end the blockade of Iranian ports. However, a decision has yet to be made.
Source: Al Jazeera external link
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says that Iran is not going to negotiate while it is being threatened.
Source: Al Jazeera external link
U.S. president Donald Trump says that he is "highly unlikely" to renew the ceasefire when it expires in two days.
Source: AP external link
The cruise ship arrives in the Gulf of Oman, becoming the latest of six cruise ships in the Middle East to cross the Strait of Hormuz since the war started on February 28.
Source: People external link
The Israeli military launches airstrikes in southern Lebanon against individuals that it accused of posing a threat to northern Israel or to Israeli troops.
Source: NBC News external link
The United States announces that another round of talks between Israel and Lebanon will be held in Washington, D.C., on April 23.
Source: Al Jazeera external link
Lebanese president Joseph Aoun announces that he is appointing a new negotiator for the next talks, former ambassador Simon Karam.
Source: Al Jazeera external link
Israeli strikes kill at least five Palestinians in ​separate incidents in the Gaza Strip.
Source: Reuters external link
Ukrainian forces say they have struck two Russian Navy landing ships docked at Sevastopol Naval Base in Russian-occupied Crimea. Separately, a Ukrainian drone attack on Tuapse oil terminal in Krasnodar Krai, Russia, kills one person and causes several large fires at the facility.
Source: Al Jazeera external link
Russia's Federal Security Service says it has arrested a German woman and a Central Asian man in Pyatigorsk, Stavropol Krai, and seizes an improvised explosive device, alleging they planned an attack on a law enforcement facility on instructions from Ukraine.
Source: The Straits Times external link
FARC dissidents launch drone strikes on the Colombian army in Ipiales, Nariño Department, killing three soldiers and wounding two others.
Source: AP external link

April 19

International relations

Argentine president Javier Milei and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu announce the launching of the Isaac Accords to foster cooperation between Israel and the Western Hemisphere.
Source: The Times of Israel external link

Disasters and accidents

At least 25 people are killed and 13 others are injured in an explosion at a fireworks factory in Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, India.
Source: BBC News external link
Eight people are killed, including two children, and three others are injured in two separate drowning incidents in the Kaveri river in Mysore district, Karnataka, India.
Source: Deccan Herald external link
Seven people are killed, including six children, in a propane tank explosion and fire at a house in Lamar Township, Pennsylvania, United States.
Source: WNEP-TV external link
A spectator is killed and two others are injured when a car crashes into spectators at the Codasur South American Rally Championship in Córdoba, Argentina.
Source: Infobae external link
A fire destroys about 1,000 homes in a stilt settlement in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia, displacing thousands of residents.
Source: Gulf News external link

Law and crime

Four people, including two foreign nationals, are arrested in Jolfa, East Azerbaijan province, Iran, on charges related to importing Starlink equipment and alleged intelligence activities involving networks linked to Israel and the U.S.
Source: New Straits Times external link
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain announces that Bahraini nationality law will be reassessed so that actions can be taken against anyone who provided assistance to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, such as with espionage.
Source: Arab News external link
Eight children are killed and two women are injured in a domestic violence mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States. The perpetrator later carjacks a vehicle and flees across the Red River to the adjacent Bossier City, where he is fatally shot by police.
Source: Reuters external link
First U.S. attorney Bill Essayli announces that an Iranian woman has been arrested at the Los Angeles International Airport in California for allegedly helping Iran traffic weapons to Sudan.
Source: The Guardian external link

Science and technology

A humanoid robot developed by Chinese company Honor completes a half marathon in Beijing involving both robots and human runners in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, faster than the standing human world record.
Source: Fox News external link
American company Blue Origin successfully launches its New Glenn rocket using a reused booster, which it recovers after liftoff, but the communications satellite it carried for AST SpaceMobile is placed in an incorrect orbit.
Source: AFP via France 24 external link

Politics and elections

Bulgarians vote for 240 seats of the National Assembly in the nation's eighth election since April 2021. Former president Rumen Radev leads the soft eurosceptic Progressive Bulgaria coalition, the frontrunner of the election according to opinion polls.
Source: AP external link
Several universities across Islamabad and Rawalpindi in Pakistan, including the International Islamic University and Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, will shift to online classes amidst a potential second round of talks between Iran and the U.S.
Source: The Express Tribune external link
Nus Kei, chairperson of the Golkar Party's Southeast Maluku Regency branch in Indonesia, is assassinated at Karel Sadsuitubun Airport. The two perpetrators are subsequently arrested.
Source: Tempo external link

Armed conflicts and attacks

United States president Donald Trump says that negotiations with Iran will be held in Islamabad, Pakistan, on April 20, with a U.S. delegation led by vice president JD Vance and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Source: CNBC external link
Tasnim News Agency reports that Iran is undecided as to sending a negotiating delegation to Islamabad while a naval blockade remains in place.
Source: Reuters external link
The United States Navy destroyer USS  and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit stop and seize control of the Iranian-flagged container ship , in the first direct action during the blockade.
Source: Task and Purpose external link
The Israeli military publishes a map of the territory that it claims to control in Lebanon for the first time.
Source: Reuters external link
Nineteen alleged New People's Army militants are killed in a shootout with the army in Toboso, Negros Occidental, Philippines.
Source: TRT World external link
Three people are killed in an American airstrike against a boat in the Caribbean Sea.
Source: The New York Times external link
The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the March 23 Movement agree to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery and release prisoners within 10 days following talks in Montreux, Switzerland, and sign a memorandum establishing mechanisms to monitor a ceasefire.
Source: Al-Ahram external link
A synagogue in North London, England, is targeted in a firebombing attack, which is suspected to be an act of terrorism.
Source: The Independent external link
Two civilians killed and three wounded in a mass shooting at a bar in San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí. Authorities began to investigate the attack as part of a conflict between delictive cells.
Source: El Universal external link
Five gunmen are killed in a shootout with security forces in the municipality of General Terán, Nuevo León. Authorities starts a series surveillance operation in the area.
Source: in Spanish external link

April 18

International relations

Australia and Japan sign an agreement for the delivery of the first stealth ships under a AU$10 billion (US$7.2 billion) program to supply the Australian navy with a new fleet of warships.
Source: The Manila Times external link
India's external affairs ministry summons the ambassador of Iran after an Indian-flagged tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.
Source: Al Jazeera external link
Headed by Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, left-wing heads of government gather at the IV Meeting in Defense of Democracy and Progressive Global Mobilization in Barcelona. Participants include Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Colombia's Gustavo Petro, Kosovo's Albin Kurti, Mexico's Claudia Sheinbaum, South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa, and Uruguay's Yamandú Orsi.
Source: El Constitucional external link

Arts and culture

At the Coachella festival in Empire Polo Club, Indio, California, American rock band The Strokes shows videos accusing the Central Intelligence Agency of enforcing regime change through violence while performing "Oblivius" and also denounce the U.S.-Israel strikes against Iran.
Source: The Independent external link

Law and crime

Pakistan tightens major security in Islamabad ahead of potential second round of talks between Iran and the U.S.
Source: Khyber News TV external link
Rawalpindi shuts down cafés, restaurants, gyms, markets, and marriage halls in preparation of possible Iran–U.S. talks.
Source: Daily Pakistan external link
Two Indian citizens are killed in a shooting outside a Sikh temple in Covo, Province of Bergamo, Italy.
Source: IANS external link
Three people are killed in a stabbing attack during the filming of the TV series in Laches, Bogotá, Colombia.
Source: People en Español external link

Armed conflicts and attacks

Israel's military establishes a "yellow line" along southern Lebanon similar to the one in Gaza. Israel conducts strikes against individuals it says approach its forces in violation of ceasefire arrangements, including operations targeting positions and tunnels linked to Hezbollah.
Source: Al Jazeera external link
A French soldier is killed and three are injured in a shooting against United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon peacekeepers in Deir Kifa, southern Lebanon. France has accused Hezbollah of being responsible, an allegation that the group has denied.
Source: AP external link
Iran says that a date for another round of talks with the United States has not been set, pending an agreement on a framework for negotiations.
Source: NBC News external link
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says that ceasefire negotiations have progressed but also states that a deal is far from ready.
Source: The Times of Israel external link
The U.S. Central Command reports that 21 ships have been turned back since the start of the blockade.
Source: NBC News external link
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy announces that the Strait of Hormuz is closed again until the blockade ends.
Source: NBC News external link
A tanker is reportedly attacked by Iranian "gunboats" while in the strait.
Source: NBC News external link
The Gaza health ministry updates the total Palestinian casualties to 72,549 killed and 172,274 injured, including at least 773 killed and 2,171 injured since the October 2025 ceasefire.
Source: Al Jazeera external link
Six people are killed and 15 others are injured, including a child, in a mass shooting in Holosiivskyi District, Kyiv, Ukraine. The gunman barricaded himself inside a supermarket and took hostages before being killed by police.
Source: Sky News external link

Disasters and accidents

Thirteen people are killed by lightning strikes across Bangladesh.
Source: The Daily Star external link