persia delenda est

Post

x

x

x

x

x

[i cmp]

U.S. president Donald Trump, in his prime address since the start of the war, says that U.S. forces will soon “finish the job” and that objectives are “nearing completion”. However, he also says that the U.S. would hit them “extremely hard” within the next 2–3 weeks if a deal is not reached to end the war. (AFP via The Daily Star) 

United States crude oil surges to over US$113 per barrel. (NBC News) 

The B1 highway bridge linking Tehran and Karaj, which was inaugurated earlier this year, is hit by Israeli–U.S. airstrikes. Eight people are killed and 95 others are injured. (Reuters via The Times of Israel) 

The Pasteur Institute of Iran sustains heavy damage in US-Israeli strikes. (Telegraph) 

Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian releases a letter to the American people and suggests that diplomatic engagement is possible. (The New York Times) 

U.S. President Donald Trump claims that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has asked for a ceasefire, which the United States “will consider when Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear”. The Iranian Foreign Ministry replies that Trump’s claim is “false and baseless”. (Forbes) 

Iran conducts strikes on Amazon Web Services servers in Bahrain and on an Oracle data center in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. However, the Dubai government dismisses any reports the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has targeted the Oracle data center and says it’s false.  (Gulf News) 

Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi says that Iran and Oman are drafting a protocol to oversee maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz(AA) 

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asks Gen. Randy George, Chief of Staff of the United States Army, to step down and take immediate retirement. (CBS News) 

U.S. president Donald Trump dismisses Pam Bondi as Attorney General, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche replacing her on an acting basis.  (CNN) 

The United Kingdom hosts a summit with 40 countries to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz(Reuters) 

Argentina orders Iranian chargé d’affaires Mohsen Soltani Tehrani to leave the country within 48 hours after Iranian officials issued statements that Argentina described as false and offensive. The move follows Argentina’s designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. (AFP via LBCI) 

Austria denies United States aircraft use of its ‌airspace for military operations against Iran. (Reuters) 

Moldova’s parliament approves the country’s withdrawal from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), as Moldova’s government says CIS’s core values and principles are no longer respected, particularly with regard to territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders and refer to the actions of Russia in the region, including the war against Ukraine and the illegal military presence on the territory of Moldova. (Moldova Press) 

Air China, China Southern Airlines, and its subsidiary XiamenAir increase fuel surcharges by ¥60–120 (US$8.70–17.50) on domestic flights in response to rising oil prices linked to the Iran war. (AFP via The Standard) 

The Basmanny District Court in Moscow, Russia, sentences German sculptor Jacques Tilly in absentia to eight years and six months in prison for spreading false information about the military and offending religious believers through his public works and statements concerning Russia’s actions in Ukraine. (Reuters) 

Kenya reports at least 16 Kenyans are missing after being recruited to fight for the Russian military in Ukraine, while 38 others are currently in Russian hospitals in unknown conditions as they are under restricted access. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi says the men were offered a US$2,700 monthly salary by Russian agents for joining the war. (BBC News) 

A Russian Antonov An-72 is destroyed in a Ukrainian airstrike on Kirovske Air Base in Kirovske Raion, Russian-occupied Crimea. (The Kyiv Independent) 

Two Rapid Support Forces drones hit the Al-Jabalain hospital in White Nile State killing 10, including seven medical staff. (Xinhua) 

2025 Drents Museum heist Dutch authorities recover the Helmet of Coțofenești and other treasures from the Dacian royal collection, which were stolen from the Drents Museum in Assen, Drenthe, in 2025. (AFP via CTV News) 

Minor damage is reported near the Kizad area in Abu Dhabi after the United Arab Emirates air defenses successfully intercepts a missile. (Khaleej Times) 

Pakistan increases fuel prices, raising petrol by 42.7 percent and diesel by 54.9 percent in response to higher global energy costs linked to the Iran war. (AFP via New Straits Times) 

Both pilots are killed when a Beechcraft Model 18 operating on a cargo flight crashes in Coron, Palawan, Philippines. (Xinhua) 

Myanmar’s military ruler, General Min Aung Hlaing, is elected President of the Republic by the Electoral College. Min secures 429 votes, against 126 for Nyo Saw and 29 for Nan Ni Ni Aye, who become first and second vice presidents, respectively. (AP) 

Cuba announces the pardon of 2,010 prisoners, with releases scheduled over the coming months based on criteria such as conduct and health. (AFP via Free Malaysia Today) 

NASA launches Artemis II from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, United States, carrying astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, for a flyby of the Moon.  (Space.com) 

The Israeli military says that the air force has completed strikes against vital targets in Iran, including military and nuclear targets. (Ynet) 

Iran fires three ballistic missiles at Qatar, with two intercepted and a third one hitting a oil tanker registered by QatarEnergy(Khaama Press) 

As confirmed by the U.S. defense department and international media, two more MQ-9 Reaper unmanned reconnaissance drones have been shot down over Iranian territory. (CBS News) 

A fuel storage at Kuwait International Airport in Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, is hit by Iranian drones, causing a major fire. (Gulf News) 

A U.S. strike on Tehran reportedly damages the former U.S. embassy, which was converted into a museum following its takeover during the Iranian Revolution. The St. Nicholas Orthodox Church is also damaged. (Iran International) (AFP via The Times of Israel) 

A Bangladeshi national is killed by shrapnel during a drone interception in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. (AFP via The Daily Star) 

Ten civilians are injured, including a girl from Bnei Brak, Israel, who is in critical condition, after a missile barrage from Iran. (The Times of Israel) 

Israeli airstrikes kill seven people, including the Hezbollah commander for Iraq, Youssef Hashem, and injure dozens more in Beirut and nearby Khalde, Lebanon. (AFP via Naharnet) 

Israeli airstrikes kill seven people, including the Hezbollah commander for Iraq, and injure dozens in Beirut and nearby Khalde, Lebanon. (AFP via Naharnet) 

The Israeli military reports a missile launched by Houthi militias is intercepted. (The Times of Israel) 

The Russian defence ministry says its forces have taken full control of Luhansk Oblast in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian military denies this claim, saying its 3rd Assault Brigade continues to hold a small number of positions near the front line(AP) 

A Russian drone strike kills four civilians in Zolotonosha, Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine. (The New Voice of Ukraine) 

Talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan are reportedly held in China in an effort to end the current conflict. (Reuters) 

Malaysia announces a remote work policy for government officials and employees of state-owned enterprises starting April 15 to reduce fuel consumption amid rising energy costs linked to the Iran war. The government also reduces subsidized fuel quotas while maintaining market-based pricing for unsubsidized fuel. (AFP via CNA) 

The Taiwanese transport ministry announces that airlines will increase fuel surcharges on international flights by 157 percent starting April 7, following a rise in global oil prices linked to the Iran war. (AFP via The Straits Times) 

Ten people are injured, including a girl from Bnei Brak, Israel, in critical condition, after a missile barrage from Iran. (The Times of Israel) 

A boat carrying Afghan migrants capsizes off the coast of Bodrum, Turkey, leaving at least 19 people dead, according to the Turkish Coast Guard. Twenty other migrants are rescued. (AP) 

Five people are killed and 21 others are injured, including one critically, when a truck crashes into and sets on fire several vehicles at a tollbooth in Cundinamarca Department, Colombia. (Blu Radio in Spanish) 

Four people are killed in a roof collapse at a coal mine in Xing County, Shanxi, China. (China Daily) 

The United States lifts sanctions on Venezeulan acting president Delcy Rodríguez(AP) 

Pakistani cricketer Naseem Shah receives a record fine of Rs. 20 million (US$71,500) for a social media post criticizing Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz, while other disciplinary cases arise in the Pakistan Super League, including a fine for Shaheen Shah Afridi and a ball-tampering charge against Fakhar Zaman. (AFP via France 24) 

Cambodia extradites the former chairperson of Huione Group to China, where law enforcement authorities accuse him of involvement in a large-scale online fraud and money laundering network linked to Huione. Investigators identify him as an associate of suspected crime leader Chen Zhi, who was previously extradited in connection with the case. (AFP via The Star) 

Iranian president Masud Pezeshkian says that Iran has the “necessary will” to end the war, provided that the “guarantees required to prevent repetition of the aggression” are met. (RFE/RL) 

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi confirms that direct contacts, although “not negotiations”, with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff are under way. (Al Jazeera) 

U.S. president Donald Trump says that U.S. forces plan to end operations in Iran within about two to three weeks while continuing military action, stating that the withdrawal is not contingent on reaching an agreement with Iran. (AFP via RFI) 

U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth says that the talks between Iran and the United States “are very real” but also states that the U.S. will “negotiate with bombs” until a ceasefire is reached. (Time) 

The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation claims that oil tanker Al Salmi has been hit by an Iranian drone at a port in Dubai, causing a fire onboard and damage to the vessel. Dubai authorities say that the fire has been contained hours after the incident. (The Guardian) 

The Israeli defense ministry halts sales of defense products to France following president Emmanuel Macron‘s decision not to allow U.S. aircraft to pass through French airspace en route to Israel. (The Jerusalem Post) 

Italy denies the United States Air Force the use of the Sigonella base in Sicily for operations related to the Iran war. (Reuters) 

Poland refuses a request by the United States to relocate its Patriot air defense systems to the Middle East for the Iran war. (Politico) 

Poland refuses a request by the United States to relocate its Patriot air defense systems to the Middle East for the war in Iran. (Politico) 

China and Pakistan releases a five-point peace plan for the Iran war following a meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers, Wang Yi and Ishaq Dar, respectively. The plan includes a ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.  (Axios) 

Israeli defense minister Israel Katz announces that Israel will destroy “all houses” near the Israel–Lebanon border. (Reuters) 

Four Israeli soldiers are killed in action while fighting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. (The Jerusalem Post) 

American freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson is kidnapped by armed men in Baghdad, Iraq. (BBC News) 

Thirty people are killed when a Russian Air Force Antonov An-26 crashes in Crimea. (Reuters) 

Dozens of people are killed and many others are injured after multiple explosions occur at a military ammunition depot in Bujumbura, Burundi, causing extensive damage to nearby residential areas. (AFP via The Standard) 

Eleven people are killed in a shophouse complex fire in Wamena, Highland Papua, Indonesia. (iNews) 

The American Automobile Association reports that the United States national average gas price has reached $4.02 a gallon, the highest since 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (AP) 

The Dow Jones Industrial Average surges over 1,000 points and the Nasdaq increases to 3.4% after Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian says that Iran has signaled it is willing to end the conflict if security guarantees and assurances are met. (Moneycheck) 

Stocks in the U.S. also rise following reports that president Donald Trump has told aides that he is willing to end the war without securing the Strait of Hormuz. (Quartz) 

The U.S. Supreme Court overturns Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy in an 8–1 decision, ruling that it infringed on the First Amendment, thereby invalidating similar bans in 22 other states.  (Colorado Public Radio) 

A court in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, nullifies a fine of more than R$16 million (US$3 million) imposed on football player Neymar in 2023 over alleged environmental violations linked to construction at his Mangaratiba property, citing procedural flaws in the investigation. (AFP via RFI) 

Senegalese president Bassirou Diomaye Faye approves a law increasing penalties for same-sex sexual acts to up to 10 years in prison and criminalizing the promotion or financing of such acts. The measure amends existing provisions in the penal code that already penalize these acts. (Reuters) 

new above Wed

NASA begins the countdown for the launch of Artemis II, set to be the first crewed mission to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, with liftoff scheduled for 1 April. (The Register) 

United States crude oil settles above US$100 per barrel for the first time in four years. (CNN) 

Brent Crude oil passes US$116 per barrel, the highest it has been since the start of the war. (UPI) 

Israeli leaders announce the “completion phase” of war and order the IDF to strike “economic” targets in Iran to damage the Iranian economy. (Times of Israel) 

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei says that Iran has not started negotiations with the Trump administration but also says that the United States have submitted a negotiation request. (The Hill) 

A missile barrage from Iran and Lebanon causes a fire at the BAZAN oil refinery in Haifa. (The Jerusalem Post) 

An Iranian attack on a power and water desalination plant in Kuwait kills an Indian worker and damages a building at the site. (Al Jazeera) 

Spain closes its airspace to U.S. aircraft involved in military action against Iran. (BBC News) 

The Syrian Army says that drone attacks have targeted several of their bases near the Iraqi border. However, the Syrian Army also says that several of the drones were shot down and did not say where the drones came from. (Reuters) 

Kosovo approves the deployment of troops to Gaza as part of an international peacekeeping force. (Reuters) 

Two Indonesian peacekeepers of the UNIFIL mission are killed in Southern Lebanon when a projectile hits their vehicle. (BBC News) 

At least 10 people are killed, 25 others are injured and more than 45,000 displaced after Somalia’s national army  took control of Baidoa, the capital city of the South West state, two weeks after the state president Abdiaziz Laftagareen said that his administration was severing ties with the federal government and opposed constitutional amendments backed by the Somali federal government. (Reuters) 

India says it has ended the Naxalite insurgency after home minister Amit Shah reported that most of the remaining Naxal fighters had been killed, arrested, or had surrendered following intensified security operations. (AFP via France 24) 

A human rights organization in Haiti claims that the death toll from the previous day’s massacre in the Artibonite department was at least 70 people, higher than official reports. (DW) 

The United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority rules that around 12 million people are entitled to financial compensation after being mis-sold motor finance agreements between 2014 and 2024. The compensation scheme will see each motorist awarded around £829, costing car finance lenders a total of £9.1bn. (BBC News) 

Five people are killed and three others are injured after a car crashes between Hopefield, South Africa and Langebaanweg in the Western Cape. (SABC News) 

Four people are killed and nine others are injured in an explosion in an under-construction tunnel in Chongqing, China. (Xinhua) 

The Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 100,000 tonnes of crude oil, arrives in Matanzas, Cuba, despite the ongoing U.S. blockade of the island. (BBC News) 

The United States resumes operations at its embassy in Caracas after a seven-year closure, aiming to restore direct diplomatic engagement with Venezuela under Delcy Rodríguez‘s de facto presidency. (AFP via Channels TV) 

The Iranian parliament security approves a series of measures to impose tolls on vessels that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. (ANI via Lokmat Times) 

The Knesset passes a bill allowing for mandatory executions of Palestinians convicted of terrorist attacks that kill Israelis. (The Guardian) 

One person is killed and eight others are injured in a school shooting in San Cristóbal, Santa Fe, Argentina. A 15-year-old suspect is taken into custody. (AFP via ABS-CBN News) 

The Bahrain Ministry of Interior says that three men have been arrested for allegedly trying to form a terrorist cell linked to Hezbollah. (VIN News) 

Myanmar military ruler Min Aung Hlaing steps down as Army chief to stand as a candidate for president in the upcoming presidential election, the first to be held since the 2021 coup. (Reuters) 

[ovlp blw]

The foreign ministers of Egypt, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, meet in Islamabad to express their “full support” for potential Iran–United States talks hosted by Pakistan. (AFP via France 24) 

United States president Donald Trump tells Financial Times that the U.S. could seize Kharg Island and “take the oil” in Iran, although “a deal could be made fairly quickly”. (Financial Times) 

For the first time ever, Israel Police block the Latin Patriarch of JerusalemPierbattista Pizzaballa, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during Palm Sunday, citing heightened risk in the Old City during the Iran war. (Vatican News) 

At least 45 people are killed and 74 others are injured after five days of severe weather across parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan. (Reuters) 

In auto racing, Mercedes-Benz’s Kimi Antonelli becomes the youngest driver to lead the World Championship at 19 years and 216 days old after winning the Japanese Grand Prix. (AFP via RFI) 

The third No Kings protests are held across the United States against the policies of president Donald Trump’s administration including the Iran war, ICE operations, and the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti(CNN) (Reuters) 

The United States Central Command announces the arrival in the Middle East of 3,500 sailors and marines aboard of USS Tripoli(Gulf Times) 

IIn throughbred racing, American racehorse Magnitude wins the 30th Dubai World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, amidst the Iran war.  (ESPN) 

Emirates Global Aluminium reports that one of its facilities in Abu Dhabi sustained significant damage and several injuries during missile and drone attacks attributed to Iran. (AFP via The Times of Israel) 

The smelter facility of Aluminium Bahrain in Askar, Southern Governorate, is targeted by Iranian attacks.(CNBC) 

Around 18 people are arrested during anti-war protests held across Israel against the Iran war, including 13 in Tel Aviv and 5 in Haifa. Protests are also held in Jerusalem and Beersheba.  (Times of Israel) 

An airstrike in Kirkuk, Iraq, hits a base of the Popular Mobilization Forces, killing one member and injuring four others. (AFP via LBCI) 

The Houthis launch a ballistic missile from their territory in Yemen towards Israel, signifying the group’s entrance in the war. The Israeli military says that the missile was successfully intercepted and no injuries were reported. (Reuters)  

Kuwait International Airport is targeted by multiple drone strikes, causing significant damage to its radar system. (Saudi Gazette) 

Qatar and Ukraine sign a defense pact that includes cooperation on countering missile and drone threats. (AFP via The News) 

03.29.2026 sunday

x

x

x

[m orig wrk]

Harvey Keitel Cop Killer 

Bahrain imposes a nighttime maritime curfew from 6:00 pm to 4:00 am to restrict sea traffic and strengthen coastal security following reported attacks attributed to Iran. (AFP via L’Orient Today) 

For the first time ever, Israeli police block the Latin Patriarch of JerusalemPierbattista Pizzaballa, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre during Palm Sunday(Vatican News) 

Seven people are injured in a vehicle ramming attack in Derby, England, United Kingdom. A man in his 30s has been arrested. (The Guardian) 

Twenty-two bodies are recovered from a vessel found adrift off the coast of Crete, Greece, according to the Greek coast guard. Twenty-six people are rescued by Frontex. Several survivors said some people were also thrown overboard into the Mediterranean Sea on the orders of a human trafficker during the journey. (Reuters) 

The United States Central Command announces the arrival in the Middle East of 3,500 sailors and marines aboard of USS Tripoli(Gulf Times) 

The smelter facility of Aluminium Bahrain in Askar, Southern Governorate, is targeted by Iranian attacks.(CNBC) 

Kuwait International Airport is targeted by multiple drone strikes, causing significant damage to its radar system. (Saudi Gazette) 

Emirates Global Aluminium reports that one of its facilities in Abu Dhabi sustained significant damage and several injuries during missile and drone attacks attributed to Iran. (AFP via The Times of Israel) 

An airstrike in Kirkuk, Iraq, hits a base of the Popular Mobilization Forces, killing one member and injuring four others. (AFP via LBCI) 

The Houthis launch a ballistic missile from their territory in Yemen towards Israel, signifying the group’s entrance in the war. The Israeli military says that the missile was successfully intercepted and no injuries were reported. (Reuters)  

Iran says it has dismantled a terrorist cell in the Golestan province and has arrested two suspects. (Awaz the Voice) 

A man is detained and another is at large after trying to ignite an improvised explosive device near a Bank of America building in Paris, France. Anti-terrorism prosecutors are investigating. (Sky News) 

Five paramedics are killed in an Israeli airstrike in Zawtar al-Gharbiyah, Lebanon. (Al Jazeera) 

Three journalists are killed and several others injured in an Israeli airstrike in Jezzine DistrictSouth Governorate, Lebanon. (KGO-TV) 

Two people are killed and twelve more are injured in a nighttime Russian drone attack on Odesa. A maternity hospital is also damaged. (BBC News) 

Three people are killed and 23 others are injured, including nine critically, in a fire at a high-rise building in XiaodianTaiyuan, Shanxi, China. (Xinhua) 

Qatar and Ukraine sign a defense pact that includes cooperation on countering missile and drone threats. (AFP via The News) 

Around 18 people are arrested during anti-war protests held across Israel against the Iran war, including 13 in Tel Aviv and 5 in Haifa. Protests are also held in Jerusalem and Beersheba. (Haaretz) (Times of Israel) 

Five police officers are killed and three others are injured in an ambush by unidentified gunmen in Shariff AguakMaguindanao del Sur, Philippines. (Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

Nepal‘s former prime minister K. P. Sharma Oli is arrested over his alleged involvement in the crackdown on the 2025 protests(BBC News) 

The third No Kings protests are held across the United States against the policies of president Donald Trump‘s administration including the Iran war, ICE operations, and the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti(CNN) (Reuters) 

Exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi urges the United States not to strike a deal or negotiate for peace with the Iranian regime and also calls for a resurgence in protests. (Reuters) 

The South West House of Representatives re-elects incumbent president Abdiaziz Laftagareen for the second time amid tensions with the Somali federal government that resulted in the military being deployed to the Lower Shabelle, Bay and Bakool regions of Somalia. (Somali Guardian) 

In throughbred racing, American racehorse Magnitude wins the 30th Dubai World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, amidst the Iran war.  (ESPN) 

Iran recruiting children as young as 12 to man Tehran checkpoints. (The Times of Israel) 

An Iranian attack on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia with at least six ballistic missiles and 29 drones injures 15 American soldiers and damages a refuelling aircraft. (Al Jazeera) 

One man is killed and several are injured by Iranian ballistic missile attacks on central and southern Israel. (The Jerusalem Post) 

Iranian ambassador to the United Nations Ali Bahreini says that Iran will facilitate and expedite humanitarian aid to cross the Strait of Hormuz. (AP) 

Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates report that they have intercepted missile and drone attacks from Iran. (AA) 

The foreign ministers of the G7 nations reach an agreement to protect passage through the Strait of Hormuz if the war ends. (Euronews) 

The Israeli Air Force strikes a uranium processing facility in Yazd, Iran. There were no casualties or radiation leaks, according to Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization(Al Jazeera) 

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North reports that a Sudanese Army airstrike on a funeral gathering in the town of Al Sunut in South Kordofan has killed seven civilians and injured 39 others. (Sudan Tribune) 

Brent crude oil surpasses US$110 per barrel after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy turned away three container ships and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed. (AFP via South China Morning Post) (UPI) 

A United States appeals court overturns a $16.1 billion judgment against Argentina related to the 2012 nationalization of oil company YPF, ruling that the shareholders’ claims are not valid under Argentine law. The decision reverses a 2023 lower court ruling that had ordered compensation to minority investors. (AFP via France 24) 

Landslides triggered by heavy rain kill at least 20 people in Mbeya Region, Tanzania. (AP) 

Seven people are killed and five others are injured in a landslide on the Zoji La in Ladakh, India. (NDTV) 

Three people are killed in a helicopter crash at Kalalau Beach on Kauaʻi, Hawaii, United States. (AP) 

Two children are killed and at least seven others are injured in a three-vehicle collision involving a dump truck, SUV and school bus on Tennessee State Route 70 in Carroll CountyTennessee, United States. (AP) 

One person is killed and four others are injured in a mass stabbing at a school in Calama, Antofagasta Region, Chile. (ABC News) 

Following his Rastriya Swatantra Party‘s landslide victory in the general election, Balendra Shah is sworn as Prime Minister of Nepal, succeeding interim prime minister Sushila Karki(Reuters) 

Russia designates filmmaker and teacher Pavel Talankin, the co-director and subject of the 2025 documentary film Mr Nobody Against Putin, as a foreign agent after authorities accuse him of spreading disinformation about the government and opposing the war in Ukraine. (AFP via RFI) 

Lawmakers from the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference protest outside the legislative assembly of Jammu and Kashmir, India, in solidarity with Iran and against the assassination of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei amidst the Iran war. Additionally, a major confrontation breaks out between INC lawmaker Irfan Hafiz Lone and BJP lawmaker Yudhvir Sethi during the protest. (Kashmir Convener) (Times of India) 

In Mongolia, the State Great Khural accepts the resignation of Prime Minister Gombojavyn Zandanshatar(AP) 

In her last performance before retiring, Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto wins the gold medal in the women’s singles event of the 2026 Figure Skating Championships(AFP via RFI) 

The End Sunday 

Friday, March 27th, 2026 

Brent crude oil surpasses US$110 per barrel after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy turned away three container ships and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed. (AFP via South China Morning Post) (UPI) 

Landslides triggered by heavy rain kill at least 20 people in Mbeya RegionTanzania(AP) 

Three people are killed in a helicopter crash at Kalalau Beach on KauaʻiHawaiiUnited States(AP) 

Following his Rastriya Swatantra Party‘s landslide victory in the general election, Balendra Shah is sworn as Prime Minister of Nepal, succeeding interim prime minister Sushila Karki(Reuters) 

Russia designates filmmaker and teacher Pavel Talankin, the co-director and subject of the 2025 documentary film Mr Nobody Against Putin, as a foreign agent after authorities accuse him of spreading disinformation about the government and opposing the war in Ukraine(AFP via RFI) 

New above 

KuwaitSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates report that they have intercepted missile and drone attacks. (AA) 

Balendra Shah, whose Rastriya Swatantra Party won a landslide majority in the 5 March general election, is sworn as Prime Minister of Nepal, succeeding interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki(Reuters) 

ovlp blw

Thursday, March 26th, 2026 

Two people are killed, including the perpetrator, in a stabbing attack at a Pokémon Center at Sunshine City in Tokyo, Japan. (CTV News) 

U.S. president Donald Trump extends his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by ten days, untill 6 April, or “face further assassinations of senior officials”. (The Guardian) 

Israel claims to have assassinated Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. (Al Jazeera) 

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff confirms that the United States has shared a 15-point peace plan to Iran through the Pakistani government. (The Pakistan Connect) (Xinhua) 

Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar confirms that indirect negotiations between Iran and the U.S. are taking place. (The Hindu) 

Nine people are injured in Israel after seven salvos of ballistic missiles by Iran. (The Times of Israel) 

Two people are killed and three others are injured by falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Hindustan Times) 

Australia announces a six-month ban on short-term visa applications from Iranian passport holders for tourism and work, citing concerns that some visitors may not depart Australia once their visas expire due to the Iran war. The new policy includes limited exemptions. (AFP via The Times of Israel) 

Ugandan military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba says the country is ready to join the war “on the side of Israel” and says the Ugandan military will enter the war soon if Iranian attacks on Israel do not end soon. (The New Arab) 

British Chief of the General Staff Roland Walker warns that the UK is now on an “inevitable collision course” with Russia and urges the government to prepare. (MSN) 

One person is killed and 11 are injured by Hezbollah rocket fire in Nahariya, Israel. (The Jerusalem Post) 

Zimbabwe confirms that 15 of its citizens have been killed after being recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine, with more than 60 others still on the front line. Information minister Soda Zhemu alleges that most of them were lured to Russia through social media. (BBC News) 

A court in Chelyabinsk Oblast bans the distribution of the documentary film Mr Nobody Against Putin in Russia. (AFP via The Guardian) 

Norway‘s Storting passes a bill temporarily cutting petrol and diesel taxes in response to surging energy costs amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis(Reuters) 

Mauritius and South Sudan announce measures restricting electricity consumption due to the international energy crisis, with Juba‘s main electricity distributor saying the capital will start experiencing daily power cuts on a “rotational basis” from today. (BBC News) 

Russia says the United Kingdom’s decision to board and detain shadow fleet vessels is hostile and vows a “political, legal and asymmetric” response against the UK to protect Russian interests. (Reuters) 

The International Olympic Committee announces that participation in women’s events will be limited to athletes classified as female based on biological criteria, with eligibility determined through a one-time genetic test starting from the 2028 Olympic Games. The policy replaces previous rules that allowed individual sports federations to set their own criteria. (AFP via ABS-CBN News) 

The End

03.26.2026 thursday [i cmp]

[i cmp]

Under the St Peter and Paul Church [nl] in Maastricht, Netherlands, the remains of French musketeer d’Artagnan are believed to be found. (BBC News) 

U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff confirms that the United States has shared a 15-point peace plan to Iran through the Pakistani government. (The Pakistan Connect) 

Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar confirms that indirect negotiations between Iran and the U.S. are taking place. (The Hindu) 

U.S. president Donald Trump extends his deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by ten days, untill 6 April, or “face further assassinations of senior officials”. (The Guardian) 

Nine people are injured in Israel after seven salvos of ballistic missiles by Iran. (The Times of Israel) 

Two people are killed and three others are injured by falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Hindustan Times) 

Ugandan military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba says the country is ready to join the war “on the side of Israel” and says the Ugandan military will enter the war soon if Iranian attacks on Israel do not end soon. (The New Arab) 

Israel claims to have assassinated Alireza Tangsiri, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy. (Al Jazeera) 

One person is killed and 11 are injured by Hezbollah rocket fire in Nahariya, Israel. (The Jerusalem Post) 

Two Israeli soldiers are killed in action in southern Lebanon. (Reuters) 

Zimbabwe confirms that 15 of its citizens have been killed after being recruited by Russia to fight in Ukraine, with more than 60 others still on the front line. Information minister Soda Zhemu alleges that most of them were lured to Russia through social media. (BBC News) 

Norway’s Storting passes a bill temporarily cutting petrol and diesel taxes in response to surging energy costs amid the Strait of Hormuz crisis. (Reuters) 

Mauritius and South Sudan announce measures restricting electricity consumption due to the international energy crisis, with Juba’s main electricity distributor saying the capital will start experiencing daily power cuts on a “rotational basis” from today. (BBC News) 

At least 14 people are killed and 27 others are injured when a private bus collides head-on with a tipper-truck in Prakasam district, Andhra Pradesh, India. (Hindustan Times) 

At least 10 people are killed and 35 others are injured when a bus collides with a truck and overturns in Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh, India. (The Hindu) 

Two people are killed, including a child, and at least 90 families are affected in flooding in Kandahar, Afghanistan. (ATN) 

Mexico’s navy launches a search and rescue operation in the Caribbean Sea for two sailboats, which departed from Isla Mujeres with nine crew members, carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba after they failed to arrive in Havana as scheduled and lost communication. (Reuters) 

A 25-year-old Spanish woman from Barcelona, Catalonia, undergoes euthanasia after her request was approved by authorities and upheld through multiple legal challenges despite opposition from her family. (CNN) 

The European Parliament approves legislation to implement the EU-US trade deal adopted in 2025. (BBC) 

Russia says the United Kingdom’s decision to board and detain shadow fleet vessels is hostile and vows a “political, legal and asymmetric” response against the UK to protect Russian interests. (Reuters) 

British Chief of the General Staff Roland Walker warns that the UK is now on an “inevitable collision course” with Russia and urges the government to prepare. (MSN) 

South Africa says it is no longer invited to the upcoming G7 summit in Haute-Savoie, France, after an initial invitation, with differing statements from its officials on the reasons for the decision. (AFP via Arab News) 

Australia announces a six-month ban on short-term visa applications from Iranian passport holders for tourism and work, citing concerns that some visitors may not depart Australia once their visas expire due to the Iran war. The new policy includes limited exemptions. (AFP via The Times of Israel) 

Belarus and North Korea sign a “friendship and cooperation” treaty after North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un welcomed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko to Pyongyang. (AFP via The Guardian) 

France and the Philippines sign a visiting forces agreement allowing joint military exercises and cooperation in each other’s territory. (Reuters) 

Tajik president Emomali Rahmon and Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev inaugurate the Tajikistan embassy in Tashkent during Rahmon’s state visit to Uzbekistan. (Kun.uz) 

The Catholic Church in Portugal agrees to compensate 57 victims of sexual abuse with a total of 1.61 million (US$1.86 million) following findings from an independent inquiry into abuse cases over several decades. (AFP via Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

Two people are killed, including the perpetrator, in a stabbing attack at a Pokémon Center at Sunshine City in Tokyo, Japan. (CTV News) 

Two days after the Danish election, Faroe Islanders vote to elect 33 members of the Løgting(Dagur.fo in Faroese) (Euractiv) 

The People’s Party, led by Beinir Johannesen, wins the highest share of votes, receiving nine seats in the Løgting. (DR in Danish) 

The Iranian sports ministry bans the men’s national football team from travelling to “hostile countries”, placing the team’s participation in this year’s FIFA World Cup tournament in doubt, which is being held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Sports minister Ahmad Donyamali previously stated that Iran will not play in this year’s World Cup. (Reuters) 

The International Olympic Committee announces that participation in women’s events will be limited to athletes classified as female based on biological criteria, with eligibility determined through a one-time genetic test starting from the 2028 Olympic Games. The policy replaces previous rules that allowed individual sports federations to set their own criteria. (AFP via ABS-CBN News) 

According to Press TV, Iran has rejected a United States proposal to end the war and sets out five conditions for a ceasefire. (bne IntelliNews) 

A ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan collapses with resumed cross-border shelling killing two people in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, while Afghan forces claim to have destroyed three Pakistani military outposts along the border. Both sides accuse each other of breaking the ceasefire first. (AP) 

British prime minister Keir Starmer authorizes the military to board Russian shadow fleet vessels used by the Russian government to evade international sanctions. (Reuters) 

Iran says it has received intelligence that the U.S. and an “unnamed regional country” are planning to invade and capture its Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf as thousands of U.S. Marines are due to arrive in the region in the coming days. (The Telegraph) 

A senior Iranian official says that Iran is still reviewing the proposal despite an initial response that was considered “negative”. (Reuters) 

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi states that Iran seeks to end the war “on its own terms” but does not plan to enter negotiations with the U.S. and will continue its current policy. (AFP via Al-Ahram) 

Egyptian foreign minister Badr Abdelatty says that Egypt is ready to host negotiations aimed at ending the Iran war. (Reuters via Al Arabiya) 

An Iranian cluster bomb wounds nine people, including six children and an elderly woman, in Bnei Brak, Israel. (The Times of Israel) 

Jordan’s air force intercepts four missiles and one drone launched from Iran. (Al Jazeera) 

A drone strikes a fuel tank at Kuwait International Airport, causing a fire at the site. (Reuters) 

Seven fighters are killed and 13 others are injured in a strike on a Popular Mobilization Forces base in Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq. The attack follows an American strike on the same base yesterday. (AFP via Al-Ahram) 

Seven security personnel are killed and 13 others are injured in a strike on a Popular Mobilization Forces base in Al Anbar Governorate, Iraq. The attack follows an American strike on the same base yesterday. (AFP via Al-Ahram) 

A stray Ukrainian drone strikes a power station in Auvere, Estonia, while another crashes in Latvia during a large-scale drone attack on Russia. (Sky News) 

A Ukrainian drone strike kills two people in Belgorod Oblast, Russia, according to Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov(Reuters) 

A jury in California, United States, rules in favor of a woman who sued Google and Meta Platforms for her addictions to websites Instagram and YouTube as a child. (CNBC) 

The United States Southern Command (Southcom) says its forces have struck a drug smuggling boat in the Caribbean Sea, killing four occupants. This brings the number of suspected narcoterrorists killed in Operation Southern Spear to 163 since U.S. strikes began. (AP) 

Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán says Hungary will gradually suspend gas supplies to Ukraine until Russian oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline resumes, citing disruptions to deliveries crossing Ukraine. (AP) 

COSCO Shipping resumes new container shipment bookings from the Far East to several Gulf countries after Iran allowed non-hostile vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since yesterday. (AFP via The Straits Times) 

India purchases a shipment of liquefied petroleum gas from Iran for the first time since 2019 following a temporary easing of U.S. sanctions, with the cargo set to be distributed among state-run fuel companies, in response to supply disruptions caused by the Strait of Hormuz crisis. (Reuters) 

The Indian enforcement directorate says that it has attached ₹1,700 crore (US$200 million) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and has seized villas in the Burj Khalifa as part of the Mahadev online betting app money laundering investigation. (The New Indian Express) 

Gold prices in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, rise after a 15-day drop amidst potential diplomacy to end the Iran war. (Gulf News) 

Kuwaiti authorities arrest six individuals suspected of links to Hezbollah over an alleged plot to carry out assassinations targeting state officials. (AFP via Arab News) 

The Sudan Doctors Network says that Rapid Support Forces have killed 16 civilians, including three women, in El Fasher, North Darfur, Sudan. (Sudan Tribune) 

The International Organization for Migration reports that 922 migrants have died or went missing along the “Eastern Route” from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula in 2025, marking the deadliest year for Red Sea migration and a significant increase from 2024. (AFP via The Daily Star) 

A Chinese court sentences former Aviation Industry Corporation chairperson Tan Ruisong to death with a two-year reprieve after convicting him of corruption-related offenses, including bribery, embezzlement, and insider trading, during his tenure as chairperson. (Reuters) 

At least 26 people are killed, including seven children, 11 others survive and around 13 are reported missing when a passenger bus carrying around 50 people plunges into the Padma River in Goalanda Upazila, Rajbari District, Dhaka, Bangladesh. (AA) 

Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko visits Pyongyang, North Korea, to meet with its supreme leader Kim Jong Un in a effort to improve relations between the two countries. (AP) 

Sarah Mullally is enthroned as the first female primate of the Church of England and Archbishop of Canterbury. (BBC News) 

The United Nations General Assembly adopts a resolution proposed by Ghana recognizing the Atlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity and calling for dialogue on reparations, despite opposition and abstentions from Western countries. (Reuters) 

Artemis program NASA states that it plans to pause the Lunar Gateway project and redirect efforts toward developing infrastructure for sustained operations on the Moon‘s surface, including a future moonbase. (AFP via The Witness) 

NASA states that it plans to pause the Lunar Gateway project and redirect efforts toward developing infrastructure for sustained operations on the Moon‘s surface, including a future moonbase. (AFP via The Witness) 

OpenAI says it will shut down its Sora app(NBC News) 

The Walt Disney Company and OpenAI’s US$1 billion investment deal to allow Disney’s intellectual properties to be used with Sora is also cancelled in midst of the shutdown. (Deadline) 

American video game company Epic Games announces that it will lay off more than 1,000 employees along with more than $500 million in savings from cuts to contracting and marketing amid a sharp decline in the number of people playing its flagship video game Fortnite(Reuters) 

BMW Brilliance recalls nearly 180,000 vehicles in China due to a defect in the air conditioning wiring that may cause a short circuit and increase the risk of fire. (AFP via The Straits Times) 

Two concerts by Colombian singer Shakira in Doha, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, scheduled to be held in April are postponed due to safety concerns amidst the Iran war. The Abu Dhabi concert has been rescheduled for November. (USA Today) 

The New York Times reports that the United States has sent Iran a 15-point plan to end the war. (CNBC) 

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says his country is ready to host United States-Iran talks to reach a comprehensive deal and end the war. (Saudi Gazette) 

Shrapnel from an Iranian ballistic missile wounds three people, including a two-month-old baby, in a Bedouin community in the Negev, Israel. (The Jerusalem Post) 

Fifteen fighters from Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), including a commander, are killed in an American airstrike on a PMF base in the Al Anbar Governorate. (AFP via BSS) 

Hezbollah rocket fire kills a woman and injures two others in northern Israel. (The Jerusalem Post) 

Israeli defense minister Israel Katz states that the military will control a “security zone” up to the Litani River in southern Lebanon until “the threat of Hezbollah” is removed, while also suggesting that Israel will remain in control of the area after the conflict is resolved. (The Times of Israel) 

Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine kill at least three people, including two in Poltava and one in Zaporizhzhia, and injures several others. The attacks also damage residential buildings and infrastructure in the areas. (AFP via BSS) 

A Russian Shahed drone strikes and severely damages the Bernardine Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Lviv, western Ukraine. (AFP via Philippine Daily Inqurier) 

The death toll from the March 20 drone strike on the Al Deain Teaching Hospital in East Darfur, Sudan rises to 70. (Reuters) 

Philippine president Bongbong Marcos declares a state of national energy emergency in response to risks to the fuel supply linked to the Iran war. (Reuters) 

A coalition of Rapid Support Forces and Sudan People’s Liberation Movement–North captures the Kurmuk in the Blue Nile region near the Ethopia border. (AFP via Arab News) 

Australia and the European Union sign a free trade agreement after eight years of negotiations. (AP) 

QatarEnergy ‌declares force majeure on some of ⁠its long-term LNG supply contracts, including ‌for customers ⁠in Italy, Belgium, South Korea ⁠and China. (Al Jazeera) 

Hezbollah rocket fire kills a woman and injures two in Northern Israel. (The Jerusalem Post) 

At least 84 people are killed in flash floods across Kenya, including in Kisumu, Uasin Gishu, and Tana River counties(The Star) 

The Lebanese foreign ministry declares the Iranian ambassador a persona non grata and gives him until March 29 to leave the country, due to Iran’s financial and military support of Shia paramilitary group Hezbollah. (Al Jazeera) 

The Lebanese foreign ministry says that the decision to expel Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani as Iranian ambassador doesn’t affect diplomatic relations between the two countries. (Arab News) 

The Iranian foreign ministry states that vessels it classifies as non-hostile may pass through the Strait of Hormuz if they comply with its safety and security requirements, while excluding vessels linked to countries it accuses of involvement in the Iran war. (AFP via Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

Two people are killed in a school shooting in Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, Mexico. A 15-year-old suspect is arrested. (Reuters) 

Danes, Faroe Islanders, and Greenlanders vote to elect 179 seats of the Folketing. Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen seeks a third term in office during the aftermath of the Greenland crisis.  (Reuters) 

Australia and the European Union sign a free trade agreement after eight years of negotiations. (AP) 

Frederiksen’s left-wing bloc wins the most seats but fails to secure a majority. (AFP via Le Monde) 

U.S. president Donald Trump says he is postponing his 48-hour ultimatum for five days before attacking the Iranian power plants as Iran and the U.S. have held “very good and productive conversations” on ending the war. Trump also claims that a “mayor points of agreement” focused on Iran’s renunciation of the nuclear weapon are being talked. Iran denies any dialogue took place. (ABC News) (States Newsroom) 

Kata’ib Hezbollah says that it will extend its pause on strikes on the United States embassy in BaghdadIraq, for five more days. (AFP via Gulf News) 

A person is killed and another is injured in a strike on a transmission site of the Persian Gulf Radio and Television Centre in southern Iran(AFP via LBCI) 

At least one person is killed in an Israeli strike on HazmiehGreater BeirutLebanon. The Israeli military states that the attack targeted a member of the Iran’s Quds Force in the area. (AFP via Al Arabiya) 

At least 15 people are killed and 23 others are injured in strikes on Lagawa DistrictWest KordofanSudan. The Rapid Support Forces attribute the attack to the Sudanese army(AFP via Business Recorder) 

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement calls for the United Nations Security Council to end the use of drones on Sudanese citizens. (Sudan Tribune) 

Brent crude futures fall 11%, trading just below US$100 a barrel for the first time in days, following the announcement by U.S. president Donald Trump about talks with Iran to end the war. (Reuters) 

Slovenia becomes first EU country to introduce fuel rationing to cope with extra demand by drivers from neighboring countries. (BBC News) 

At least 66 people are killed when a military Lockheed C-130, carrying 125 people, crashes in Puerto LeguízamoColombia(AFP via ABS-CBN News) 

At least one person is killed and several others are injured in an explosion in Kwara StateNigeria(AP) 

In its annual State of the Global Climate report, the World Meteorological Organization states that Earth’s energy imbalance and ocean heat content reached record levels in 2025, driven by rising greenhouse gas emissions(AFP via CNA) 

U.S. civic court finds entertainer Bill Cosby liable for drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 1972. The woman is awarded $59.25 million. (AP) (BBC News) 

The Federal Court of Justice of Germany dismisses a lawsuit by Environmental Action Germany to ban BMW and Mercedes Benz from selling new combustion engine vehicles after 2030. (DW) 

Puerto Rican police seize $12 million worth of cocaine found on a drug smuggling boat off the island’s northern coast. Three suspects are arrested. (AP) 

In Italy, the constitutional amendment that proposed to select members of the High Council of the Judiciary through sortition is rejected by a 46% to 54% vote. (Reuters) 

Following the February 22 elections to the National Assembly of LaosThongloun Sisoulith is reelected as President of Laos and Sonexay Siphandone as Prime Minister(Xinhua) (Xinhua) 

Kata’ib Hezbollah says that it will extend its pause on strikes on the United States embassy in BaghdadIraq, for five more days. (AFP via Gulf News) 

In American football, the Seattle Seahawks signs a four-year deal worth $168 million with wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, with at least $120 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history. (KUOW) 

A person is killed and another is injured in a strike on a transmission site of the Persian Gulf Radio and Television Centre in southern Iran(AFP via LBCI) 

Below ovlp 

Iran threatens to retaliate against the energy and water systems of the Gulf countries if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through with his 48-hours ultimatum to hit Iran’s electricity grid. (Reuters) 

One person is killed after a rocket fired from Lebanon struck a vehicle near Israel’s northern border, marking the first reported Israeli fatality from cross-border fire since hostilities with Hezbollah resumed earlier in March. (AFP via The Daily Star) 

Fifteen people are injured in central Israel in Iranian missile strikes. (Ynet Global) 

At least four Hatzalah ambulances are set ablaze and destroyed in an apparent anti-semitic arson attack in Golders Green, London, England. No casualties are reported. (The Jerusalem Post) 

Between 200 and 300 demonstrators gather in Amsterdam, Netherlands to protest against the war and the Iranian government. (NL Times) 

Bombardier CRJ900LR operating as an Air Canada Express flight from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, collides with a firetruck while landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, United States. Both pilots are killed and 41 others are injured. (ABC News) 

One person is killed and 10 others are injured, including one critically, when a natural gas explosion collapses two residential buildings in Fatih district, Istanbul, Turkey. (The Canadian Press) 

Between 200 and 300 National Council of Resistance of Iran-alligned demonstrators of the Iranian opposition gather in Amsterdam, Netherlands, to protest the war and the Iranian government. (NL Times) 

Following the March 15 elections to the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea, Kim Jong Un is reelected chairman of the State Affairs Commission (head of State) and Pak Thae Song is reappointed as Premier. (KBS) 

Slovenians vote for 90 seats in the National Assembly. A tight race is forecasted between the incumbent prime minister Robert Golob and his predecessor Janez Janša(Reuters) 

Italians begin voting on a constitutional amendment that proposes separating the careers of judges and public prosecutors by splitting the High Court of the Judiciary into two bodies, while also establishing a High Disciplinary Court to oversee disciplinary proceedings. (Reuters) 

In Germany, the SDP declines to second place in Rhineland-Palatinate for the first time since 1991. The CDU becomes the largest in seats in the Landtag, while AfD advances to third place. (Reuters) 

Cuba restores their power after the power grid collapsed the previous day. (CBS News) 

At least 230 people are rescued, ten of whom are hospitalized for hypothermia, during flooding and storms in Hawaii, United States. Around 5,500 people are evacuated ahead of a second storm. (BBC News) 

The United States Central Command says that its military has struck over 8,000 targets in Iran, including 130 Iranian Navy vessels, since the start of the war. (The Times of Israel) 

Israeli and U.S. jets strike the Natanz Nuclear Facility, according to the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran(Al Jazeera) 

At least 88 people are injured, including seven seriously, and nine buildings are damaged in an Iranian ballistic missile attack in Arad, Israel. A mass casualty incident is declared. (Channel 12) 

At least 78 people are injured, including a 10-year-old, in Dimona, Israel, by Iranian ballistic missile attacks. (The Times of Israel) 

U.S. president Donald Trump issues an ultimatum to Iran to fully open the Strait of Hormuz within the next 48 hours or the U.S. military will “obliterate” their energy infrastructure, including all Iranian power stations. (BBC News) 

A group of 22 countries in a joint statement calls on Iran to cease attacks and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. (The Shillong Times) 

Axios reports that the U.S. has reportedly begun initial discussions on the next phase and what peace talks with Iran might look like. (Anadolu Agency) 

Iran fires two intermediate-range ballistic missiles at the Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean. However, neither missile hits the base, with one of the missiles failing in-flight, and the other having been intercepted by a United States warship using a SM-3 interceptor(The Wall Street Journal) 

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq claims responsibility for targeting 27 American military bases in Iraq and across the region over the past 24 hours. One police officer is killed in a drone strike on the headquarters of the Iraqi National Intelligence Service in Baghdad.  (Al Jazeera) 

Russia launches attacks in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, against energy infrastructure, causing smoke contamination. (RBC-Ukraine) 

Two people are killed and six others, including two children, are wounded in a Russian drone attack in Zaporizhzhia. (AP) 

Two people are killed and another is injured in an Ukrainian artillery strike in Belgorod Oblast, Russia. (AP) 

Cuba reports a nationwide power outage following a total electrical grid collapse, the third major blackout to occur on the island this month. (BNO News) (AP) 

Seven people are killed when a Qatar Emiri Air Force helicopter crashes after a techincal malfunction during a routine mission over Qatar’s territorial waters. (Reuters) (ASN) 

Two skiers are killed and 25 others are trapped, including five injured, in an avalanche near Ratschings in South Tyrol, Italy. (CTV News) 

Two people are killed in an explosion when a tipper truck and a tank truck collide outside of a gas station on the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Ajah, Lagos State, Nigeria. Several surrounding buildings were destroyed in the initial blast and the ensuing fire. (The Punch) 

The Iranian parliament says that it is preparing to pass a law that would impose fees on ships for “safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz. (Middle East Monitor) 

A anti-war protest organized by the Stop the War Coalition is held in London, United Kingdom against the Israel and U.S. strikes against Iran. (Richmond and Twickenham Times) 

Large scale protests occurs in Berlin, Germany against the war. Demonstrators call for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve conflicts. (Bastille Post) 

Anti-war protests and diaspora protests against the Iranian regime are held at the Colonial Building in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. (CBC) 

U.S. president Donald Trump says that the United States is considering “winding down” military operations in Iran as they “are getting very close to meeting [their] objectives” and urges the countries that “use” Hormuz to safeguard the Strait. (The Guardian) 

U.S. treasury secretary Scott Bessent announces that the U.S. will temporarily lift sanctions on Iranian oil at sea in an effort to ease energy supply pressures. The temporary relief will last for 30 days until April 19. (The Guardian) 

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi says that Iran is ready to help the passage of vessels from Japan in the Strait of Hormuz. (Kyodo News) 

The Iranian army launches strikes against strategic aerial refueling aircraft stationed at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. (Shafaq) 

Iran confirms the death of IRGC spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naini in an Israeli airstrike in Tehran. (Al Jazeera) 

A second Marine Expeditionary Unit of 2,200 U.S. Marines is being sent to the region. (CBS) 

British prime minister Keir Starmer allows the United States to use British bases to strike Iranian targets near the strait to lift the blockade. (BBC News) 

United States Air Force general Alexus Grynkewich announces that NATO has withdrawn troops from Iraq and will relocate from the Middle East to Europe amidst the Iran war. (Reuters) 

Belgium says that it will consider participating in securing the Strait of Hormuz if a ceasefire is in place and if the operation is conducted within a clear international framework. (Anadolu Agency) 

Ceasefire mediators in Cairo, Egypt, give Hamas and all armed groups in the Gaza Strip 90 days to hand over their weapons in the coming months, including their missiles and rocket launchers along with their tunnel network. (Times of Israel) 

Israeli forces strike Syrian military sites, including command and control centres and supply depots, in the country’s south, claiming to respond to alleged Syrian government attacks on the local Druze population(BBC News) 

Polish defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announces the withdrawal of his forces from Iraq, stationed there as part of the CJTF–OIR joint task force against the Islamic State, citing the regional threat from Iran. (Devdiscourse) 

Government forces arrest three men suspected of participating in the February attacks and mass abductions in two villages in Kaiama, Kwara State, Nigeria. The suspects are cooperating with authorities to locate the kidnapping victims. (The Punch) 

At least 64 people are killed, including staff, patients and children, in a strike on a hospital in East Darfur, Sudan. (Reuters) 

Fourteen people are killed and 60 more are injured in a fire at a car parts plant in Daejeon, South Korea. (AFP and Reuters via The Straits Times) 

A drone strike from the Rapid Support Forces targets Al Dabbah, Sudan, including a local power station, causing a power outage in the area and injuring three people. (Sudan Tribune) 

The U.S. energy department says it has awarded contracts to loan a first batch of 45.2 million barrels of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve(The Business Times) 

Philippine Airlines announces it will halt flights to the Middle East until April 30 due to safety concerns regarding the Iran war. (Manila Standard) 

A United States jury in a civil trial finds that X (formerly Twitter) chairperson Elon Musk misled investors in two tweets, but absolves him of some fraud allegations. (DW) (Los Angeles Times) 

The United States says it will not allow Cuba to receive any shipments of fuel oil from Russia as two Russian tankers are en route to Havana to deliver around 190,000 barrels of oil amid a critical shortage on the island. (CNBC) 

Politico reports that the United States rejected an offer by Russia to stop providing intelligence to Iran in return for the U.S. ending intelligence sharing with Ukraine. (Politico) 

American actor Kevin Spacey settles out of court with three men at the High Court of Justice in London, England, who accused Spacey of sexually assaulting them between 2000 and 2013. (AP) 

Two anarchist militants are killed after the accidental explosion of a bomb they were fabricating at a casalis in Rome, Italy. (Fanpage in Italian) 

American actor Kevin Spacey settles out of court with three men at the High Court of Justice in London, England, who accused Spacey of sexually assaulting them between 2000 and 2013. (AP) 

A U.S. Air Force F-35 fighter jet is hit in Iranian airspace forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing at a regional U.S. airbase. (The Independent) 

Iran executes three men arrested during protests last January by hanging. (Reuters) 

Iranian Shahed drones strike two oil refineries in Kuwait and cause large fires, according to the Kuwait National Petroleum Company. (The Telegraph) 

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) reports its forces have destroyed a factory in Karaj, Iran, which assembled surface-to-surface missiles for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. (BBC News) 

The Rafah Border Crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip reopens for limited movement, allowing a restricted number of Palestinian patients to enter Egypt for medical treatment and some people to return to Gaza under coordinated security procedures, following its closure as a security measure amid the 2026 Iran war. (AFP via Philippine Daily Inquirer) 

A raid kills eleven members of the Sinaloa Cartel in Sinaloa, Mexico, with a senior cartel leader being captured along with many weapons. (Reuters) 

Germany drops out of defending Israel in South Africa’s International Court of Justice genocide case against Israel, citing their need to defend themselves in a separate case launched against them by Nicaragua. (Haaretz) 

An Iranian man and a woman whose nationality is unknown are arrested by Police Scotland for attempting to enter Royal Navy base HMNB Clyde.  (BBC News)