In a notice to seafarers, the U.S. Central Command announces that a blockade is now in effect, with all unauthorized vessels in the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea east of the Strait of Hormuz subject to interdiction. (Al Jazeera)
Three ships successfully cross the Strait of Hormuz since the blockade was announced including Marshall Islands-flagged vessel New Future, Vietnam-flagged NV Sunshine, and Panama-flagged tanker Auroura, which was recently sanctioned by the United States for its links to Iranian oil trading. (Bloomberg)(Caspian Post)
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says that the ceasefire is still in force and efforts are still underway to end the war despite the recent talks ending without an agreement. (Arab News PK)
Spanish airline Iberia announces the suspension of flights to Cuba from June to late October due to fuel supply constraints and reduced passenger demand linked to the U.S.-imposed oil blockade of the country. The airline states that it plans to resume operations in November if conditions improve. (AFP via The Economic Times)
The initial three rounds of ceasefire talks between Iran and the United States conclude in Islamabad, Pakistan, after 14 hours. However, the Iranian government says that negotiations will continue. (AA)(Reuters)
U.S. vice president JD Vance, who led the American delegation in the ceasefire talks, says that the two sides have not reached a deal to end the war, with disagreement over nuclear weapon development, and that the U.S. made its “final and best offer” and stated “We’ll see if the Iranians accept it”. (Al Jazeera)(NBC News)
Pakistani deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar urges Iran and the U.S. to uphold their commitment to observe a ceasefire after Vance said that both sides didn’t reach an agreement. Dar also says that Pakistan will continue to play its role in facilitating engagement and dialogue between both sides. (Arab News PK)
U.S. president Donald Trump announces a U.S. naval blockade of Iran and the strait “effective immediately,” which will “seek and interdict” any vessel that paid Iran’s toll to cross the strait. (Axios)
Azerbaijan‘s embassy in Tehran resumes its operations during the ceasefire, initially with a limited staff. (AA)
The Saudi foreign ministry summons the ambassador of Iraq over “continued attacks and threats” against it and other Gulf Arab states from Iraqi territory. (AA)
Hungarians vote to elect all 199 members of the National Assembly. The incumbent prime minister, Viktor Orbán, who was seeking a fifth consecutive term in office, concedes defeat and calls TISZA leader Péter Magyar on the telephone to congratulate him on his victory. The Pro-EuropeanTisza Party wins two-thirds of the seats in Hungary’s legislature. The turnout is the highest since the fall of communism, at 77.8%. (BBC)(The Guardian)
Peruvians vote to elect 130 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 60 members of a newly created senate, while also determining the top two presidential candidates that will advance to a run-off election. (AP)
Peruvian police and prosecutors conduct searches at the electoral authority‘s headquarters and a private company as part of an investigation into delays in delivering voting materials that prevent more than 60,000 people from voting. Officials attribute the issue to logistical failures affecting multiple polling stations in Lima. The electoral authority later announces that some polling stations will reopen. (AFP via Free Malaysia Today)(AFP via NAMPA)
The first round of talks end without a peace deal, but is expected to continue into Sunday night. (CNBC)
The delegations of the Iran and the United States arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan, for ceasefire talks, the highest-level engagement between the two countries since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, with the Iranian delegation led by parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and the U.S. delegation led by vice president JD Vance. (Arab News PK)
India-flagged LPGgas tankerJag Vikram crosses the Strait of Hormuz, becoming the first Indian vessel to cross the Hormuz since the ceasefire. It is expected to arrive in Mumbai on April 15. (Hindustan Times)
At least ten people, including three emergency workers, are killed by Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
At least 200 people are feared dead after a Nigerian Air Force airstrike accidentally hits a market instead of Boko Haram militants in Yobe State, Nigeria. (Reuters)
A speeding truck crashes into at least 22 vehicles and a village gym in Davao City, Philippines, killing 6 people and injuring 6 others. (Brigada News)
Pakistan announces that Qatar and Saudi Arabia will provide US$5 billion in financial assistance to support the country’s foreign exchange reserves and enable it to repay $3.5 billion of debt to the United Arab Emirates by the end of April. (AA)
Amidst the Islamabad ceasefire talks, Iranian diaspora protesters gather in Bangkok, Thailand to reaffirm their calls for regime change. (Thai Examiner)Anti-war and anti-government protests against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu occur across Israel, including 2,000 protesters at Habima Square in Tel Aviv that exceeded court-ordered limits. Protests also occur in Jerusalem and Haifa. (Times of Israel)
Preliminary results released after yesterday’s presidential election reveal that incumbent president Ismaïl Omar Guelleh has won a sixth term in office with 97.81% of the vote, beating CDU candidate Mohamed Farah Samatar, who took 2.19% of the vote. (AP)(France 24)
Hezbollah says that its fighters are engaged in “point-blank clashes” with Israeli troops in Bint Jbeil, Lebanon. (Al Arabiya)
After pressure from the United States, Israel agrees to hold direct talks with Lebanon in Washington, D.C., but refuses to observe the Iran war ceasefire in Lebanon. (Axios)
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company CEO Sultan Al Jaber says that the strait is still not open because Iran is restricting and controlling traffic. (CNBC)
Gabon-flagged oil tanker MSG crosses the Strait of Hormuz according to MarineTraffic, making it the first non-Iranian oil tanker to cross the waterway since the ceasefire was announced. (Gulf Today)
Hezbollah launches rockets at the Israeli kibbutz of Manara in response to Israeli and American violations of the ceasefire linked to the Iran war. (AFP via ABS-CBN News)
At least seven people are killed by a wave of Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling across Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
The Bahraini military intercepts seven drones from Iran. (AA)
Lebanese authorities update the losses from the previous day’s attacks to 303 killed and 1,150 injured. (AA)
The United Kingdom says Russia has launched a sabotage operation on its navy and critical infrastructure, including pipelines. (BBC News)
In an emergency conference, British defence secretary John Healey says Russian Navy submarines have launched military action against the UK in the North Sea and says counter-measures are underway. (BBC News)
The Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Western Wall, and other holy sites in the Old City of Jerusalem reopen for the first time since the war with Iran started on February 28 after being closed by authorities due to security concerns. (Israel National News)
Gulf Air, the flag carrier of Bahrain, announces a plan to return its operations hub to Bahrain International Airport after having relocated to King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, during the Iran war. (Aerospace Global News)
The OECD reports that official development assistance from its member states declined by 23.1 percent in real terms to US$174.3 billion, marking the largest recorded annual decrease, with the reduction largely driven by cuts from the United States. (AFP via Indo Premier)
British prime minister Keir Starmer visits Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates during a trip to several Gulf Arab states to discuss the regional situation. (Belfast Telegraph)(Daily Record)
Indian oil and gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri visits Qatar to discuss the prioritization of energy exports, as the country is India’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas. (Reuters)
The “Onward and Upward” mission from Andøya Space port on Andøya, Norway, operated by Isar Aerospace, was postponed once more on the 9 April the first time earlier this year on March 25, 2026. The abortion was due to a possible leak, it is unknown when the rocket will be launched. (isaraerospace.com)
The Korean Central News Agency reports that North Korea has tested various military technologies throughout the week, including a surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missile identified as Hwasongpho-11 Ka. (Yonhap News Agency)
The SNSC announces that negotiations between Iran and the U.S. will start on Friday in Islamabad, Pakistan, with the U.S. contingent to be led by vice president JD Vance alongside senior presidential adviser Jared Kushner and special envoy Steve Witkoff. (Axios)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. president Donald Trump both claim that the ceasefire does not include Lebanon, despite contrary statements from both Iran and Pakistan on their versions of the ceasefire agreement. (Al Jazeera)
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt states that Netanyahu and Trump will continue discussions on potentially including Lebanon in a ceasefire arrangement. (AFP via Aaj News)
After the announcement, an Israeli military spokesperson states that Israel is still launching attacks on Iran. (CNN)
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian says the ceasefire with Israel and the U.S. has been violated as a result of the bombings of Iranian islands and Lebanon. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf later echoes the remarks, citing the attacks as well as the “denial of Iran to enrich uranium.” (CNBC)(Forbes)(G1)
After the announcement of a ceasefire and Israeli violations of the terms, Iran launches ballistic missiles at Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. (CNBC News)
Iranian agencies report explosions from the Lavan and Sirri islands of unknown origin. Iran accuses Kuwait and the UAE of the attacks and launches retaliatory attacks against those countries in response. (Ynet)(Wanaen)
MarineTraffic reports the first ships that have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since the ceasefire announcement, namely the Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth and Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach. (CNBC)
Iran closes Strait of Hormuz maritime traffic to oil tankers over Israeli attacks in Lebanon, claiming that Lebanon is included in the ceasefire. (G1)
Iranian agencies report explosions from the Lavan and Sirri islands of unknown origin. Iran accuses Kuwait and the UAE of the attacks and launches retaliatory attacks against those countries in response. (Ynet)(Wanaen)
Kuwait‘s Interior Ministry reports fires at several oil facilities, power plants, and desalination plants after an Iranian drone attack. (Middle East Eye)
The Israeli military says that it has halted strikes against Iran, but state that they will continue fighting Hezbollah in Lebanon. (The Times of Israel)
The Lebanese army closes a bridge in the Tyre District after receiving a warning of a possible Israeli strike on the structure. The bridge is the last crossing linking areas north and south of the Litani River in the area, where many residents remain despite evacuation notices. (AFP via The Times of Israel)
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning says that Afghanistan and Pakistan has agreed on a comprehensive plan to end tensions after seven days of talks in Ürümqi, China. The two countries also agree to avoid any escalations in their current conflict. (AFP via The Straits Times)(Reuters)
U.S. president Donald Trump threatens to impose 50% tariffs on countries that supply military weapons to Iran. (CNBC)
Danish shipping company Maersk says that they will take a “cautious approach” for vessels to cross the Strait of Hormuz despite the ceasefire and says that they have not provided security certainty as to when normal operations would resume. (Reuters)
German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd says that it still does not plan to resume transiting the Strait of Hormuz despite the two-week ceasefire. They also say that it would need 6–8 weeks for recovery and for normal operations to resume. (Insider Paper)(Reuters)
Belarus plans to open an embassy in North Korea by August 1 after president Alexander Lukashenko visited the country in March following a decree signed by prime minister Alexander Turchin. (Caliber.az)
Turkish police arrest 198 suspects across 34 provinces in operations targeting the Islamic State following a fatal shootout outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul on April 7. Several suspects are placed in pre-trial detention as part of the investigation. (AFP via Yahoo News)
Rex Heuermann admits in court to killing eight women and discarding their bodies between 1993 and 2010 in New York, United States. Heuermann is expected to receive a sentence of life in prison without parole when he is sentenced on June 17. (AFP via RTHK)(NBC News)
A U.S. court sentences Jasveen Sangha to 15 years in prison for distributing ketamine that resulted in the death of actor Matthew Perry in 2023, as part of a wider investigation into a network supplying controlled substances. Authorities also charge and sentence other individuals, including medical professionals, in connection with the distribution of the drug. (AFP via France 24)
Anti-war protesters gather outside the U.S. embassy in Ottawa, Canada, to protest against the Iran war, the war in Lebanon, and the Gaza Genocide. (CTV News)
The End Thursday
Wednesday, April 8th, 2026
Tuesday, April 7th, 2026
United States president Donald Trump announces on his Truth Social that, based on conversations with Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and field marshalAsim Munir, he has agreed to “suspend the bombing and attacks on Iran for a period of two weeks”, subject to Iran agreeing to the “complete, immediate and safe opening” of the Strait of Hormuz, and to allow time for an agreement to be reached. (AFP via ABS-CBN News)(Axios)
The New York Times reports that Iran has ended direct contact with the U.S. in response to Trump’s latest threat to “end its civilization”. However, Tehran Times denies the reports by stating on X that “diplomatic and indirect channels of talks with [the] U.S. are not closed”. (AA)(Bloomberg)(Iran International)
Vance says that the war in Iran will conclude “very shortly”, claiming that the U.S. military has achieved all objectives. (Middle East Monitor)
The U.S. embassy in Riyadh is officially advising its citizens to reconsider participating in this year’s Hajj. The U.S. has raised its travel advisory for Saudi Arabia to Level 3 and is warning of security risks such as rocket and drone attacks. (TRT World)
One gunman is killed, while two other perpetrators and two policemen are injured in a shootout outside of the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. The two injured perpetrators have been captured and detained by police. (Al Jazeera)
The death toll from a large fire at a petrochemical plant in Tatarstan, Russia, five days ago, rises to 12, including a firefighter. Dozens of others were injured. (Reuters)
Human chain protests are held across bridge and power plant structures in Iran to protest against Trump’s threats against civilian infrastructure. (The Telegraph)
Citizens in Ilam, Iran, form a human chain protest against Trump’s threats against key infrastructure in the country. (Away The Voice)
The New York Times reports that Iran has ended direct contact with the United States in response to Trump’s latest threat to “end its civilization”. However, Iranian newspaper Tehran Times pushes back on the reports by stating on X that “diplomatic and indirect channels of talks with US are not closed”. (AA)(Bloomberg)(Iran International)
Iran has threatened to launch massive retaliatory strikes against the energy infrastructure of Saudi Arabia and the UAE — particularly Aramco facilities and strategic pipelines — in the event of a U.S. attack on its power plants. In doing so, Tehran is directly expanding its list of targets to include Washington’s key allies in the region. (MarketScreener)
The Iranian Fars News Agency has published a list of strategic bridges in the Gulf region as potential targets for retaliation, prompting Saudi Arabia to close the King Fahd Causeway to Bahrain for several hours as a precautionary measure. (Al Jazeera)
The International Organization for Migration reports that at least 990 deaths have been recorded in 2026 across the Mediterranean Sea, making it one of the deadliest starts to a year since 2014, with over 180 people feared dead or missing in the latest shipwrecks since 28 March. (IOM)
ICE agents shot a murder suspect in Patterson, California, after he attempted to ram officers with his vehicle. The suspect, a suspected gang member from El Salvador, was taken to a hospital with injuries. (NBC Bay Area)(abc30)
Human chain protests are held across bridge and power plant structures in Iran to protest against Trump’s threats against civilian infrastructure. (The Telegraph UK)
Citizens in Ilam, Ilam province, Iran form a human chain protest against Trump’s threats against key infrastructure in the country. (Away The Voice)
Iran delivers its response to the United States via Pakistan, rejecting a temporary ceasefire and listing its own 10-point demands, which include a solution to all regional conflicts, lifting of sanctions, reconstruction, and a protocol to re-open the Strait of Hormuz. (Al Jazeera)(Moneycontrol)
Four people are killed, seven are injured and others are reported missing in a Israeli–U.S. airstrike on a residential area in eastern Tehran, Iran. (Al Jazeera)
NASA‘s Artemis IIspacecraft carrying four astronauts breaks the record for furthest distance humans have ever travelled from Earth surpassing the previous 248,655 miles (400,171 kilometers) record set by Apollo 13 in April 1970. (AP)
Debris from a missile defense system fell on a Raneen Systems building in Mussafah, injuring a Ghanaian citizen. (The Times of Israel)
An Iranian missile strike hits 15 areas early this morning. A woman is seriously injured in Petah Tikva, while two other people are injured in Tel Aviv. In Haifa, four people are also slightly injured by a cluster bomb. (Ynet)(The Times of Israel)
At least 13 people are killed in an airstrike on a residential building near Eslamshahr in Tehran Province, Iran. (WBAL-TV)
Four people are killed, seven are injured and others are reported missing in a United States-Israeli airstrike on a residential area in eastern Tehran, Iran. (Al Jazeera)
Nighttime attacks on Bandar Lengeh and Kong, Iran killed six people and injured 17 others. (AP News)
Reports indicate that explosions and attacks occurred early this morning at a military compound in northern Iran and in Khorramshahr. (Iran International)
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says that the Japanese government is planning to hold summit talks with Iran amidst ongoing tensions in the Middle East. (Mainichi)
Sunday, April 5th, 2026 Easter
After heavy fighting, the weapon systems officer from the downed F-15E is successfully recovered by U.S. special forces. (Al Jazeera)
Two American C-130 transport aircraft and 4 MH-6 Little Bird helicopters are destroyed at a temporary U.S. base in Iran by withdrawing U.S. troops to prevent them from being captured by Iranian forces. (Türkiye Today)
Iranian media claims an American Lockheed C-130 Hercules was shot down in Isfahan, Iran, while on a search and rescue operation for a missing U.S. airman. (Al Jazeera)
Axios reports that the U.S., Iran, and a group of regional mediators are discussing a terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war. (Axios)
An Iranian missile strike hits a residential building in Haifa, Israel, killing two people, injuring nine others, including one seriously, and leaving two others missing. (Ynet)
The United Arab Emirates declares its willingness to join a U.S.-led international coalition to secure and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran. (News18)
Ocean Thunder, an oil tanker carrying Iraqi petroleum, crosses the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian military command spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari has allowed vessels from Iraq to use the waterway. (Iraqi News)
Planet Labs suspends public release of satellite imagery of Iran and surrounding conflict areas at the request of the U.S. government, shifting to restricted, case-by-case distribution for selected uses. The policy applies retroactively to images from March 9 and follows earlier delays imposed to limit potential military use of commercial imagery. (Reuters)
OPEC+ agrees to increase oil production quotas by 206,000 barrels per day for a second consecutive month amid concerns over damage to energy infrastructure and disruptions to maritime routes affecting global supply stability. (AFP via France 24)
The state-owned energy company Bapco Energies reports an Iranian drone attack on one of its storage facilities. An oil tank caught fire as a result. (The Jerusalem Post)
Jordan’s military intercepts two missiles and two drones from Iran. (Al Jazeera)
An Iranian drone strikes the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation building, which also houses the Ministry of Oil. The impact triggers a fire, prompting the evacuation of the entire complex. (The Jerusalem Post)
An office complex housing government ministries in Kuwait City is struck by a drone, causing significant property damage. (The Quint)
Two power plants and their associated desalination facilities are severely damaged. The electricity and water ministry confirms the failure of two power generation units. (The Quint)
Israeli military chief of staff Eyal Zamir says that all parts of Lebanon south of the Litani River have been turned into an “operational zone” against Hezbollah. (Al Jazeera)
Hezbollah claims its fighters struck an Israeli military vessel off the coast of Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
Five people are killed in an Israeli airstrike on Kfar Hatta, South Governorate, Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
At least four people are killed and forty are injured by Israeli airstrikes on Beirut, Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
Iran executes two men convicted of attempting to storm a military facility and access armory during the 2025–2026 Iranian protests in January. (Reuters)
Two people are killed when a cargo ship sinks after being struck by a Ukrainian drone strike in the Sea of Azov near Kerch, Crimea. (TASS)
A Lebanese soldier is killed by an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. (Reuters)
A Palestinian is killed and others are injured, including some seriously, in a drone strike on civilians in Gaza City, Palestine. (Wafa)
Debris from a missile defense system fell on a Raneen Systems building in Mussafah, injuring a Ghanaian citizen. (The Times of Israel)
An Iranian missile strike hits 15 areas early this morning. A woman is seriously injured in Petah Tikva, while two other people are injured in Tel Aviv. In Haifa, four people are also slightly injured by a cluster bomb. (Ynet)(The Times of Israel)
At least 13 people are killed in an airstrike on a residential building near Eslamshahr in Tehran Province, Iran. (WBAL-TV)
Four people are killed, seven are injured and others are reported missing in a United States-Israeli airstrike on a residential area in eastern Tehran, Iran. (Al Jazeera)
Nighttime attacks on Bandar Lengeh and Kong, Iran killed six people and injured 17 others. (AP News)
Reports indicate that explosions and attacks occurred early this morning at a military compound in northern Iran and in Khorramshahr. (Iran International)
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi says that the Japanese government is planning to hold summit talks with Iran amidst ongoing tensions in the Middle East. (Mainichi)
Sunday, April 5th, 2026 Easter
After heavy fighting, the weapon systems officer from the downed F-15E is successfully recovered by U.S. special forces. (Al Jazeera)
Two American C-130 transport aircraft and 4 MH-6 Little Bird helicopters are destroyed at a temporary U.S. base in Iran by withdrawing U.S. troops to prevent them from being captured by Iranian forces. (Türkiye Today)
Iranian media claims an American Lockheed C-130 Hercules was shot down in Isfahan, Iran, while on a search and rescue operation for a missing U.S. airman. (Al Jazeera)
Axios reports that the U.S., Iran, and a group of regional mediators are discussing a terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war. (Axios)
An Iranian missile strike hits a residential building in Haifa, Israel, killing two people, injuring nine others, including one seriously, and leaving two others missing. (Ynet)
The United Arab Emirates declares its willingness to join a U.S.-led international coalition to secure and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran. (News18)
Ocean Thunder, an oil tanker carrying Iraqi petroleum, crosses the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian military command spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari has allowed vessels from Iraq to use the waterway. (Iraqi News)
Planet Labs suspends public release of satellite imagery of Iran and surrounding conflict areas at the request of the U.S. government, shifting to restricted, case-by-case distribution for selected uses. The policy applies retroactively to images from March 9 and follows earlier delays imposed to limit potential military use of commercial imagery. (Reuters)
OPEC+ agrees to increase oil production quotas by 206,000 barrels per day for a second consecutive month amid concerns over damage to energy infrastructure and disruptions to maritime routes affecting global supply stability. (AFP via France 24)
The state-owned energy company Bapco Energies reports an Iranian drone attack on one of its storage facilities. An oil tank caught fire as a result. (The Jerusalem Post)
Jordan’s military intercepts two missiles and two drones from Iran. (Al Jazeera)
An Iranian drone strikes the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation building, which also houses the Ministry of Oil. The impact triggers a fire, prompting the evacuation of the entire complex. (The Jerusalem Post)
An office complex housing government ministries in Kuwait City is struck by a drone, causing significant property damage. (The Quint)
Two power plants and their associated desalination facilities are severely damaged. The electricity and water ministry confirms the failure of two power generation units. (The Quint)
Three people are killed, including two children, and another is seriously injured after high winds cause a tree to fall onto an Easter egg hunt near Satrupholm in Mittelangeln, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. (CTV News)
Israeli military chief of staff Eyal Zamir says that all parts of Lebanon south of the Litani River have been turned into an “operational zone” against Hezbollah. (Al Jazeera)
Hezbollah claims its fighters struck an Israeli military vessel off the coast of Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
Five people are killed in an Israeli airstrike on Kfar Hatta, South Governorate, Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
At least four people are killed and forty are injured by Israeli airstrikes on Beirut, Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
Iran executes two men convicted of attempting to storm a military facility and access armory during the 2025–2026 Iranian protests in January. (Reuters)
On Palestinian Child’s Day, human rights organizations report that approximately 350 Palestinian children are currently being held in Israeli prisons, citing a systematic deterioration in detention conditions and allegations of torture. (WAFA)
Two people are killed when a cargo ship sinks after being struck by a Ukrainian drone strike in the Sea of Azov near Kerch, Crimea. (TASS)
A Lebanese soldier is killed by an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon. (Reuters)
A Palestinian is killed and others are injured, including some seriously, in a drone strike on civilians in Gaza City, Palestine. (Wafa)
Nigerian security forces rescue 31 worshippers abducted during Easter services in a village in the Kaduna State, after an attack on churches by armed assailants. The incident results in at least five deaths. (AFP via The Manila Times)
Bangladesh launches an emergency MMR vaccine campaign after new health data shows that at least 130 children have been reported dead from measles in the last six weeks. (AA)
Nepal announces that government and educational institutions will have two days off work during the week instead of one, as part of an effort to save fuel. (Al Jazeera)
In college basketball, the UCLA Bruins defeat the South Carolina Gamecocks 79-51 to win the 2026 NCAA Division I women’s basketball championship game. (NBC 4 Los Angeles)
Saturday, April 4th, 2026
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces that the State Department has revoked the green cards of the niece and grandniece of deceased IRGC Quds Force general Qasem Soleimani following their arrest by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (NBC News)
The Jordanian military says that 261 missiles and drones from Iran aimed at Jordan have been intercepted over the past five weeks. (Jordan News)
Kuwait intercepts eight missiles and 19 drones. (Al Jazeera)
Iran’s military command rejects an ultimatum from U.S. president Donald Trump to re-open the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours or face more attacks on its critical infrastructure. (Al Jazeera)
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi rejects reports that Iran has declined to meet American officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, amidst stalled ceasefire efforts. He also reaffirms that Iran remains open for peace talks to end the war. (Arab News Pakistan)(CNN-News18)
Five people are killed and 170 others are injured in an Israeli missile strike on a petrochemical complex in Bandar-e Mahshahr, Khuzestan province, Iran. (BBC News)
The Israeli military says on Telegram that it has started striking Hezbollah infrastructure in Beirut after destroying a bridge in eastern Lebanon to prevent them from crossing. (AFP via The Times of Israel)
Israeli airstrikes in Habboûch and al-Hawsh, southern Lebanon, kill at least two girls and injure 40 people, while an Israeli soldier is also killed in action. (AFP via Vanguard)
The Israeli High Court of Justice orders police to allow anti-war protests in Israel. (The Times of Israel)
Police clash with anti-war protesters at the Habima Square in Tel Aviv, defying the recent high court order. This comes after protesters defy a previous order by the Israeli military to limit gatherings to 150 people. (The Times of Israel)
Protests break out across provinces in Iraq to demand an end to the aggression and end to the war following calls for protests by Shiite National Movement leader Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr. (SABA)
Eleven people are injured in an airstrike carried out by Israel in Tyre, southern Lebanon. (AA)
Around 20 boats from Marseille, Provence, France, set sail with international flotilla in a effort to break the current blockade on the Gaza Strip. (Palestine Chronicle)
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Ukraine is willing to hold the next round of peace talks with Russia and the United States. (RBC-Ukraine)
Five people are killed and 19 others are injured in a Russian drone strike on a market in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine. (Reuters)
The Somali intelligence and security agency says that security forces have killed nine al-Shabaab militants in Lower Shabelle, Somalia. (Garowe Online)
Five people are killed in a fire at a gas lighter factory in Keraniganj Upazila, Dhaka District, Bangladesh. (TRT World)
At least four people are killed and 18 others are injured, including two children, when a passenger vehicle plunges off a road near Sojha in Himachal Pradesh, India. (Reuters)
Two demonstrators are arrested outside the RAF Lakenheath station near the village of Lakenheath in Suffolk, England, United Kingdom. The protest comes after media reports that a U.S. F-15E fighter jet that was shot down took off from the base. (Irish News)
Three people are killed and at least 10 others are reportedly trapped after a four-story hotel collapses in Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh, India. (India Today)
The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority reports 77 deaths and 137 injuries in flooding, landslides and lightning caused by severe weather in the country over the past 10 days. (AP)
A vehicle crashes into a Lao New Year parade in New Iberia, Louisiana, United States, injuring at least 15 people. (Al Jazeera)
A joint operation between the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh police units arrests ISIS recruiter Rizwan in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, India. (The Times of India)
Maldivians vote to elect members of local councils and decide on a constitutional referendum that proposes holding presidential and parliamentary elections concurrently on the same day in 2028. (Raajje TV)
Early provisional results indicate that voters rejected the proposed constitutional amendment, while also allowing the Maldivian Democratic Party to retain five mayoral seats. (Raajje TV)
Cameroon’s parliament approves a constitutional amendment reinstating the position of vice president, who will assume the presidency if the office becomes vacant and will be appointed by the president for the remainder of the term. (Reuters)
Friday, April 3rd, 2026
Cuba begins releasing political prisoners after announcing it will pardon 2,010 inmates amid U.S. pressure on the Cuban government. (Tapei Times)
Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni visits Saudi Arabia to discuss mitigating the impact of the Strait of Hormuz crisis with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. Meloni becomes the first leader from a European Union, G20, and NATO member state to the Middle East since the start of the Iran war. (Euronews)
The United Arab Emirates intercepts 18 ballistic missiles, four cruise missiles, and 47 drones from Iran. Falling debris from the interception kills one person and injures others at the Habshan oil facility in the Abu Dhabi emirate. (Al Jazeera)
Maltese-flagged CMA CGM Kribi, a container ship registered by French shipping company CMA CGM crosses the Strait of Hormuz after departing Dubai, making it the first ship from Western Europe to cross the strait since the war started. (AFP via France 24)(Euronews)
Japanese shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines says that a liquefied natural gas oil tanker registered in Japan crosses the Strait of Hormuz for the first since the beginning of the Iran war. A third ship also crosses the strait. (Kyodo News)
Iranian forces shoot down a U.S. F-15E fighter jet in Iranian airspace. U.S. officials say a search is underway for the two crew members, one of whom is rescued. Iran’s state media says a reward will be given to any citizen who helps capture an American pilot. (CNN)
Two U.S. military helicopters are hit with small arms fire while conducting a search and rescue operation for the downed F-15E pilots. (New York Post)
A U.S.A-10 Warthog crashes near the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by Iranian anti-aircraft fire. The pilot ejects and is rescued. (AA)
At least three people are killed in a strike on a residential area in Tehran, Iran. (Al Jazeera)
The Kyrgyz emergency ministry says that Kyrgyzstan has dispatched over 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Iran. The shipment is ordered by Kyrgyz president Sadyr Japarov. (Xinhuanet)
The U.S. embassy in Beirut warns Americans to leave Lebanon due to the situation in the country. (BBC News)
The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of China announces that former Party Secretary of Xinjiang Ma Xingrui is under investigation over suspected “serious violation of law and discipline”, becoming the third member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party to be investigated by the commission. (Reuters)
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning says that peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan are advancing in an effort to end the war. (AP)
Six people are killed and five others, including a child, are injured in Russian drone and missile strikes across Ukraine. (DW)
Pakistan introduces free public transport in Islamabad and Punjab for one month and provides targeted subsidies in other regions to offset the impact of recent fuel price increases. (AFP via Philippine Daily Inquirer)
A Mw 5.8 earthquake hits parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan, killing 12 people and injuring six others in Kabul and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. (Xinhua)
Four people are killed when a small plane crashes into a restaurant in Capão da Canoa, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. (Nasha Niva)
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)
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)
United States crude oil surges to over US$113 per barrel. (NBC News)
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. (BBC News)(CNN)
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)
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)
The United Kingdom hosts a summit with 40 countries to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz. (Reuters)
Austria denies United States aircraft use of its airspace for military operations against Iran. (Reuters)
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)
artificial stupid 