AI summaryIran's state-imposed internet blackout, now exceeding 888 hours, is the longest nationwide shutdown ever recorded, according to NetBlocks. The blackout has severely restricted access to information, disrupted businesses and education, and drawn international attention as the war with the US and Israel continues.
AI summarySouth Korea is dispatching five vessels to Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu and sending special envoys to secure crude oil as the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. The country, which imports about 70% of its crude from the Middle East, is also considering diversifying imports from the US and Kazakhstan.
AI summaryAustralia has received assurances from key Asian fuel exporters—Japan, Singapore and South Korea—that normal fuel supplies will continue despite the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The guarantees come as Australia, which imports about 90% of its refined fuel, faces rising prices and shortages. The government is also diversifying sources and using LNG exports as leverage in negotiations.
AI summarySouth Korea's National Intelligence Service told lawmakers it believes North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's teenage daughter is being positioned as his successor, based on what it calls 'credible intelligence.' The assessment follows a series of public appearances by the daughter, including driving a tank, which analysts say is part of an effort to build a succession narrative and counter doubts about a female leader.
AI summaryPresident Donald Trump confirmed the rescue of the second crew member of an F-15E fighter jet shot down over Iran, following a multi-day search that involved heavy firefights. Iran claims it destroyed four US aircraft during the rescue, a claim that remains unverified. The incident underscores the ongoing volatility of the conflict as Trump issues ultimatums and regional attacks continue.
AI summaryUS President Donald Trump has once again extended his deadline for Iran to accept a deal, setting a new ultimatum for Tuesday 8pm Eastern Time. The announcement comes amid escalating threats to destroy Iranian infrastructure, with negotiations reportedly at an impasse and Iran rejecting ceasefire proposals. Multiple regional and international actors continue to push for a diplomatic solution as the conflict enters its sixth week.
AI summaryThe Nigerian military says it rescued 31 worshippers abducted during an Easter church attack in Kaduna state, though local reports dispute the toll and number of abducted. The attack targeted multiple churches in Ariko village, with conflicting accounts of casualties and ongoing security concerns in the region.
AI summaryUS President Donald Trump has issued a new ultimatum to Iran, threatening to destroy its power plants and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by Tuesday evening. Iran has dismissed the threats, with officials vowing retaliation and regional tensions continuing to escalate.
AI summaryUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus on Sunday, pledging security cooperation and discussing food security. The visit is part of Kyiv's broader diplomatic push across the Middle East, offering drone-defense expertise in exchange for support amid its war with Russia.
AI summarySerbian authorities discovered explosives near the Balkan Stream gas pipeline, prompting Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán to convene an emergency meeting. Ukraine denied involvement, while experts suggest a possible Russian false-flag operation to influence Hungary's upcoming election.
AI summaryIranian missile and drone attacks have hit critical infrastructure across the Gulf, including energy facilities in the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait, with reports of injuries and damage. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted seven ballistic missiles, while Kuwait recorded drone launches and reported civilian casualties. The strikes are the latest in an escalating conflict following US and Israeli actions against Iran.
AI summaryPresident Donald Trump's Easter Sunday social media post threatening to bomb Iranian infrastructure drew sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers, with several calling for his removal via the 25th Amendment. The post, which included profanity and invoked Allah, was described by critics as 'unhinged' and 'disgusting,' while Republicans remained largely silent. The threat comes amid an ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran that has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and rising global oil prices.
AI summaryPope Leo XIV delivered his first Easter blessing as pontiff, urging those with power to unleash wars to choose peace and criticizing global indifference to conflicts. The celebration took place against the backdrop of the ongoing West Asia conflict, which began with U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran in February. The Pope also announced a prayer vigil at the Vatican for April 11 and expressed closeness to the people of Lebanon.
AI summaryGermany's defence minister has suspended a little-noticed provision requiring men aged 17 to 45 to seek military approval for stays abroad longer than three months, following widespread criticism. The rule, part of the Military Service Modernisation Act aimed at boosting defences amid Russian threats, will not apply while military service remains voluntary.
AI summaryUS President Donald Trump has issued a new 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, demanding it make a deal or open the Strait of Hormuz or face severe consequences. Iran has rejected the threat, and both sides continue military operations, including downed aircraft and strikes on economic targets, as regional conflict intensifies.
AI summaryBritish authorities have charged three men, including a 17-year-old dual British-Pakistani national, in connection with the arson attack that destroyed four Jewish community ambulances in London last month. A fourth suspect has been arrested as counterterrorism officers investigate the incident, which is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.
AI summaryA Russian drone struck a covered market in Nikopol, southern Ukraine, on Saturday, killing five people and wounding about 20, officials said, amid a wider exchange of overnight attacks that left at least 10 dead on both sides. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Istanbul for talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as air forces reported hundreds of drones launched overnight.
AI summaryA strike near Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant killed a security guard and damaged an ancillary building, according to the IAEA, which reported no increase in radiation levels. The incident marks the fourth time the area has been attacked during the ongoing conflict, raising international concern about nuclear safety.
AI summaryNASA's Artemis II mission, carrying four astronauts, has passed the halfway point between Earth and the Moon, marking the first crewed lunar journey since Apollo 17. The crew has released stunning images of Earth, including a full portrait with visible auroras, as they prepare for a lunar flyby on a free-return trajectory.