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 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 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 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.
AI summaryThree Greek ministers resigned on April 3, 2026, as a European investigation into alleged EU farm subsidy fraud widens, prompting a government reshuffle and renewed calls for early elections.
AI summaryMore than 100 US-based international law experts have signed an open letter warning that American and Israeli strikes on Iran may constitute war crimes and violate the UN Charter. The letter cites threats to civilian infrastructure, a deadly school strike, and officials' rhetoric as serious concerns, while the White House dismisses the experts' claims.
AI summaryPresident Donald Trump has proposed a $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027, a 42% increase over the current year, marking the largest expansion in military spending since World War II. The proposal includes funding for the Golden Dome missile defense system and cuts of 10% to non-defense programs, and comes as the US war with Iran continues.
AI summaryA French-owned container ship and a Japanese-owned tanker have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such transits by Western vessels since the US-Israeli conflict with Iran effectively closed the waterway. The crossings, confirmed by shipping tracking data, come amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to reopen the strategic route for global oil and LNG supplies.
AI summaryBurkina Faso's military leader Ibrahim Traoré said in a state-broadcast interview that democracy is "not for us" and people must "forget" it. The junta has dissolved the electoral commission, banned political parties, and extended its rule for five more years, drawing UN criticism as it fights a decade-long jihadist insurgency.
AI summaryParis police have banned the 40th Annual Gathering of the Muslims of France, citing a 'major terrorist risk' and potential disruption by far-right groups. Organizers denounce the move as a violation of freedom of assembly and are appealing. The ban comes amid heightened security following a foiled bomb plot in Paris.
AI summaryCuba's government has announced the pardon of 2,010 prisoners as a 'humanitarian and sovereign gesture' during Holy Week, the second such amnesty this year. The move follows intensified US pressure, including an oil blockade, and coincides with talks between Havana and Washington.
AI summaryMyanmar's junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has been sworn in as president, five years after leading a coup that ousted the elected government and plunged the country into civil war. The move, which followed a parliamentary vote criticized by Western governments and rights groups, is seen by analysts as an attempt to legitimize continued military rule.