- By Conservative Metrics, the Iran War Is a Monumental Blunder RealClearMarkets
- Seven Myths About the Iran War Tablet Magazine
- Who’s actually winning the wars in the Middle East? The Spectator
- War on Iran: Why Israel and the US are the ultimate losers Middle East Eye
- The War With Iran Offers a Snapshot of Trump World. It’s Not a Pretty Picture. Politico
Trump says he has ‘good news’ on Iran as tankers cross Strait of Hormuz – Reuters
- Trump says he has 'good news' on Iran as tankers cross Strait of Hormuz Reuters
- Iran war updates: Trump voices optimism about deal; Tehran cautious Al Jazeera
- Politics The Economist
- Trump’s Iran war victory boast has echoes of Bush’s ill-fated ‘mission accomplished’ claim The Guardian
- Trump Frames Iran War as All but Over in Optimistic Social Media Flurry The New York Times
Australia, Japan sign contracts to start $7 billion warship deal – Reuters
- Australia, Japan sign contracts to start $7 billion warship deal Reuters
- Japan’s MHI awarded contract to build three Upgraded Mogami-class Frigates navalnews.com
- Australia Signs Deal For First Batch of Warships From Japan Bloomberg.com
- Japan seals largest-ever defense contract with frigate sale to Australia The Japan Times
- VIDEO: Stephen Dziedzic reports from Melbourne at Aus-Japan defence contract signing Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Al-Noor centre: A lifeline for blind children in Gaza
Al-Noor is a UNRWA centre in Gaza providing education and support for visually impaired children.
New Jersey announces $150 transit tickets to reach the World Cup
Transit fares from New York to MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for World Cup matches will rise to $150.
Elderly Passenger Overboard From Carnival Splendor Triggers Major Operation, Next Sailing Delayed – Cruise Hive
- Elderly Passenger Overboard From Carnival Splendor Triggers Major Operation, Next Sailing Delayed Cruise Hive
- Frantic search after passenger goes overboard News.com.au
- Search resumes for man missing from cruise liner, after woman from same ship drowns Brisbane Times
- Search underway for man missing from cruise ship off Brisbane coast Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- Carnival Splendor Sydney Departure Delayed After Hours Long Search Operation Cruise Hive
Trump Spat Gives Spain Leader Pedro Sánchez a Political Lifeline – The New York Times
- Trump Spat Gives Spain Leader Pedro Sánchez a Political Lifeline The New York Times
- Global leftist leaders gather in Spain to mobilise against far right Reuters
- Sánchez seeks to rally global left against rise of far right politico.eu
- Lula and Sánchez to ‘work for peace’ at gathering of progressive leaders in Barcelona AP News
- Brazil's Lula and Sánchez of Spain headline meetings of progressive leaders in Barcelona NBC News
A Mild-Mannered Pope Finds His Voice – The New York Times
- A Mild-Mannered Pope Finds His Voice The New York Times
- When is a war a ‘just war’? CNN
- Pope Leo XIV denounces the 'delusion of omnipotence' he says is fueling the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran PBS
- Maybe Republicans are right. Has the pope even read the Bible? | Opinion USA Today
- The USCCB’s Just War Error First Things
‘A defeat for Putin’: Ukrainians hope Magyar’s victory will mark new era with Hungary
As Orbán is rejected, there is cautious optimism new leader can restore ties – but issues such as EU accession loom large
Like many Ukrainians, Oleh Kupchak was delighted when Péter Magyar won Hungary’s election last weekend, ending Viktor Orbán’s 16-year grip on power. “We were euphoric. Everyone was following the results closely. There were toasts,” said Kupchak, who has visited Budapest several times. “We didn’t love Orbán,” he added.
Ukraine celebrated Orbán’s landslide defeat in a series of jokes and memes. Several likened him to the Star Wars character Jabba the Hut, and shared an image of Orbán fleeing from a drone. Others portrayed him sitting on a bench in Russia, alongside Ukraine’s pro-Kremlin former president Viktor Yanukovych, and his exiled Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad.
Continue reading...Iran says strait of Hormuz ‘completely open’ but sounds warning on US blockade
Iran’s parliamentary speaker says strait could close again if US blockade continues, but Trump says it will remain in place until ‘transaction’ with Tehran is complete
Iran’s foreign minister has said that the strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, reinforcing hopes for an eventual end to the war in the Middle East and sending oil prices tumbling despite analysts’ warnings that there will be no immediate widespread resumption of passage through the vital waterway.
In a barrage of social media posts, Donald Trump claimed on Friday that Iran had agreed never to close the strategic waterway again, hailing “A GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD!”
Continue reading...‘We never back down on our own doorstep’: PLA guided-missile frigate drives away foreign vessel after 20-hour standoff, CCTV video shows – Global Times
- ‘We never back down on our own doorstep’: PLA guided-missile frigate drives away foreign vessel after 20-hour standoff, CCTV video shows Global Times
- Japan MSDF destroyer sailed through Taiwan Strait on Friday: sources Japan Wire by Kyodo News
- Is Japan’s treaty-day Taiwan Strait warship transit a new flashpoint with China? South China Morning Post
- China Says Japan Stirs ‘Trouble’ with Vessel in Taiwan Strait Bloomberg.com
- China calls Japan warship Taiwan Strait transit a provocation Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Lebanese man removes Israeli flag from castle in southern Lebanon
A Lebanese man who returned to southern Lebanon removes the Israeli flag from Beaufort Castle (Qalaat al-Shaqif).
Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 17, 2026 – Institute for the Study of War
- Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, April 17, 2026 Institute for the Study of War
- Russian Region Calls Up Reservists to Fight Drones at Key Sites Bloomberg.com
- Leningrad Region Asks Veterans to Join New Air Defense Units After Drones Smash Oil Export Terminals The Moscow Times
- A fire broke out near a port in northwestern Russia following a drone attack. » Iraqi News Agency وكالة الانباء العراقية (واع)
- Drones attack Russia’s Leningrad region overnight, with strike also reported near airfield at Cape Khersones in Crimea Рубрика
Trump thanks Gulf states for their ‘tremendous’ support
‘This will be a great and brilliant day for the world’ Donald Trump said as Iran fully opens the Strait of Hormuz.
White House and Anthropic hold ‘productive’ meeting amid fears over Mythos model
The discussion is a sign the AI firm's technology may be too critical for even the US government to do without.
Gruenbaum leaving as GSA FAS commissioner – Federal News Network
Gruenbaum leaving as GSA FAS commissioner Federal News Network
UNICEF says Israeli fire kills two Gaza water truck drivers – Reuters
- UNICEF says Israeli fire kills two Gaza water truck drivers Reuters
- UNICEF ‘outraged’ after Israeli forces kill water truck drivers in Gaza Al Jazeera
- Statement by UNICEF on the killing of two water truck drivers in the Gaza Strip Unicef
- Two water delivery contractors killed by Israeli forces in Gaza, UN says The Times of Israel
- UNICEF ‘outraged’ by killing of Gaza water truck drivers, urges investigation UN News
Watch: Fuel truck leaves trail of fire on road in Syria
Eyewitnesses captured the moment a burning fuel tanker drove through the centre of Hasakah, Syria, leaving a trail of fire behind it.
UN aid chief warns of possible ‘full-scale famine’ in South Sudan
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher says that South Sudan is at risk of slipping into 'full-scale famine and collapse’.
Three sentenced for ‘man in bear suit’ insurance scam
Video went viral after investigators determined the purported ursine was actually a man in a costume.