Escalating US-Iran Hormuz Tensionsactive

AI demand is pushing data transmission to its limits, making 2026 a critical year for silicon photonics (SiPh) and co-packaged optics (CPO) to move into large-scale deployment. The race to commercialize these technologies is accelerating across the semiconductor industry.

Japan and Nato are drawing closer together, with 30 representatives from the transatlantic security alliance’s member states set to visit Tokyo this month amid mounting concern over Washington’s reliability as a security partner. The Nato envoys will reportedly hold talks on China’s expanding regional influence, Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and the implications of a more volatile global security order, according to Japanese public broadcaster NHK. “A delegation of this size underlines just...

Scholar and author Sheng-Wei Wang discusses how studying an ancient Chinese world map led her to conclude China explored and mapped the world before the European Age of Discovery and how the legacy of colonialism and a Eurocentric record of global history continue to affect power dynamics today. SCMP Plus readers get early access to articles in the Open Questions series. What first made you suspect that it was Chinese explorers and not Europeans who launched the true Age of Discovery? The...

US Centcom said that vessels of no nation will be spared from the blocked as it will be imposed impartially.

Trump declared a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, vowing to prevent toll payments to Iran. He criticized Iran's nuclear program after discussions concluded.

After the U.S. military launched operations to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy reportedly warned an American destroyer in the waterway. "This is the last warning. This is the last warning," Iranian forces radioed to one of the two U.S. destroyers in the strait, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei noted that some new topics were added during these talks, such as the Strait of Hormuz issue

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’s small, fast-attack boats hold sway in the strategic waterway.

The US Navy ships did transit through the Hormuz on Saturday, but not before a high-action drama unfolded in the waters.

Catherine King says while peace talks were the "best chance" at lowering fuel prices, further assistance may be included in the budget. Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates. Track Australia's fuel prices, service station outages, and shipments in charts. Get our breaking news email, free app, or daily news podcast. The Albanese government is considering further relief for struggling households and businesses in next month's federal budget, as peace talks continue between the US and Iran amid a fragile ceasefire. The infrastructure minister, Catherine King, said the success of those talks was the "best chance" at bringing down fuel prices. But she warned that there would be a "long tail" from the crisis even if the Strait of Hormuz – which is still being blocked by Iran and strangling global oil supplies – reopens imminently. Continue reading...

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei stressed that a broad range of issues was discussed in the past day

Previously, the parliament of Iraq voted to elect Amedi, a candidate from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, as the new president of the Arab republic

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office is investigating a sexual assault claim against Rep. Eric Swalwell.

China consistently fulfills its international obligations, Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for the Chinese diplomatic mission in the United States, said

Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) on Saturday criticized the involvement of special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner in Middle East diplomacy, as the two are scheduled to meet with Iranian officials for trilateral talks aimed at ending the six-week conflict with Iran. "You can't send the two real estate developers to negotiate…

The US launched a large-scale, multi-level, and expensive operation to rescue two airmen stranded in Iran, which was followed closely by Russian citizens, and highlighted the stark contrast between the US and Russian military attitudes towards their subordinates.

The city has flourished as China’s hub for helping Iran survive punishing sanctions, much to the frustration of U. S. officials.

The U. S. military has launched operations to begin de-mining the Strait of Hormuz, U. S. Central Command (Centcom) said on Saturday.  Centcom said in a social media post highlighted by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that two Navy guided-missile destroyers began “setting conditions” for this mission on Saturday morning.  The USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael…

"And the empty ships are rushing to the United States to "load up", the US president said

Federal agents arrested a man whose mother served as a spokeswoman for the Islamist embassy captors during the hostage crisis that began in 1979.

The French president added that Iran needs to "take advantage of the opportunity offered by the negotiations initiated in Islamabad to pave the way for sustainable de-escalation"

Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have reportedly stalled the ceasefire talks between the US and Iran.

Trilateral talks involving United States and Iran have entered the expert level stage, with negotiations taking place in Islamabad.

Young people as key players in inclusive solidarity: the reasons why they were awarded.

President Donald Trump has claimed that a building pause poses a risk to national security.

Dozens gathered in Madrid for a vigil honouring the victims of Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon.

Russian forces carried out more than 60 attacks with drones and artillery on two districts of the Dnipropetrovsk region, leaving one person injured.

Aïda Asgharzadeh was widely praised for her powerful exploration of dissidence and exile in Persian Dolls, weaving her own family’s story into a drama spanning Iran and France. Her deft use of history as a backdrop to intimate, personal narratives is once again in focus with her latest play, The Last Cedar of Lebanon, which examines how individuals respond to the pressures of war and violence – and how geopolitical upheaval can echo across generations. Speaking to FRANCE 24, she explains how creating an emotional landscape lies at the heart of her work, and why, as an Iranian, she struggles to see a hopeful outcome amid the current turmoil of war.

"The USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the Arabian Gulf as part of a broader mission," according to US Central Command.

A fallout with President Trump has seen the planned handing over of the islands put on ice. At the center of the debate is the use of a joint UK-US military base.

JD Vance leads American delegation while Iran’s negotiators headed up by Iran’s parliamentary speaker Peace talks between Iran and the US began in Islamabad this afternoon, with senior negotiators from both countries meeting face to face at the highest level for the first time since 1979, in the presence of mediators from Pakistan. Pakistani state TV said US and Iranian officials were “sitting directly at the same table” – which was later confirmed by the White House – and discussions were beginning in a positive atmosphere, despite fighting ongoing in Lebanon. Continue reading...

If Democrat Analilia Mejia wins next week’s election to fill New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s (D) former House seat, it will offer just the latest boost for progressives, who have notched a number of wins as the party debates its direction heading into the midterms.  Mejia, a top aide to Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) 2020…

Iran defied predictions that its leadership would cede to U. S. and Israeli pressure, illustrating the staying power of hard-line regimes.

The remnants of Bluie East Two stand as a reminder of the last time the U. S. tried to own the island.

While direct contacts are underway between Washington and Tehran in Pakistan, seeking a solution to the war in the Middle East, tankers and military vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz, which had previously been blocked by Iran. This maneuver represents a gesture of de-escalation in the conflict, as the reopening of the strait is one of the main demands of the United States. Three supertankers and two U.S. warships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, the first such passage since the war with Iran began, according to local media. This move, according to Donald Trump on Saturday, marks the beginning of Washington's efforts to "unblock" this vital route for global hydrocarbon trade. This information comes at a time when Iran and the United States are engaged in peace negotiations in Islamabad. Two U.S. Navy destroyers, equipped with guided missiles, transited the strait without incident, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing three U.S. officials. Meanwhile, the supertanker Serifos, flying the Liberian flag, and the VLCC tankers Cospearl Lake and He Rong Hai, flying the Chinese flag, also entered and exited the "test anchorage of the Strait of Hormuz," near the Iranian island of Larak, according to data from LSEG. Each vessel has a capacity to transport 2 million barrels of…

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, posted a message stating that the process of clearing the Strait of Hormuz is beginning. On his social media platform, Truth, he stated that this was "a favor to countries all over the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others." However, he commented on these same countries, saying that "they lack the courage or will to do this work themselves. It is very interesting, however, that empty oil tankers from many nations are heading to the United States of America to be loaded with oil." Furthermore, in the post, he claimed that the Iranian Navy, like its Air Force, has disappeared. "Their air defense system is non-existent, the radar is dead, their missile and drone factories have been practically annihilated along with the missiles and drones themselves, and, most importantly, their 'leaders' are no longer with us," he wrote. He added that "all that remains is the threat that a ship could 'run aground' on one of their naval mines, which, by the way, their 28 mine-laying vessels also lie at the bottom of the sea." These statements come as peace talks are underway between the United States and Iran in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. This Wednesday, Iran announced a ceasefire regarding attacks against the United States, for the duration of the negotiations. According to the Tasnim news agency, the Iranian Security Council...

He had been hospitalized for two days in extremely critical condition.

The former acting head of the Novaya Kakhovka city district, Vladimir Oganesov, stated that the Ukrainian army violated the Easter ceasefire by attacking Novaya Kakhovka with a drone, injuring a civilian and damaging an apartment building.

From sanctions relief to nuclear talks, here’s a look at how negotiations between Washington and Tehran have gone over the decades.

The administration of the American president unveiled new renderings of the proposed "Trump Arch" monument on Friday, with a design that still needs to be approved. The monument would be a triumphal arch located at the foot of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. According to plans by Harrison Design, the structure would be 250 feet tall, equivalent to 76.2 meters. The design envisions the arch topped with the phrase "One Nation Under God," accompanied by an 18-meter-tall Statue of Liberty and two eagles. The base of the monument would feature two golden lions. "It will be the largest and most beautiful triumphal arch, anywhere in the world. This will be a wonderful addition to the Washington D.C. area for all Americans to enjoy for many decades to come," President Donald Trump declared on his Truth Social platform. The model has already been presented to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), which will review the proposal on April 16. According to the BBC, the commission's panel is composed of Trump allies. Davis Ingle, a spokesperson for the White House, stated that this arch "will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices made by so many American heroes throughout our 250 years of history..."

The army "continues to strike at the launchers to prevent attacks" on Israeli territory

Robinder Sachdev said that easing tensions between Iran and the United States could benefit the energy markets, the safety of navigation in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, as well as the balance of power in India's neighboring regions

Delegations will discuss ending a war that has spread across the Gulf and stoked a global energy crisis

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) on Saturday said she would file a motion to expel California Rep. Eric Swalwell from office, after the Democrat was hit with sexual assault allegations. “I am filing a motion to expel Eric Swalwell from Congress,” the Republican lawmaker wrote on social platform X. A former staffer of Swalwell accused…

DUBLIN — Police pepper-sprayed protesters Saturday as soldiers deployed heavy-lifting equipment to remove trucks and tractors that had been blocking access to Ireland’s only oil refinery. Irish security forces launched the crackdown outside the Whitegate refinery in County Cork, the country’s primary hub for petrol and diesel, after several hundred fuel stations nationwide ran dry amid panic-buying. Farmers and hauliers had been blocking tankers from entering or leaving the Whitegate plant since Wednesday in protest against the surging price of motor fuel. They are demanding that the government slash its taxes on fuel, which account for more than 60 percent of the retail price. Government leaders welcomed news of the security operation in Whitegate, two days after Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan ordered army assistance for the Garda Síochána, Ireland’s national police force. “If the Whitegate oil refinery isn’t reopened, this country will shut down. It’s a matter of national security,” said Thomas Byrne, Ireland’s junior minister for European affairs and defense. Fuels for Ireland, which represents distributors and filling stations, said about 600 of Ireland’s 1,500 gas stations nationwide had already run out of supplies. Protesters continue to block key roads in central Dublin and several motorway junctions nationwide as part of their demand for immediate tax cuts. The epicenter of the protest is O’Connell Street, Dublin’s central thoroughfare, where scores of parked tractors, trucks and vans have snarled public transport in the capital since Tuesday. Ireland’s center-right government — which last month cut taxes on petrol and diesel in response to oil price hikes spurred by the U. S.-Israeli attack on Iran — has refused to talk directly to the wildcat protesters because they are acting without support from the official representative bodies, the Irish Road Haulage Association and the Irish Farmers’ Association. The protesters also are preventing fuel tankers from entering or leaving two of the country’s other key ports for importing oil in Galway and Foynes, in County Limerick. Reflecting that gridlock, a Dutch tanker carrying 6 million liters of fuel has been kept idling in Galway Bay since Thursday because fuel tanks in the port there are already full. Fuels for Ireland Chief Executive Kevin McPartlan warned that, if tankers continued to be barred from Whitegate, Foynes and Galway, “then I don’t think we could guarantee fuel at any [filling station] forecourt by Monday morning.” Protesters also are disrupting freight services at Rosslare, Ireland’s main post-Brexit port for shipments with continental Europe. Rosslare officials warned Saturday of a mile-long tailback of trucks and a growing prospect that arriving ships wouldn’t be able to dock and unload cargo. At Whitegate, police in flak jackets pepper-sprayed and pushed back protesters and pulled one farmer from the cab of his stationary tractor amid angry scenes, but no serious injuries were reported. The protesters were kept behind newly erected steel barriers before a convoy of more than a half-dozen empty tankers arrived under police escort. When army engineers deployed their heavy-lift trucks against road obstacles, the owners of tractors and trucks handed over the ignition keys voluntarily. But protest leaders responded to the Whitegate clearance by vowing to double down on obstructions elsewhere. The grassroots movement — organized on Facebook as The People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices — announced plans to organize demonstrations Sunday in towns and cities in all of the country’s 26 counties.

"Ukrainian air defense specialists" were expelled "after catastrophic failures," according to the Russian Foreign Ministry's special envoy on Russia's accusations of war crimes committed by Ukraine.

According to Assoutenti, ticket sales have decreased by as much as 28% compared to March.

The New York Times reports, citing officials, that Iran may not have accurate records of the locations of all the mines it has laid. Reports suggest that the planting was carried out in a random and disorganised.

U. K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is setting aside a plan to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius because of opposition from U. S. President Donald Trump’s administration, according to British media reports. A bill underpinning the deal will not be included in the King’s Speech next month, The Times and other outlets reported on Saturday. POLITICO reported in February that Starmer’s administration would “pause for thought” on the Chagos plan. The biggest island in the archipelago, Diego Garcia, hosts a U. S.-U. K. military base. Starmer had tried to complete a handover deal under which Britain would pay the Indian Ocean island £3.4 billion over a century to secure continued use of the crucial military base. The U. S. president has changed his mind multiple times on the issue. But in February, Trump warned Starmer that he was “making a big mistake” in giving over the island. “This land should not be taken away from the U. K. and, if it is allowed to be, it will be a blight on our Great Ally,” Trump said. The British government earlier this week acknowledged that it’s running out of time to pass the legislation. “We continue to believe the agreement is the best way to protect the long-term future of the base, but we have always said we would only proceed with the deal if it has U. S. support,” a U. K. government spokesperson said Saturday, according to the Guardian. The agreement was meant to avoid a potentially painful and expensive legal dispute with Mauritius over the former colony. Indeed, after Trump’s intervention last month, Mauritius said that it was exploring legal tools against London. Toby Noskwith, a spokesperson for campaign group Indigenous Chagossian People, told Reuters that questions needed to be asked about “the enormous sums of money which have been wasted on a collapsed negotiation.” The decision to put the agreement on hold follows increasing tensions over the military cooperation between Britain and the U. S. Starmer refused to support the American-Israeli attacks on Iran, and he allowed Washington to use U. K. military bases only for defensive strikes. During the  Middle East conflict, Iran targeted the Diego Garcia base, firing two ballistic missiles unsuccessfully at the Indian Ocean islands.

Ukraine possesses some of the world’s most advanced drone technologies and could contribute to international efforts to ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump also said there is a danger of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz being damaged by sea mines.

BEIRUT (AFP).- Amidst ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran in Pakistan aimed at ending the war in the Middle East, Israel claimed to have attacked more than 200 targets of the pro-Iranian terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon within 24 hours. Furthermore, in attacks on Saturday, 10 people, including three rescue workers, were killed in the south of the country. According to state media, a dozen towns were targeted by bombing raids. Three of the attacks struck several locations in the Nabatiye district. The Ministry stated that among the dead were a member of the Civil Defense and two rescue workers from the Islamic Health Committee, which is affiliated with Hezbollah. Hezbollah has been at war with Israel since March 2. [Tweets from Israeli Air Force and Israel Defense Forces, dated April 11 and April 10, 2026, are omitted as they are already in English and provide further details about the attacks.] News in...

Earlier correspondent for American portal Axios and Channel 12 of Israeli television Barak Ravid quoted American official sources as saying that several US Navy ships had passed through Hormuz on Saturday without coordination with Iran

Two U. S. Navy guided-missile destroyers passed through the strategic strait, according to three U. S. officials, marking the first transit of American warships through the waterway since the war began six weeks ago.

Scientists in Xinjiang have created the world's first crystal capable of producing the ultraviolet light needed for future thorium nuclear clocks, which could one day guide submarines and deep-space probes without GPS. The fluorinated borate compound can generate laser light at a record 145.2 nanometres (nm) – a wavelength short enough to meet a key requirement for these ultra-precise, portable clocks being developed in the United States, China, and elsewhere, the team reported in *Advanced Materials*.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced plans to use new hydraulic fracturing technologies, or fracking, to reduce Mexico’s reliance on foreign energy amid the Iran war. She framed the approach as a form of sustainable extraction, but communities who say they have been harmed by fracking continue to oppose the plan. Gabrielle Nadler reports.

The UK has paused plans to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, throwing the future of a long-negotiated deal into uncertainty as London seeks backing from Washington.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi headlined a growing list of Democratic lawmakers called on Rep. Eric Swalwell Friday to withdraw his campaign for California governor amid allegations of sexual misconduct. “This extremely sensitive matter must be appropriately investigated with full transparency and accountability,” Pelosi said in a statement. “As I discussed with Congressman Swalwell, it is clear that is best done outside of a gubernatorial campaign.” In a joint statement with other elected House Democratic leaders, Jeffries called for a “swift investigation” as well as the end of his pending campaign. “This is unacceptable of anyone — certainly not an elected official — and must be taken seriously,” the leaders said. The San Francisco Chronicle reported Friday that a former congressional aide accused the congressman of two sexual encounters without her consent, beginning in 2019. CNN later reported that four women allege that Swalwell has committed sexual misconduct, including one former staffer who accuses Swalwell of rape. Swalwell denied the allegations in a statement. “These allegations are false and come on the eve of an election against the frontrunner for governor,” he said. “I will defend myself with the facts and where necessary bring legal action.” Key backers of Swalwell’s governor bid swiftly revoked their support after the Chronicle’s story was published, including Reps. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) and Adam Gray (D-Calif.), who served as campaign co-chairs. “Today’s reports about Eric Swalwell’s conduct while in office are deeply disturbing,” Gray said in a statement. “Harassment, abuse, and violence of any sort are unacceptable. Given these serious allegations, I am withdrawing my support and Eric Swalwell should end his campaign immediately.” But nothing underscored the peril for Swalwell’s nearly two-decade political career as vividly as Pelosi’s statement. The former speaker included Swalwell in her inner circle of favored Democratic members for years, tapping him for junior leadership roles and to serve as a manager in Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021. The situation presents a predicament for the sitting House Democratic leaders, who have insisted on letting a full Ethics Committee investigation play out before supporting formal discipline against another House Democrat accused of misconduct, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.). Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California did not speak directly to consequences in the House in a joint statement. But House Republicans were already discussing by Friday evening the likely scenario that one of their own members will bring a censure effort against Swalwell, according to three people granted anonymity to describe private conversations. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) said in an interview that she was weighing a censure and other action against Swalwell based on the reports of sexual assault allegations against him. Luna said she would act “if there is evidence brought forward.” The internal consequences could start playing out as soon as the House returns to session Tuesday, but a wave of top California Democrats immediately dropped their endorsements of Swalwell, including Rep. Ted Lieu, the No. 4 Democrat in House leadership. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) likened the situation to his push for transparency around disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and called for “appropriate” House and law enforcement investigations. “No one in a position of power should be allowed to act above the law or with impunity,” he said in a statement. “It doesn’t matter what office you hold, how wealthy you are, or which political party you align with. The same rules must apply to Eric Swalwell.” Meredith Lee Hill and Hailey Fuchs contributed to this report.

At the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Holy Fire descended on Holy Saturday, April 11.

The U.S. Vice President, J.D. Vance, met with the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, this Saturday morning as part of his country's negotiations with Iran to end the war in the Middle East. Sharif has become a key figure in the ceasefire agreement between the two nations due to Pakistan's role as an intermediary between the United States and Iran in recent weeks. Previously, he was the one who announced the agreement between the countries just minutes before the deadline imposed by the U.S. President, Donald Trump, on Iran. "I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire throughout the territory, including Lebanon and other areas, effective immediately," he posted on his social media. Vance arrived in Islamabad last Friday to finalize the meeting, where he stated that they would attempt to maintain a positive negotiation. "Don't play games with us. If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we are certainly willing to extend an open hand. If they are going to try to play us, then they will see that the negotiating team is not so receptive," he said at the time. Negotiations with Iran The negotiations with Iran, however, face several obstacles. The Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohamad Baqer Qalibaf, stated this Friday that the United States has not yet fulfilled its obligations...

This is a breaking news story.

“We’re now starting the process of clearing out the Strait of Hormuz,” says Trump on Truth Social.

Vice President Vance arrived in Islamabad early Saturday to lead U. S.–Iran talks mediated by Pakistan as the temporary ceasefire appears to buckle under pressure. The U. S. delegation included Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff and political adviser Jared Kushner — President Trump’s son in law. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led the team of mediators, with…

Several media outlets in the United States and Iran reported around 9:30 PM Japan time on November 11th that negotiations between the United States and Iran had begun under the mediation of Pakistan. The U.S. delegation was led by Vice President Harris, while the Iranian delegation was led by Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf. Both delegations held separate meetings with Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif.

The warring sides exchanged 175 prisoners of war each, both countries said, in one of their few areas of cooperation.

The plan to give Mauritius formal control of the islands, home to a U. S.-British military base, was called “an act of great stupidity” by President Trump.

The Trump administration Friday unveiled new renderings of its proposed triumphal arch, a 250-foot structure planned to tower over a traffic circle near Arlington National Cemetery. The memorial, dubbed “Independence Arch,” is part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to leave a mark on the nation’s capitol and to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence this year. “The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D. C., but throughout the world, ” said Davis Ingle, a White House spokesperson. “It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250-year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today. President Trump will continue to honor our veterans and give the greatest Nation on earth — America — the glory it deserves.” The main arch building would stand 166 feet tall but would also be mounted with two 24-foot-tall golden eagles on plinths as well as a 60-foot-tall, golden and winged Lady Liberty holding a torch, according to images filed Friday by the Interior Department to the Commission of Fine Arts. The commission is poised to review the plan at a meeting next week. The interior archway would be 55 feet wide — approximately equal to four lanes of traffic. At 110 feet tall, the interior of the arch would exceed the height of the Lincoln Memorial — 99 feet — that sits parallel to the proposed arch on the other side of the Potomac River. The phrase “One Nation Under God” would be inscribed in gold on the top of the structure, and four gold lions would sit on pedestals at the four corners of its base. Renderings show the arch would include two upper-level decks, including one designated for viewing. The arch is proposed for Memorial Circle, a traffic circle just inside the border of the nation’s capital, within a section of the city that adheres to strict development protocol under Commemorative Works Act. The law limits new commemorative works in the area to those with “preeminent historical and lasting significance to the United States.” New works require a recommendation from the Interior secretary or the General Services Administration, after consultation with the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission. But the final decision is up to Congress. The parameters are not quite as strict as the Reserve area, which includes the National Mall and nearby memorials dedicated to Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson and is considered a finished public project to maintain the balanced design and spatial harmony of the landscape. A group of Vietnam veterans, represented by the progressive watchdog organization Public Citizen, sued to block the arch construction, arguing that the Trump administration failed to follow those steps. Members of Congress, including Maine independent Sen. Angus King, who caucuses with Democrats, and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), filed a statement in the case arguing that construction of the arch without congressional permission would violate the law. The Commission of Fine Arts did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the new renderings. Trump fired six of the commission’s leaders last year, all who were appointed by former President Joe Biden, easing the administration’s path to advance the president’s construction priorities in the capitol. The commission has also approved the White House’s new East Wing, following the administration demolition of the historic structure last year. The demolition of the East Wing to make room for a proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom and the proposed arch have been some of the most visible of the president’s efforts to leave his mark on the city. As part of the White House’s proposed budget for the National Park Service, released last week, the president called for a $10 billion fund to support D. C. projects — roughly four times the size of the proposed budget for the National Park Service, which the White House wants to reduce by $1 billion. Trump has said the arch would be paid for by leftover donations from his ballroom project. A recent spending plan, released by the administration for the National Endowment for the Humanities suggests it will provide $15 million for the project. NOTUS first reported on the plan.

War spurs debate on US power and role in the world – and progressives eye chance to reorient American foreign policy Well over a year into Donald Trump’s disruptive second term, few believed the US president could still genuinely shock. But at 8.06am on Tuesday he did just that, with an apocalyptic threat on Truth Social, to destroy a “whole civilization” in Iran – a country of more than 90 million people. Democrats abandoned their forced restraint and immediately began to call for Trump’s removal from office. Yet beneath Democrats’ near-universal opposition to what they call the president’s “war of choice” are simmering tensions about the way America should engage with the world, especially when it comes to the Middle East. Since losing to Trump and his America First agenda in 2024, which promised not to start new wars, leading progressives have urged Democrats to reclaim the “anti-war” mantle. Continue reading...

Japan's participation in annual US-Philippine military exercises is a "big deal," because it demonstrates how Tokyo is taking on a larger role in regional alliances that could potentially counter China, according to analysts. More than 7,000 soldiers from the United States and Philippine armies are participating in this year's Salaknib drill, a joint annual exercise that began on the north of Luzon island on Monday. The exercise aims to "enhance combat readiness and interoperability between the two armies..."

Russia and Ukraine on Saturday exchanged 175 prisoners of war each, Moscow said, in a rare moment of cooperation between the two warring sides. The United Arab Emirates facilitated the exchange that came ahead of a temporary ceasefire set to take effect for Orthodox Easter.

Iran dropped explosives in the waterway erratically and may not have marked where it put all of them, US suggests Middle East crisis – live updates Iran is unable to find the mines it laid in the strait of Hormuz and does not have the capacity to remove the explosives, preventing Iran from allowing more traffic through the waterway, the New York Times reported, citing US officials. The opening of the strait of Hormuz – a chokepoint for a fifth of the world’s oil supply – is a primary demand of the US to end the war in Iran. The virtual closure of the strait sent fuel prices soaring, creating the world’s largest energy crisis in decades and putting pressure on US president Donald Trump at home. Continue reading...

Hong Kong police are investigating after a pair of Gucci shoes worth HK$11,000 (US$1,404) were stolen from a restroom at Times Square in Causeway Bay, the South China Morning Post has learned. A source said on Saturday that the victim, 48, had bought the shoes from the Gucci store on the second floor of the shopping centre before heading to the restroom on the third floor. She left the shoes behind, and when she returned, she found the shoebox, but the footwear was missing, the source...

Mannino (CGIL): "The participation of young people is a sign that there is a desire to revitalize this land."

President Trump faces pressure to end the war with Iran both from Iran and from onetime political allies here at home.

Legendary British rock band Deep Purple have returned to Japan, a country they first toured more than half a century ago. Despite releasing an album titled “The Last Concert in Japan” in 1977, the band are currently on their “Mad in Japan” tour. Among those thrilled to see them was none other than Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, an avid drummer herself. A drummer during her student days, Takaichi previously even invited South Korea’s president for an impromptu duo session. Morgan Ayre has more.

JD Vance is leading the US delegation, which also includes President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Russian and Ukrainian exchanged prisoners of war on Saturday in a swap of 175 from each side mediated by the United Arab Emirates.

Millions of Americans on Social Security will receive payments on April 15, for beneficiaries with birthdays from the 11th to 20th.

Iran war drives demand for solar panels, heat pumps and EVs, with energy bills expected to rise 18% from July British households are turning to green home energy upgrades in record numbers to try to keep bills down as the Iran crisis sends global oil and gas prices soaring, data from leading energy suppliers suggests. Figures show demand for solar panels, electric vehicles and heat pumps in Great Britain has leapt since the war began on 28 February, as households brace for a sharp increase in monthly payments when the next energy price cap takes effect in the summer. Continue reading...

Archaeological record suggests hunter gatherers were playing games of chance at the end of the last ice age Native American hunter gatherers were using dice for gaming and gambling more than 6,000 years before the practice appeared anywhere else, a new study argues. It says dice were being made and used on the western great plains of North America at the end of the last ice age, more than 12,000 years ago. Continue reading...

South Korea's president says it’s disappointing Israel does not 'even once reflect on criticisms from around the world'.

Soaring fuel prices are driving up costs for Thais travelling home for the holidays, but the chance to spend the new year with loved ones is a price worth paying, they say. “There aren’t many opportunities to go home during festivals like this,” said 24-year-old army cadet Korawich Changpat at Bangkok’s Mo Chit Two bus station, despite his inflated fare back to central Chaiyaphum province. “First of all, I’ll go see my mother. Looking this handsome in my uniform, I must go pay my respects to...

TORONTO — Danielle Martin was going door to door meeting voters when a woman, newly released from the hospital, really wanted to show off her stitches. “I said, ‘I’m really sorry, but I don’t feel like that would be appropriate,’” Martin, a high-profile family doctor-turned-Liberal candidate, recalled with a laugh. “I’m not sure my insurance covers that.” Martin became Canadian famous after defending the country’s health care system before a U. S. Senate committee a dozen years ago. Now, she’s bringing a health lens to some of the biggest challenges facing the country — “housing is a health issue, the economy is a health issue” — as she runs for office under Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal banner to fill a downtown Toronto seat that could prove pivotal for Carney. Voters will hit the polls Monday in three by-election parliamentary races — contests to fill mid-term vacancies in the House of Commons — and winning just one would turn Carney’s minority government into a slim majority. That would give him some real breathing room to enact his agenda and would secure his grip on power until at least 2029, when the next national election could be held. It’s the latest turn in a remarkable trajectory for Carney. Until a year ago, he was a political neophyte. He had a sterling economic resume and international contacts to match, but he had never run for office. Then Donald Trump started mouthing off about annexing Canada and imposing tariffs — pissing off Canadians, accelerating the end of the Justin Trudeau era and vaulting Carney into a stunning election victory over a collapsing Conservative Party. Carney has since proved fairly adept in domestic politics, helping to poach a handful of lawmakers from both Conservative and farther-left New Democrat benches. More are reportedly toying with the idea of joining Carney’s Liberals as Canadians continue to sour on Trump’s America. Trump is also partly responsible for Martin’s decision to run. Liberals had previously tried to recruit her a few times before when the party was tied to Trudeau’s falling star. But the timing never worked out, she said in an interview, citing a mix of factors including a yearning to stay in medicine and having a young daughter home at the time. Then a seat came open when top Trudeau deputy Chrystia Freeland quit his Cabinet amid no confidence he could take on Trump’s “aggressive economic nationalism.” The 49-year-old Martin decided now was the time. Martin has made boosting a Carney agenda and standing up to Trump key parts of her pitch on the trail. “We are at a critical moment in this country, and that not just our economy and not just our sovereignty — although that would be enough — but also our values are under threat,” Martin said at her campaign kickoff last month. “That’s why I’m here. I’m here to leave it all on the field.” Exactly what Carney’s agenda entails, however, is still somewhat unclear. He’s won plaudits on the world stage, but is facing rising concern at home about the cost of living. He’s still fleshing out his policies on a host of issues, including a promised artificial intelligence strategy and health care gaps to meet the needs of an aging population. Meanwhile, simmering separatist movements in Quebec and Alberta also pose threats to national unity. If polls are correct, Martin and Carney’s Liberals are positioned for victory on Monday. The hard part may come after. These three elections are the first since Carney made his blockbuster speech at Davos earlier this year, when he called for the world’s middle powers to band together to forge a New World Order. It’s a vision now being tested on the ground in Canada’s biggest city, where the public may care more about their own personal finances than Carney’s geopolitical ambitions. Two seats here are up for grabs: Martin is vying to keep the downtown Toronto riding of University-Rosedale in Liberal hands, while Doly Begum is striving to do the same in Scarborough-Southwest in the city’s east end after former Cabinet minister Bill Blair was given the top diplomatic post in London. (The third is taking place in the Montreal suburb of Terrebonne after Canada’s top court annulled the Liberals’ one-vote win, forcing a new election.) Both Toronto ridings are considered safe Liberal seats in one of the world’s most multicultural cities, where more than half of its residents were born outside of Canada. Begum herself was born in Bangladesh and immigrated to Toronto with her family when she was a kid. Begum is something of a celebrity in her riding. For the last eight years, she has served there as deputy leader of the provincial New Democratic Party, before deciding in February to run for higher, federal office with the Liberals in the by-election, bringing her reputation as an outspoken pro-Palestinian advocate with her to Carney’s increasingly big tent party. While chatting with her outside on a residential street of detached and semi-detached homes, someone swung their front door open and cried out to her in Bengali, “I thought I heard your voice.” She hadn’t even knocked on the door. Another man asked Begum to wait while he got his wife so they could meet. His wife emerged from her house and embraced the 37-year-old politician. The cold kept their sidewalk chat short, ending with an “Inshallah” — wishing Begum luck to continue representing them, as did many other residents as she walked through the neighborhood. News that Begum had switched parties made a brief sensation, and was another nod to Carney’s wide appeal on the right and left. She said the decision was a long time coming. “It made sense,” said Begum, sitting at the back of her campaign office, which used to be a Newfoundland bar in a plaza nestled in the east end of the city. Balloons in the Liberals’ red and white colors hung on the wall, taped above a map of the riding where 62 percent of its residents are visible minorities, according to Statistics Canada, with South Asian, Black and Filipino communities among the biggest. “It’s not just going from one party to another,” she said. “It was also moving from provincial politics to federal politics, and the opportunity to do more for the riding.” Many in Scarborough-Southwest have long struggled to get by. The average income hovers just above C$49,000, below the C$84,000 city average. And lately, Begum said, affordability has come up as the top concern among residents when she meets them at their doors. It’s even become more frequent than Trump’s tariff threats to the Canadian economy. While Trump and the spectacle of U. S. politics do come up, it’s pocketbook issues that are driving people’s day-to-day decisions, and anxieties. A dozen eggs cost C$3.28 in 2018. Today it’s C$4.81, according to federal data tracking monthly retail prices. In the same period, the cost per kilogram of whole chicken has jumped from C$5.62 to C$8.57. The cost of beef has risen roughly 60 percent. “Now you’ll hear people talk about not being able to afford groceries so much more than ever before,” Begum said. “That was not a conversation that I would have in 2018. There were those conversations — but not as many.” The emergence of affordability as a major issue for Canadians presents a challenge to Carney — a guy who voters believed would not only be best fit to handle Trump, but whose financial acumen as a former central banker of two G7 economies uniquely qualified him to find ways to jumpstart a lagging economy. So far, he has made only modest progress. Notably, Trump’s tariffs on Canadian-made steel, aluminum, copper, softwood lumber and autos continue to weigh on the economy and the public. Carney had promised to secure a new bilateral trade deal with the U. S. by July 2025, but it has yet to happen. Still, Carney continues to hold a significant lead over rivals with 49-percent support over Conservatives’ 35 percent, according to a Leger poll last month. One reason Canadians may be patient on that front is they’re less eager in general to work with an increasingly belligerent White House pursuing its “America First” foreign policy. Fifty-five percent of Canadians now believe the end of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement wouldn’t be so bad for Canada — though that isn’t a sentiment shared by the country’s business leaders. Appeasing both the business elite and regular Canadians could be difficult for Carney, whose Davos Man reputation can come off as a superpower or a liability. Does the master of finance also realize that the rising cost of gas is eating away at his citizens’ grocery budgets? Carney, of course, would say yes. And he has expressed his impatience and desire to move his agenda along faster, in part out of hopes of strengthening the economy and putting more money into people’s pockets. If he comes out of the by-elections victorious, he will be better positioned to do so. A majority mandate would allow the government to change some rules of the House of Commons to take more control of parliamentary committees and expedite votes on legislation. A Cabinet shuffle could also be called in short order to swap out any dead weight for the kinds of ministers who would help Carney advance his agenda. (Some policy analysts like Howard Sapers have described proposals that push for an erosion of parliamentary democracy and centralization of power as having “a certain authoritarian tinge.”) Carney may also struggle to manage his big tent majority at times; Marilyn Gladu’s stunning defection from Conservatives means the Liberals are now making room for social conservatives in their caucus — a shift that has irritated leftists at the grassroots level. Meanwhile, Trump still looms. The prime minister routinely mocks reporters’ questions about his relationship with the president and the frequency of their informal and formal communication. For all their jousting, Carney and Trump have developed a friendly rapport, solidified by regular texts to each other. “[Trump’s] more interested in your viewpoint on various things in private — and that creates an ability to work, work through things,” Carney told the Lowy Institute last month. His message: trust the process. Canadians seem to get it, at least for now. Martin said at one point that when voters air their grievances about Carney to her or say he’s bungling a certain issue, they also recognize he’s in a particularly tough job in a difficult time. “He’s able to handle complexity,” Martin said. “And, it turns out, so are Canadians.”

Ahead of negotiations aimed at ending the conflict between the United States and Iran, Vice President Vance, leading the U.S. delegation, met with Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif earlier today. According to a statement from the Pakistani Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Sharif stated that he "hopes this round of negotiations will serve as a stepping stone towards lasting peace in the region." Prior to this, the Tasnim news agency, which is linked to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that the Iranian delegation had also met with Prime Minister Sharif.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said a Pakistani military force arrived at King Abdulaziz Air Base as part of a strategic defense pact between the two countries.

Both Iran and the U. S. traded allegations of ceasefire violations ahead of talks set to begin Saturday with Pakistan as the host and Israel not in attendance.

Pope Leo XIV has condemned President Trump's actions, asserting that true followers of Christ promote peace over conflict.

A bill laying out plans to return the Indian Ocean archipelago, home to the US-UK Diego Garcia base, has been paused.

“War is hell,” as the saying goes, and it is often those most intimately acquainted with conflict who are the most eager to leave it behind. This yearning for peace was underscored by a newly uncovered archaeological site from the Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BC) in Shaanxi province, northwest China, revealed in 2022. Researchers announced their discoveries in mid-March. Among the findings was a gravesite featuring the remains of individuals interred with broken weapons, a custom rooted in an...

A 10cm-long (4-inch) turtle has died after apparently falling in Hong Kong’s Wong Tai Sin. Police said on Saturday that they were alerted at 2.09pm by a security guard about a turtle suspected of having fallen from a height at No 185 Hammer Hill Road. Online footage and images showed the turtle lying motionless on the playground mat. In Hong Kong, animal cruelty is punishable by up to three years in jail and a fine of HK$200,000 (US$25,530) upon conviction.

Smiljan Radic met Vilches through Marcela Correa long before he visited it. The sculptor, whom he married in 1996, has always been connected to that place: her family, who lived in Talca, owned a half-hectare plot of land there with a simple house. "It was a small house," she says. She remembers Vilches as a special, albeit changing, place: "Suddenly it would be full of people, but then many of the cabins would be empty and abandoned," because many people ended up moving to more touristy, coastal, and less isolated destinations. Vilches, in the municipality of San Clemente, is a pre-cordillera town in the Maule region, with a population of around two thousand. Those who know it describe it as a discreet place on Chile's tourist routes. More associated with mountain tourism, agricultural communities, and small cabins that serve as second homes in the mountains, it also experienced a certain degree of neglect for many years. At the beginning of their relationship, during a trip to India, Correa spoke to Radic about Vilches as a place where they could build a second home and create something together. He, on the other hand, saw it as "a horrible place in the interior." However, in the late 1980s, he went to visit it. And something changed. "When I finally arrived at the place, I was very impressed," Radic said in an interview with the Spanish architecture firm Arquitectura G in 2014. He was impressed by the power of the landscape, the basalt hills, and the feeling of remoteness. And so on...

In recent weeks, it became clear that the United States was seeking a way to end the war, due to the impact that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is having on the global economy, international energy markets, and, especially, the American economy. Here in the United States, the price of gasoline has risen by a dollar per gallon, which is almost a 20% increase. That, along with the lack of support for the war, I believe, led to President Trump's decision. His statements about obliterating a civilization, I believe, were intended to pressure the Iranians and to get them to accept a ceasefire. As for the agreement, we are still trying to understand what it means, because the front between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon remains active and is very tense. It remains to be seen what will happen with the main condition of the United States for the ceasefire, which was that Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow ships to pass without interruption. Furthermore, it is unclear what will happen to the 460 kilograms of enriched uranium that Iran possesses, because Trump and Netanyahu have said that it will be removed. However, Iran is currently taking no action. So, Iran is retaining the enriched uranium. There are many outstanding and unresolved issues, and it is unclear whether the agreement reached, mediated by Pakistan, will be the end, or whether we are only in a temporary period in which fighting could erupt again. Irá…

Keep our news free from ads and paywalls by making a donation to support our work! Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and is published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. The trumpeters who play Kraków’s iconic bugle call every hour from the top of St Mary’s Basilica on the city’s main market square have received a set of new instruments. The eight trumpets were purchased at a cost of around 100,000 zloty (€23,500) by the Kraków Philharmonic with support from the regional authorities in Małopolska, the province where the city is located. “The St Mary’s trumpet call has been one of the most important symbols of the city and the whole of Małopolska for over 600 years,” wrote Łukasz Smółka, head of the provincial government. “For centuries it has set Kraków’s rhythm, reminded us of its history and connected generations of residents and visitors.” 🎺 Krakowski hejnał od ponad 600 lat jest jednym z najważniejszych symboli miasta i całej Małopolski. pic.twitter.com/ATGRxPdTSg — Łukasz Smółka (@Smolka_Lukasz) April 8, 2026 The trumpet call is played from the north tower of St Mary’s Basilica every hour in four directions: towards Wawel Royal Castle, to symbolise playing for the king; to the market square, for city councillors; to the Florian Gate, for guests; and finally to the fire brigade headquarters, responsible for maintaining the tradition. The piece, known in Polish as hejnał mariacki, cuts off abruptly mid-tune in reference to a local legend that a city bugler who was warning of an attack by Mongol invaders in 1241 was hit by an arrow while sounding the alarm. While that story likely arose only in the 20th century, there are records of buglers playing from the church tower dating back to at least the 14th century. Historically, the practice was used to warn residents about fires or invasions, as well as marking the opening and closing of the city gates. It only became an hourly tradition much more recently. Today, the tradition is maintained by a seven-strong team of buglers, who usually work in pairs in a 24-hour-shift. They were delighted to receive the new instruments, reports the Polish Press Agency (PAP). As the hejnał is played 96 times a day, the previous set was somewhat worn out after more than a decade of use, noted one of them, Jakub Imielski. “We try to play as nicely as we can for Cracovians, as usual,” added his colleague, Michał Kołton, noting that the trumpets’ golden colour ensured that people watching from the square below could easily spot the musicians appearing in the tower window. “These are top-class Austrian instruments,” said Mateusz Prendota, director of the Kraków Philharmonic. “We are pleased that in this way we are able to promote the philharmonic and the public service performed by the gentlemen from the St Mary’s tower.” Click here to help us continue providing news free from paywalls and ads Smółka also noted that next year marks the 100th anniversary of Polish public radio’s first broadcast of the hejnał, a tradition which continues every day at midday. The bugle call has also been used as a national symbol, and was played in 1944 in the monastery ruins at Monte Cassino in Italy to announce the Allied victory at the battle there, a key breakthrough in which Polish units played a central part. Now it is also a popular attraction for visitors to Kraków, which is Poland’s second-largest city and also its main tourist hub. Last year, Kraków was named as the best city break destination in Europe for the fifth time by members of leading British consumer association and magazine Which?. Kraków is advertising for a new bugler to perform the city's famous "hejnał mariacki", an hourly trumpet call that has been played from a church tower on the market square since the 14th century https://t.co/Ai7ZZRYqBN — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) December 28, 2020 ​ Notes from Poland is run by a small editorial team and published by an independent, non-profit foundation that is funded through donations from our readers. We cannot do what we do without your support. Main image credit: UMWM

The rescue of a missing airman has triggered the latest controversy to affect traders on the prediction-market platform.

The Russians struck Nikopol with drones, killing a 67-year-old man.

UK officials said time had run out to continue with the deal after opposition from Trump.