Geopolitical Shifts and Ideological Tensionsactive

BARCELONA – This weekend, Barcelona is becoming the "global capital of progressivism," as declared by the socialist mayor, Jaume Collboni, as it hosts a summit of world leaders from the left, sponsored by Pedro Sánchez. Among the leaders attending the summit are the Brazilian president, Lula da Silva, the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, and the Mexican Claudia Sheinbaum, who will be making her first visit to Spain after years of bilateral tensions stemming from Madrid's refusal to apologize for the colonization. Some people carry the history of a continent in their voices. @LulaOficial is one of them. In a world that doubts and fragments, Spain and Brazil are opening a new chapter, convinced that our countries have something the world needs: the strength to build bridges where... pic.twitter.com/VdOAiyLKNv — Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) April 17, 2026 Also attending the conclave, which aims to present a programmatic alternative to the reactionary wave led by Donald Trump, are the governor of Minnesota, Tim Kaine, the mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, the Vice-President of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera, and the President of the Party of European Socialists, the Swede Stefan Löfven. However, before attending the summit, Sánchez and Lula da Silva held a bilateral meeting at the Pedralbes Palace in the city. The meeting was attended by a delegation of...

Tehran’s decision to fully open the strait "guarantees that about twenty tankers will be able to sail from Iraq already in the near future, which are capable to transport about 23 mln barrels of oil produced in Basrah to the global market," the news portal said

The Financial Stability Board is gathering information from members about potential risks posed by Anthropic’s Mythos model as it look to share such insights more broadly among its network of regulators and central bankers to help them judge the risks of autonomous cyber attacks. Bloomberg's Jake Bleiberg reports. Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem, who heads the FSB’s key committee for monitoring risks, said officials have “work to do” as they assess the severity of the risks posed by the artificial intelligence model relative to other budding dangers like private credit and the global energy crisis. The topic has featured heavily in conversations at this week’s IMF and World Bank meetings. It was discussed at a meeting of FSB representatives on Wednesday amid concerns that financial systems beyond the US are disadvantaged because they have little access to the model created by San Francisco-based Anthropic. (Source: Bloomberg)

The ambassador also noted that along with the security aspects, the economic side of the issue also occupies an important place in navigation through the strait

The Celestyal Discovery, a Maltese-flagged cruise ship, crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, becoming the first vessel to transit this strategically important waterway since its reopening. The MarineTraffic ship tracking service reported that the passenger ship, which apparently was sailing without passengers and headed for Oman, departed from Dubai on Friday after being docked for 47 days. The Celestyal Discovery is expected to arrive in Oman on Saturday, according to Euronews. Approximately 2,000 ships were stranded in the Gulf region after Iran closed the strait following U.S. and Israeli attacks on February 28. U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Friday that the waterway is now "completely open." He added that the U.S. naval blockade against Iran will remain in place, applying only to Iranian ports until transactions with Tehran are "100% complete." The Celestyal Discovery is operated by the Greek company Celestyal Cruises.

According to Joseph Aoun, the talks do not mean a waiver of rights

President Trump is headlining Turning Point USA’s (TPUSA) event in Arizona on Friday afternoon, as Republicans seek to bolster support ahead of November. The “Build the Red Wall” event comes at a time when Trump’s backing among young voters is slipping as the conflict in Iran persists and as affordability concerns continue to mount. A…

The Portuguese Parliament approved a measure this Friday that prohibits the display of flags considered "ideological, partisan, or associational" in public buildings, including those that support the LGBTQ+ community or Ukraine. The bill, approved with the votes in favor of the conservative Social Democratic Party (PSD), the far-right party Chega, and the Christian Democratic CDS-Popular Party, prohibits flags that are "ideological, partisan, or associational" in public buildings, regardless of their legal nature. The measure, which also includes a ban on insignias of "foreign origin, except in the context of official diplomatic or protocol events," will apply to public buildings, monuments, flagpoles, facades, and official interiors, according to the news agency Lusa. In cases of non-compliance, fines ranging from 200 to 2,000 euros are foreseen for negligence, and from 400 to 4,000 euros for intentional violations. However, the legislation excludes private spaces and cultural, sporting, or associational events that "do not involve official representation of the State."

Trump tells AFP 'no sticking points' left for deal with Iran

A meeting led by the United Kingdom and France was held to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The leaders of both countries welcomed Iran's announcement that it would open the strait, and stated their intention to further accelerate the development of specific plans, including providing support for mine removal.

Visit to the Western Wall, meetings, ceremonies and the nation’s highest honour – Milei’s schedule in Israel; Presidential delegation departs this Saturday at 11am. Leer más

The Stellantis group announced a significant shift in its industrial strategy in Europe, confirming the end of vehicle production at its historic plant in Poissy, France. The facility, which currently assembles models such as the DS3 and the Opel Mokka, will cease automobile manufacturing by 2028 and will be transformed into a center focused on the circular economy. This decision is a response to a complex scenario for the European automotive industry, characterized by overcapacity, a decline in demand compared to pre-pandemic levels, and the emergence of new global competitors, particularly from China. The restructuring is the result of a sustained decline in vehicle production at the Poissy plant: from 145,000 units in 2023, production is projected to fall to 65,000 units in 2027. Instead of completely closing the plant, Stellantis opted to restructure it through an investment of approximately 100 million euros. The goal is to transform Poissy into an industrial hub focused on new activities related to the vehicle lifecycle, aligning with its sustainability strategy. Among the main functions that the facility will assume are the production of parts and components for other models within the group, as well as the development of after-sales activities. In addition, key circular economy processes will be implemented, such as the dismantling of vehicles at the end of their useful life, the recovery and reuse of parts, and the recycling of materials. Furthermore, the center i…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer appears to have been kept in the dark repeatedly over Peter Mandelson, the Jeffrey Epstein associate — fueling an image of weakness.

Defensive mission contingent on a ceasefire. E4 divisions, Rome and Berlin are cautious about ruling out U.S. involvement.

After departing from Mexico City International Airport (AICM) near midnight, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo arrived at Madrid Airport, where she made a stopover to participate in a summit of progressive governments in Barcelona. Amid selfies, kisses, and hugs, Mexican nationals in Spain welcomed the President of the Federal Executive. Videos shared on social media show the President interacting with people who approached her in the waiting area. Also read: Sheinbaum reveals itinerary during her trip to Spain; she will meet with heads of state and visit a supercomputer center. In connection with President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo's participation in the IV Summit in Defense of Democracy in Barcelona, Spain, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) announced that the President will hold meetings with various heads of state. It was explained that Sheinbaum Pardo will meet with Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, President of Spain; Gustavo Petro Urrego, President of Colombia; Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil; Yamandú Orsi, President of Uruguay; and Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. Furthermore, it was detailed that during her working trip, the President will also meet with the Mexican community residing in Spain and will visit the National Supercomputing Center, where she will tour the facilities of the complex and meet with academics and officials. Also read: Shein…

Defensive mission contingent on a ceasefire. E4 divisions, Rome and Berlin are cautious about ruling out U.S. involvement.

The US leader emphasized that the Irainian side wanted to make a deal

Iran said Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened to international shipping following an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement, prompting thanks from President Donald Trump – who then said the US naval blockade on Iranian ports will continue. “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is […] The post Iran, not US, cancels Hormuz blockade after Israel-Lebanon truce appeared first on Asia Times.

The US delegation to the last weekend’s round of negotiations with Iran was led by Vice President JD Vance

Maria Zakharova recalled that from the very beginning of the large-scale escalation in the Middle East, Moscow had called for an end to the armed confrontation and a transfer of the conflict to a political and diplomatic settlement

Russian fish imports from Turkey in January - February amounted to $63 mln

Iran and the US said the strategic waterway, which has been effectively closed since the beginning of the war, will be fully open to commercial traffic for the remainder of the ceasefire

Democrats want to grill the top immigration officials in a hearing before the House Homeland Security Committee. But the White House did not say if they’ll participate.

Meanwhile, as a new 10-day truce in Lebanon enters its first full day, Trump claims that Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear program. Iran's foreign minister has stated 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 causing oil prices to plummet, despite analysts' warnings that there will be no immediate widespread resumption of passage through the vital waterway. In a series 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!"

Minutes after a ceasefire in Lebanon went into effect at midnight, heavy gunfire was heard in Beirut. Hezbollah supporters were celebrating in the southern suburbs of the capital, which have been pounded by weeks of Israeli strikes.

Following the ceasefire in Lebanon, Tehran has issued a statement. The tycoon continues to criticize NATO. Axios reports: "New talks are likely to take place on Sunday. The United States is considering a deal: $20 billion in exchange for uranium."

France and Britain said on Friday that they would lead a multinational mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, while emphasising the force would be entirely defensive and only deployed once lasting peace in the region was agreed. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the force was being set up as they co-chaired international talks in Paris focused on ensuring free-flowing trade through the critical shipping corridor. The...

As the clock runs down on a two-week ceasefire agreed to by the US and Iran, the key question is whether they can reach a deal to end a war that has killed thousands of people and sparked a global energy crunch.

BARCELONA — The EU’s revised merger guidelines will not offer a free pass for European industries to consolidate, the bloc’s competition chief Teresa Ribera told POLITICO. The European Commission has nearly completed its revamp of the bloc’s merger rules, which is due to be published on May 2. Departmental consultations of the 100-page draft guidelines began this week. “We cannot use merger operations as a substitute for market integration,” Ribera said in an interview on the sidelines of the Global Progressive Mobilization summit in Barcelona on Friday. Ribera, who as executive vice president ranks second to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, enforces antitrust policy across the 27-nation bloc. Her comments contrast with her boss’ calls to nurture European business “champions” that can hold their own against China’s world-beating exporters and U. S. tech titans. The Spanish commissioner said that the industrial restructuring of sectors like telecoms was impeded by the fragmentation of national markets, and not the bloc’s merger rules. “It needs to be proven that there are benefits we will be enjoying in the time to come. And not just: I want to be big,” she said. Ribera also issued a pointed warning to member countries tempted to use the guidelines’ new resilience and security exceptions to pick domestic winners. “We also invite national competition authorities and national governments to make a very self-restrained understanding of what this could mean,” she said. Her remarks follow Italy’s intervention in Milan-based UniCredit’s bid for local rival Banco BPM, and the conditions set by the Spanish government on BBVA’s attempts to acquire Sabadell. Both triggered Commission legal proceedings on the grounds that the respective governments were breaching EU rules on the freedom of establishment and movement of capital. Ribera said that in order for resilience, sustainability and innovation arguments to be accepted, upfront criteria would apply. Each would have to be demonstrated concretely, she added. The commissioner also promised more, earlier structured engagement between companies and officials. The progressive summit at which Ribera spoke brought together left-wing parties and movements from more than 100 countries for its inaugural gathering in Barcelona. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are due to address a plenary session on Saturday.

In a letter addressed to the Association of Career Diplomats of Chile (ADICA), the former New Zealand ambassador, Manahi Pakarati, accused that efforts are being made to remove her from the diplomatic service and denounced workplace harassment against her. Manahi, who was removed from her position in the Oceanic country on January 6th, after the diplomat allegedly supported the self-determination and self-governance of the Rapa Nui people, made serious accusations. In her letter to ADICA, the former ambassador stated: "I have felt the threat that my diplomatic career could eventually be cut short. I have no official communication to this effect, but if that were to happen, it would mean my separation from the Foreign Service after 29 years of service in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which would set a dangerous precedent for all of us." In the text, the diplomat accuses that her situation arose "from the unauthorized circulation, by the counselor Francisco Devia Aldunate, who currently holds a position at the Chilean embassy in Spain. He used a private image obtained from my personal phone, taken during a vacation period in Rapa Nui, my place of origin." She adds that: "This image was interpreted by the colleague Devia in a malicious and biased manner on his social media and in the media, publicly accusing me of allegedly..."

Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) grilled Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about President Trump’s mental fitness Friday, pressing him about some of Trump’s recent social media posts. During a Friday hearing in the House Education and Workforce Committee about the budget of the Department of Health and Human Services, Takano presented large…

The UN chief reiterated his full support for the diplomatic efforts "to find a peaceful path forward out of the current conflict in the Middle East"

PARIS — European leaders pledged to rapidly increase a multinational effort to secure the Strait of Hormuz after Iran said it would reopen the vital waterway to maritime traffic, even if Donald Trump doesn't want their help. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the prime ministers of Italy and the United Kingdom, Giorgia Meloni and Keir Starmer, jointly announced Friday that they would be leading what Starmer called a "defensive" mission to ensure freedom of navigation in the strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas travels. "We agreed to accelerate the military planning, and I can confirm that France and the U.K. will lead a multinational mission to protect freedom of passage as soon as conditions allow," said Starmer, adding that details would be shared at a military planning conference in London next week. The United States, however, does not appear inclined to accept that assistance. After announcing that Tehran had agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz following Israel and Lebanon's agreement on a 10-day ceasefire, Trump wrote Friday on his Truth Social account that his NATO allies were "useless" and weren't needed. "I received a call from NATO asking if we would need some help. I TOLD THEM TO STAY AWAY, UNLESS THEY JUST WANT TO LOAD UP THEIR SHIPS WITH OIL," he wrote. Trump and other top U.S. officials have expressed deep frustration in recent weeks with allies who have refu…

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon said he believes artificial intelligence company Anthropic “had it right” in demanding its technology not be used in fully autonomous lethal weapons, setting off a conflict with the Pentagon. The Pentagon has insisted it be allowed to use Anthropic’s Claude for “all lawful uses,” last month labeling the company…

The trade treaty, known as USMCA, is up for a formal review in the coming months, and Trump administration officials are expected to seek changes to the pact.

Brent crude oil prices plummeted by 10% after Iran announced that the shipping lane remains completely open to commercial vessels during the ceasefire.

After weeks of bombardments in southern Lebanon that have killed more than 2,000 people and displaced more than one million residents Israel has announced a ten-day ceasefire with Lebanon, prompting Iran to declare the Strait of Hormuz “completely open” – although US President Donald Trump said the US blockade “will remain in full force” until […] The post Israel-Lebanon ceasefire no tidy end to fighting, Hormuz shutdown appeared first on Asia Times.

Ukraine is interested in a long-term and mutually beneficial partnership with Sweden and is ready to share its experience and technologies, as well as expand cooperation in the defense-industrial sector.

The Secretary of Foreign Affairs (SRE), headed by Roberto Velasco Álvarez, announced that President Claudia Sheinbaum will participate in the IV Summit for the Defense of Democracy this Saturday, April 18th, along with various heads of state, as part of her visit to Barcelona, Spain. In a statement, the SRE detailed that, during her visit, the federal leader will meet with the following heads of state: Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain; Gustavo Petro Urrego, President of Colombia; Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil; Yamandú Orsi, President of Uruguay; and Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados. It is also anticipated that the President will meet with the Mexican community residing in Spain, and subsequently, on Sunday, April 19th, President Sheinbaum will visit the National Supercomputing Center, where she will have a meeting with academics and officials, and will take a tour of the facilities. Also read: "Welcome, President Claudia Sheinbaum"; Mexicans in Spain express their support for her visit. According to the SRE, the President is accompanied on this working trip by Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco; the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra; the Chief of Staff of the Presidency of the Republic, Lázaro Cárdenas Batel; and the Mexican Ambassador to Spain, Quirino Ordaz Coppel. The President addressed the public yesterday…

More than a million civilians in Lebanon have been displaced since the war in the Middle East erupted at the end of February. Among them are thousands of young mothers and pregnant women, many forced to give birth in makeshift camps or other inadequate conditions. This report from our colleagues at France 2, by Camille Nedelec, takes a closer look.

In 1926, migrant workers in Paris formed a small political group named North African Star, the first movement to call for Algerian independence and freedom from French rule – decades before decolonisation became a reality.

BRUSSELS — There is “no indication” of jet fuel shortages causing widespread flight cancellations in Europe, Transport Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas said Friday, speaking hours before Iran lifted its Strait of Hormuz blockade. Jet fuel prices in Europe have more than doubled since the U. S. and Israel launched their war against Iran on Feb. 28; Tehran retaliated by blocking most shipping through a strait responsible for about a fifth of the world’s crude oil imports. The aviation industry warned of a looming kerosene supply crunch and International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol told the AP on Thursday that Europe has “maybe six weeks or so of jet fuel left.” But the EU doesn’t agree. “There have been some reports in these two previous days suggesting Europe could be close to running out of jet fuel. That is not an accurate reflection of the situation,” Tzitzikostas said during a press conference in Nicosia. Some European airlines like Lufthansa, KLM and SAS have cut back on flights, while ticket prices are rising in response to the fuel price surge. Airlines “have chosen in these past days to cancel some of their lines because they were already not profitable,” Tzitzikostas said. Even if Iran’s Friday announcement restores normal shipping out of the Gulf, it could take “a period of months” for normal fuel levels to be restored, Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, said earlier this month. Birol, who spoke a day before the Iranian decision, based his comments on the IEA’s latest oil market report, which looks at jet fuel supply risks in EU member countries. France and Germany were identified as the most exposed among big EU countries. Birol warned that “if we are not able to open the Strait of Hormuz … I can tell you soon we will hear the news that some of the flights from city A to city B might be canceled as a result of lack of jet fuel.” Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, the European Commission’s transport spokesperson, said Friday that if fuel flows from the Gulf don’t resume, Brussels “will be preparing to launch possible coordinated action as regards to jet fuels.” Lennart Roos contributed to this report.

Iran announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain “fully open” until the end of the ceasefire with the United States, which is in effect until April 22 and could be extended depending on the outcome of negotiations scheduled for this weekend. The government of the Islamic Republic justified the decision to open one of the key maritime routes for the global supply of hydrocarbons on the entry into force of the truce in Lebanon, which has led to a significant drop in oil prices and a major relief in the markets. However, the U. S. naval blockade against Iranian ports will remain in place. Seguir leyendo

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, recommended this Friday that NATO allies stay "away" from the Strait of Hormuz "unless they only want to load their oil tankers," after Iran announced the complete reopening of the waterway. "Now that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz has ended, I received a call from NATO asking if we would need help. I told them to stay away, unless they only want to load their oil tankers," he wrote on his Truth Social platform. The Republican leader added that the allies were "useless when they were needed, a paper tiger." In other posts, he thanked the "help" of his partners from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, as well as Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator between Washington and Tehran. Trump has been very critical of the Atlantic Alliance for its refusal to join Washington in a military coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for oil trade that was blocked by Iran in retaliation for the U.S. and Israeli offensive, a conflict from which Europeans distanced themselves, claiming it was not their war. Iran announced this Friday that the Strait of Hormuz will remain "completely open" until the end of the ceasefire with the United States, next Wednesday, as a result of the beginning of the truce in Lebanon announced on Thursday. Trump thanked this announcement, but then...

The war in Iran and a spat between two of the world's most influential Americans has forced Giorgia Meloni to choose sides, potentially pushing the Italian prime minister to align herself with Europe's center-right.

President Donald Trump said Iran agreed to suspend its nuclear program indefinitely, and will not receive any frozen funds from the US.

Meeting in Paris, the leaders said that a neutral mission may still be needed to safeguard shipping and prevent renewed disruption in the vital trade route.

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, announced this Friday the launch of a naval mission with a "neutral" character that will "escort and protect" merchant ships transiting the Persian Gulf, as part of a diplomatic effort by a group of allies to contribute to the freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Following a meeting organized by Macron at the Élysée Palace, which brought together nearly 50 world leaders, mostly via video conference, to discuss the crisis in Hormuz, the French President announced the launch of this naval operation, coinciding with the reopening of navigation to merchant ships announced by Iran, a move that the United States has welcomed, although it has stated that it will maintain its perimeter closure until an agreement is reached with Tehran to end the conflict. "We will strengthen and accelerate the planning work that we have already begun, in coordination with the United Kingdom, to enable the implementation of a neutral mission, clearly distinct from a belligerent mission, with the aim of escorting and protecting merchant ships transiting the Gulf," said the French President, who noted that a further planning meeting in London will advance the structure of the mission. Macron emphasized that this work will be accompanied by "diplomatic efforts and coordination" with the United Kingdom...

Gabriel Boric Font will make his international debut as former President of Chile this Saturday in Barcelona, at the event "In Defense of Democracy," convened by Spain in its capacity as the 2026 host country. This event follows a previous edition held in Santiago in July 2025, during the previous administration, which brought together various progressive intellectuals and politicians, including the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez; the President of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi; the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva; and the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro. The former head of state's attendance was announced on April 8th, when he sent a letter to the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Jorge Alessandri (UDI), requesting permission to leave Chile and begin his first international engagement after handing over power to José Antonio Kast. The objective of the forum is to foster "a democratic diplomacy that promotes cooperation among leaders with shared principles, such as respect for the rule of law, human rights, and the strengthening of multilateralism." This initiative has had three significant milestones: the First High-Level Meeting within the framework of the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) in 2024; the preparatory meeting "Democracy Always," which took place in Santiago; and the Third High-Level Meeting at the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations in September of the same year. Boric will participate as a co-founder and will moderate the …

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday urged the United States and Iran to guard against any provocations by Israel and use their current ceasefire to push for lasting peace. “We must not allow weapons to again replace words,” he told the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey. “Let it not be forgotten, the shortest path to peace is dialogue and diplomacy. Peace is not a one-winged bird.” His remarks came as Washington and Tehran weighed the next steps after a temporary halt in fighting,...

Oil prices dropped dramatically on Friday as Iran announced that it was opening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping lane. International benchmark Brent crude plummeted 12 percent while U. S. benchmark WTI fell an even more dramatic 14 percent as of Friday morning. The war in Iran and subsequent closure of the Strait sent oil prices skyrocketing in…

The EU is prepared to send additional warships as part of a mission to protect shipping in the Middle East and keep the Strait of Hormuz open "once a ceasefire takes hold," the bloc's top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said Friday. Dozens of European leaders, including those of France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom, convened in person and by video call to discuss organizing a joint maritime force to secure the strategically vital waterway, through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas is transported and which Iran has effectively closed in response to U.S. and Israeli strikes launched in February. "Europe will play its part in restoring the free flow of energy and trade, once a ceasefire takes hold," Kallas said on social media after the meeting. "The EU's Aspides naval mission is already operating in the Red Sea and can be quickly strengthened to protect shipping across the region. This could be the fastest way to provide support." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called fully reopening the strait "an urgent, shared priority," adding that the EU could contribute by "reinforcing Operation Aspides," the EU's naval mission in the Middle East. The mission's mandate covers the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Oman but stops short of the Strait of Hormuz. EU leaders rejected expanding it at a summit in March, and Kallas and von der Leyen did not say Friday whether doing so now was under consideration.

China's President Xi Jinping has broken a six-week silence about the war in Iran, vowing to take a "constructive" role in efforts to end the conflict. Beijing is wary of being drawn into a war it took no part in, and faces a delicate balancing act between its long-term partnership with Iran and its strategic interests in the Middle East and beyond. Yuka Royer speaks with Ja Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, about what's behind Beijing's calculations.

The Turkish leader noted that "the international system is undergoing a crisis of legitimacy and has become incapable of resolving conflicts"

Trump envoy Morgan Ortagus says Antoun Sehnaoui is a committed Zionist, even as Israel attacked Lebanon.

Pakistan's civilian and army leaders shuttle between key capitals as Trump says he may visit Islamabad to sign a deal.

Keir Starmer is facing fresh calls to resign as the Peter Mandelson scandal roars back to life. Alex Morgan explains what it means for the prime minister and UK bonds. (Source: Bloomberg)

Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé, from France, and Bill Ross, from the United States, met when they were young, in the 1950s. She was a secretary, and he was a soldier in the U.S. Army, stationed at a NATO base in France at the time. In 1966, Bill had to return to his country. They then lived separate lives: they met other people, got married, and even started families. However, a couple of years ago, when they were both widowed and in their 80s, they decided to reconnect. After several visits and a long-distance relationship, the French woman decided to move to Alabama, USA, to marry him in April 2025. What seemed like a legendary love story ended in tragedy. In January 2026, Ross passed away unexpectedly from natural causes. The woman decided to stay in the country to resolve her immigration status, and also because she became embroiled in a legal battle over her late husband's inheritance with his two children. Things worsened when, on an unthinkable day in April, a group of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents violently broke into her home and arrested her. She didn't even have time to change out of her pajamas. According to a probate judge in the county overseeing the former soldier's estate, it was one of Ross's children who reported Marie-Thérèse to the immigration authorities. The arrest of the 80-year-old French woman by ICE in the United States. After the arrest, Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé, the French woman, was…

A new technical paper, “Emulation-based System-on-Chip Security Verification: Challenges and Opportunities,” was published by researchers at University of Florida. Abstract “Increasing system-on-chip (SoC) heterogeneity, deep hardware/software integration, and the proliferation of third-party intellectual property (IP) have brought security validation to the forefront of semiconductor design. While simulation and formal verification remain indispensable, they often struggle to expose vulnerabilities that emerge only under realistic execution conditions, long software-driven interactions, and adversarial stimuli. In this context, hardware emulation is emerging as an increasingly important pre-silicon verification technology because it enables higher-throughput execution of RTL designs under realistic hardware/software workloads while preserving sufficient fidelity for security-oriented analysis. This paper presents a comprehensive survey and perspective on emulation-based security verification and validation. We organize the landscape of prior work across assertion-based security checking, coverage-driven exploration, adversarial testing, information-flow tracking, fault injection, and side-channel-oriented evaluation. We provide a structured view of emulation-enabled security verification workflows, including instrumentation, stimulus generation, runtime monitoring, and evidence-driven analysis. We also examine practical challenges related to observability, scalability, property specification, and the definition of security-oriented coverage metrics for emulation-based verification. Finally, we discuss emerging directions such as AI-assisted emulation, digital security twins, chiplet-scale security exploration, automated vulnerability assessment, and cloud-scale secure emulation. Overall, this paper positions emulation as a promising foundation for the next generation of pre-silicon hardware security assurance.” Find the paper here. April 2026. arXiv:2604.15073. Authors: Tanvir Rahman, Shuvagata Saha, Ahmed Y. Alhurubi, Sujan Kumar Saha, Farimah Farahmandi, Mark Tehranipoor The post Emulation-based SoC Security Verification (U. of Florida) appeared first on Semiconductor Engineering.

Claudia Curiel Icaza, Secretary of Culture, celebrated the approval of the Film and Audiovisual Law and the amendments to the Federal Copyright Law, stating that "these laws have a broader framework based on cultural rights." During the morning press conference in the Treasury Hall of the National Palace, Curiel Icaza pointed out that "more than ever, filmmaking takes place in different locations; filming can occur in one place, special effects can be created in another part of the world, and post-production can be completed elsewhere. This chain of events needed an update to the law." In this regard, she explained that the film industry needed a law based on cultural rights, not solely focused on the market, "but one that includes the rights of the public, promotes equity, and strengthens each sector." Also read: "Cine México," a book that offers new perspectives on the industry. The official highlighted the progressive increase in funding for the film industry, "which reflects the interest and relevance of this industry within various communities and the importance of film as a tool for national sovereignty." She added that the law maintains the 10% quota for films shown in theaters, "which is increased for Mexican films, and the minimum period for films in theaters is extended from 7 to 14 days. This will be monitored on a semi-annual basis to ensure greater visibility for national films compared to major international productions." Additionally...

Friday’s statements that the strait is now open raised investors’ hopes that oil and gas would start flowing out of the Persian Gulf in significant volumes again.

The tanker is expected to take two million barrels of oil on board and sail to India

WASHINGTON, April 17 (Yonhap) -- U. S. President Donald Trump on Friday thanked I...

The discussion touched on the geopolitical situation in the world, the situation in individual countries, including the conflict in the Middle East

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Marie-Thérèse Ross in Alabama on April 1st. The 86-year-old woman had overstayed the 90-day validity of her visa, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She is currently being held in a federal immigration detention center in Louisiana. Her arrest has prompted a reaction from the French government, which has mobilized to secure her release. The French Consul General in New Orleans, Rodolphe Sambou, has visited Ross on two occasions, and efforts are underway to pressure U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to repatriate her to France, according to the AP news agency. "Given her age, we really want her to get out of this situation as soon as possible," a French official told the Politico news outlet. The French citizen, originally from the town of Le Pouliguen in the Loire-Atlantique department in western France, was arrested violently at her residence, according to information provided by her family to French media. "She was handcuffed like a dangerous criminal," her son told the Ouest-France newspaper. [Image of a tweet from Le Parisien about a 86-year-old French woman arrested by ICE due to lack of a green card.]

Starmer, however, sought to contain the fallout by expressing anger on Friday at not having been informed about Mandelson's vetting status.

A temporary ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon went into effect at midnight local time on Friday after weeks of fighting.   Iran announced on Tuesday morning that the Hormuz Strait was “completely open” amid the ceasefire, though it wasn’t immediately clear what that means for a U. S. blockade on the corridor. The deal came…

The announcement by Donald Trump.

The dollar plummeted amid market optimism regarding the future of the war in Iran. The dollar's decline is erasing much of the gains it made since the conflict in the Middle East began, following this year's U.S. attack on Iran. Earlier in the day, the dollar fell by $12.25 compared to Thursday's closing price, reaching a value of $875.70 per unit, its lowest level since February 27th ($871.20), the day before the start of the war. As a result, since the beginning of the conflict, the dollar has only increased by $4.25. During this period, the highest exchange rate for the dollar in Chile was $931.50 on March 30th. More to follow.

The Strait of Hormuz, the waterway crucial for global trade that Iran has effectively closed since the beginning of the U. S.-Iran conflict, has reopened after a 10-day ceasefire was called between Israel and Lebanon, President Donald Trump and a top Iranian official said on Friday. “In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on X. He added that ships must follow routes coordinated by Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization. President Donald Trump thanked Iran for reopening the key waterway in a post on social media, writing in all caps, “IRAN HAS JUST ANNOUNCED THAT THE STRAIT OF IRAN IS FULLY OPEN AND READY FOR FULL PASSAGE. THANK YOU!” The status of the strait has been one of the major sticking points in negotiations between the U. S. and Iran. The U. S. has been blockading the strait for ships heading to or from Iranian ports.

As people across India celebrate traditional agrarian spring festivals, climate change has become an unwanted guest at the table. How are communities rising to the pressure on harvests, water, and rural life?

Iran expanded its control of the Strait of Hormuz over the course of the war with the United States.

As a 10-day ceasefire deal between Lebanon and Israel took effect, the Israeli military said its forces are going to remain in southern Lebanon. Iran and Donald Trump say the Strait of Hormuz is now open. DW has more.

This Friday, April 17th, President Claudia Sheinbaum will travel to Barcelona, Spain, to participate in the IV Summit for the Defense of Democracy. "La Mañanera del Pueblo" (The People's Morning Briefing) will be led by the Secretary of the Interior, Rosa Icela Rodríguez. You can follow "La Mañanera del Pueblo" live from the Treasury Hall of the National Palace. Join our channel! EL UNIVERSAL is now on WhatsApp! Stay informed about the most important news of the day, opinion pieces, entertainment, trends, and more, all from your mobile device.

The price of oil experienced a sharp decline following Iran's announcement regarding the temporary opening of the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire agreed upon with the United States. The price of Brent crude fell significantly, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures also showed a substantial decline, all within a context marked by diplomatic negotiations and expectations of de-escalation in the Middle East. On Friday, international markets exhibited volatile behavior after Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global hydrocarbon trade, would remain open to navigation for the duration of the ceasefire. This news triggered immediate reactions in global benchmark prices, with declines of around 10%. Brent closed at $89.43 per barrel, a decrease of $8.77 and a decline of 8.93%. Meanwhile, WTI finished the day at $81.53, losing $11.65 compared to the previous day. This downward trend reflected investor expectations of a potential agreement between the United States and Iran. The possibility of negotiations over the weekend and the implementation of a ten-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel reinforced optimism in the markets regarding a possible resolution of the conflict in the region. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, expressed confidence that the conversations with…

Iran said it would open the Strait of Hormuz for the duration of a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, increasing the prospect of a wider peace deal.

The blackout has become the longest nationwide internet disruption ever recorded worldwide

The Iranian regime announced this Friday that the Strait of Hormuz will be open to navigation during the ceasefire agreed with the United States. "In accordance with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remainder of the ceasefire period, along the coordinated route previously announced by the Organization of Ports and Maritime Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran," stated Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Developing story.

France is planning to replace Windows software with open-source alternative Linux across government computers, in a move aimed at reducing its dependence on American tech giants – but experts warn the transition will be costly and slow.

With war in Iran on hold, the world's largest industrial trade fair opens in Hannover. And Brazil, this year's partner country, is pulling out all the stops to convince visitors it's a reliable technology leader.

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militia Israeli forces are battling in Lebanon, avoided mention of the 10-day cease-fire but appeared to be adhering to it. A truce could remove an obstacle in U. S.-Iran peace talks.

Saeed Khatibzadeh said the current situation in the region "necessitates this, not only for security reasons, but also to ensure safe passage and address environmental concerns."

French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will on Friday host a video conference with their European allies to discuss the possible deployment of a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz once the war in Iran is over. The force would help ensure safe and secure passage through the crucial waterway. France24 journalist Carys Garland reports from the Elysée Palace.

According to Dmitry Peskov, the duration of the truce "can hardly be predicted"

Pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer is growing over his naming of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador despite red flags. The PM says he was not told that Mandelson failed a background check before the appointment.

Progressive leaders from around the world are gathering in Spain on Friday to coordinate a response to the rise of far right and nationalist movements from Europe to the U. S. — with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the center of the push. More than 3,000 participants from over 100 organizations are convening in Barcelona for the launch of the “Global Progressive Mobilization,” a new initiative aimed at strengthening international cooperation among left-leaning parties and activists. The experiment is about organizing internationally, Stefan Löfven, president of the European Socialist Party (PES), told POLITICO. “Democracy is increasingly under pressure, and progressives are stepping up globally.” The two-day event aims to build a counter to advancing authoritarian and far-right forces, from the nationalist right in Europe — including parties aligned with the Patriots for Europe bloc — to global politics in the age of U. S. President Donald Trump. “This is not an isolated trend,” Löfven said. “It’s a shared challenge that requires a coordinated global response.” The Barcelona program includes a leaders’ dinner on Friday followed by a day of events featuring Socialist group chief Iratxe García and European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera as well as Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum. The gathering also gives Sánchez — the event’s host — a platform to elevate his international profile as a central figure of a renewed global socialist movement. “He’s not just acting as a Spanish leader,” said a senior European Parliament official, granted anonymity to speak freely. “He’s trying to exercise European leadership.” Sánchez could be eyeing a future role in Brussels, potentially challenging European Council President António Costa when the post comes up for mid-term review in 2027, the official said. Costa, who is expected to attend the Barcelona meeting, is widely seen as the favorite to retain the position, but Sánchez’s growing visibility could complicate that outlook. The Spanish leader’s international ambitions come at a sensitive moment at home. Spain is due to hold elections by 2027, with polls pointing to a fragmented political landscape and a tight race between his Socialist Party and the conservative opposition. Still, allies see him as a driving force behind the broader progressive push. Sánchez is “the great progressive catalyst of the world,” Vice President of Socialist International and event organizer Hana Jalloul Muro said, pointing to his recent diplomatic activity — including a high-profile trip to China and clashes with Trump-aligned figures — as evidence of his expanding role.

Widespread voter dissatisfaction in the Finnish government is propelling the opposition one year before a general election.

Oil prices fell after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that the war in Iran "should end pretty soon," while a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon raised expectations of a decrease in supply disruptions. The U.S. WTI crude for May delivery retreated 1.44%, to $93.33 per barrel, while Brent crude for June delivery fell 1.29%, to $98.1. On Thursday, Trump stated that "the war in Iran is going very well," reiterating his projections about the end of the conflict that began on February 28. Hours earlier, the president indicated in a post on Truth Social that a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon would begin at 5:00 PM (ET). The U.S. president added that the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, would be invited to the White House for what he described as the first significant talks between the two countries since 1983. The U.S. Department of State stated that both sides are seeking to create conditions for a lasting peace, including mutual recognition of sovereignty. The initiative includes improvements in border security and reaffirms Israel's right to self-defense. The department also expressed shared concerns about non-state armed groups that could undermine Lebanon's sovereignty. In that regard, …

Three vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz towards the Persian Gulf and the same amount towards the Gulf of Oman

An 85-year-old Frenchwoman who was arrested by ICE after her American veteran husband died, has returned to France, the foreign ministry announced Friday. The detention of Marie-Thérèse Ross – who had moved to the US to marry her long-lost love and was still waiting for her Green Card application to be approved – has caused an uproar in France.

Iran can defeat the United States in the sense that it will not allow the US to achieve the goals it has set for itself in the war, Alexey Pushkov noted

Stuck in gridlocked traffic, Lebanese people who had been displaced by the fighting expressed a mixture of excitement and uncertainty about a pause in Israel's campaign against Hezbollah.

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on Friday that the war in Iran had highlighted the urgent need for long-delayed UN reforms, arguing that the world body must be strengthened if multilateral diplomacy is to help restore global peace and security. "We have been talking about that for a long time, but only talking happens," Tokayev told the fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey. "Everybody is feeling the impact of the Iran war and everybody is suffering." At the three-day summit ending...

European public service broadcasters are under growing political and financial pressure, while also having to contend with fake news and propaganda.