Global Political Shifts and Tensionsactive

BARCELONA.- The global summit of progressive leaders, held in Barcelona and hosted by Pedro Sánchez, took place this Saturday afternoon with a commitment to mobilize citizens to break "the global reactionary wave" and trigger a change in direction. Among the fifteen heads of state and government from four different continents, prominent figures included Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Axel Kicillof represented Argentina, and from the United States, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz attended, who formed an electoral partnership with Kamala Harris in the last US presidential elections. While the day before, Lula da Silva had attracted the most media attention, at the beginning of the Summit for Democracy, the focus was largely on Claudia Sheinbaum, as this was the first visit to Spain by a Mexican official in eight years, following a period of bilateral tensions stemming from Madrid's refusal to apologize for the crimes of Spanish colonization. In a bilateral meeting with Sánchez, held on the sidelines of the summit, Sheinbaum took the opportunity to invite the socialist leader to Mexico in an attempt to ease tensions between the two countries. "There has never been a diplomatic crisis. What is very important is that the strength of the indigenous peoples is recognized for our country... Come..."

The Mexican president says there were never tension over Spainish colonisation, which had become a thorny issue.

President endorses psilocybin and ibogaine: "Can I have some, please?" (Image credit: Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Far-right leaders met in Milan calling for a plan to introduce remigration in Europe. League chief Salvini proposes a points-based residence permit and attacks the EU over its energy-crisis response, backing a reopening to Russian oil.

Soldiers were participating in ‘land navigation training’ when bear injured them in a ‘defensive attack’ Two US army soldiers have been injured after encountering a brown bear in a mountainous training area in Anchorage, Alaska, the military said on Friday. The incident happened on Thursday as the soldiers were participating in a “land navigation training event” in Arctic Valley, part of the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s training area. Continue reading...

Exclusive: deputy prime minister says it is ‘inexplicable’ top civil servant kept Downing Street in dark Keir Starmer would have blocked Peter Mandelson from serving as the UK’s ambassador to Washington had he known he failed security vetting, David Lammy has said, as he attempted to shore up the prime minister amid damaging fallout from the row. In his first public comments on the vetting affair, Lammy said it was “inexplicable” that Oliver Robbins, the former top civil servant who was forced out of the Foreign Office this week, had opted to leave Downing Street in the dark over the outcome. Continue reading...

The US has carried out further attacks on alleged drug boats. Critics say the strikes are not only ineffective, they are also largely about appealing to Trump's own domestic base.

Pope Leo also clarified that his recent remarks in Cameroon, in which he decried a "handful of tyrants," were not directed at US President Donald Trump.

A Canadian man accused of helping 14 ⁠people in the province ⁠of Ontario kill themselves by selling a ⁠legal but deadly substance online will avoid a murder trial by pleading guilty to lesser charges, his lawyer said on Saturday. Kenneth Law, 60, will plead guilty to counselling or aiding suicide under a deal with Crown prosecutors that will see more serious ‌first-degree murder charges withdrawn, Matthew Gourlay of Henein Hutchison Robitaille said in an email. Law’s case is scheduled to return...

Several thousand people gathered in Milan on Saturday for a large rally attended by several European far-right leaders who spoke on immigration, security, and against EU regulations.

BARCELONA — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez vowed Saturday to "twist the arm" of the far-right forces trying to dismantle the international order, rallying left-leaning world leaders and activists at a summit billed as a show of resistance by progressive powers. Speaking at the Global Progressive Mobilization conference in Barcelona, the Spanish leader cast the event as a coordinated international pushback against what he described as a globalized far-right movement. Sánchez pointed a finger in particular at U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the war in the Middle East for leading to a broad erosion of multilateral institutions, a development to which he said the global left needs to respond. “We will twist the arm of the people who think they are completely untouchable,” Sánchez told the crowd. “The billionaires with greed that is unlimited. Those who speculate with people's homes,” he said. He singled out oligarchs “who want to get richer using our democracy and the mental health of our youngsters.” “When we progressives reach government, it is not to serve the elites — we put them in their place,” said Sánchez. He said the far right was “organizing internationally” but insisted their numbers betrayed weakness rather than strength. “They shout not because they are winning but because they know their time is about to be over,” he said. Some 6,000 left-leaning elected officials, policy analysts and activists attended the event.

Five civilians were injured in Russian strikes across the Dnipropetrovsk region throughout Saturday, regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha said.

A French UN peacekeeper has been killed in Lebanon, highlighting rising risks for UNIFIL. The UN mission has been in the country for nearly 50 years — DW looks at its mandate, role and growing criticism.

Late-night host Bill Maher criticized former California Rep. Eric Swalwell (D) on Friday regarding the sexual misconduct allegations against the former lawmaker, who had previously appeared on his show. "I've always thought this guy was a f---ing creep," Maher said. "I never liked him, and yet so many Democrats stood by him." Swalwell resigned…

Donald Trump and Erika Kirk's on-stage kiss at a Phoenix rally sparked online backlash.

Order calls on federal government to relax restrictions on psychedelics, including ibogaine, for potential treatments.

Yes to Russian gas, no to the Green Deal, and a renewed focus on point-based permits. Tensions arose within the group of protesters.

In Lebanon, where a ceasefire agreement with neighboring Israel came into effect, a United Nations peacekeeping force responsible for maintaining peace in the border region was attacked on the 18th, resulting in the death of one French soldier. The situation in Lebanon remains tense, as reports indicate that one person was also killed in an attack by Israeli forces the previous day.

Joseph Aoun has spoken by phone with his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron

The Indian government has announced that it has summoned the Iranian ambassador to the country to protest an incident that occurred a few hours ago in the Strait of Hormuz. Two Iranian patrol boats fired warning shots at two Indian-flagged oil tankers, which were forced to retreat. The strait is currently blocked again by Iranian authorities as part of their conflict with the United States. The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the summoning of Ambassador Mohamad Fathali to New Delhi. The Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, expressed his "concern" regarding the incident, which involved "two Indian-flagged ships in the Strait of Hormuz," and fortunately, there were no casualties. Jaishankar "emphasized the importance that India places on the safety of merchant shipping and seafarers, and recalled that Iran had previously facilitated the safe passage of several ships bound for India." Finally, the Indian Foreign Minister described the incident as "serious" and requested that the ambassador convey to the authorities in Tehran the urgent need to "begin facilitating the passage of ships bound for India through the strait as soon as possible." It is worth noting that India was one of the countries that had signed bilateral agreements with Iran to ensure the smooth passage of ships through the strait during the first blockade imposed by Iranian authorities. Meanwhile, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy are…

PARIS. A French soldier died and three others were injured in an attack on Saturday against UN peacekeeping forces in Lebanon, reportedly carried out by the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. The attack occurred while a ceasefire is in effect in the region with Israel, which has been in place since midnight on Thursday. "All indications point to Hezbollah being responsible," Macron wrote on X, urging Lebanese authorities to arrest those responsible. The French President called on Lebanese leaders to "guarantee the safety of the soldiers of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)" in conversations with the country's president and prime minister, according to the president. Following this, Macron identified the soldier as Sergeant First Class Florian Montorio, from the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment of Montauban, and stated that three of his "comrades" were also injured and had to be evacuated. According to French Minister of the Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin, in a post on X, the soldier was caught in an "ambush" while his unit was heading to a UNIFIL post and died from a "direct gunshot." Sergeant First Class Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment of Montauban was killed this morning in southern Lebanon during an attack on UNIFIL. Three of his comrades were injured and have been evacuated. The…

Wall Street leaders are urging Americans to look towards independent political solutions, as the two-party system has failed to effectively govern and is threatening to destabilize the financial order.

Speaking at a diplomacy forum in Turkiye, Deputy Foreign Minister said discussions have not reached a stage where an in-person meeting can take place.

The Sphere in Vegas is just the first of many round, bulbous entertainment venues that the venue’s operators are hoping to open.

The pontiff says his remarks have been misinterpreted after a spat with the US president.

In Milan, a procession organized by patriotic groups and the Lega party took place in Piazza Duomo.

Labour calls on Nigel Farage to sack candidates and says his party’s checks ‘clearly not fit for purpose’ Reform UK’s checks on candidates are “clearly not fit for purpose”, Labour has said after two more candidates in May’s local elections were accused of making offensive or potentially racist social media posts. Meanwhile, it emerged that Restore Britain, the party set up by the MP Rupert Lowe after he left Reform, appeared to have accepted a donation from someone who has called publicly on social media for “another Hitler” to come to power. Continue reading...

Even in the best of times, politics is a fickle business, with the prospects for various political candidates flipping on a dime. That reality is now on steroids in the “Age of Trump” and social media.

The Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Alicia Bárcena, stated during her speech at the progressive forum in Barcelona that "no country, no matter how powerful, can continue to behave unilaterally," and called for the elimination of the veto power within the United Nations. "No country, no matter how powerful, can continue to behave unilaterally. We must eliminate the veto within the United Nations, which paralyzes us; the progressive response must be global, supportive, and renewed," said the Mexican Secretary at the closing of the Global Progressive Mobilization, held in Barcelona. Bárcena thanked the President of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, for the initiative of the forum, which is being held in conjunction with the Summit for the Defense of Democracy, and echoed the call made by the former Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Also read: Sheinbaum and Sánchez agree to restore commercial and cultural dialogue; they discussed forgiveness for abuses during the Conquest. "We must strengthen multilateralism and international democracy. We, as progressives, cannot afford to lose it; we are losing it. We must combat war," said the former Chancellor of Andrés Manuel López Obrador. To achieve peace, she added, the United Nations must be reformed, because "peace will only be achieved if we create a United Nations that is more equitable and much more balanced." She advocated for "multilateralism" in a "fragmented" world.

The announcement was made alongside Robert Kennedy Jr., the Minister of Health, and the popular podcaster Joe Rogan.

The banking sector in Panama improved its reputation in 2026, reaching a moderate level that places it above the average for Latin America and the United States. This is occurring in a context where trust in financial institutions remains a fragile asset and is highly valued by society. According to the RepCore Banca 2026 report, the Panamanian financial system achieved a score of 50 points on the reputation index, representing an increase of +3.9 points compared to the previous year, reflecting a positive evolution in consumer perception. This progress occurs in an international context where banking reputation remains at moderate levels, with significant differences between markets. The study, based on over 27,600 evaluations in 19 countries, including 2,200 in Panama, confirms that there is no structural stigma against banking, but rather that perception depends directly on each institution's ability to meet the expectations of its customers. In other words, reputation has ceased to be a sectoral attribute and has become an individual competitive factor. One of the most relevant findings is that Panama exhibits a differentiated behavior compared to other markets, as the reputation of banks is not built solely on solvency or the offering of products, but on social and ethical factors. In this context, social commitment and integrity are key drivers…

The Governor of the province of Buenos Aires, Axel Kicillof, stated that the government of President Javier Milei is "a disaster" and "a failure," the consequences of which "fall upon mayors and governors" who must be the "safety net to sustain the daily lives" of the people. Therefore, he called on people to understand that "there is another path, one that is not of war, not of cruelty, and not of abandonment." During his tour of Spain, in a brief speech at a meeting of the PES Group, which comprises European socialist parties, a political group that brings together social democratic and progressive politicians elected at the local and regional levels throughout the European Union. "The policies that Javier Milei is implementing in Argentina are not working; they are a failure. He is destroying the productive apparatus, destroying wages, and in a very clear and direct way, also undermining healthcare, education, and social justice. What Milei is doing is a disaster. And that disaster falls upon mayors, city council members, and governors, who have had to become a shield and a safety net to sustain the daily lives of our people," he stated during his speech at the progressive leaders summit in Barcelona. During his tour of Spain, Kicillof accused the Argentine president of implementing policies that, according to him, have exacerbated the economic and social crisis in both his province and the country. The governor of...

Fourteen people were injured after a minibus crashed into a heavy goods vehicle, Hong Kong police said on Saturday. The driver reported to police at about 9.30pm that the minibus had hit a heavy goods vehicle in Tsing Yi, and that some passengers had been injured. The crash happened near Ching Chung House at Cheung Ching Estate. Emergency services found 14 people injured on the minibus. Two were said to have sustained serious injuries. Photos of the scene show the front of the minibus damaged...

A French soldier was killed in southern Lebanon on Saturday 18, while serving with UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping force. UNIFIL deputy spokesperson Tilak Pokharel was FRANCE 24’s guest this afternoon to explain what happened and what is currently known about those responsible.

The war in Sudan, now in its fourth year, has seen thousands of people killed and millions displaced. Alongside the human toll, there are concerns too for the country’s abundant archaeological sites and artefacts, at risk from trafficking and destruction. Now France is helping develop innovative tools to preserve Sudanese heritage for future generations.

Remarks, such as a speech about 'tyrants' ransacking the world that he delivered in Cameroon on Thursday, were written well before the US president's 'comment on myself and on the message of peace that I am promoting,' explained Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo responded directly on Monday to a presidential attack. But since then, he said, some of his statements during his Africa trip have been misconstrued.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday announced the death of a French soldier serving with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Lebanon, blaming the Hezbollah militant group and demanding Beirut immediately arrest those responsible. “Chief Sergeant Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment from Montauban fell this morning in southern Lebanon during an attack against UNIFIL,” Macron wrote on X Saturday afternoon. “Three of his brothers-in-arms are wounded and have been evacuated.” UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, said initial assessments indicated the fire came from “non-state actors,” allegedly Hezbollah, and that it had opened an investigation into what it described as “a deliberate attack.” “Everything suggests that responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah,” Macron said. “France demands that the Lebanese authorities immediately arrest those responsible and assume their responsibilities alongside UNIFIL.” The Lebanese government “strongly condemned” the killing and called for an investigation to clarify the circumstances of the incident. The killing came on the second day of a fragile 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah brokered by Washington. It deepens pressure on European troop-contributing countries.

US President Donald Trump on Saturday directed his administration to speed up reviews of certain psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, which recently has been embraced by combat veterans and conservative lawmakers despite having serious safety risks. Ibogaine is banned under the federal government’s most restrictive category for illegal, high-risk drugs. But the administration is taking steps to ease access to psychedelics that Trump said were already designated as potential breakthroughs by...

Chants against Muslims and von der Leyen. Slogans were also directed at undocumented immigrants and the mayor, Sala.

H. A. Hellyer, senior fellow in geopolitics at the Royal United Services Institute, was France 24’s guest and analysed the renewed tensions between the United States and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz as a strategy of mutual pressure amid ongoing negotiations. While talks are set to continue in Islamabad, both sides are using leverage, particularly the US blockade of Iranian port, to strengthen their positions, making any quick breakthrough unlikely.

Russia is not mimicking the bloc whose emissaries have been calling on other countries to sever relations with Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister said

A French soldier was killed and three others wounded ​while clearing a road in southern Lebanon in an attack that UNIFIL peacekeepers and French officials said on Saturday was likely carried out ​by ‌Iran-backed Hezbollah. In calls with Lebanese President ⁠Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the "unacceptable attack", his ‌office said in a statement. Renée Davis, FRANCE 24's correspondent, has the latest from Beyrouth.

"Speeches in Africa were prepared in advance. I continue to advocate for peace."

The U.S. President, Donald Trump, warned Iran on Saturday not to "blackmail" Washington with its contradictory statements regarding the future of the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran declared the strategic waterway closed again. "We are talking to them. They wanted to close the strait again, as they have been doing for years, and they cannot blackmail us," he stated during an event at the White House. The Iranian regime earlier announced that it had re-established "strict control" over the Strait of Hormuz, after previously announcing its reopening, as a response to the blockade imposed by the United States on Iranian ports. According to the spokesman for the Central Command of the Imam Ali Garrison, Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfagari, "control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic waterway is under strict management and control by the armed forces," he stated in a press release distributed by the Tasnim agency. Zolfagari explained that the control over the maritime passage involves restrictions on traffic in one of the world's major energy routes, through which 20% of global oil flows. He added that Tehran had previously authorized the "limited and managed" passage of some oil tankers and commercial vessels as a "gesture of good faith" during negotiations, but that this measure was revoked due to the continuation of the U.S. blockade, which he described as a repeated...

Presidential Actions Search Select Category All News Briefings & Statements All Presidential Actions Executive Orders Nominations & Appointments Presidential Memoranda Proclamations Fact Sheets Releases Remarks Research All Briefings & Statements Presidential Actions All Executive Orders Nominations & Appointments Presidential Memoranda Proclamations Fact Sheets Releases Remarks Research By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1.  Purpose and Policy.  Policymakers and the medical field have long struggled to address the burden of suicide and serious mental illness rates in America.  Today, over 14 million American adults have a serious mental illness, defined as having a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that substantially interferes with a person’s life and ability to function, and about 8 million are on prescription medication for these conditions.  Suicide rates tragically increased by 37 percent from 2000 to 2018.  During my first term, we made historic progress in helping those struggling with some of the most insidious mental illnesses, and suicide rates decreased by 5 percent from 2018 to 2020.  The COVID-19 pandemic and the Biden Administration’s prolonged shutdown stunted this progress and suicide rates rebounded upwards again to their peak rate in 2022.  Critically, veterans often suffer in greater measure from this tragedy.  For over 20 years, there have been more than 6,000 veteran suicides per year, and the current veteran suicide rate is more than twice as much as the non-veteran adult population. Individuals suffering from major depressive disorder and substance abuse disorder, among other serious mental illnesses, can relapse or not fully respond to standard medical and psychiatric therapies.  Despite massive Federal investment into researching potential advancements in mental health care and treatment, our medical research system has yet to produce approved therapies that promote enduring improvements in the mental health condition of these most complex patients.  Innovative methods are needed to find long-term solutions for these Americans beyond existing prescription medications. Psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine compounds, show potential in clinical studies to address serious mental illnesses for patients whose conditions persist after completing standard therapy.  Indeed, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to specific psychedelic drugs, and there are numerous products currently in the clinical trial pipeline for review of safety and efficacy.  It is the policy of my Administration to accelerate innovative research models and appropriate drug approvals to increase access to psychedelic drugs that could save lives and reverse the crisis of serious mental illness in America. Sec. 2.  FDA Review Prioritization and Right to Try.  (a)  The Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall provide Commissioner’s National Priority Vouchers to appropriate psychedelic drugs that have received a Breakthrough Therapy designation and are in accordance with the criteria of the National Priority Voucher Program. (b)  The FDA and Drug Enforcement Administration shall facilitate and establish a pathway for eligible patients to access psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine compounds, under the Right to Try Act (21 U. S. C. 360bbb-0a), including any necessary Schedule I handling authorizations for treating physicians and researchers, consistent with 21 U. S. C. 823, and any applicable waiver authority under the Controlled Substances Act. Sec. 3.  Department of Health and Human Services Funding for Federal-State Collaboration.  The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, through the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, allocate at least $50 million from existing funds to support and partner with State governments that have enacted or are developing programs to advance psychedelic drugs for serious mental illnesses, including through Federal funding, technical assistance, and data sharing as appropriate and consistent with applicable law. Sec. 4.  Department of Health and Human Services and FDA Collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Private Sector.  The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and FDA shall collaborate with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, including any privacy restrictions from the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, with the private sector, to increase clinical trial participation, data sharing, and real-world evidence generation regarding psychedelic drugs, and shall prioritize drugs that have received a Breakthrough Therapy designation.  The HHS, FDA, and VA are directed to sign data-sharing memoranda as appropriate to ensure that data from relevant clinical studies conducted by other executive departments and agencies is made available to FDA to facilitate the timely evaluation and approval of drugs that meet standards for approval under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Sec. 5.  Timely Rescheduling.  The Attorney General shall, in consultation with HHS, initiate and complete review of any product containing a Schedule I substance that has successfully completed Phase 3 clinical trials for a serious mental health disorder, so that rescheduling, if appropriate under 21 U. S. C. 811, may proceed as quickly as practicable for such specific products that are ultimately approved under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Sec. 6.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. (c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. (d)  The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of Health and Human Services. DONALD J. TRUMP THE WHITE HOUSE, April 18, 2026. The post Accelerating Medical Treatments for Serious Mental Illness appeared first on The White House.

The shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz only hours after its reopening is a tactic by Iran to gain leverage over the United States before possible negotiations, according to Chinese analysts. With the clock counting down to the end of a two-week ceasefire with the US on Wednesday, a deal with Washington was still possible and the likelihood of Tehran imposing a toll on the waterway was low, they added. The assessment came as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced on Saturday that...

Namely, six civilian airports in Iran, including two in Tehran, will operate daily for 11 hours, the source specified

In Germany, a liter of diesel costs up to 40% more than before the Iran war and other countries have seen even bigger price jumps. What are governments around the world doing to combat record fuel prices?

The Iranian Navy is prepared to inflict "new defeats" on the enemy, according to a written message from the Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, published shortly after Tehran's decision to re-close the Strait of Hormuz in response to the U.S. blockade of its ports. In a message disseminated through his Telegram channel, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since before the start of the war, stated that the "brave Iranian Navy is ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats." The military advisor to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Mojtaba Khamenei, had warned on Wednesday that Iran would sink U.S. ships in the Strait of Hormuz if the United States decided to "monitor" this strategically important point for maritime transport. The United States is imposing a military blockade on the Strait of Hormuz after Iran blocked navigation for more than six weeks of war, in a conflict that is currently suspended due to a fragile two-week ceasefire. "Mr. Trump wants to become the police of the Strait of Hormuz. Is that really his role? Is that the role of a powerful army like the one in the United States?" declared Mohsen Rezaei, former Supreme Commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, who was appointed as Khamenei's military advisor last month, to state television. "Your ships will be sunk by our first missiles and represent a great danger..."

Barcelona, Spain—After several years of a pause in the relationship between Mexico and Spain, President Claudia Sheinbaum and the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, agreed to re-establish dialogue on commercial and cultural matters. Following the "Meeting in Defense of Democracy," the President reported that she spoke with her Spanish counterpart about historical issues, particularly the conquest and the request for an apology initiated by the Mexican administration, as well as the recognition of indigenous peoples. In this context, Sheinbaum ruled out the possibility of a meeting with the King of Spain, Felipe VI. Also read: VIDEO: Sheinbaum expresses her support for Fernández de Kirchner from Spain; "we are with you," she commented. —Is the request for a letter (sent by her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador) still in place? —"The recognition of indigenous peoples remains," she replied. —Has the request for an apology changed? —"There has been a rapprochement from both the President and the King himself, which we acknowledge. The important thing is to continue the dialogue," she stated. Sheinbaum also informed that she invited Pedro Sánchez to visit Mexico next year, when the country will host the "Meeting in Defense of Democracy." Also read: "Long live peace always": Sheinbaum's message in Spain; the Mexican community welcomes the President in Barcelona. Furthermore, they agreed to continue sending exhibitions about Mexican cultures…

Three more soldiers were wounded and evacuated, French President added

A French member of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) died on Saturday, and three others were injured after a patrol of the mission was attacked with small arms in southern Lebanon. The incident occurred in the town of Ghanduriyah, while the personnel were conducting mine clearance and explosive ordnance disposal operations on a road, with the aim of restoring access to isolated positions of the peacekeeping mission. According to UNIFIL, the attack was carried out by "non-state actors" who opened fire on the patrol. Two of the three injured remain in serious condition. The mission described the incident as a "deliberate attack" and announced an investigation. The deceased soldier was identified as Sergeant Florian Montorio, a member of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment of France. According to the French Minister of the Armed Forces, Catherine Vautrin, he died after being shot at close range. The French President, Emmanuel Macron, attributed responsibility for the attack to Hezbollah. "Everything indicates that the responsibility for this attack lies with Hezbollah," Macron said, demanding that Lebanese authorities arrest those responsible and work with UNIFIL. Following the attack, the Lebanese government announced the start of an investigation. Both the Lebanese President, Joseph Aoun, and the Prime Minister, Nawaf Salam, condemned the incident. Iran is once again...

Iran has accused the US of violating the ceasefire agreement by maintaining a blockade on its ports. Meanwhile, a French peacekeeper was killed in southern Lebanon. Follow DW for more.

Chants against Muslims and von der Leyen. Slogans were also directed at undocumented immigrants and the mayor, Sala.

The U. S. Justice Department told French authorities it wouldn’t facilitate their efforts to investigate Elon Musk’s X, after a raid on the social-media platform’s Paris office earlier this year.

Indian student visa rejections in the US have surged to 61%, driven by stricter policies and high costs.

People displaced by weeks of airstrikes have begun returning to Beirut and southern Lebanon as a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took hold on Friday. Residents described scenes of destruction and fears of further conflict as they arrived home.

The nearly 1,200-metre bridge is said to be the longest bridge in the world that will exclusively serve pedestrians, cyclists and trams.

The political drama culminates with the IRGC announcing that the Strait of Hormuz is once again restricted.

Iran announced this Saturday that it has reimposed a "strict control" over the Strait of Hormuz, just a day after announcing its reopening, amid growing tensions with the United States over the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports. The decision was communicated by the spokesman for the Central Command of Imam Ali Garrison, Colonel Ebrahim Zolfagari, who stated that the strategic waterway had once again come under Iranian military supervision. "Control of the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state, and this strategic route is under strict management and control by the armed forces," Zolfagari said, according to the Tasnim news agency. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's major energy corridors, through which nearly a fifth of the oil traded globally passes. The measure comes after Tehran warned that it would again restrict maritime traffic if the United States maintains the blockade imposed on its ports. Hours before the announcement, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, had stated that passage through the strait would once again depend on Iranian authorization. "If the blockade continues, the Strait of Hormuz will not remain open," Ghalibaf wrote on the social media platform X. This new announcement marks a shift from the decision announced on Friday, when Iran had declared the waterway reopened.

The American singer Britney Spears voluntarily entered a rehabilitation center on Sunday, April 12th, according to the magazine People. According to sources close to her, this decision represents a crucial step in her personal recovery process, following a series of recent incidents that have raised concerns about her well-being. Spears and her recent arrest According to El País, this admission comes five weeks after the artist was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and other substances. The incident occurred on March 4th in Ventura County, in Southern California, when officers observed erratic driving behavior. After undergoing tests to determine her condition, Spears was arrested and subsequently released hours later. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the pop star is scheduled to appear in court on May 4th. Her team described the incident as "completely inexcusable," while a representative stated that the singer was deeply affected and remorseful, especially regarding the potential impact on her children. "A step forward" Sources close to the singer, known for hits like "Baby One More Time" and "Toxic," told People that the decision is a response to the need to "take a step forward" in her well-being. "Britney will take the necessary steps and comply with the law, and we hope this is the first step towards..."

Rising sea levels and ecological damage caused by the extensive use of the flood defense system are forcing city authorities to consider their next steps. The Arsenale, the colossal shipyard that was the engine of the Venetian Republic's dominance for seven centuries, remains the core of the city's control over the water. Its northern section consists of vast brick warehouses called "capannoni," which, in the 16th century, could produce a warship per day through a rigorously organized assembly line. Now, one of these warehouses houses the operations center of the MOSE, the sprawling flood defense system that protects the city.

Manhattan church led by Norman Vincent Peale was known for opposing presidency of JFK – and Catholics in general Donald Trump’s attacks this week on Pope Leo, for his criticism of the US attack on Iran and the US president’s decision to post an image of himself as Jesus Christ on social media, make a good deal more sense considering Trump attended services as a young man at the Protestant Marble Collegiate church in Manhattan, which was led at the time by an anti-Catholic pastor. That church’s pastor in Trump’s youth, Norman Vincent Peale, who would later officiate at Trump’s first wedding, is best-known today as the author of the Christian self-help book The Power of Positive Thinking, but when Trump was 14, Peale made national headlines as the leader of a group of Protestant churchmen who loudly objected to the presidential candidacy of John F Kennedy, on the grounds that he was a Catholic. Continue reading...

Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, warned that the navy was ready to inflict "new bitter defeats" on the US and Israel.

Approximately 2,000 protesters are marching towards the Duomo cathedral. Slogans were also directed against undocumented immigrants and the mayor, Sala.

A French soldier was killed and three others wounded in an attack on UN peacekeepers on Saturday, President Emmanuel Macron announced, adding that "everything suggests Hezbollah is responsible".

Seven weeks into the war with Iran, most American voters say President Donald Trump lacks a clear plan and many doubt that Trump is achieving his own goals in the war. New results from The POLITICO Poll show that support for military action is weak — just 38 percent of Americans back the strikes — and views remain largely unchanged from the days following the joint U. S.-Israel strikes, even as the administration has now had weeks to make its case. A majority of respondents say the war is not in the interests of the American people, and a plurality are still not confident that the president has clear objectives — including a notable chunk of his 2024 supporters. This article is part of an ongoing project from POLITICO and Public First, an independent polling company headquartered in London, to measure public opinion across a broad range of policy areas. You can find new surveys and analysis each month at politico.com/poll. Have questions or comments? Ideas for future surveys? Email us at poll@politico.com. Nearly half of all respondents also say the president has spent too much time focusing on international affairs rather than domestic issues, according to the survey conducted by Public First, including 29 percent of his own 2024 voters. The findings suggest that Trump has made little progress in winning over the public on a conflict that has pulled him away from helping anxious Republicans sell their economic message ahead of November. He is now facing growing concerns that the war — and the ripple effect it has had on gas, oil and food prices — could undercut the GOP’s most critical midterm messaging. “I think the biggest problem is, first, this war was not pre-sold,” said Michigan-based Republican strategist Jason Roe. “[Trump] campaigned against these kinds of policies and these kinds of actions and reversed himself on a dime, and so … the American people were not conditioned to prepare for this thing.” A 41 percent plurality of Americans say Trump does not have a plan for resolving the conflict with Iran, virtually the same as last month. And even as the president has claimed victory and suggested the war may be winding down, just 15 percent of respondents say he has achieved his goals for intervening. Forty percent say Trump will either never achieve his goals in Iran or doesn’t have explicit goals at all. The White House said that the Trump administration is focused on both the ongoing Iran conflict and Americans’ affordability concerns. “While the U. S. military and the president’s diplomatic team continue to make progress towards securing a deal with Iran and resolving temporary disruptions in energy markets, the rest of the administration continues to implement the president’s affordability and growth agenda on the home front,” spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement. “Once short-term disruptions from Operation Epic Fury are behind us, Americans can count on more economic progress in store thanks to this Administration,” Desai said. More than a quarter of Americans — 27 percent — say they think Trump has a plan for resolving the conflict with Iran, while 41 percent say he does not have one. A third group, making up 15 percent of Americans, say they believe Trump has no plan but they trust that his actions will resolve the conflict. Trump has largely retained support for the war among his supporters. Still, more than a third of Trump voters say he doesn’t have a plan, though many trust his actions will resolve the conflict anyway. Forty-five percent of Trump voters say that he has not accomplished his goals, though they expect he will. Their responses reveal their strong confidence in the president, while also suggesting an awareness that the war could extend beyond the four- to six-week timeline the administration initially indicated. Only 15 percent of Americans say Trump has achieved his goals in the war, while another 25 percent say they believe he will achieve his goals but has not yet done so. Roughly 4 in 10 believe Trump will never achieve his goals or has no goals at all. The president has offered shifting rationales for the war and promised as recently as this week that the conflict was close to ending: “I think it can be over very soon. If they’re smart, it will end soon,” he said on Fox Business’ “Mornings With Maria Bartiromo,” referring to Iranian negotiators. He also said, when asked whether he thought oil and gas prices would come down before the midterms, that prices may be “a little bit higher, but it should be around the same,” doing little to assuage Republicans’ concerns that high costs will ease before November. Later, in a separate interview, Trump said he believes gas prices will be “much lower” before the midterms. “They said I expect oil to be high at the midterms, I don’t expect that, I think that we will be somewhere around where we were, maybe even lower.” The future of negotiations remains uncertain as the conflict stretches to its seventh week. After peace talks ended without a deal, Trump has escalated pressure on Tehran in recent days, ordering a blockade of Iranian ports, a move that risks putting further pressure on gas prices. Republicans in Washington have largely remained aligned with Trump publicly, but there are growing concerns that a prolonged conflict could alienate war-weary voters within the party. The Strait of Hormuz reopened for commercial traffic on Friday, Trump and a top Iranian official announced, a move that sent oil prices plunging. The war has proven to be as much of a messaging challenge as it is a policy problem for the GOP, with voters in both parties consistently — including in the April POLITICO Poll — listing cost of living concerns as their top issue heading into the midterms. “I think the number one messaging problem has been that every day we’re told it’s going to end tomorrow, and we’re now nearly two months into that promise,” said Roe, the Michigan-based strategist. “I think most elected Republicans are still optimistic that this thing is going to be resolved quickly, but I think the biggest failure is telling us it’s going to be over tomorrow every day.”

A week of escalating tensions has unfolded between Donald Trump and the Vatican, after Trump insulted the Pope on social media following remarks on peace in the Middle East. His behaviour shocked audiences worldwide and reignited debate over his mental health. The feud has further exposed divisions within the American right in a country where religion plays a central political role. FRANCE 24’s guest Scott Lucas, Professor of US and international politics at the University College of Dublin, examined whether this week of tensions has ultimately weakened the US president.

A French soldier was killed and three others wounded in a Saturday attack on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon that appeared to have been carried out by Hezbollah, French President Emmanuel Macron said.

Former President Gabriel Boric participated this Saturday in Barcelona, Spain, in the international meeting "In Defense of Democracy," an event that brought together progressive leaders from various countries and was presided over by the President of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez. Also present at the meeting were the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum; the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro; the President of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi; the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly; the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa; the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley, and the President of the European Council, António Costa. During his speech, Boric warned that the world is going through "a turning point" marked by inequality, disinformation, and the rise of authoritarian movements. "We are concerned about how citizen disaffection, fueled by increasing inequality and rampant disinformation, is being exploited by authoritarian projects that promise easy solutions or shortcuts to complex problems," he stated. The former president also argued that "democracy is not a natural state of affairs" and that it requires constant cultivation and protection. "We must cultivate it every day, take care of it. It is fragile and requires awareness and a lot of work to respond to the needs of our people," he said. Boric also questioned the weakening of international law...

The IDF did not specify their affiliation

or months and months, President Donald Trump has bullied other countries on everything from trade to how they govern themselves. In just the last few days, however, a handful of global players have defied him, showing the limits of his influence. Iran’s Islamist leaders abandoned peace talks with the U. S., choosing to keep waging war instead. Hungary’s voters tossed out one of Trump’s closest European allies, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Then there’s Pope Leo, who presumably answers to a higher power, saying he has “no fear” of Trump after the president taunted him. Trump and his aides often appear to operate as if most other people on the planet are “non-player characters” in a video game. They believe, with few exceptions, that America can use threats, economic muscle and military action to bend other capitals to its will. But foreign policy has some basic laws. One of them, similar to physics, is that every action has a reaction. It may not be equal or opposite, but it also may not be what the Trump team wants. So far, the Trump administration does not appear to be adjusting well to the reality that more international players are willing to buck the American superpower. “If there were an appreciation that bullying was no longer a likely to succeed tactic you’d see a move away from it,” but there’s no real sign that Trump is doing so, said Richard Haass, a former president of the Council on Foreign Relations. More than ever, I’m hearing concerns from foreign officials that critical information about geopolitical dynamics is simply not reaching the president because his aides won’t tell him hard truths. A New York Times rundown of his decision to go to war with Iran has fueled this worry. “He is surrounded by ‘yes’ people,” one senior European diplomat fumed to me. The Trump administration’s brash style came across in Vice President JD Vance’s comments after he held 21-hours worth of peace talks with Iranian officials over the weekend. Iran, Vance said, had “chosen not to accept our terms.” Such a statement, which Vance gave some version of twice, implied that the U. S. was dictating, not negotiating, despite Vance adding that the U. S. was “quite accommodating.” It did not go over well with supporters of the Islamist regime, while many in other countries saw the whole drama as a missed opportunity to deescalate tensions. “If you want something from somebody you have to give them something, unless like in World War II they’ve truly surrendered,” said a Western diplomat based in the Middle East. “It can’t just be ‘we’re going to keep beating you.’” The Trump administration, naturally, rejected my suggestion that its hardline approach is counterproductive. “Previous administrations, for decades, stood idle while the American people were being ripped off — on imbalanced trade, inequitable defense spending and burden-sharing, uncontrolled illegal mass immigration, anti-American bias in international organizations, and the list goes on. President Trump said ‘no longer,’” Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for the State Department, told me. To date, there’s little evidence that Trump or his deputies understand the chain reactions they set off when issuing diktats or that they have learned lessons from past instances of blowback. Or maybe they don’t care? Sure, Trump may retreat here and there on an issue (the so-called TACO phenomenon), but that is often followed by him later making another push on the same issue. Take Trump’s insistence that Denmark hand over Greenland. That was a red line for much of Europe, whose leaders had largely cozied up to Trump during his first year back in office. In January, as Trump ratcheted up his demands for Greenland, European leaders made clear to Trump that he couldn’t have it, then used NATO to promise the U. S. more military access to the island. Trump backed down, but the damage was done. His Greenland gambit and his constant threats to pull out of NATO have added urgency to European efforts to reduce reliance on the U. S. security apparatus. As these countries grow less dependent on the U. S., they’re likely to grow more willing to defy Trump. Rather than responding to that risk, Trump recently signaled he’s not done with Greenland. On April 8, fuming over Europeans’ unwillingness to team up with the U. S. against Iran, Trump vented on social media: “REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!” Sometimes, it’s anyone’s guess what Trump knows about the second- or third-order effects of his menacing moves. Trump’s tariffs, for instance, are leading other countries to find new trading partners beyond the U. S., reducing their economic reliance on America. Similar to countries reducing their military dependence, nations with less economic dependence on America are less likely to listen to the U. S. in the future. Many in the foreign affairs establishment have long fretted that Trump and his team approach the world as if it’s all about making real estate deals the way the president once did in New York. But treating Russia’s war in Ukraine or the Palestinians’ claims on Gaza as being merely about land misses out on how identity, politics and the desire to simply survive as a people is what fuels many conflicts. Trump and his team often “fail to realize that people tend to fight for what gives their life meaning beyond the purely rational or material cost-benefit analysis,” a former Latin American official told me, having been granted anonymity to talk candidly about a sensitive topic. There are times when Trump is responsive to the negative impact of his strong-arming. When China stood up to him on trade — imposing massive retaliatory tariffs and restricting rare earth mineral exports — he essentially called a truce. Still, Trump has always paid closer attention to heavyweight global players such as Beijing or Moscow than he has to ones he dismisses as weaker entities. Besides, it’s hard not to notice blowback from China when it affects stock markets. A White House official defended Trump’s trade moves, noting that the European Union, Japan, India, South Korea, and the U. K. have lowered trade barriers against U. S. exports and continue to pay tariffs — “proof that the president successfully leveraged America’s economic dominance with respect to our trading partners.” Haass said Trump could be helping lead the U. S. into a “post-American world” where it is no longer the center of gravity. That is certainly what Beijing wants. It could be a world in which the U. S. must regularly plead for help instead of knowing it can count on friends who instinctively trust and support it. “Look, the U. S. is powerful and we have a lot of influence, but we don’t have infinite influence,” said Dan Shapiro, who dealt with the Middle East as a Biden administration official. “Even the best need allies, friends, partners.”

A Hong Kong woman has lost nearly HK$4.9 million (US$625,800) in three months after being defrauded by fake "investment experts" in an online scam. The victim was lured into contacting the scammers after seeing a social media post advertising high-return stock investments, according to police. She was then instructed to download an app via an online messaging service. Believing the scheme to be legitimate, the victim transferred approximately HK$4.86 million in more than 40 transactions between January and April.

"Everything points to Hezbollah."

Police investigations are underway, prompted by an alert raised by faculty members.

President Trump warned late Friday that the U.S. could strike Iran again if the Middle Eastern nation's leaders do not agree to his terms before the temporary ceasefire ends next week. The president told News Nation, The Hill's sister network, on board Air Force One that if no deal is reached by Wednesday's deadline, "we'll…

Reports of Iranian gunboats opening fire on tanker after Tehran says it is closing waterway until US lifts its blockade.

Captured on internal security cameras: the perpetrators were wearing overalls, had their heads bowed, and their faces were covered. Carabinieri officers are currently conducting further inspections of the tunnel used by the robbers.

TEHRAN. Following Iran's announcement that it had once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, just hours after reopening it, the Supreme Leader of the regime, Mojtaba Khamenei, reappeared via Telegram and intensified the pressure on the United States, stating that its naval forces are ready to inflict "new defeats." The Islamic Republic's threats have escalated in recent hours after the United States stated that it would not end its blockade of maritime transport. Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since the beginning of the war, assured in a Telegram message that the "brave Iranian Navy is ready to make the enemies taste the bitterness of new defeats." Khamenei's warning is echoed by the Iranian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saed Khatibzadeh, who stated that the United States "cannot impose its will" and block the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. "The Americans cannot impose their will and besiege Iran while Iran, with good intentions, is trying to facilitate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz," the official told journalists on the sidelines of a diplomatic forum in the southern province of Antalya, Turkey. Along the same lines, he stated that no date has been set for the next round of negotiations between Iran and the United States, whose president, he said, "tweets and talks a lot." Agence France-Presse Developing story.

China and Turkmenistan moved to deepen their energy partnership as Beijing’s top envoy attended the launch of a major gas project and signed cooperation deals, underscoring the strategic importance of natural gas ties and broader cooperation.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported this Saturday that Hezbollah terrorists violated the ceasefire in Lebanon. "In the past 24 hours, forces operating south of the Blue Line, in southern Lebanon, identified terrorists who violated the ceasefire agreements and approached forces from north of the Blue Line, posing an immediate threat," the army said in a statement. It added: "Immediately after the identification, and to neutralize the threat, the Air Force and ground forces attacked the terrorists in several areas of southern Lebanon. In addition, artillery fire was used to support the ground forces operating in the area, and terrorist infrastructure was destroyed in response to the threats." "The IDF operates according to the guidelines of the political leadership. Therefore, it is authorized to take the necessary measures for self-defense against threats, while maintaining the security of the citizens of the State of Israel and the forces deployed in the field. Self-defense operations and the neutralization of threats are not limited by the ceasefire. The IDF will not allow any risk to Israeli citizens or its fighters, and will take all necessary measures to ensure their safety," the statement detailed. Finally, it stated: "The Israel Defense Forces will continue working to clear..."

Virginians will decide whether the state will redraw its congressional voting map. A win would give Democrats an edge in four more seats, meaning they could hold 10 of Virginia's 11 seats in Congress.

With an appearance at a Turning Point USA event at a megachurch Arizona, President Trump is hitting the campaign trail in front of a friendly crowd at a time his approval ratings are at record lows.

We look at how the war on Iran might affect the upcoming midterm elections, as well as how a portion of President Trump's MAGA base sees U. S. involvement in another war in the Middle East.

Michael Shoebridge says US may be forced to end blockade of Iran to see the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck four key oil industry facilities in Russia overnight on April 18, with fires reported at the sites.

Iran’s military said the critical Strait of Hormuz was back under the control of the armed forces, claiming the U. S. had breached Tehran’s trust by maintaining its blockade in the region.

The negotiations were held in Moscow on April 1 at the highest level

NATO chief Mark Rutte said he understands Donald Trump's frustration with NATO. He also called on Europe to boost its defense industry.

China could gain a “massive strategic advantage” from the war in Iran by reshaping trade in the Middle East and catching up with the US militarily, according to one analyst. Zhu Zhaoyi, executive director of the Institute of Middle East Studies at Peking University HSBC Business School, also said that with the current ceasefire looking likely to be extended, Beijing should assume a more active role in peace talks. He told a seminar in Shenzhen on Friday that China should draw on the lessons from...

WLFI has fallen after the disclosure of a loan linked to the token and criticism from one of its biggest backers

President Donald Trump promised a swift end to the war in Iran, but the ongoing conflict has kept energy costs high — and some Senate Republicans are starting to voice their concerns publicly. GOP lawmakers, who already feared that November would be an increasingly difficult election, are trying to encourage the president to clearly define his goals after a surge in oil, gas, and fertilizer prices. Trump warned that the price increases might not completely subside by the time the November elections arrive, although news on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen could begin to provide some relief if the agreement holds. Several GOP senators are warning that the president could face growing opposition, including a lack of support for military action against Iran after the conflict reaches the 60-day mark at the end of the month, if he doesn't articulate his plan. The White House could attempt to invoke a 30-day extension for national security reasons. "I hope that we are arriving at an exit strategy here to bring this to a close to preserve our security interests and bring down the cost of gasoline," Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told reporters this week, adding that "the clock is ticking" on the war. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said in an interview that she and a group of other senators are in the process of drafting an authorization for the use of military force against Iran, which would outline when and how Trump could use force. She pointed to the 60-day threshold as a possible deadline.

Ambulance workers in Lebanon recount Israeli "triple-tap" targeted strikes that killed four paramedics and wounded six.

Several ships that were preparing to cross the strategically important route have altered their course, as shown in satellite images.

"Tourism shows the world what it means to be Italian." Bocca stated: "It's an extraordinary resource, but it needs to be protected from illegal activities and exploitation. We must not ignore the risks posed by ongoing conflicts."

In Deir al-Balah, displaced families are living next to growing rubbish piles as destroyed infrastructure forces authorities to rely on unsafe temporary dumps. Across the Gaza Strip, poor sanitation and pest infestations are raising serious health concerns despite limited humanitarian aid.

Brent crude falls over 9 percent after Iran said it will reopen waterway, only to shut it again over US blockade.

On April 18th, the spokesperson for the Iranian Central Command issued a statement through the media, asserting that "the management of the Strait of Hormuz will return to its previous state and be placed under strict military control." The statement emphasized that the Strait of Hormuz remains under Iranian control. The upcoming second round of direct talks between the United States and Iran is a key factor in determining whether the full resumption of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz will be achieved.