International

Rallies have been held across Canada urging the government to reverse planned cuts to a healthcare programme for refugees and

The Japanese government said Wednesday it will provide a total of $10 billion in financial support to other Asian nations

Iran sees dialogue as the only way to build constructive relations with other nations, but will not tolerate attempts to

Oil prices were little changed on Wednesday ​as investors assessed prospects for renewed U.S.-Iran talks and the potential for supply

Beijing could access the internet-connected devices remotely and 'hold the country to ransom', MPs warn NHS vaccines are at risk

Former Pakistan captain found an eight-day spell in 2007 unbearable - he has now been held for almost 1,000 days

Asia Pacific Foundation Non Resident Senior Fellow Michael Kugelman thinks India will get more benefits than Pakistan from the restoration

An American YouTuber who caused outrage for filming himself kissing a statue commemorating Korean wartime sex slaves has been sentenced

The US warned Tuesday it will unleash full "Economic Fury" on Iran, ending a reprieve on sanctions on Tehran oil

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday China had been an unreliable global partner during the Middle East war

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Tuesday she was suspending the country's defense agreement with Israel, which involves the

Several countries want age restrictions to keep minors off platforms like TikTok and Instagram. But can bans really keep children

A US-sanctioned tanker linked to China is making its way through the Strait of Hormuz, testing President Donald Trump's naval blockade.Rich Starry, a medium-range tanker earlier known as Full Star, was blacklisted by Washington in 2023 for helping Tehran evade energy sanctions. It is not clear on this occasion whether it visited Iranian ports before its transit, or is carrying cargo.This exit from the Persian Gulf is a second attempt for the carrier in less than 24 hours. Just as the blockade came into effect, Rich Starry was making its way into the narrow waterway near Iran's Qeshm Island and turned back - only to restart its exit just hours later, broadcasting that it has a Chinese owner and crew. This is a safety mechanism frequently used by vessels, but will test US resolve to challenge vessels tied to the world's largest oil importer.The global shipping community and energy traders have been on edge since Trump announced a naval blockade of Iran beginning on Monday at 10 a.m. New York time, leaving them scrambling to understand the fine print. Most of those reached by Bloomberg across the Middle East and Asia said they would pause moves until the detail of the US blockade - intended to restrict Iran's capacity to sell its oil - was clear.Another tanker, the Elpis, headed into the Gulf of Oman via the strait just as the blockade began. Ship-tracking platforms Kpler and Vortexa indicate that Elpis had docked at an Iranian port in the gulf before attempting to pass through Hormuz.No vessels with their transponders on have been seen sailing into the Persian Gulf since the blockade came into effect.Trump's threats and the start of the blockade have sparked alarm among Asian nations that rely heavily on Middle Eastern energy and fuel exports. China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged global stakeholders to push for peace talks between Tehran and Washington, according to a readout released by Beijing on Monday.The Rich Starry has indicated it is sailing under a Malawi flag, but the landlocked African nation has said it has no official registry for oceangoing ships.Rich Starry is owned by Full Star Shipping Ltd., which shares the same contact details as Shanghai Xuanrun Shpg. Co. Ltd., maritime database Equasis shows. A call made to Shanghai Xuanrun did not get through, while the company didn't immediately respond to an emailed request for comment. The Shanghai-based entity is also sanctioned by the State Department.Elpis's owner is Chartchemical SA that uses its manager, IMS Ltd.'s contact details. A call made to Malaysia-based IMS failed to connect. IMS did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

The heads of three of the world's most influential economic and energy institutions have warned that the war in the Middle East is causing widespread and uneven global damage, with low-income countries facing the heaviest burden and energy markets remaining highly unstable.In a joint statement issued after a high-level coordination meeting, the leaders of the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank Group said the conflict has triggered severe disruptions across energy, food, and labor markets worldwide.The meeting was held as part of a coordination group formed in early April to strengthen collaboration between the three institutions in responding to the economic and energy fallout from the war.According to the statement, the shock from the conflict has been "substantial, global, and highly asymmetric," disproportionately affecting countries that rely heavily on energy imports, particularly low-income nations.Rising prices for oil, gas, and fertilizers have intensified concerns over food security and employment, while some oil and gas producers in the Middle East have experienced sharp declines in export revenues.The institutions highlighted continued uncertainty surrounding global energy supply routes, particularly shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which has yet to return to normal. Even after shipping flows fully resume, the statement warned that global supplies of key commodities will take time to recover to pre-conflict levels.Damage to infrastructure is expected to keep fuel and fertilizer prices elevated for an extended period. Supply disruptions have also created shortages of critical inputs, with spillover effects across energy, food, and other industrial sectors.Beyond market impacts, the war has forcibly displaced populations, disrupted employment, and significantly reduced travel and tourism, effects that the institutions cautioned may take considerable time to reverse.During the meeting, the heads of the IEA, IMF, and World Bank shared their latest assessments ahead of the release of two major global reports scheduled for Tuesday, April 14: the IEA's monthly Oil Market Report and the IMF's World Economic Outlook. Discussions focused on the countries most affected by the shock and the measures being undertaken to support them.The statement emphasized close cooperation among the three institutions, including coordination at the country level. Through their combined expertise, they are providing tailored policy advice, while the IMF and World Bank are prepared to offer financial support where necessary.The leaders pledged to continue monitoring the evolving situation closely, assessing its effects on global energy markets, the broader economy, and individual countries. They reaffirmed their commitment to coordinated action, working alongside other international organizations when needed, to help build the foundations for a resilient global recovery that supports stability, growth, and employment.

The U.S. military is due to begin a blockade of ships entering or leaving Iran's ports at 10 a.m. (1400 GMT), after weekend talks on ending the war broke down.Tehran has threatened to retaliate against ports ​of its Gulf neighbors.The ceasefire, which halted six weeks of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes, is under threat, with only a week left to run.Oil prices surged when trade reopened on Monday, with no sign of a swift reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to ease the biggest ever disruption in supplies.An Iranian military spokesperson called any U.S. restrictions on international shipping "piracy," warning that if Iranian ports were threatened, no port in the Gulf or Gulf of Oman would be secure. Any military vessels approaching ​the strait would violate the ceasefire, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said.Meanwhile, Israel has continued to bombard Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and on Monday Israeli ​troops launched an attack to seize a key south Lebanon town from the group. Israel and the U.S. have said the campaign against Hezbollah was not part of the ceasefire, while Iran has insisted it is. - (REUTERS)

Starmer says the UK is "not supporting a blockade" of Iranian ports.He says the UK's response is focused on getting the Strait of Hormuz opened because "that's the way we get energy prices down as quickly as possible".Asked if he holds US President Donald Trump personally responsible for the impact on UK energy bills, Starmer doesn't answer directly. He says the "single most important thing" he can do is to bring countries together to call for de-escalation and for the opening of the strait.He adds that it is Iran who has caused the restriction of traffic through the Gulf, and says the UK is not getting dragged into the war. (Source - BBC)

The United States and Iran concluded 21 hours of direct talks in Pakistan on Sunday without reaching a deal to

The US military says its blockade of Iranian ports will begin on today at 1400 GMT, but that it will not impede vessels bound to or from other countries in the regionIran's Revolutionary Guard says the Strait of Hormuz is open for civilian vessels, but says that military ships "will be dealt with severely".Iran's Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf has blamed the US for the failure of the ceasefire negotiations in Pakistan, saying the US officials failed to gain the trust of the Iranian delegation.The US "will not impede" vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to or from other countries - oil prices climb above $100 again over the tensionsIt follows a Truth Social post from President Donald Trump saying the US Navy will "blockade any and all ships" trying to enter or leave the strait.Source: BBC

Viktor Orbán has conceded defeat after losing national elections to a record turnout of Hungarians, marking an earthquake in European politics. With voter participation at 78%, Hungary's prime minister, vociferously endorsed by Donald Trump admitted he had lost his hold on power after 16 years after a crushing setback."The election result is understandable and clear. For us, it is painful, but unambiguous," he said."The days ahead will be about healing wounds. I wish everyone good health and evenings better than tonight. May God watch over all of us, go Hungarians!" His defeat propels Péter Magyar, and his Tisza party, into power, with a two thirds supermajority, according to preliminary results, at 98% of the count, giving him 138 seats ahead of Fidesz on 55."Together we have replaced the Orbán system, together we liberated Hungary and we took back our country," he told ecstatic supporters in Budapest. "Today, my friends, we have worked a miracle, Hungary has written history."After less than two years at the head of his Tisza movement, Magyar, 45, is expected to bring Hungary back into the European mainstream."We waited for this for twenty years. Finally we joined the real Europe, as the Russian regime is over," said Péter Kiss, a man in his 30s celebrating with other Tisza supporters on the banks of the Danube.After fears, Fidesz would not recognise the result, Tamás Sulyok, the Hungarian president, said "the 2026 election was conducted properly". "There is clear public confidence in the conduct of elections in our country," he said in reference to the record turnout. "The results of the elections will be a legitimate mandate for where the country should go.Source: Euractiv

US President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, has reiterated his hardline stance on Iran's nuclear programme, stating that Iran will never possess a nuclear weapon.Trump also claimed that Iran remains unwilling to give up its nuclear ambitions, despite ongoing diplomatic engagements involving US and regional representatives. He further commented on tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, calling for the international waterway to be kept open, while alleging that Iran's actions have caused global disruption and instability.In his remarks, Trump referred to briefings from senior US officials regarding recent high-level discussions held in Islamabad involving Pakistani leadership. He also praised the role of regional figures involved in facilitating diplomatic engagement.Source: Truth Social

Legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle was admitted to a private hospital in Mumbai on Saturday (April 11, 2026) evening due to chest infection and exhaustion.The 92-year-old singer was admitted to Breach Candy hospital in South Mumbai.Sources had earlier said she suffered cardiac arrest and also had pulmonary problems.Asha Bhosle, with a career spanning over eight decades, is known for her versatility and has sung many memorable melodies, from romantic songs to ghazals to peppy numbers.

President Donald Trump was ringside at a UFC fight in Miami on Saturday night as high-stakes peace talks with Iran unraveled on the other side of the world.He was accompanied by Dana White, the president of Ultimate Fighting Championship, and several members of the Trump family.Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance said negotiations broke down after roughly 21 hours, when Tehran refused to commit to abandoning nuclear weapons development.Trump had already waved off the talks earlier in the day, telling reporters, "I don't care.""Whether we make a deal or not makes no difference to me," he added.Hours later, he arrived at Miami's Kaseya Center for UFC 327.

We take a look at the evolution of India's ambitious nuclear power generation programme over the decades and how it

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has cut Bangladesh's economic growth further to 4 percent for the current fiscal year 2025-26

US Vice President JD Vance and Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Qalibaf have met separately with Pakistan's prime minister in Islamabad.