Iran US and Iran announce Strait of Hormuz open, Trump hints at wider deal Iran and US declare Strait of Hormuz "completely open," but Iran adds that passage is on a "coordinated route" set by Tehran. 17/04/2026
Lebanon Israel says military operation against Hezbollah 'still not complete' US President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire on Friday after a meeting between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors, the first direct diplomatic talks between the two countries in decades. 17/04/2026
Bangladesh Nearly 900 Rohingya refugees dead and missing in shipwrecks in 2025 The Rohingya mainly leave from huge camps in Bangladesh, where more than 1 million refugees forced to flee across the border from Myanmar's Rakhine state live in squalid conditions. 17/04/2026
Iran Hormuz standoff shows no sign of letting up for shipping to resume Maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz remained at minimal levels on Friday resulting in a giant parking lot, as the US-Iran standoff continues with the same cautious approach since Monday. 17/04/2026
Economy Iran war energy shock drives nuclear power plans in Asia and Africa The Iran war has exposed the fragility of global fossil fuel supply chains. Now dozens of countries across Asia and Africa are turning to nuclear power as their answer. 17/04/2026
North Korea China and Russia ties driving North Korean economic recovery China has long been the diplomatically isolated country's main economic backer, though Pyongyang has also drawn closer to Moscow since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 17/04/2026
South Korea Escaped wolf Neukgu captured after nine-day search in South Korea A two-year-old wolf that escaped from O-World zoo in Daejeon, South Korea, has been safely recaptured after spending nine days on the loose. The male wolf, Neukgu, was born at the zoo in 2024 and is part of an initiative to restore wolves resembling those once native to the Korean peninsula. 17/04/2026
Kazakhstan Ankara pushes deeper economic ties with Astana ahead of Erdoğan visit Astana and Ankara aim to boost trade, diversify exports and launch joint industrial projects ahead of Erdoğan’s state visit to Kazakhstan, setting a goal of $15 billion in trade volumes. 17/04/2026
No Comment Lebanon truce takes effect as damaged Qasmiyeh bridge reopens Lebanon and Israel entered a 10-day truce early Friday, as the army reopened a single lane on the damaged Qasmiyeh Bridge in the south after Israeli strikes hit the key crossing linking Tyre to the wider region. 17/04/2026
Europe Today Iran war ripple effects could lead to other conflicts - UN's De Croo The head of the UN Development Programme told Euronews that the impact of the Middle East conflict is being felt "way beyond the region", and that, in the absence of a resolution, the groundwork for further conflicts is being laid. 17/04/2026
Lebanon US-brokered 10-day truce between Israel and Lebanon goes into effect Trump extended an invitation to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to hold the first direct meeting at that level in decades. 17/04/2026
Lebanon Israel and Lebanon agree to 10-day ceasefire, Trump says Trump had announced earlier on Thursday that the leaders of Israel and Lebanon would speak about halting the fighting, in what would have been the first direct conversation in more than 30 years. 16/04/2026
Qatar Pakistan PM Sharif visits Doha as US–Iran mediation gathers pace With the fragile ceasefire holding and signs of de-escalation emerging, Pakistan’s mediation efforts to revive US–Iran talks are gathering pace, reflecting a broader push to contain tensions across the Middle East. 16/04/2026
Travel News Saudi Arabia gears up for new motorsport hotel and horse racing venue Saudi Arabia’s gigacity project has plans to shift to high-gear, creating a hub for international motorsports, equestrian racing and positioning itself as a year-round destination for residences, leisure and tourism. 16/04/2026
12 minutes with Iran to blame for closing Strait of Hormuz, says Gulf leader The Gulf Chief Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi told Euronews that Iran is responsible for weaponising the Strait to score a geopolitical win and should deal with the effects. 16/04/2026
Azerbaijan Russia to pay compensation to Azerbaijan over 2024 airliner tragedy Russia and Azerbaijan have revealed that an "appropriate settlement of consequences," including compensation payment, has been reached over the Azerbaijan Airlines airliner crash in December 2024. 16/04/2026
Road To Can WUF13 end the global housing emergency? In partnership with World Urban Forum Housing for all remains a central global challenge, with discussions focusing on inclusive policies, affordability and sustainable urban development. 16/04/2026
Iran US to blockade Iran ports 'as long as it takes,' Hegseth says The US naval blockade of Iran’s ports came into effect on Monday, with President Donald Trump warning that any attack ships would be “eliminated” if they attempted to break it. 16/04/2026
Europe News Europe has 'maybe six weeks of jet fuel left,' IEA chief warns Last week, the Airports Council International Europe wrote to the European Commission, saying jet fuel shortages could begin at the start of May if tankers do not start passing through the Strait of Hormuz. 16/04/2026
Business AI boom drives TSMC profit up 58% The Taiwan-based chipmaker reported record revenue and profit, driven largely by strong demand for artificial intelligence chips and orders from major customers including Apple and Nvidia. 16/04/2026
Iran White House says discussing second round of Iran talks in Pakistan Negotiators are focusing on three key points that derailed last weekend's talks, including Iran's nuclear programme, the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for wartime damages. 15/04/2026
South Korea North Korea boosting ability to make nuclear weapons, IAEA chief says North Korea, which conducted its first nuclear test in 2006, is under rafts of UN sanctions for its banned weapons programmes. 15/04/2026
Europe News EU pursues 'deeper' Gulf partnerships, Costa tells Euronews in Doha In the highest-level EU visit to the Gulf since the Iran war started, European Council President Antonio Costa reinforced the EU’s strategic partnerships with the Gulf states and pushed for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, warning of “disastrous consequences”. 15/04/2026
The Cube Does a video show Israeli soldiers pushing bodies from a rooftop? Footage appearing to show Israeli soldiers handling bodies on a rooftop in the West Bank has gone viral, amassing millions of views. However, the video is old and dates back to September 2024. 15/04/2026
Residences Dubai’s famed Burj Al Arab hotel to close for 18 months The property, which opened in 1999, is known for its opulent interiors featuring Statuario marble, Swarovski crystals and 24-carat gold leaf. 15/04/2026
Iran UN nuclear chief urges strict Iran checks in any deal to end war Tehran has not allowed the IAEA access to its nuclear facilities bombed by Israel and the US during a 12-day conflict in June, according to a confidential IAEA report. 15/04/2026