Spain 'I understand when you say no to war,' Brazil's Lula tells Spain's PM Lula and Sánchez are both outspoken in their criticism of US President Donald Trump, who has threatened both with punitive tariffs. 17/04/2026
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
Europe News Swedish rights groups slam 'honest living' criteria for migrants The Swedish Refugee Law Centre, an organisation that provides legal assistance to asylum seekers, says the proposals will make the process for residence permits unpredictable. 17/04/2026
United Kingdom Three charged over arson attempt on Persian-language TV channel in UK Iran International is one of several Persian‑language outlets critical of Iran's clerical leadership operating from abroad. 17/04/2026
Europe News Philippine leader says corruption scandal suspect arrested in Prague The scale of the anomalies and news reports that showed the lavish lifestyles of some of the suspects sparked anti-corruption protests last year in a country where millions still live in poverty. 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
Europe News Spain immigration officers cancel strike ahead of migrant amnesty Spain has granted amnesty to immigrants who are in the country illegally before, doing so six times between 1986 and 2005. 16/04/2026
Europe News Pope Leo XIV slams 'tyrants' ransacking world on Cameroon visit On arrival in the country on Wednesday, the pope appealed to Cameroon's leaders to examine their "conscience" and tackle corruption and rights abuses. 16/04/2026
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
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
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 Sweden thwarted 2025 pro-Russian cyberattack on thermal power plant Civil Defence Minister Carl-Oskar Bohlin said the aim of the operation was to disrupt the functioning of a facility that supplies heating. 15/04/2026
Europe News Flotilla carrying activists and aid for Gaza sets sail from Spain Organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla say that more than 70 boats and 1,000 people from around the world will participate. 15/04/2026
United Kingdom BBC to cut up to 2,000 jobs in next two years to save money The BBC is funded by the public paying for a licence to view or listen to content and the corporation says 94% of UK adults use its services every month. 15/04/2026
Europe News Ukraine and Italy pledge cooperation on defence and drone production Zelenskyy is pressing European countries to join the PURL programme, launched last year, that allows Ukraine to receive US equipment financed by European countries. 15/04/2026
Turkey Nine dead and 13 injured in second school shooting in Turkey this week It comes a day after an ex-student opened fire at his former high school in Siverek in southern Şanlıurfa province, wounding 16 people including students before killing himself in a showdown with police. 15/04/2026