Iran Israeli envoy hails 'wonderful exchange' following talks with Lebanon Lebanon was pulled into the region-wide Iran war on 2 March after Hezbollah attacked Israel, it said in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. 14/04/2026
Iran Diplomats try to arrange second round of US-Iran peace talks An initial round of talks aimed at permanently ending the conflict failed to produce an agreement last weekend. The White House said Iran’s nuclear ambitions were a central sticking point. 14/04/2026
World Harvey Weinstein rape retrial begins in New York court The judge declared a mistrial last June after the jury foreperson refused to return to deliberate the case amid a jury-room feud. 14/04/2026
Iran Red Cross makes first aid shipments into Iran since start of war The war has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, 2,020 in Lebanon, 23 in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. 14/04/2026
Culture news New poll reveals the identity of the most popular person in America Politicians don't fare too well... Neither does an American businessman who co-founded the social media service Facebook... But no one can argue with the legend at the top spot. 14/04/2026
Iran Trump says US military blockaded Iranian ports to pressure Tehran The US blockade comes in an attempt to economically pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic after its six-week closure caused global oil prices to surge. Roughly 40 vessels have passed through since the start of the ceasefire, down from 100 or more per day before the war. 14/04/2026
Lebanon Hezbollah leader asks Lebanon to cancel Tuesday meeting with Israel Israel and Hezbollah have fought multiple wars since the Iran-backed Lebanese militant group was formed in the 1980s as a guerrilla force fighting against Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon at the time. 13/04/2026
USA Judge tosses Trump $10bn defamation suit against Wall Street Journal The judge, who was appointed by former president Barack Obama, gave Trump the opportunity to amend his complaint and refile the suit by 27 April. 13/04/2026
Iran US blockade of Iran's ports starts as Trump threatens Tehran's navy In a social media post on Sunday, Trump said his goal was to clear the Strait of Hormuz of mines and reopen it to all shipping, but that Iran must not be allowed to profit from controlling the key cargo waterway. 13/04/2026
Culture news ‘Sickening’: Donald Trump plans for ‘Arc de Trump’ blasted online If approved, Donald Trump's “Triumphal Arch” would be taller than both the US Capitol building and the Lincoln Memorial. 13/04/2026
Culture news Britney Spears enters rehab facility weeks after alleged DUI arrest Britney Spears has voluntarily entered a rehab clinic following her alleged DUI (Drinking Under the Influence) arrest on 4 March. 13/04/2026
World News Trump threatens Strait of Hormuz blockade after US-Iran talks fail Trump said in a social media post he has “instructed our Navy to seek and interdict every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. No one who pays an illegal toll will have safe passage on the high seas”. 12/04/2026
World News High-stakes peace talks to resolve Iran war underway in Pakistan Three party talks with the US, Iran and Pakistan have begun after a reduction in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon and other preconditions being met, according to Iran's IRNA news agency. 11/04/2026
USA NASA's Artemis II crew back on earth after record-breaking moon voyage With their flight now complete, the four astronauts have set NASA up for a moon landing by another crew in just two years and a full-blown moon base within the decade. 11/04/2026
12 minutes with Wars are 'failure of members, not UN' - General Assembly President The head of the United Nations' main policy-making organ responded to mounting criticism of her organisation in a Euronews interview, arguing the abuse of vetoes by key members is blocking progress. 10/04/2026
Europe News Italian arms dealer arrested in US for selling ammunition to Russia A sales manager at a large Italian weapons distributor was arrested in the US for selling arms to Russia. He pleaded guilty in court to having created a network of companies to circumvent restrictions imposed by US law, according to US authorities. 10/04/2026
Vatican Pentagon denies threatening Vatican over pope's remarks on Iran war Pentagon and Vatican envoys have both denied reports that US officials gave the Holy See's ambassador to the US a "bitter lecture," demanding the Church align with the Trump administration over Pope Leo XIV's criticism of the Iran war. 10/04/2026
Culture news Space music: NASA reveals Artemis II crew’s wake-up songs playlist Ever wondered what astronauts listen to in the mornings, 406,771 kilometers from Earth? 10/04/2026
Culture news Controversial US hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa dies aged 68 "His vision transformed the Bronx into the birthplace of a culture that now reaches every corner of the world," said American rapper and producer Kurtis Walker (aka Kurtis Blow), who heads labor advocacy group The Hip Hop Alliance. 10/04/2026
USA US First Lady Melania Trump denies any links to Epstein abuse Epstein died in federal custody in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges involving minors, but the scandal has repeatedly overshadowed Trump's second presidency. 09/04/2026