Archives for April, 2026

President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will discuss a plan to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz

France, UK to host Hormuz talks Friday: French presidency

Agence France-Presse

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during Ministerial Statement on the Middle East at the House of Commons in London, Britain, April 13, 2026. © House of Commons/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT. IMAGE MUST NOT BE ALTERED.

Macron, Starmer to chair conference on defensive Hormuz mission on Friday, Elysee says

Reuters

Forensic police officers search the site after a teenager opened fire at a school and wounded at least 16 people, including students and teachers, before killing himself in Siverek, Sanliurfa province, Turkey, April 14, 2026. REUTERS/Sukru Dolas

School shooting in Turkey leaves 16 wounded, governor says

Reuters

FILE PHOTO: Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves participates in a G7 Finance Ministers video call at Downing Street in London, Britain, March 9, 2026. Alberto Pezzali/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

UK's Reeves 'frustrated and angry' over US Iran war strategy, Mirror reports

Reuters

The Strait of Hormuz is the world's fifth busiest shipping lane

US blockade of Iran ports threatens already crippled oil supply

Agence France-Presse

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the press as he departs Tel Aviv for Qatar following an official visit, at Ben Gurion International Airport, near Lod, Israel, September 16, 2025. Israel heavily bombarded Gaza City on September 16 2025, witnesses told AFP, after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio backed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new offensive there and its stated goal of eradicating Hamas. (Photo by NATHAN HOWARD / POOL / AFP) (Photo by NATHAN HOWARD/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Analysis

As Lebanon-Israel talks begin, can Rubio press Netanyahu into ceasefire?

"Donald Trump pressured Benjamin Netanyahu into these negotiations...Trump sees what is happening in Lebanon as a troublesome issue that prevents him from addressing the main problem with Iran," an Israeli diplomatic source told Al-Monitor.

In Tel Aviv, reporting on national security, Israeli politics, defense

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (R) was thanked by both Iran and the United States after the conclusion of the Islamabad talks

Fresh from conflict, Pakistan plays 'peacemaker' in US-Iran talks

Agence France-Presse

FILE PHOTO: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during a joint news conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty following their meeting in Moscow, Russia April 3, 2026. Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov arrives in China for talks on Iran and Ukraine

Reuters

A map showing the Strait of Hormuz is seen in this illustration taken June 22, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Tankers pass Strait of Hormuz on first day of US blockade, data shows

Reuters

Botswana President Duma Boko visited France last week

Botswana seals energy, mining deals with Oman

Agence France-Presse

A vessel at the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Musandam province, April 12, 2026. REUTERS

Explainer-What does a US naval blockade of Iran mean for oil flows?

Reuters

FILE PHOTO: A Pakistani official stands during the arrival of the U.S. Vice President JD Vance for talks with Iranian officials in Islamabad, Pakistan, Saturday, April 11, 2026. Jacquelyn Martin/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

US, Iranian teams could return to Islamabad for peace talks this week, four sources say

Reuters

FILE PHOTO: Iranian Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad makes a statement following a signing ceremony attended by Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev in Moscow, Russia, April 25, 2025. REUTERS/Olesya Astakhova/File Photo

Iran to allocate part of oil revenues for reconstruction after attacks, minister says

Reuters

The meeting mediated by Secretary of State Marco Rubio will include the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors to Washington and the US ambassador to Beirut

Lebanon, Israel to meet for tough talks in Washington

Agence France-Presse

Electric car sales have shot up as Southeast Asia buyers try to avoid Mideast war-linked fuel hikes

Mideast war revs up electric car demand in Asia

Agence France-Presse

Israeli strikes have killed more than 2,000 people in Lebanon and displaced more than a million

Hezbollah leader asks Lebanon to cancel Tuesday meeting with Israel

Agence France-Presse