Iran behind low-level ‘hybrid warfare’ attacks in UK and Europe, analysts say Iranian intelligence apparently using intermediaries to sow fear with attacks frequently on Jewish targets The Guardian - UK · Apr 23
Prince Harry makes surprise visit to Ukraine to ‘remind the world’ about the war The Duke of Sussex was filmed arriving at Kyiv railway station, stepping off an overnight train from Poland and greeting people Evening Standard · Apr 23
European Union approves €90bn loan for Ukraine after Hungary lifts veto The European Union has cleared the way for a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, with a final sign-off expected on Thursday, after oil flow via the disputed Druzhba pipeline to Slovakia resumed early on Thursday, according to the Slovak authorities. Radio France Internationale · Apr 23
How long will it take for US to clear Strait of Hormuz mines positioned by Iran? Iran's alleged mining of the Strait of Hormuz could delay its reopening for up to six months, according to Pentagon reports to Congress. This sophisticated deployment, using GPS technology, is making detection difficult for US forces. The standoff has already impacted global oil prices, with Brent crude exceeding $100 per… The Times of India · Apr 23
US forces board vessel in Indian Ocean – as it happened This blog is now closed The Guardian - AU · Apr 23
‘Bush, Obama said no’: Trump agreed to Netanyahu's war plan after rejections by three US presidents John Kerry revealed that Benjamin Netanyahu pitched an Iran war to four US Presidents, with only Donald Trump agreeing. Kerry, citing Vietnam and Iraq, warned against misleading the public on military action. A New York Times report detailed Netanyahu's "hard sell" to Trump for a joint US-Israeli mission, which Trump… The Times of India · Apr 23
Navy Secretary John C. Phelan resigns amid Pentagon shakeups Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan has stepped down "effective immediately," the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday, marking the latest in a wave of leadership changes that has seen more than a dozen senior military and defense officials removed or replaced in recent months as the United States confronts Iran. Latin Times · Apr 22
Tehran in ‘weak position’, says White House as Iran tightens grip on strait Despite an extended ceasefire, a stand-off over the critical shipping route continues to inflict pain on the global economy. Evening Standard · Apr 22
‘No reopening possible’: Iran rules out resuming Hormuz passage while US blockade persists Iran declared that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is not possible as long as the US blockade of Iranian ports continues. Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, said that any ceasefire between Tehran and Washington is meaningless unless the naval blockade and what he called the “hostage-taking” of the global… The Times of India · Apr 22
Israeli strike killed Lebanese journalist in ‘targeted’ attack as she sought shelter Rescue workers say they were forced to halt attempts to reach Khalil and a colleague after being fired on by Israeli forces The Independent UK · Apr 22
Trump hints at talks in 72 hours even as Iran seizes 2 ships President Donald Trump changed his aggressive stance on Iran and extended the ceasefire indefinitely, even as Iran’s Revolutionary Guard on Wednesday fired on three ships in the Strait of Hormuz, seized two of them and was bringing them to Iran, according to Iranian media. The Times of India · Apr 22
The 8 Women Trump Says He Saved in Iran: Identities, Details, and Controversy Trump claims to have saved eight Iranian women from execution, but Iranian authorities deny the women were ever at risk. Conflicting narratives leave the situation unclear. International Business Times UK · Apr 22
More confusion looms over Strait of Hormuz after Iran attacks three ships near waterway Confusion is deepening in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran attacked three ships near the crucial waterway that has plunged the world into an energy crisis The Independent UK · Apr 22
A Moldovan oligarch and ex-opposition leader gets a 19-year sentence in a $1 billion bank fraud case A Moldovan oligarch and former opposition leader has been sentenced to 19 years in a fraud case in which a billion dollars stolen from banks in the country more than a decade ago The Independent UK · Apr 22
Latin Times · Apr 22 Russia Reaffirms 'Support for Sovereignty' of Cuba Amid U.S. Threats but Stops Short of Military Commitment Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also pointed to ongoing assistance, including oil shipments, and said such support would continue alongside contributions from China
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 ‘Impossible’ to reopen strait of Hormuz amid ‘flagrant’ ceasefire breaches, Iran says Iranian forces seize two ships in critical waterway as Washington and Tehran maintain separate blockades
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 Strait of Hormuz is hosting gunboat diplomacy as US and Iran vie for most effective blockade Iran’s goal is to maintain chokehold on the global economy, even as some say it could run out of oil storage by Sunday
The Guardian - UK · Apr 22 EU agrees to unblock €90bn loan for Ukraine after Hungary lifts veto Agreement for the urgently needed loan was reached after Ukraine resumed pumping Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia
International Business Times · Apr 22 Lebanese President Says Contacts With Israel Are Ongoing To Extend Ceasefire Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said contacts are ongoing with Israel to extend the ceasefire between the countries.
International Business Times · Apr 22 Ukraine Says Russian Missiles Are Passing Near Chernobyl Nuclear Plant, Increasing Risk Of Accident: Report Ukraine claimed that Russian missiles are passing near the Chernobyl nuclear plant, increasing the risk of a major accident, according to a new report.
Latin Times · Apr 22 Iran Arrests More Than 3,600 in Wartime Crackdown Over Alleged U.S. and Israel Links Iranian authorities have arrested more than 3,600 people in a sweeping crackdown tied to the ongoing conflict with the United States and Israel, according to the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights, which said at least 3,646 individuals have been detained since late February.
International Business Times · Apr 22 Iran Attacks Ships In The Strait Of Hormuz, Further Escalating Tensions With The U.S. Iran has attacked at least three ships going through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, further escalating tensions with the U.S. as questions remain about whether parties will engage in a new round of talks.
We Got This Covered · Apr 22 Donald Trump extends Iran ceasefire at the last second, hours after boasting the U.S. military was ‘raring to go’ The blockade stays in place.
The Independent UK · Apr 22 Ukraine wants a Zelenskyy-Putin summit to jolt stalled US-led peace efforts Kyiv’s top diplomat says Ukraine is pushing for direct talks between President Zelenskyy and Russian President Putin
The Independent UK · Apr 22 EU envoys meet in hopes of approving a long-delayed loan to Ukraine European Union envoys are meeting in hopes of approving a massive loan to support Ukraine's military and financial needs for the next two years