Israeli military says soldier killed in Lebanon
Israel’s military said a reserve soldier was killed and three others wounded in fighting in southern Lebanon.
The military said that the reservist killed was a firefighting vehicle driver.
The death brought the number of Israeli soldiers killed in the current war in Lebanon to 13.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar14 April 2026 06:00
Trump threatens to ‘eliminate’ Iranian warships approaching blockade
President Donald Trump has warned that any Iranian “fast-attack” ships that go near the US maritime blockade on Iran will be eliminated, saying the US would not allow Tehran to “extort the world”.
Trump said the US blockade on vessels entering and departing Iran had gone into effect yesterday.
Describing Iran’s navy as “completely obliterated” during the six-week-long war between the US and Iran, Trump had earlier posted on Truth Social: “What we have not hit are their small number of, what they call, ‘fast attack ships,’ because we did not consider them much of a threat.”
“Warning: If any of these ships come anywhere close to our BLOCKADE, they will be immediately ELIMINATED, using the same system of kill that we use against the drug dealers on boats at Sea. It is quick and brutal,” Trump wrote.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar14 April 2026 05:45
Trump rants against ‘The Failing New York Times’ over Iran coverage
President Donald Trump has lashed out at The New York Times once again after the outlet’s chief White House correspondent called his mental health and stability into question.
“HAVE THEY NO SHAME? HAVE THEY NO SENSE OF DECENCY?” the president posted on Truth Social after NYT veteran political reporter Peter Baker cast doubt over his “erratic behavior and extreme comments.”
Trump, who once memorably branded himself a “Very Stable Genius”, didn’t respond directly to Baker’s article, instead taking aim at the paper’s coverage of his war in Iran.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar14 April 2026 05:35
Dozens detained in New York City 
Protesters are arrested by police during a demonstration and sit-in on Third Avenue in New York City on April 13, 2026 (AFP/Getty)
Protesters take part in a sit-in on Third Avenue in New York City (AFP/Getty)
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar14 April 2026 05:30
South Korean leader warns Gulf conflict to keep oil price high
South Korean president Lee Jae Myung said that rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz made it hard to be optimistic about the fallout from the Iran war, warning that high oil prices and supply-chain strains were likely to persist for some time.
Lee told a cabinet meeting this morning that the government should treat prolonged disruption in global energy and raw materials markets as a given and reinforce its emergency response system.
“For the time being, difficulties in global energy and raw materials supply chains and high oil prices will continue,” Lee said.
“I ask that we pursue the development of alternative supply chains, medium- to long-term industrial restructuring, and the transition to a post-plastic economy as top-priority national strategic projects.”
Lee also urged ministries to move quickly to deploy a supplementary budget passed in response to the war.
At the meeting, ministers outlined steps to contain the economic shock from the conflict, including support for crude imports, controls against hoarding of petrochemical feedstocks and medical supplies, and expanded financial assistance for affected companies.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar14 April 2026 05:30
US-sanctioned Chinese tanker first to pass through Strait during blockade
A Chinese tanker sanctioned by the US passed through the Strait of Hormuz this morning despite a US blockade on the chokepoint, shipping data showed.
The Rich Starry would be the first to make it through the strait and to exit the Gulf since the blockade began, data from LSEG, MarineTraffic and Kpler showed.
The tanker and its owner Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd were sanctioned by the US for dealing with Iran.
Rich Starry is a medium-range tanker that is carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol on board, according to the data. It loaded the cargo at its last port of call, the UAE’s Hamriyah, the data showed.
The Chinese-owned tanker has Chinese crew on board, the data showed.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar14 April 2026 05:30
Dozens detained in New York City protest over US arms sales to Israel
Dozens of protesters were detained by police in New York City during demonstrations calling for the blocking of arms sales to Israel and an end to US military support for its ally.
Demonstrators included the anti-war group Jewish Voice for Peace, which said around 90 people were detained. Among those detained was whistleblower Chelsea Manning, a former US Army soldier and WikiLeaks source.
The New York City Police Department said there were “multiple” arrests but did not provide a number.
Clips from the protests showed a crowd gathering near the offices of US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his Democratic colleague, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
Protesters chanted slogans like “stop the bombs,” “end the killings” and “free Palestine” while expressing opposition to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Israel’s attacks in Lebanon and Israel’s assault on Gaza.
The protesters also chanted “let Gaza live,” “let Iran live” and “let Lebanon live.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar14 April 2026 05:28
How the US blockade of Strait of Hormuz could work
President Donald Trump announced that the American military has begun a blockade of Iranian ports as part of his effort to force Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz and accept a deal to end the war that has raged for more than six weeks.
Enforcing the blockade is likely to demand significant resources from the US navy and could prompt concerns about military force and international law, experts say.
At least 15 US warships will be part of the blockade, an unidentified official told The Wall Street Journal. The US currently has 16 warships in the Middle East.
According to a defence official, no warships were in the Persian Gulf — the body of water that forms most of Iran’s coastline.
A note sent by Centcom to mariners says the blockade will “encompass the entirety of the Iranian coastline to include but not limited to ports and oil terminals,” and applies to all vessel traffic, BBC reported.
Neutral vessels would be granted a “grace period” to depart Iranian ports that will expire once the blockade begins, after which time “any vessel entering or departing the blockaded area without authorisation is subject to interception, diversion, and capture”.
The blockade will not be effective on humanitarian shipments including food, medical supplies and other essential goods, subject to inspection.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar14 April 2026 04:56
Second round of talks between US and Iran possibly soon – report
The US and Iran are weighing new in-person negotiations in a bid to reach a deal aimed at ending their six-week war before the ceasefire expires next week, two US officials and a person familiar with the development told the Associated Press.
The three said discussions were still underway about a new round of talks, while a diplomat from one of the mediating countries went further to say Tehran and Washington have agreed to it.
It’s unclear if the same level of delegation would be expected to attend, the diplomat and US officials said.
The diplomat and US officials said Islamabad, Pakistan, was once again being discussed as the host location. The US officials also said Geneva was a possibility, and that while the venue and timing had not been decided, the talks could happen on Thursday.
Donald Trump told reporters earlier on Monday that “we’ve been called by the other side” and “they want to work a deal.”
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar14 April 2026 04:45
Iran offers 5-year pause in nuclear activities
Iran has reportedly proposed suspending uranium enrichment for up to five years, countering the Trump administration’s offer, which insisted on 20 years.
The US and Iran traded proposals for a suspension of Iranian nuclear activities during weekend negotiations in Pakistan, the New York Times reported, citing US and Iranian sources.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar14 April 2026 04:30