Tehran has ‘no plans to participate’ in new talks

Tehran is not currently planning to take part in new talks with the US, Iran state media reported on Sunday evening, as its military accused America of violating a fragile ceasefire between the two countries, hours after Donald Trump said he was dispatching negotiators to Islamabad.

Major 7.4-magnitude quake hits off Japan, tsunami warning issued

An earthquake ‌with a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 struck off ​the northeastern coast of ​Japan on Monday afternoon, ⁠the Japan Meteorological ​Agency said.

Louisiana man kills 7 of his children, another child in mass shooting

A gunman in the southern US state of Louisiana killed eight children, including seven of his own, and shot two other people before being killed by police, authorities have said.

India’s space odyssey: ISRO unveils ambitious roadmap toward 2040 Lunar mission

As India looks beyond Earth’s orbit and deeper into space, its human spaceflight ambitions enter a decisive phase, with a series of missions set to shape the country’s next chapter in space exploration.

G7 steps up efforts to break China’s grip on critical minerals

Finance chiefs of the Group of Seven countries agreed Friday to step up cooperation with resource-rich countries and multilateral development banks, with the aim of becoming less dependent on China for critical minerals.

‘We are not afraid of war’: Iranians rally in support of government

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Tehran in support of Iran’s government, with some voicing a “complete distrust” towards the US and urging Iranian officials not to back down.

US intercepts and seizes Iranian-flagged cargo ship, Trump says

The US has intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf as part of its naval blockade, Donald Trump has said.

Pakistan deports over five thousand migrants in a single day

The Taliban’s “Commission for Addressing Refugee Problems” says that on Friday, (April 17), 5,450 migrants were deported from Pakistan and entered Afghanistan.

Strait of Hormuz closed again, Iran says, as ships attacked

Iran says it is closing the Strait of Hormuz again to commercial vessels and that any ship that approaches it will be targeted.

Two Indian-flagged vessels attacked by Iran gunboats In Hormuz, crew safe: Sources

Two Indian-flagged vessels were fired at by Iranian gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz today, sources have said. No one was injured and the vessels were not damaged, they said. The two ships, however, had to turn back after the incident northeast of Oman in the shipping lane critical for oil trade.

Iran tightens Hormuz control, Trump warns against ’blackmail’

Iran said it was tightening control over the Strait ​of Hormuz on Saturday, warning mariners the vital energy route was again ​closed, but President Donald Trump said Tehran could not blackmail the United ⁠States by shutting the waterway.

5.5 magnitude earthquake shakes Pakistan, Afghanistan

Tremor felt across Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan’s capital Islamabad, parts of Afghanistan including Kabul, no Immediate damage reported

IRGC says Strait of Hormuz closed again over US blockade

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) headquarters said Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its previous state of “strict management” following what it described as Washington’s repeated breaches of commitments by continued blockade.

Pakistan’s diplomatic moment: A bridge of hope in turbulent times

At a moment of sharpened geopolitical strain and deepening mistrust, Pakistan has stepped forward with striking diplomatic poise, emerging as a vital intermediary between the United States and Iran. In a climate where tensions risked spiraling further, Islamabad recognized—and decisively seized—a narrow yet pivotal window to foster dialogue between two long-standing adversaries.

Trump says UFO review uncovered ’interesting’ documents

President Donald Trump said on Friday that his administration’s review of UFO-related ​material uncovered a number of “interesting” documents, adding that an ‌initial tranche of records is expected to be released soon.

Five-point proposal blatantly endorsed the American-Israeli framework

On March 31, 2026, Pakistan and China unveiled a joint five-point proposal for peace in the Middle East. Issued as Press Release No. 85/2026 by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, the document bore both Beijing’s imprimatur and Islamabad’s dateline.

India, Russia discuss steel industry ties in New Delhi meeting

India’s steel secretary ​on Thursday ‌met Russia’s deputy minister ​of industry ​and trade to ⁠discuss ​cooperation in the ​steel sector, the South Asian ​country’s ​steel ministry said.

Oil falls by 11% after Iran’s foreign minister declares Strait of Hormuz open

Oil prices plunged by about 11% on Friday, extending earlier losses, after Iran’s foreign minister said ​that passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of ‌Hormuz was open for the remaining ceasefire period.

China’s Q1 economic rebound faces rough seas as Iran war jolts global outlook

China’s economy picked up speed early in 2026, riding an export surge before the Iran war sent energy costs soaring and put global demand - vital to Beijing’s ​growth ambitions - at risk.

Trump says Iran agreed to ‘never’ close Strait of Hormuz again

The US president Donald Trump says Iran has “agreed to never close the Strait of Hormuz again.”

Iran says Hormuz open for commercial vessels after Lebanon ceasefire

Iran on Friday said the Strait of Hormuz has been opened to all commercial vessels for the remaining duration of the ceasefire, stating that the move is in line with the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire agreement.

Gandhara legacy and modern diplomacy: Opportunities and constraints for Pakistan

Pakistan’s recent efforts to position itself as a custodian of Buddhist heritage, through international conferences and the promotion of the Gandhara legacy, represent a calculated exercise in cultural diplomacy.

Myanmar reduces ex-leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s sentence, her lawyer says

Myanmar has reduced the sentence of imprisoned ex-leader Aung San ​Suu Kyi, her lawyer told Reuters on Friday.

US military: ’locked and loaded’ to strike Iran’s power plants, energy industry if ordered

The U.S. naval blockade of Iran is just an example of ’’polite’’ behavior during ‌the ongoing ceasefire and U.S. forces are ready to strike Iran’s power plants and energy industry if ordered, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said on Thursday.

Pope criticises ’tyrants’ who spend billions on wars after Trump spat

Pope Leo has criticised leaders who spend billions on wars and said the world was ’’being ravaged by a handful of tyrants’’ in unusually forceful comments during a visit to Cameroon.

Pakistan announces power cuts in bid to control energy prices

Pakistan will suspend electricity supply for about two hours during peak-usage times every evening, the government said, in an effort to manage energy prices affected by the Iran war.

Donald Trump, Netanyahu, Mamdani, Xi Jinping among 100 most influential people

The TIME Magazine has released its much-anticipated annual TIME100 list, featuring the 100 people shaping the world right now. The 2026 list is a mix of political heavyweights, cultural icons, and rising global voices.

El Salvador publishes law allowing life sentences for minors as young as 12

El Salvador has published a new law that will allow authorities to penalise minors as young as 12 with life imprisonment for severe crimes, including homicide, terrorism or rape.

US Senate Republicans back Trump military sales to Israel

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday blocked two resolutions that would have stopped the sale ‌of some $450 million in bombs and bulldozers to Israel, as President Donald Trump’s fellow Republicans rallied behind his support for the Jewish state.

Pakistan army chief in Tehran to advance next round of US-Iran talks

A high-level Pakistani delegation has travelled to Iran to hold talks focused on arranging a fresh round of negotiations between Iran and the United States, a week before their fragile truce is due to expire.