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.

US naval blockade of Iranian ports violates ceasefire: Iran’s army

The continued US naval blockade of all Iranian ports constitutes a violation of the ceasefire, said the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran’s top joint military command.

Kazakhstan jails protesters for five years after demonstration ‘displeases’ China

Kazakhstan has sent 19 people to jail for participating in a peaceful protest against human rights abuses in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region.

Trump and Modi stress need to keep Strait of Hormuz open in call

U.S. President Donald Trump ​and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed ‌the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and secure in a call on Tuesday, ​Modi said in a post on X.

Japan PM pledges $10 bil. in financial aid to Asia to tackle oil shortage

The Japanese government said Wednesday it will provide a total of $10 billion in financial support to other Asian nations to help them secure crude oil supplies as prices soar amid the Middle East conflict, aiming to ensure that petroleum-derived products made in those countries keep flowing into Japan.

Chinese ship fails to break US blockade, turns back to Hormuz after brief win

A US-sanctioned tanker linked to China changed course after sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz, where vessel movements are being closely watched following a naval blockade announced by Donald Trump. According to a Reuters report, the vessel. Rich Starry, made its way back to the Strait of Hormuz as it failed to break through the US blockade.

UN watchdog says North Korea is boosting nuclear weapons capacity

North Korea ​has made ’’very serious’’ advances in its abilities to turn out nuclear weapons, with the probable addition of a ‌new uranium enrichment facility, as it stepped up activity at a key complex, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi said on Wednesday.

US Treasury’s Bessent says China has been unreliable partner by hoarding oil during war

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday China ​had been an unreliable global partner during the Middle East war by hoarding oil supplies and limiting exports ‌of some goods, mirroring its actions with medical goods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

US shuts down Iran’s maritime trade despite optimism for more talks

The United States said on Wednesday its military had completely halted trade going in and out of Iran by sea, even though President ​Donald Trump said talks with Tehran on ending the war could resume this week.

250 missing after migrant boat sinks in Indian Ocean

About 250 Rohingya and Bangladeshis, including children, are missing after their boat capsized last week in the Andaman Sea, according to the United Nations’ refugee and migration agencies.

Trump hints Iran talks could resume this week as US port blockade continues

President Donald Trump has suggested talks aimed at ending the war in Iran could resume this week, after negotiations collapsed at the weekend, prompting the US to blockade Iranian ports.

Trump says Iran war is ’very close to being over’ as peace talks are expected to resume

President Donald Trump said the U.S.-Iran war is ’’very close’’ to an end as hostilities ease amid a two-week ceasefire agreement.

Iran demands compensation from 5 Arab states over alleged participation in US-Israeli strikes

Iran demanded compensation from five Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan, accusing them of participating in US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

China warns of countermeasures against US over tariff hikes threat

China has threatened “countermeasures” if the US “goes ahead with the tariff hikes on China”, which Beijing says follow false media reports claiming it provided military support to Iran.

Japan halts new foreign worker intake for food services as quota nears

Japan has stopped accepting new foreign workers in its food services sector from Monday (Apr 13), as the industry nears its quota under a skilled worker scheme.

US vice president says ‘ball is in Iran’s court’ on deal to end war

US Vice President JD Vance says the US would be happy to treat heavily-sanctioned Iran “like a normal country” if it doesn’t pursue nuclear weapons.

Trump deletes post depicting him as Jesus-like figure after backlash

Faced with growing backlash, US President Donald Trump appears to have removed a controversial Truth Social post depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure.

South Asia remains fastest-growing region; India continues as growth engine: World Bank

Despite headwinds from global energy market disruptions triggered by the Iran war, South Asia continues to be the world’s fastest-growing region, with India acting as the principal engine of growth, according to the latest report by the World Bank.

US State Department confirms Rubio to take part in Lebanon-Israel talks

The US State Department has confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take part in Tuesday’s meeting between the Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to Washington.

Philippines says any energy deals with China must respect its sovereignty

The Philippines said on Sunday that any decision to pursue oil and gas cooperation ​with China would be made strictly in line ‌with its constitution and respect its sovereignty.

Iran threatens ports in Mideast as US military set to impose shipping blockade

The U.S. military announced it will begin a blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas on Monday, as President Donald Trump sought to pressure Iran in a move that risks driving oil prices even higher and renewing the war. The announcement set the stage for a showdown, as Iran immediately responded with threats on all ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

After criticizing Pope, Trump posts image of himself as a Jesus-like figure

Shortly after criticizing Pope Leo XIV in a lengthy social media post on Sunday, President Trump shared an apparently A.I.-generated image depicting him as a Jesus-like figure.

Australia appoints woman to lead its army for the first time

Australia on Monday said a woman would lead its army for the first time in history, as part of a reshuffle of ​the country’s defence force leadership.

Britney Spears goes into rehab after driving under the influence arrest

Britney Spears has gone into rehab, a month after she was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Oil jumps more than 7% to above $102 ahead of US blockade on Iran

Oil prices jumped back above $100 a barrel on Monday as the U.S. Navy prepared ‌to block ships to and from Iran via the Strait of Hormuz, a move that could restrict Iranian oil exports, after Washington and Tehran failed to reach a deal to end the war.

Orbán era swept away by Péter Magyar’s Hungary election landslide

Viktor Orbán’s 16 years in power is over, and the system condemned as an ’’electoral autocracy’’ lies in tatters, defeated by a 45-year-old former party insider who convinced a majority of Hungarians to bring it to an end.

Trump criticizes Pope Leo’s stance on Iran war, says he’s ‘not a fan’ of Catholic leader

President Donald Trump strongly criticized Pope Leo XIV on Sunday evening, denouncing his stance on the Iran war and saying he’s “terrible for foreign policy.”

Oil back above $100 as US to blockade Iranian ports after peace talks fail

Oil prices rose back above $100 a barrel as energy markets reopened in Asia on Monday after talks between the US and Iran ended without a new deal and President Donald Trump said he would blockade Iranian ports.