Monday 13 April 2026
Daily Digest
24 Stories
Top StoryUS-Iran Peace Talks Collapse; Trump Orders Strait of Hormuz Blockade
- US and Iran held 21 hours of direct talks in Pakistan that ended without agreement, with JD Vance saying Iran refused to give up its nuclear programme
- President Trump ordered the US Navy to immediately begin blockading ships entering or leaving the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian ports
- Iran's chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the US delegation 'failed to gain trust' and vowed 'we will not bow to threats'
69 sources
Global Oil Crisis Deepens as Iran War and Hormuz Blockade Drive Fuel Price Surge
- Oil prices rose sharply in early market trading after the US announced a blockade of Iranian ports beginning Monday
- UK diesel prices reached £2 a litre with warnings of fuel protests amid fears of further rises
18 sources
Hungary's Orbán Ousted After 16 Years as Magyar Wins Landslide
- Péter Magyar's centre-right Tisza party won a two-thirds majority in parliament, enough to amend the constitution
- Viktor Orbán conceded defeat after 16 years in power, saying 'The election result is painful but clear'
38 sources
Israel Continues Military Operations in Lebanon; Strikes Kill Hundreds
- Israeli strikes on a single day in Lebanon killed more than 350 people, according to Al Jazeera documentation
- Netanyahu told troops in southern Lebanon that 'war continues' during a visit to the region
8 sources
Nigeria Military Airstrike on Market Kills Over 100 Civilians
- At least 200 people are feared dead after Nigerian military jets struck a village market in Yobe state on Saturday night
- Amnesty International reported more than 100 people were killed, including children, after speaking to survivors of the strike
10 sources
Russia-Ukraine Easter Ceasefire Expires Amid Thousands of Mutual Violations
- The Orthodox Easter ceasefire lasted 32 hours, from 4pm Saturday to end of Sunday, then formally expired
- Ukraine's General Staff recorded 2,299 ceasefire violations by Russia, including assaults, shelling, and small drone launches
8 sources
China Restores Flights and Eases Bans on Taiwan After Opposition Leader's Visit
- Beijing announced 10-point measures including restoring direct flights and easing travel restrictions on individuals going to Taiwan
- KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun concluded her mainland China visit, which began on Tuesday
3 sources
Trump Attacks Pope Leo XIV Over Iran War Criticism; Pope Fires Back
- Pope Leo XIV declared Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilization 'truly unacceptable' and said such attacks violate international law
- Trump posted on social media that 'Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy'
8 sources
NATO Envoys to Visit Japan Amid Growing Concerns Over US Reliability
- Thirty NATO member state envoys are set to visit Tokyo this month
- The visit follows growing concern over Washington's reliability as a security partner
1 source
Haiti Stampede at Historic Citadelle Laferrière Kills at Least 25–30
- At least 25–30 people were killed when a crushing crowd formed at the entrance to the Citadelle Laferrière fortress in northern Haiti
- Haiti's civil protection authority head Emmanuel Pierre confirmed the updated toll
7 sources
Iran Executions of Protesters Draw International Condemnation
- Several Iranians have been executed in recent weeks amid ongoing protests, with sources describing mock executions used against detainees
- Rights advocates say the executions represent the 'most horrific warning signal' to protesters in Iran
1 source
Aid Flotilla Departs Spain for Gaza to Challenge Israeli Blockade
- About 30 boats departed Barcelona as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying medical and humanitarian aid to Gaza
- The flotilla aims to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza
1 source
Peru Presidential Election Marred by Chaos, Police Raid, and Delayed Results
- Keiko Fujimori led exit polls with roughly 16% of the vote but failed to secure an outright win, pointing toward a runoff
- Logistical failures and a police raid on Peru's election authority marred the vote
5 sources
Chinese Carmakers Surpass 1 Million EU Export Milestone, Squeezing Asian Rivals
- Chinese-made car imports into the EU jumped 30.7% from a year earlier to 1.006 million vehicles in 2025
- The milestone marks the first time Chinese car exports to Europe have surpassed 1 million units
1 source
UK-EU Reset: Britain May Adopt Single Market Rules Without Full Parliamentary Vote
- UK ministers are planning legislation that could allow alignment with EU single market rules without a standard parliamentary vote
- The power would reportedly only be used when the government judges alignment to be in the national interest
2 sources
Cyclone Vaianu Strikes New Zealand; Cyclone Maila Kills 11 in Papua New Guinea
- Cyclone Vaianu crossed the New Zealand coast near the Maketu peninsula with destructive winds exceeding 130 km/h, triggering flooding and widespread power outages
- Hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate as Cyclone Vaianu struck the North Island
3 sources
Eric Swalwell Suspends California Governor Campaign After Sexual Assault Accusations
- A former staffer and three other women accused Swalwell of repeatedly making unwanted sexual advances
- Swalwell said he was 'deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment' but promised to fight what he called 'false allegations'
8 sources
West Bengal Voter Roll Purge Drops Nine Million From Electoral Rolls
- Nine million voters were removed from electoral rolls in West Bengal, India
- The mass purge has raised significant concerns about exclusion and electoral fairness
1 source
Cuba's President Warns US Against Military Attack or Regime Change
- Cuban President Díaz-Canel said the US has no valid reason to attack Cuba or try to depose him
- Díaz-Canel warned that an invasion of Cuba would be costly and affect regional security
2 sources
Asha Bhosle, Legendary Bollywood Singer, Dies at 92
- Asha Bhosle, legendary Indian playback singer, died at the age of 92
- She is estimated to have recorded approximately 11,000–12,000 songs over her career
2 sources
Australia Names First Female Army Chief in Historic Defence Reshuffle
- Vice Admiral Mark Hammond will become Australia's next Chief of Defence, appointed by PM Anthony Albanese
- Susan Coyle will become the first woman to lead the Australian Army — described as a 'deeply historic moment' in Australian defence history
5 sources
Benin Holds Presidential Election with Finance Minister Wadagni Heavily Favoured
- Benin held a presidential election on Sunday, four months after a failed coup attempt
- Nearly eight million voters were eligible to cast ballots
6 sources
South Africa's Democratic Alliance Elects New Leader Geordin Hill-Lewis
- Geordin Hill-Lewis, currently Cape Town's mayor, was elected as the new leader of South Africa's Democratic Alliance
- The election took place at the party's federal congress in Johannesburg
1 source
Pope Leo XIV Begins Four-Nation Africa Tour Prioritising Catholic Growth
- Pope Leo XIV began a four-nation African visit, his fourth foreign trip as pontiff
- Africa is the fastest-growing continent for the Catholic Church
2 sources
