Unicef says Lebanon ceasefire ‘must hold’ The UN children's agency has welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon after weeks of “immense suffering”. “Over the past 46 days, children have paid a devastating price... This ceasefire must hold – and must be fully respected," Unicef said on X.
US president says all major sticking points have been ironed out ahead of peace talks, but some of his assertions seem dubious It lacked the triumphalist symbolism of George W Bush’s memorable – and subsequently ill-fated – appearance before the “mission accomplished” banner aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln six weeks after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. But there was no mistaking the boastful claims asserted on Friday by Donald Trump after a military assault on neighbouring Iran that has, so far, lasted a similar period and which, by widespread agreement outside the Trump administration, has not gone to plan. Continue reading...
Iran says its enriched uranium 'not going to be transferred' Iran's foreign ministry on Friday said the country's stockpile of enriched uranium would not be transferred "anywhere", denying an earlier claim by US President Donald Trump that the Islamic Republic had agreed to hand it over. "Iran's enriched uranium is not going to be transferred anywhere," Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told state TV. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform earlier Friday that "The USA will get all Nuclear 'Dust,' created by our great B2 Bombers," referring to nuclear material buried by US strikes last year.
Beirut [Lebanon], April 18 (ANI): Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has issued a strong 'Lebanon first' message, widely seen as an indirect criticism of Hezbollah, while reiterating that the state alone will determine national decisions and priorities, Al Jazeera reported. Aoun, without naming the group, appeared to suggest that Hezbollah was effectively fighting Iran's war on Lebanese territory.
Abu Dhabi [UAE], April 18 (ANI): The United Arab Emirates has welcomed the decision of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Legal Committee, adopted during its 113th session, which strongly condemned Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, along with its attacks and threats against ships
More than 38,000 women, girls killed in Gaza war by end of 2025, UN says Over 38,000 women and girls were killed in the Gaza war by the end of 2025, the UN estimated Friday, amounting to over half of the more than 72,000 deaths recorded by the territory's health ministry. "Between October 2023 and December 2025, more than 38,000 women and girls were killed in Gaza - the result of Israeli air bombardment and land military operations," the UN Women agency's spokeswoman Sofia Calltorp told a press briefing in Geneva. "This includes over 22,000 women and 16,000 girls, amounting to an average of at least 47 women and girls killed every day.
Palestine Football Association president denied entry to Canada for Fifa event: Report Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 04/17/2026 - 18:16 Two other Palestinian officials had their visas denied for the Fifa Congress on 30 April An aerial view of the retractable roof of the BC Place Stadium, as seen on 21 March 2026, where matches for the 2026 World Cup will be held in Vancouver, Canada, later this year (Elizabeth Ruiz Ruiz/Getty Images via AFP) Off The president of the Palestine Football Association (PFA), as well as two other officials from the organisation, have been denied visas to Canada for the annual Fifa Congress, which is being held in Vancouver on 30 April, The Guardian revealed on Friday. Canada is one of the hosts of this year's World Cup, alongside the US and Mexico. The PFA has now urged Fifa - football's governing body - to intervene on its behalf.
French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the ceasefire in Iran and Lebanon, describing them as positive development. However, he stressed that it's necessary to remain vigilant. PARIS, April 17 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that Iran's announcement of reopening Strait of Hormuz goes in right direction.
Iran to impose fees on ships permitted to cross Strait of Hormuz, negotiator says Some commercial ships will be permitted to cross the Strait of Hormuz, but only after paying fees, the ISNA news agency reported, citing an official. Mahmoud Nabavian, a member of Iran’s negotiating team, linked the opening of Hormuz to the ceasefire in Lebanon.
The report conflates criticism with anti-Jewish sentiment, British-Palestinian journalist Abdel Bari Atwan, number five on the roster, has told RT Israel's Ministry for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism has published its list of top ten "anti-Semite and anti-Zionist" influencers for 2025.
Washington DC [US], April 17 (ANI): US President Donald Trump has lashed out at NATO allies, labelling them a 'paper tiger' following Tehran's announcement to restore access to the Strait of Hormuz for commercial maritime traffic. The US President asserted that he was contacted by NATO member states offering assistance immediately after Iran declared the reopening of the strategic waterway.
Washington, DC [US], April 17 (ANI): US President Donald Trump has declared that the American naval blockade of Iranian ports will persist until a comprehensive peace agreement is finalised with Tehran, despite Iran's move to restore access to the Strait of Hormuz.
New Delhi [India], April 17 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Friday that 2,361 individuals have been successfully repatriated to India since the commencement of the conflict in West Asia. During a weekly media briefing in the capital, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal detailed that the returnees comprise Indian students and fishermen, along with three foreign nationals.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) –The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy announced a new order regarding the passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Lebanon president says country no longer 'arena for anyone's wars' Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday said his country was no longer an "arena" for anyone's wars after a ceasefire in Lebanon went into force. "We are confident that we will save Lebanon... we have reclaimed Lebanon and Lebanon's decision-making power for the first time in nearly half a century," Aoun said in his first speech to the nation since the truce, adding that "today, we negotiate for ourselves...
Significant differences remain between Iran-US, including on nuclear issues, senior Iranian official says Significant differences between Iran and the United States remain to reach a deal aimed at ending the war, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Friday, adding that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open is "conditional on US adherence to the terms of ceasefire". The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said "no agreement has been reached on the details of the nuclear issues," and serious negotiations are required to overcome differences. He said Tehran hoped a preliminary agreement could be reached in the coming days with Pakistan’s mediation efforts, with the possibility of extending the ceasefire to "create space for more talks on lifting sanctions on Iran and securing compensation for war damages".
(Photo credit: Mingson Lau/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK) Two members of the Iranian women's soccer team who were granted asylum in Australia last month, released a joint statement Friday thanking the Australian government for assistance with 'the process of rebuilding our lives.
Meanwhile, as new 10-day truce in Lebanon enters its first full day, Trump claims Iran has agreed to suspend its nuclear programme Iran’s foreign minister has said that the strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, reinforcing hopes for an eventual end to the war in the Middle East and sending oil prices tumbling despite analysts’ warnings that there will be no immediate widespread resumption of passage through the vital waterway. In a barrage of social media posts, Donald Trump claimed on Friday that Iran had agreed never to close the strategic waterway again, hailing “A GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD! ” Continue reading...
Little is known about Pickaxe Mountain, but some experts say it illustrates the impossibility of relying on force alone to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb.
NEW YORK, 17th April, 2026 (WAM) -- Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, has welcomed the announcement today by Iran that the Strait of Hormuz is completely open for all commercial vessels for the remainder of the ceasefire. In a statement, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said that the Secretary-General considers this a step in the right direction.
