Geopolitical
Iran Rejects Trump Claims on Strait of Hormuz, Denies Ceasefire Agreement
TEHRAN — Iran's top military command issued a stern rebuke Monday to President Donald Trump, rejecting his assertions that Tehran has agreed to a ceasefire and a permanent naval blockade in the Strait...
U.S. Suspends All Funding and Security Coordination with Iraq
WASHINGTON — The United States has suspended all funding and security coordination with the Iraqi government and halted dollar shipments to Iraq's central banking system, marking a significant escalat...
Israeli Airstrike in Southern Lebanon Kills Three, Targets Hezbollah Operatives
BEIRUT — An Israeli Air Force strike targeting the village of Qaquaiyet al-Jisr in southern Lebanon on Sunday resulted in three confirmed casualties and the deaths of several Hezbollah operatives, esc...
El Al to Launch Direct Flights to Argentina Following Milei-Netanyahu Announcement
JERUSALEM — Israeli carrier El Al announced on Monday it will begin direct flights to Argentina by the end of the year, a move formalized during a joint press conference between Argentine President Ja...
Russian Attack on Bohodukhiv Gas Station Leaves Three Injured
BOHODUKHIV, Ukraine — Russian forces struck a gas station in the Kharkiv region on Sunday, injuring three civilians and damaging several vehicles in an incident that has raised concerns about escalati...
NBC Survey Shows Majority of Gen Z Sympathizes More with Palestinians
NEW YORK — A significant generational divide has emerged in American public opinion regarding the conflict in the Middle East, with new data indicating that 74% of Generation Z sympathizes more with P...
Israeli UAV Strike Wounds Three in Southern Lebanon Village
BEIRUT — An Israeli unmanned aerial vehicle strike hit a vehicle in the village of Kaakait al-Jisr in southern Lebanon on Sunday, leaving three individuals wounded. The incident occurred at approxima...
Xi Urges Iran to Open Strait of Hormuz in Push for Regional Stability
BEIJING — Chinese President Xi Jinping called on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, stating that the move aligns with the common interests of countries in the region and the international co...
Trump Says Ceasefire to End Wednesday Evening
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump stated Monday that a ceasefire agreement is scheduled to conclude Wednesday evening, Washington time, in comments made to Bloomberg. Trump provided the time...
Iranian Students, Teachers Issue Multilingual Appeal Against U.S., Israel
TEHRAN, April 20 (AP) — Iranian students and teachers published an open letter in seven languages on Monday, calling on the global community to break its silence over alleged crimes by the United Stat...
Trump Declares Temporary Ceasefire with Iran Will Not Be Extended
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the temporary ceasefire agreement with Iran will not be extended, marking a significant shift in U.S. policy toward the Middle Eastern nati...
Brazil's Lula Criticizes Left-Wing Austerity in Germany Speech
BERLIN (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared on Sunday that his administration is firmly integrated into the global economic system, challenging the narrative that left-wing go...
UAE Warns of Yuan Shift Amid US-Iran Conflict Fallout
ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates has attributed significant economic disruptions stemming from the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran to the policies of US President Donald Trump, while warning...
Israeli Drone Strike Hits Café in Southern Lebanon, Injuring Two
BEIRUT — An Israeli drone strike targeted a café at the Qaaqaait al-Jisr bridge on the outskirts of a town in southern Lebanon on Sunday, injuring at least two people. The attack occurred at approxima...
New York Post Correspondent Disputes Claim Regarding U.S.-Iran Relations
NEW YORK (AP) — Caitlin Doornbos, foreign policy correspondent for the New York Post, issued a direct rebuttal on April 20, 2026, dismissing a recent claim concerning diplomatic developments between t...
Trump Claims Iran Deal Signing in Pakistan; Journalists Dispute Report
ISLAMABAD — President Donald Trump asserted Monday that a historic agreement with Iran would be finalized in Pakistan, a claim immediately challenged by American journalists on the ground as unfounded...
Iran, Pakistan Foreign Ministers Hold Talks Amid Regional Uncertainty
TEHRAN — Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi held a telephone conversation with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday, marking a direct diplomatic engagement between the two South Asian an...
IDF Prepares for Multiple Scenarios with Iran Amid Stalled U.S. Talks
JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israel Defense Forces are preparing for multiple military scenarios involving Iran, including a potential opening strike, as diplomatic efforts between the United States and Tehra...
Lebanese Industry Minister Calls for Peace with Israel, Urges Shift from War to Peace
BEIRUT — Lebanese Industry Minister Joe El-Khoury called on Sunday for peace between Lebanon and Israel, stating that Lebanon must accept Israel's existence and transition from a culture of war to a c...
Lavrov and Araqchi Hold Bilateral Talks Amid Regional Tensions
MOSCOW — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi engaged in direct diplomatic communications on Sunday, marking a significant exchange between Moscow and Tehr...
Trump Warns of Escalated Bombings if Ceasefire Expires
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump warned on Sunday that a significant increase in bombings would occur if a current ceasefire agreement expires, raising concerns about the stability of the ongoing c...
Two Bodies Found in Car Under Collapsed Bridge in Tyre
TYRE, Lebanon — Authorities recovered two bodies from a vehicle trapped beneath the rubble of the Qasmiyeh bridge in Tyre on Sunday, more than eight days after the structure collapsed. Rescue teams lo...
Trump Expresses Frustration Over Delayed Talks with Iran and Pakistan
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump expressed sharp frustration on Sunday regarding the lack of progress in scheduled diplomatic talks involving the United States, Iran, and Pakistan. Speaking from th...
Lukashenko Comments on Iran Conflict, U.S. Power
MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko stated on Sunday that the ongoing war in Iran has exposed limitations in American military power, asserting that the United States is no...
UAE arrests dozens of Shia citizens in Iran-linked probe
ABU DHABI — United Arab Emirates authorities arrested dozens of Shia Muslim citizens on Sunday, accusing them of collaborating with Iran in a crackdown that has raised concerns about religious and pol...
Israeli Forces Shell South Lebanon, Destroying Khiam Municipality Building
BEIRUT — Israeli military forces launched a series of explosions and artillery strikes across southern Lebanon on Monday, destroying the official municipality building in the town of Khiam. The attack...
Iran Warns Regional Neighbors Against Hosting Aggressors
TEHRAN, April 20 — Iran harbors no enmity toward its regional neighbors but characterized cooperation with aggressors as a fatal analytical error, the Iranian Foreign Ministry stated Monday. Foreign ...
Russian strikes hit Ukraine's north and south, leaving at least two dead
KYIV, Ukraine — Russian forces launched coordinated drone attacks across northern and southern Ukraine on Sunday, killing at least two people and injuring several others in separate incidents that ign...
Iran Names Pakistan Sole Mediator in US Talks Amid Diplomatic Tensions
TEHRAN, April 20 (AP) — The Iranian Foreign Ministry has designated Pakistan as the sole official mediator in ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington, a move that underscores deepening dist...
US Orders Defense Contractor V2X to Evacuate Staff from Kuwait and Iraq Amid Iran-Backed Militia Threats
WASHINGTON — The U.S. government has ordered defense contractor V2X to evacuate its employees from Kuwait and Iraq following credible threats from Iran-backed militias targeting American personnel in ...