World News

Hormuz may be ‘open’, but ships are still staying away

Confusion over control and safety keeps one of the world’s busiest oil routes nearly empty.

36 hours of chaos: How the US-Iran ceasefire came together and began to fray

From threats of destruction to last-minute diplomacy, a fragile deal now faces early cracks.

Iran tightens control over Strait of Hormuz despite ceasefire

Limited ship access, tolls and military oversight raise concerns over global oil supply.

Trump’s Iran ceasefire cheered on the American right, but concerns are growing

Early celebration among allies gives way to unease over concessions and what comes next.

Islamabad shuts down ahead of tense US-Iran talks, Asim Munir leads desperate push to save ceasefire

Sources told News18 that Munir is engaging directly with Vance and other senior US officials in the lead-up to formal discussions.

Iran’s control of Hormuz shows how much leverage it holds over the global economy

Even with a ceasefire, a narrow stretch of water is shaping oil prices, supply chains and global power dynamics.

U.S. Asserts Iran Ceasefire Excludes Lebanon, Trump Dispatches Negotiators For Talks

Vice President JD Vance has clarified that the recent U.S.-Iran ceasefire, agreed on Tuesday, does not include Lebanon, contrary to what Iranian negotiators reportedly believed. The U.S. stated the truce focuses on Iran and its regional allies, including Israel and Gulf Arab states. This contradicts earlier comments from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had suggested Lebanon was part of the agreement. Vance noted that Israel has agreed to exercise restraint in Lebanon to support the success of the negotiations. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed Lebanon is excluded from the two-week ceasefire and announced that President Donald Trump is sending the U.S. negotiating team, led by Vance, to Pakistan, with talks beginning Saturday, April 11.

OPINION | India strengthens border infrastructure as China builds strategic advantage

India is expanding border infrastructure to match China. Rising tensions and past gaps show the need for faster development to improve defence and strengthen its position

Ship traffic in Hormuz may rise to 25% of pre-war levels after ceasefire

Ship tracking data from Kpler shows around 172 million barrels of crude and refined products on the water in the Mideast Gulf as of April 7

Oil gains 4% as fragile ceasefire, Hormuz restrictions keep supply risks elevated

Brent crude futures were up $3.69, or 3.9%, at $98.44 a barrel at 0856 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $3.47, or 3.7%, to $97.88 a barrel.

Morgan Stanley sees bull market ahead for Indian equities; sets Sensex target at 95,000

Morgan Stanley has set a base case target of 95,000 for the BSE Sensex by December 2026, implying an upside potential of 22 percent.

Republicans worry Iran conflict could hurt mid-term prospects despite ceasefire: Report

While many Republicans have publicly welcomed the ceasefire announcement, party strategists say rising cost-of-living pressures linked to the conflict, especially higher gas prices, could continue to hurt voter sentiment for weeks.

Iran almost called off ceasefire deal, then China stepped in: Here's how Beijing convinced Tehran

China’s last-minute diplomatic push, not Pakistan’s mediation, proved decisive in securing the US-Iran ceasefire, according to a report by The New York Times

Israeli military says it has killed nephew of Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem

His death, if confirmed by Hezbollah, deals another big blow to the armed group and to Tehran as it is one of Iran's main allies in the Middle East

White House pushed Pakistan for days to broker temporary Iran ceasefire

The US and Pakistan believed Iran was more likely to accept the US-backed offer if it was delivered by a Muslim-majority neighbour state that had emphasised its neutrality throughout the conflict.

Iran's envoy quietly deletes post on delegation's arrival in Islamabad for US ceasefire talks

Moghadam had earlier on April 9 had said in a post that the Iranian delegation will reach Islamabad for negotiations based on the 10 points proposed by Tehran.

Did Trump use an old US strategy with Iran? All about Nixon’s ‘madman theory’

Trump’s mix of extreme threats and sudden diplomacy has revived debate over whether he is using Nixon’s ‘madman theory,’ with mixed results and uncertain prospects for lasting peace in the Iran crisis.

OPINION | China’s West Asia Strategy: The method in Beijing's silence 

As West Asia absorbs its worst energy shock in half a century, China's quiet response reveals a method for operating under pressure, one that India is now being tested on 

Iran moves to cap Hormuz traffic despite ceasefire, levy tolls: Report

Gulf oil producers are against paying Iran, and mediators say this demand will make it harder to reach a lasting cease-fire in the coming weeks.

How chaos unfolded before fragile ceasefire: 'Iran told Pakistan that ...'

The effect of Trump's last-minute threat was so far-reaching that Iran almost called off the talks.

Pakistani media, business group floats Nobel Peace Prize pitch for Sharif, Asim Munir over role in US-Iran truce

Sections of the Pakistani media claim that Pakistan’s diplomacy during the Iran-United States crisis could merit a Nobel Peace Prize, highlighting its role in preventing a devastating war

Pakistan declares two-day holiday as US, Iran head to Islamabad for talks

An Iranian delegation arrives in Islamabad for high-stakes talks with the US, as Pakistan ramps up security and diplomatic efforts intensify ahead of a potential ceasefire deal.

UK to call for toll-free Strait of Hormuz, wants Lebanon in ceasefire deal

Cooper will also repeat calls by world leaders for Lebanon to be included in a two-week ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran announced on Tuesday.

Pope may not visit America during Trump's term; Pentagon brings up 'Avignon Papacy'

US-Vatican relations strain after Pentagon summons Pope Leo XIV’s envoy, with officials referencing the Avignon Papacy amid tensions over the Iran conflict.

Price Action: Embassy Developments, Antony Waste gain; Uno Minda, UBL, Patanjali decline

Indian equity markets traded lower, with the Sensex and Nifty declining about 0.7 percent each.

White House approved Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif's X post ahead of Iran ceasefire

Sharif said that diplomatic efforts for a peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are "progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully". The post came just hours before Trump's deadline was to expire.

Russia offers sanctioned LNG to energy-hungry Asia at 40% discount

The sellers said that they could provide paperwork to make it appear that the shipments originated from non-Russian sources

Bangladesh Parliament backs disbanding of ex-PM Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, tightens anti-terror law

Bangladesh has formalised the ban on Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League by passing a law that strengthens anti-terror provisions and restricts the party’s activities.

Stay cautious: Ceasefire is a pause, not peace

The ceasefire math doesn't add up: markets priced a resolution, but the Strait of Hormuz is running at a fraction of its capacity

Eligible young men to be auto-registered in US military draft database by end of 2026

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in March said that while a draft is “not part of the current plan right now,” President Trump “wisely keeps his options on the table.”

Waiting for DeepSeek: New model to test China's AI ambitions

More than a year has passed since the startup put Chinese AI on the map in early 2025 with a low-cost chatbot that performed at a similar level to US rivals

IMF, World Bank, World Food Programme warn of rising food prices due to Iran war

In a joint statement, the heads of the three organisations said the burden of rising food prices will fall most heavily on the world’s most vulnerable populations

Donald Trump says US forces to remain deployed; Strait of Hormuz ‘will be open and safe’

Trump says US forces will stay deployed around Iran until a “real agreement” is enforced, warning of stronger action while vowing the Strait of Hormuz will remain open and safe.

Commodity Corner: Oil rebounds toward $97 as Hormuz disruption persists; gold steadies

Geopolitical tensions remained elevated, with Israeli attacks on Lebanon raising concerns over a potential derailment of the ceasefire. The White House said the US would hold direct talks with Iran, while Tehran termed the strikes a violation of the ceasefire and continued its attacks on Gulf states.

Yield Tracker: India 10-year bond yield rises tracking crude surge, ceasefire optimism fades

On April 8, RBI kept interest rates unchanged, with its six-member Monetary Policy Committee unanimously voting to retain the benchmark repo rate at 5.25 percent, in line with expectations.

Rupee Watch: Rupee opens weaker after four-day rally, tracks Asian peers

The dollar gauge inched higher as investors remained concerned about the durability of the ceasefire between the US and Iran amid continued tensions in the Middle East.

FBI arrests ex-US army employee over alleged leak to journalist

The Justice Department said in a separate statement that a woman identified as Courtney Williams had been indicted on charges of disclosing classified material to “a media outlet and putting our nation, our warfighters, and our allies at risk.”

US Powerball lottery Result Out: Who won $20 million Jackpot for April 8, 2026 draw

The $20 million US Powerball jackpot has a winner for the April 8, 2026 draw, but where was the ticket sold and could there be more surprises?

China tankers join line to test Hormuz exit and US-Iran truce

A successful crossing is not yet guaranteed, as several vessels have turned back at the last moment and there has been little change in traffic over the past day

$170 million Polymarket bets placed hours before Trump’s Iran ceasefire announcement

At least 50 wallets made significant “Yes” bets on a ceasefire on April 7, many of them for the first time, shortly before US President Donald Trump confirmed the development in a social media post around 6:30 pm ET.

India Gold ETF inflows slow for second month, extend 10-month streak

Gold prices saw significant volatility during the month, falling 11.6 percent, marking the steepest monthly decline since October 2008.

Netanyahu warns Israel ready to ‘return to battle at any moment’ despite US-Iran truce

Netanyahu says Israel is ready to resume fighting with Iran at any moment, calling the ceasefire a temporary pause while key objectives remain unmet.

Disney plans to cut 1,000 jobs in coming weeks: Report

The planned layoffs could affect less than 1% of its total employees. Disney employed about 231,000 people as of the end of fiscal year 2025

Israeli strikes pummel Lebanon, killing 250 in deadliest day of war

The strikes raised questions about regional truce efforts, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian saying a ceasefire in Lebanon was an essential condition of his country's agreement with the US

'Remember Greenland': Donald Trump revives Greenland push, slams NATO after Iran ceasefire

Trump criticises NATO’s support during the Iran conflict and signals renewed interest in acquiring Greenland.

Iran offers alternative Hormuz routes, cites sea mine risk after ceasefire

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards advised all ships crossing the strait to follow designated alternative entry and exit routes “to comply with maritime safety principles” and avoid possible collisions with sea mines.

Iran calls peace talks ‘unreasonable’, accuses US and Israel of ceasefire violations

Israel’s deadly strikes on Lebanon have deepened tensions, with Iran calling peace talks “unreasonable” and warning the fragile US-Iran ceasefire may not hold.

Greece PM rejects Iran’s Strait of Hormuz toll plan as ‘completely unacceptable’, warns of ‘risk to freedom of navigation’

The Iran war has threatened Gulf ports and disrupted global trade through the strait, a waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes.