live Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again over U.S. blockade, state media says- Saturday 18 April
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has...
The U.S. has reaffirmed its commitment to the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. It's after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr attended a series of high-level meetings in Washington on Monday including with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon.
They addressed regional security concerns in the Asia-Pacific and focused on defence ties and trade, ahead of his scheduled meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
“Our storied alliance has never been stronger or more essential than it is today,” said Hegseth before the closed-door talks. “Together, we remain committed to the mutual defence treaty.”
Marcos described Hegseth’s March visit to the Philippines as “an important symbol” of the enduring partnership, calling the treaty the “cornerstone” of bilateral security cooperation.
The Philippine leader also met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. According to the State Department, both sides “reaffirmed their shared commitment to deterrence and reinforcing freedoms of navigation and overflight in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Marcos arrived in Washington on Sunday for a three-day official visit. A key focus is the proposed 20% tariff on Philippine exports to the U.S., due to take effect on 1 August. Manila is seeking a bilateral trade deal to mitigate the impact.
The Philippines remains a traditional U.S. ally, with security ties anchored in the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.
The past 24 hours of the Russia-Ukraine war have seen a drastic escalation in both aerial bombardment and frontline losses.
Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping on Friday (17 April) for the first time since the U.S. and Israel killed Iran's ex-Supreme Leader in air strikes, triggering the Middle East conflict, at the end of February. A U.S. blockade on Iranian ports, however, remains in force.
Russia published addresses of manufacturers allegedly producing drones or components for Ukraine on Wednesday (15 April), warning European countries against plans to step up UAV supplies to Kyiv.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in a Saturday statement that the Strait of Hormuz has returned to its "previous state" under the control of its "armed forces," citing the ongoing U.S. blockade on Iranian ports.
Netflix shares fell sharply on Friday after the streaming group issued a weaker-than-expected outlook and said chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings will step down from the board.
The Trump administration extended a sanctions exemption on some Russian oil as prices continue to skyrocket in the wake of the U.S.- Israeli war against Iran on Friday (17 April).
Australia and Japan signed contracts on Saturday (18 April) launching their landmark A$10 billion ($7 billion) deal to supply Australia with warships, Tokyo's most consequential military sale since ending a military export ban in 2014.
Leaders from across Europe and beyond gathered in Paris on Friday for a summit aimed at managing the global impact of the Middle East conflict.
European leaders have set out plans for a coordinated defensive mission to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, once security conditions allow, following talks involving more than 40 countries.
NeaNearly 900 Rohingya refugees were reported missing or dead in the Andaman Sea off Myanmar in 2025, making it the deadliest year on record, the United Nations Refugee Agency said on Friday.
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