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...
Ukraine has received a draft peace plan from the United States, which Washington believes could help re-energise diplomatic efforts.
According to a statement from the Office of the President of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has received the U.S.-drafted “peace framework”. Zelenskyy outlined the key principles central to Ukraine’s position, and both sides agreed to continue working on the plan to achieve a just resolution.
The draft has been quietly developed over the past month by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, with input from both Ukraine and Russia, a senior U.S. official told Anadolu on Thursday. “Both sides will have to make concessions, not just Ukraine,” the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity.
President Donald Trump has been briefed on the proposal and supports it. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Trump “has been clear” that he wants the conflict to end, expressing frustration at both sides’ reluctance to commit to a peace agreement. She added that the administration remains committed to creating a “detailed and acceptable plan for both sides to stop the killing and establish a durable, lasting peace.”
Ukraine emphasises that it has sought peace “from the very first moments” of Russia’s invasion. Since the start of this year, Kyiv has publicly supported Trump’s initiatives aimed at ending the bloodshed and remains ready to work constructively with the United States, Europe, and other global partners.
In the coming days, Zelenskyy is expected to speak directly with Trump to discuss the diplomatic opportunities available and the key steps necessary to secure a lasting settlement.
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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