live Iran reopens Hormuz Strait, demands end to U.S. naval blockade- Saturday 18 April
Iran temporarily reopened the Strait of Hormuz on Friday (17 April) following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, ra...
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 11th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Ten people have died following a shooting at a secondary school in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, in one of Canada’s deadliest mass casualty events. Police confirmed that the female assailant was found deceased at the scene and that there is no ongoing threat to the public. In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Mark Carney has suspended his planned trip to the Munich Security Conference, expressing his devastation at the "horrific acts of violence" in the tight-knit community.
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Washington may deploy a second aircraft carrier strike group to the Middle East should nuclear negotiations with Iran collapse. Whilst Tehran has signalled a willingness to continue diplomatic engagement following recent talks mediated by Oman, President Trump emphasised that the U.S. is prepared to take "tougher action" if a deal remains elusive.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance has signed a Strategic Partnership Charter with President Ilham Aliyev in Baku, on Tuesday marking a significant deepening of ties between Washington and Azerbaijan. The agreement focuses on security, energy cooperation, and the new Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) corridor, intended to link mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan enclave. Mr Aliyev heralded the visit as the start of a "new phase" in bilateral relations, whilst Mr Vance highlighted the potential for economic prosperity in the South Caucasus.
U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer has joined survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse to introduce 'Virginia’s Law', legislation aimed at eliminating the statute of limitations for sex trafficking offences. Named in honour of the late Virginia Giuffre, the bill seeks to allow survivors to pursue legal action against perpetrators and enabling institutions regardless of when the abuse occurred. The move comes amidst continued scrutiny of the Epstein network and calls for greater accountability for those linked to the disgraced financier.
The United States has solidified its position as the central mediator in the South Caucasus, shifting its approach from passive facilitation to driving the implementation of the peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Following the breakthrough accord in August 2025, Washington is prioritising the TRIPP connectivity project to link the region economically whilst respecting sovereignty. This strategic pivot sees the U.S. deepening energy and security ties with Baku whilst simultaneously supporting Yerevan’s diplomatic diversification away from Moscow.
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.
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.
U.S. President Donald Trump says Israeli and Lebanese leaders have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire that includes Hezbollah, raising cautious hopes of a pause in hostilities after weeks of escalating tensions.
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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