World - Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had seized two ships near the Strait of Hormuz. A Trump spokeswoman said the president did not view those actions as violating the cease-fire.

White House says Trump ‘understands Iran is in a very weak position’; state media says the ships have been transferred to Iran’s coast ‘Impossible’ to reopen strait of Hormuz amid ‘flagrant’ ceasefire breaches, Iran says If you’re just joining us, here’s the main news of the day. It is 9.30am in Tehran, 9am in Jerusalem and Beirut, and 2am in Washington DC. Donald Trump unilaterally said he is extending the ceasefire with Iran at Pakistan’s request while awaiting a “unified proposal” from Tehran , even as the US military maintains its blockade of Iranian ports. Trump made the announcement as ceasefire talks looked increasingly uncertain with a two-week truce set to expire on Wednesday . Both countries had said they were prepared to resume fighting if no deal is reached. Trump said he would “extend the ceasefire until such time as [Iran’s] proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other”. Trump later claimed in a Truth Social post that Iran is “collapsing financially” and was losing $500m every day that the strait of Hormuz is effectively closed . Iran has yet to decide whether to join the negotiations in Pakistan , a foreign ministry spokesman said earlier on Tuesday, and will only take part if Tehran believes the discussions would yield results. A container ship has reported being fired at by an IRGC gunboat, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said. The incident occurred 15 nautical miles north-east of Oman. The vessel sustained “heavy damage” to its bridge , the master of the ship said. All crew members were reported as safe. Shares were mixed in Asia as markets waited to see if the US and Iran may resume talks. Brent crude edged higher to $98.51 a barrel , while US benchmark crude fell 0.4% to $89.29 a barrel. One person was killed and two others wounded in an Israeli drone strike overnight on the outskirts of al-Jbour in Lebanon’s western Bekaa Valley , Lebanese state media reported. Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire on Friday. Since the war started, fighting has killed at least 3,375 people in Iran and more than 2,290 in Lebanon , the Associated Press reported. Additionally, 23 people have died in Israel and more than a dozen in Gulf Arab states. Fifteen Israeli soldiers in Lebanon and 13 US service members throughout the region have been killed. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened to prevent oil production in the Middle East if the Islamic republic faced attacks launched from its Gulf neighbours’ territory. Continue reading...

Some London landlords are reportedly advertising 'Muslim-only' rental listings on Facebook and other platforms, allegedly violating Britain's Equality Act.

Robbie Buck and Wendy Harmer pay tribute to ABC radio presenter and musician who had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast James Valentine’s family has released a statement after his death. Here’s what they had to say: James passed peacefully at home surrounded by his family, who adored him. Throughout his illness, James did it his way, which lasted all the way until the end when he made the choice to do Voluntary Assisted Dying. Both he and his family are grateful he was given the option to go out on his own terms. He was calm, dignified as always and somehow still making us laugh. Continue reading...

Fire crews melted a 25-foot-tall ice structure erected to promote the rapper’s forthcoming album, “Iceman,” less than a week after an explosion for a Drake music video shook part of the city.

President Donald Trump says eight women protesters will no longer be executed in Iran after he urged their release during ongoing negotiations.

Exit of John Phelan, navy’s top civilian official, comes a week after Pete Hegseth fired army’s top officer The Pentagon announced on Wednesday that the navy’s top civilian official, John Phelan, the secretary of the navy, is leaving his job. In a statement posted to social media, Sean Parnell, a Pentagon spokesperson, said Phelan was “departing the administration, effective immediately”. Continue reading...

Measure will also limit device use during passing periods, lunch and recess and block YouTube on district devices Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox The Los Angeles unified school district’s board passed a resolution on Tuesday to curb students’ classroom screen time for the upcoming school year, in the latest effort nationwide to address adverse effects from excessive device use. The measure, which passed 6-0 at a Tuesday school board meeting , will set daily and weekly screen time limits for students based on grade level, prohibit elementary and middle school students from using devices during passing periods, lunch and recess, and block use of YouTube on district devices, among other provisions. Continue reading...

Ukraine says it has reopened the Druzhba pipeline, after months of stalemate over stalled oil supplies to neighbouring Hungary.

“Life is not defined solely by one’s mistakes,” the pope told inmates being held in a port city of Equatorial Guinea.