Events

Asian Development Bank warns Middle East conflict will drag Asian GDP growth down to 5.1% from 5.4% in 2025. Impact ripples through manufacturing, tourism, and broader supply chains.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: "Dumb for US to Let Netanyahu Kill Diplomacy". Warns of repercussions of Israel's attacks on Lebanon in implicit response to Vance.

Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia formally notified Russia they deny Ukrainian overflights for attacks on Russian territory

Trilateral talks Afghanistan-Pakistan-China amid regional shifting alignments; China-India border tensions noted.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Pyongyang; Kim Jong Un declared bilateral ties "reached a new level"

China announced a South China Sea rocket launch for Saturday 7:30pm

Ecuador hikes tariffs to 100% in feud with Colombia; President Noboa accuses Colombia's Petro of failing to take effective measures against drug trafficking. US abduction of Maduro (January) and ongoing Venezuela instability may be reshaping Andean geopolitics.

EU Commission debate on China strategy postponed; Beijing's Hormuz role noted but EU focused on immediate Middle East response. China sidelined as a result.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned killings conducted "with impunity"

PM Nielsen pushes back after Trump calls Greenland "BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE"; Greenland is "not some piece of ice".

Six months since Gaza ceasefire; most work remains (disarmament, stabilisation force, reconstruction)

Starmer and Trump discussed "military capabilities" to reopen Strait of Hormuz; UK to convene more talks on Hormuz next week

Hungarians vote Sunday in pivotal election; Orbán's Fidesz vs opposition Péter Magyar in closest race in 16 years

IAEA chief: Strikes on Iran nuclear sites "must never happen again." India voices concern about precedent; limited Western coverage.

IMF warns of looming inflation crisis from US-Israel war on Iran; oil, natural gas prices up; refineries and energy infrastructure damaged.

India finalizing agreement to supply oil and gas to Mauritius; Jaishankar cites "West Asia war and Iran's chokehold on Strait of Hormuz" as drivers.

India proposes new rules to regulate news and political posts on social media; changes would give government more power over news-related posts by podcasters, influencers.

Indonesian fisherman caught Chinese underwater drone near key waterway to Australia; potential espionage/surveillance operation near Australian approach.

Indonesia's richest man Prajogo Pangestu selling stakes in Petrindo, Barito to comply with free float requirements; regulators fast-tracking compliance. Signals Xi Jinping-style common prosperity push.

Khamenei: "We did not seek war and do not want it"

Iran's nuclear agency chief: enrichment rights "necessary" for any talks; Pakistani-mediated negotiations to proceed despite ceasefire strains. Talks scheduled in Islamabad.

Ali Khamenei assassination confirmed; succession to son Mojtaba signals continuity with possible moderating stance.

Iran parliament speaker Ghalibaf arrived Islamabad; says Lebanon ceasefire and frozen asset release must precede talks

Israel expands strikes on Lebanon

Three-way call produced agreement to meet at State Department on Tuesday

Israel slams Pakistan Minister Khawaja Asif for calling Israel "evil" and "curse for humanity" on social media. Pakistan joining regional diplomatic tensions around ceasefire.

Italy blocks US use of Sicily air base for Middle East operations

Japanese government-linked expert Tsuneo Watanabe: does not expect Strait of Hormuz to open soon; Hormuz supply disruptions could last over a year. Ceasefire between US and Iran "very fragile"

Japan announces US$6.3 billion (1 trillion yen) shipbuilding revival push; partly driven by Middle East turmoil and supply chain vulnerability. Analysts note money alone won't restore former standing vs. China due to labour shortages and lost capacity as structural barriers.

Japan firm's tie-up with Ukrainian drone maker sparks Russia concerns; Russia protested via Deputy Foreign Minister Rudenko to Japanese ambassador. Signals Japan may be moving toward supporting closer defense cooperation with Ukraine.

Kuwait blaming "Iran and its proxies" for Thursday night drone attack; Iran denies. Kuwait hosts significant US military presence

First attack on Kuwait by Iran in recent conflict period

Moscow-Havana discuss resumption of flights and wider cooperation; Deputy FM Ryabkov says Russia will not limit itself to oil shipment already delivered on tanker Anatoly Kolodkin.

Coup leader Min Aung Hlaing sworn in as president.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi first visit since 2019

Pyongyang tests radar-evading missile during China's FM visit to North Korea (April 9-10). Analysts suggest Kim-Trump meeting opportunity.

Organization of Islamic Cooperation condemned Israel's approval of 34 new settlements

32-hour truce: 4pm Saturday through Easter Sunday

Palestinian journalist Muath Amarne loses prosthetic eye in Israeli prison; describes infection causing prosthetic eye to fall out during detention.

Pope Leo criticized Trump administration; both Pentagon and Vatican play down rift after frank January meeting. New Pope's diplomatic posture toward US under scrutiny.

23:45 New coast guard command established to strengthen South China Sea presence

Pope Leo departs for Africa on first major foreign tour; covering 18,000+ km across African continent. New Pope positioning himself diplomatically amid global tensions.

Trump's Iran exit plan deepening Republican divisions; Marjorie Taylor Greene calling for 25th Amendment removal of Trump. Trump's "tenuous Iran exit plan isn't healing Republican rifts exposed by the war".

Russia's top security official (Patrushev) arrives in Pyongyang

Russia labels Stanford University "undesirable"

Russia-Ukraine Orthodox Easter ceasefire (April 11-12) announced as diplomatic bright spot. US-Russia talks on sanctions relief on Russian oil expire April 11

Lee Jae-myung (Democratic Party) wins South Korea presidential election

South Korea refuses to send warships to Hormuz; analysts say US-Korea alliance "can withstand the strain". 70-year US-Korea alliance under fresh pressure from Middle East confrontational approach.

Spain escalates criticism of Israel and US; Madrid ramps up opposition despite trade threats.

Iran has re-closed the Strait of Hormuz, limiting passage to 15 vessels per day under IRGC supervision. Iran's "Hormuz protocol" mandates IRGC supervision and taxes on passage; ADNOC reports 230 loaded tankers awaiting passage.

Shipping through Strait of Hormuz remains at a trickle despite US-Iran ceasefire; Washington and Tehran accuse each other of not honouring truce agreement.

Trump threatens 20% tariff on all EU vehicles unless EU "removes import duties and other barriers to US goods".

Trump publicly criticized NATO during Secretary General Rutte's visit, threatening to punish members who refused to join the Iran war. Trump reportedly considering moving US troops out of NATO members deemed "unhelpful" on Iran; Rutte described meeting as "very frank".

23:19 12-page plan unveiled: 250-foot arch with winged figure, eagles, lions

23:45 Reuters exclusive: Trump considers drawing down US military presence in Europe amid NATO strains

Summit next month to focus on trade; USTR Greer indicated no plans to remove investment restrictions.

UK tracked 3 Russian submarines in Atlantic in joint mission with Norway; operation near undersea cables and pipelines.

UK has not detained a single Russian vessel; London fears detaining Russian ships would violate international law. Context: earlier UK claims of Russian submarine operation near undersea cables.

Zelenskyy: 228 Ukrainian experts deployed to region; Ukrainian interceptors downed Shahed drones

US consumer sentiment at record low for April

US Democratic lawmakers tell White House: ceasefire must include Lebanon; allowing Israel to continue bombing could reignite regional war.

US-Iran ceasefire, brokered through Pakistani mediation and announced April 7-8, faces immediate collapse as Israel expands strikes on Lebanon.

Iran foreign minister Araghchi: Lebanon must be included in ceasefire deal; frozen assets released before substantive talks

Riot police push back Venezuela wage protesters; ongoing cost-of-living protests continue in Caracas.

White House staff banned from betting on prediction markets; ban suggests internal concerns about market manipulation or conflicts of interest. Platforms have grown in popularity with users making bets on global events.

Xi Jinping met KMT's Cheng Li-wun in Beijing

Xi Jinping meets Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun (KMT) in Beijing

First sitting KMT leader to meet CCP chief in nearly a decade

Zelensky urges reimposition of Russian oil sanctions now that US-Iran ceasefire is in place; leveraging moment to push Russia sanctions reinstatement. Would directly affect Russian oil waiver that expires April 11