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April 16, 2026 12:57 PM

Hopes for Middle East peace grow with Israel and Lebanon eyeing ceasefire

Optimism grew on Thursday that the war in the Middle East may be near an end, with a key Pakistani mediator in Tehran and the administration of President Donald Trump talking up hopes for a deal that would open the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Israel's cabinet met on Wednesday to discuss a possible ceasefire in neighbouring Lebanon, a senior Israeli official said, more than six weeks into its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah. Two senior Lebanese officials said they had been briefed that efforts were...

April 16, 2026 9:30 AM

White House offers no hint of Iran war cost as it seeks military funding surge

White House budget director Russell Vought said on Wednesday he could not estimate the cost of the Iran war, as he defended President Donald Trump's request for a massive $1.5 trillion annual military budget against bipartisan criticism from U.S. lawmakers who cited the Pentagon's historic lack of financial accountability. "We're not ready to come to you with a request. We're still working on it. We're working through to figure out what's needed," Vought told a hearing of the House of Represent...

April 16, 2026 10:10 AM

Trump posts image of himself with Jesus as administration’s pope criticism continues

U.S. President Donald Trump posted an image of Jesus embracing him on Wednesday, as a war of words between his administration and the pope showed little sign of abating. The image, reposted to Trump's Truth Social account, shows Trump with his eyes closed, touching temple-to-temple with a similarly posed Jesus. Trump is standing behind a microphone, and behind him is an American flag. The original post had a caption that included the words: "God might be playing his Trump card!" Trump's repost...

April 15, 2026 12:47 PM

US begins naval blockade of Iranian ports

The United States Navy has begun enforcing a full maritime blockade of Iranian ports, escalating tensions in West Asia after weekend peace talks in Pakistan collapsed without agreement. The operation took effect at 6 pm Dubai time, with U.S. Central Command stating that the restrictions apply to vessels entering or leaving Iranian coastal areas in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Officials said ships bound for non-Iranian destinations can still transit through the Strait of Hormuz, though...

April 15, 2026 12:34 PM

US signals Iran talks resumption as Israel, Lebanon hold first direct talks in decades

The United States has indicated that talks with Iran could resume within days, while Israel and Lebanon have launched their first direct negotiations in decades, signaling parallel diplomatic efforts to ease escalating tensions across West Asia. US President Donald Trump said negotiations between Washington and Tehran may restart in Pakistan within the next two days. In an interview Trump said, "Something could be happening over the next two days, and we're more inclined to go there." The comm...

April 15, 2026 9:45 AM

Italy’s Meloni suspends defence cooperation deal with Israel

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday her government had suspended a defence cooperation deal with Israel, reflecting frayed ties between previously close allies as the conflicts in the Middle East continue. Meloni's right-wing government has been one of Israel's closest friends in Europe, but in recent weeks it has criticised its attacks on Lebanon, which have killed hundreds and injured thousands. Israel also fired warning shots last week at Italian troops serving in Lebanon ...

April 15, 2026 9:27 AM

Trump turns on Meloni, says he is ‘shocked’ by Italian leader

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni lacks courage and has let Washington down, U.S. President Donald Trump told an Italian newspaper on Tuesday, delivering a blunt public rebuke to one of his closest European allies. Meloni had been a vociferous supporter of Trump, but she distanced herself from him after he went to war with Iran in February, and on Monday she openly criticised him for lashing out at Pope Leo, saying his verbal assault was "unacceptable". Trump responded in an interview with...

April 15, 2026 9:21 AM

US hosts rare Israel-Lebanon talks, progress unclear

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted the first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in decades on Tuesday and both sides said they held positive discussions although it was not immediately clear if they agreed to a framework for peace. The meeting marked a rare encounter between representatives of governments that have technically been in a state of war since Israel was established in 1948. They entered the talks with conflicting agendas, with Israel ruling out discussion of a ceasefir...

April 13, 2026 10:35 AM

Economic shock of Middle East war to cast shadow over IMF, World Bank meetings

Top finance officials from around the world will convene in Washington this week under the shadow of the war in the Middle East, which has delivered a third major shock to the global economy after the COVID pandemic and Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Top International Monetary Fund and World Bank officials last week said they would downgrade their forecasts for global growth and raise their inflation predictions as a result of the war, warning that emerging markets and develop...

April 13, 2026 9:43 AM

Trump says gas prices may remain high through November midterm election

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the price of oil and gasoline may remain high through November's midterm elections, a rare acknowledgement of the potential political fallout from his decision to attack Iran six weeks ago. "It could be, or the same, or maybe a little bit higher, but it should be around the same," Trump, who is in Miami for the weekend, told Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures With Maria Bartiromo" when asked whether the cost of oil and gas would be lower by the fal...