April 20, 2026
Live Updates
Pakistan confident Iran will attend US talks: Report
44 seconds ago
Pakistan is confident it can get Iran to attend talks with the United States, a senior Pakistani government official told Reuters on Monday.
"We have received a positive signal from Iran. Things are fluid but we are trying that they should be here when we start the talks tomorrow or a day after," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The source added Pakistan is actively engaged with Tehran and Washington as US President Donald Trump's ceasefire deadline looms.
New deal with Iran will be better than old one, Trump says
24 minutes ago
President Donald Trump said on Monday he believed a nuclear deal the US is negotiating with Iran will be better than the JCPOA, the international agreement agreed to in 2015 under then US President Barack Obama to curb Tehran's nuclear programme.
"The DEAL that we are making with Iran will be FAR BETTER than the JCPOA, commonly referred to as 'The Iran Nuclear Deal'," Trump wrote in a social media post after criticism from Democrats and some nuclear experts that he is rushing negotiations on a highly complex topic.
Hungary will abide by ICC over Netanyahu, says incoming PM
2 hours ago
Hungary's incoming prime minister Peter Magyar said on Monday that he was going to halt his country's departure from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and that he was sure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of Hungary's legal obligations under the ICC treaty.
Peter Magyar was asked on Monday about a post made by Israel’s ambassador to Hungary that said he had invited Netanyahu, sought by the ICC on crimes against humanity charges, to Hungary for this year’s commemoration of the country’s failed 1956 anti-Soviet uprising.
“Every leader is welcome to attend this important commemoration,” Magyar told reporters at a press conference in Budapest on Monday. “We have a legal obligation to enforce the court’s rulings, and I’m sure he knows this,” he added, referring to Netanyahu.
Viktor Orban, who Magyar just defeated in an election, announced Hungary’s departure from the ICC in 2025 shortly before the arrival for a state visit of his close Israeli ally and fellow right-wing nationalist.
But, according to Bloomberg, Magyar said his legal advisers had concluded that the departure process was not yet complete. He said that Budapest’s final steps to leave the court could simply be halted when his government takes office early next month.
Iran PM: 'Deep historical mistrust' towards US remains
2 hours ago
Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian has said in a post on X that "deep historical mistrust" persists in Iran towards the US, as a new round of talks is reported to shortly get under way.
Pezeshkian said that Washington's "unconstructive & contradictory signals carry a bitter message; they seek Iran's surrender".
But he warned that, "Iranians do not submit to force."
Trump: Israel 'never talked me into a war with Iran'
3 hours ago
US President Donald Trump has insisted that Israel did not push him into war with Iran, responding to news reports that Netanyahu influenced his decision.
“Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did,” Trump said.
US military blockade redirected 27 vessels since blockade
3 hours ago
The US military has directed 27 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port since the beginning of its blockade around the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command said in a statement on X on Monday.
Reporting by Reuters
Hezbollah MP calls for Lebanese president to withdraw from Israel talks
3 hours ago
Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah has called for Lebanese president Aoun to withdraw from direct talks with Israel, adding that the group wants "the ceasefire to continue".
In comments carried by AFP, Fadlallah said: "It is in the interest of the state, the interest of Lebanon, the president of the republic and the government to move away from the path of direct negotiation and return to a national understanding about the best option for Lebanon."
He added that Hezbollah will "reject and confront any attempt to impose political costs on Lebanon through concessions made to this Israeli enemy".
Iran's foreign minister holds call with Pakistan ahead of new round of talks
4 hours ago
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar spoke over the phone amid the fresh round of talks between Washington and Tehran, Iranian media is reporting.
Trump: Iran deal to be signed 'today,' as negotiators en route to Islamabad
4 hours ago
US President Donald Trump has said that a deal with Iran will be signed "today" in Pakistan, adding that Vice President JD Vance and the US negotiating team are en route to Islamabad and due to arrive within hours.
"We're supposed to have the talks. So I would assume at this point nobody's playing games," Trump said, adding that he had "no problem" meeting directly with Iranian leadership.
He reiterated that Washington's non-negotiable demand of Iran giving up possessing nuclear weapons sits at the core of the talks.
Israel flattening civilian buildings in southern Lebanon during truce, say commanders
5 hours ago
Israel has continued to systematically flatten civilian buildings in southern Lebanon during the ceasefire, according to a report in Haaretz on Sunday.
A 10-day pause in hostilities in Lebanon began on Thursday last week.
But since then, Israeli army commanders have told Haaretz that systematic destruction of civilian buildings in southern villages was continuing to take place.
The commanders said civilian engineering tools had been brought into the area, including excavators, and were being operated by paid Israeli civilian contractors.
Some of these contractors were receiving a daily wage, while others were paid based on the scope of work and the number of buildings they destroyed.
UK universities paid security firm to monitor pro-Palestine students and academics: Report
5 hours ago
Twelve British universities paid a security firm to monitor students and academics, including those who have expressed solidarity with Palestine, a new investigation has revealed.
A joint investigation by Al Jazeera and Liberty Investigates found that Horus Security - a firm run by former military intelligence officials - has been paid £440,000 since 2022 to monitor student social media activity and conduct counterterror threat assessments.
Internal documents revealed that a Palestinian academic invited to give a guest lecture at Manchester Metropolitan University, and a pro-Palestine PhD student at the London School of Economics were among those monitored by the firm.
According to the report, in total 12 universities commisioned Horus Security to perform this work. Others included the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London (UCL), King’s College London (KCL), the University of Sheffield, the University of Leicester, the University of Nottingham and Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Lebanese former minister: Israel has destroyed villages since ceasefire
6 hours ago
Ali Hassan Khalil, a top aide to Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, said on Monday that Israel had destroyed the whole or parts of 39 villages in southern Lebanon since a ceasefire was agreed with Hezbollah last week.
Khalil, formerly Lebanon's finance minister, is part of the Amal movement, which is allied with Hezbollah.
He said the powerful explosions carried out by Israeli forces had destroyed civilian homes in the south and amounted to “a clear war crime”.
Gaza death toll rises
6 hours ago
The death toll from the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023 has risen to 72,553, with 172,296 people wounded, medical sources in the enclave said on Monday.
At least two people were killed and 22 injured in the past 24 hours, the sources said, adding that a number of victims remain under rubble and in the streets, with ambulance and civil defence teams unable to reach them.
Since a ceasefire on 11 October, 777 people have been killed and 2,193 injured, the sources said, adding that 761 bodies have also been recovered over the same period.
Israel talks aim to end hostilities, occupation, Lebanese president says
7 hours ago
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that planned talks with Israel aimed to end "hostilities" and the Israeli occupation in the south, as he named ex-ambassador Simon Karam to lead a delegation.
“The choice to negotiate aims to stop hostilities, end the Israeli occupation of southern regions and deploy the (Lebanese) army all the way to the internationally recognized southern borders” with Israel, Aoun said in a statement.
Aoun named former Lebanese ambassador to Washington Karam to head the negotiations, and said the talks will be "separate from any other negotiations", in reference to US-Iran diplomacy to end the war.
China's Xi urges normal passage in Strait of Hormuz in call with Saudi crown prince
7 hours ago
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a phone call on Monday that "normal traffic" through the vital Strait of Hormuz "should be maintained", state media said.
Xi also stressed in the call that China "advocates for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire", state broadcaster CCTV said.
Vance and US
negotiators are due to arrive in Islamabad within hours, US president says
Key Points
- Israeli soldier filmed smashing Jesus statue in Lebanon
- Israeli forces demolishing towns in Lebanon buffer zone, report says
- Tehran warns conflict could resume at any moment
Live Updates
Pakistan confident Iran will attend US talks: Report
44 seconds ago
Pakistan is confident it can get Iran to attend talks with the United States, a senior Pakistani government official told Reuters on Monday.
"We have received a positive signal from Iran. Things are fluid but we are trying that they should be here when we start the talks tomorrow or a day after," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The source added Pakistan is actively engaged with Tehran and Washington as US President Donald Trump's ceasefire deadline looms.
New deal with Iran will be better than old one, Trump says
24 minutes ago
President Donald Trump said on Monday he believed a nuclear deal the US is negotiating with Iran will be better than the JCPOA, the international agreement agreed to in 2015 under then US President Barack Obama to curb Tehran's nuclear programme.
"The DEAL that we are making with Iran will be FAR BETTER than the JCPOA, commonly referred to as 'The Iran Nuclear Deal'," Trump wrote in a social media post after criticism from Democrats and some nuclear experts that he is rushing negotiations on a highly complex topic.
Hungary will abide by ICC over Netanyahu, says incoming PM
2 hours ago
Hungary's incoming prime minister Peter Magyar said on Monday that he was going to halt his country's departure from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and that he was sure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of Hungary's legal obligations under the ICC treaty.
Peter Magyar was asked on Monday about a post made by Israel’s ambassador to Hungary that said he had invited Netanyahu, sought by the ICC on crimes against humanity charges, to Hungary for this year’s commemoration of the country’s failed 1956 anti-Soviet uprising.
“Every leader is welcome to attend this important commemoration,” Magyar told reporters at a press conference in Budapest on Monday. “We have a legal obligation to enforce the court’s rulings, and I’m sure he knows this,” he added, referring to Netanyahu.
Viktor Orban, who Magyar just defeated in an election, announced Hungary’s departure from the ICC in 2025 shortly before the arrival for a state visit of his close Israeli ally and fellow right-wing nationalist.
But, according to Bloomberg, Magyar said his legal advisers had concluded that the departure process was not yet complete. He said that Budapest’s final steps to leave the court could simply be halted when his government takes office early next month.
Iran PM: 'Deep historical mistrust' towards US remains
2 hours ago
Iran's president Masoud Pezeshkian has said in a post on X that "deep historical mistrust" persists in Iran towards the US, as a new round of talks is reported to shortly get under way.
Pezeshkian said that Washington's "unconstructive & contradictory signals carry a bitter message; they seek Iran's surrender".
But he warned that, "Iranians do not submit to force."
Trump: Israel 'never talked me into a war with Iran'
3 hours ago
US President Donald Trump has insisted that Israel did not push him into war with Iran, responding to news reports that Netanyahu influenced his decision.
“Israel never talked me into the war with Iran, the results of Oct. 7th, added to my lifelong opinion that IRAN CAN NEVER HAVE A NUCLEAR WEAPON, did,” Trump said.
US military blockade redirected 27 vessels since blockade
3 hours ago
The US military has directed 27 vessels to turn around or return to an Iranian port since the beginning of its blockade around the Strait of Hormuz, US Central Command said in a statement on X on Monday.
Reporting by Reuters
Hezbollah MP calls for Lebanese president to withdraw from Israel talks
3 hours ago
Hezbollah MP Hassan Fadlallah has called for Lebanese president Aoun to withdraw from direct talks with Israel, adding that the group wants "the ceasefire to continue".
In comments carried by AFP, Fadlallah said: "It is in the interest of the state, the interest of Lebanon, the president of the republic and the government to move away from the path of direct negotiation and return to a national understanding about the best option for Lebanon."
He added that Hezbollah will "reject and confront any attempt to impose political costs on Lebanon through concessions made to this Israeli enemy".
Iran's foreign minister holds call with Pakistan ahead of new round of talks
4 hours ago
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar spoke over the phone amid the fresh round of talks between Washington and Tehran, Iranian media is reporting.
Trump: Iran deal to be signed 'today,' as negotiators en route to Islamabad
4 hours ago
US President Donald Trump has said that a deal with Iran will be signed "today" in Pakistan, adding that Vice President JD Vance and the US negotiating team are en route to Islamabad and due to arrive within hours.
"We're supposed to have the talks. So I would assume at this point nobody's playing games," Trump said, adding that he had "no problem" meeting directly with Iranian leadership.
He reiterated that Washington's non-negotiable demand of Iran giving up possessing nuclear weapons sits at the core of the talks.
Israel flattening civilian buildings in southern Lebanon during truce, say commanders
5 hours ago
Israel has continued to systematically flatten civilian buildings in southern Lebanon during the ceasefire, according to a report in Haaretz on Sunday.
A 10-day pause in hostilities in Lebanon began on Thursday last week.
But since then, Israeli army commanders have told Haaretz that systematic destruction of civilian buildings in southern villages was continuing to take place.
The commanders said civilian engineering tools had been brought into the area, including excavators, and were being operated by paid Israeli civilian contractors.
Some of these contractors were receiving a daily wage, while others were paid based on the scope of work and the number of buildings they destroyed.
UK universities paid security firm to monitor pro-Palestine students and academics: Report
5 hours ago
Twelve British universities paid a security firm to monitor students and academics, including those who have expressed solidarity with Palestine, a new investigation has revealed.
A joint investigation by Al Jazeera and Liberty Investigates found that Horus Security - a firm run by former military intelligence officials - has been paid £440,000 since 2022 to monitor student social media activity and conduct counterterror threat assessments.
Internal documents revealed that a Palestinian academic invited to give a guest lecture at Manchester Metropolitan University, and a pro-Palestine PhD student at the London School of Economics were among those monitored by the firm.
According to the report, in total 12 universities commisioned Horus Security to perform this work. Others included the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University College London (UCL), King’s College London (KCL), the University of Sheffield, the University of Leicester, the University of Nottingham and Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Lebanese former minister: Israel has destroyed villages since ceasefire
6 hours ago
Ali Hassan Khalil, a top aide to Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, said on Monday that Israel had destroyed the whole or parts of 39 villages in southern Lebanon since a ceasefire was agreed with Hezbollah last week.
Khalil, formerly Lebanon's finance minister, is part of the Amal movement, which is allied with Hezbollah.
He said the powerful explosions carried out by Israeli forces had destroyed civilian homes in the south and amounted to “a clear war crime”.
Gaza death toll rises
6 hours ago
The death toll from the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023 has risen to 72,553, with 172,296 people wounded, medical sources in the enclave said on Monday.
At least two people were killed and 22 injured in the past 24 hours, the sources said, adding that a number of victims remain under rubble and in the streets, with ambulance and civil defence teams unable to reach them.
Since a ceasefire on 11 October, 777 people have been killed and 2,193 injured, the sources said, adding that 761 bodies have also been recovered over the same period.
Israel talks aim to end hostilities, occupation, Lebanese president says
7 hours ago
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said Monday that planned talks with Israel aimed to end "hostilities" and the Israeli occupation in the south, as he named ex-ambassador Simon Karam to lead a delegation.
“The choice to negotiate aims to stop hostilities, end the Israeli occupation of southern regions and deploy the (Lebanese) army all the way to the internationally recognized southern borders” with Israel, Aoun said in a statement.
Aoun named former Lebanese ambassador to Washington Karam to head the negotiations, and said the talks will be "separate from any other negotiations", in reference to US-Iran diplomacy to end the war.
China's Xi urges normal passage in Strait of Hormuz in call with Saudi crown prince
7 hours ago
Chinese President Xi Jinping told Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a phone call on Monday that "normal traffic" through the vital Strait of Hormuz "should be maintained", state media said.
Xi also stressed in the call that China "advocates for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire", state broadcaster CCTV said.
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