Armed conflicts and attacks
Middle Eastern crisis
2025–2026 Iran–United States negotiations
The delegations of the United States and Iran arrive in Islamabad, Pakistan, for ceasefire talks, the highest-level engagement between the two countries since the Iranian Revolution in 1979, with the Iranian delegation led by Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance. (Arab News PK)
U.S. president Donald Trump says that the U.S. has begun "clearing out" naval mines in the Strait of Hormuz. (AA)
The U.S. Central Command confirms that the U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Frank Peterson and USS Michael Murphy have crossed the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the strait is clear of sea mines. (Times of Israel) (Reuters) (CENTCOM)
At least ten people, including three emergency workers, are killed by Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)
The Israeli army has reportedly encircled Bint Jbeil, a Hezbollah stronghold in southern Lebanon. (Yahoo News)
Israel rejects a ceasefire with Hezbollah. (Al Jazeera)
Sudanese civil war
It is reported that a prominent senior North Darfur commander in the Rapid Support Forces has defected to the Sudanese Army. (Sudan Tribune)
Russo-Ukrainian war
Ukraine and Russia announce a 32-hour ceasefire in observation of Orthodox Easter, alongside a prisoner exchange of 175 servicemen. (Reuters)
Yemeni civil war
The Yemeni Army and Houthis engage in intense fighting in the As-Silw district in Taiz Governorate, Yemen, killing two soldiers. Additionally, the Yemeni Army says that it repelled a Houthi attack. (Yemen Monitor)
International relations
Pakistan–Qatar relations, Pakistan–United Arab Emirates relations, Saudi Arabia–Pakistan relations
Pakistan announces that Qatar and Saudi Arabia will provide US$5 billion in financial assistance to support the country's foreign exchange reserves and enable it to repay US$3.5 billion of debt to the United Arab Emirates by the end of April. (AA)
Politics and elections
2026 Djiboutian presidential election
Preliminary results released after yesterday's presidential election revealed that incumbent President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh won a sixth term in office with 97.81% of the vote, beating CDU candidate Mohamed Farah Samatar, who took 2.19% of the vote. (AP) (France 24)
2026 Iraqi presidential election
The Council of Representatives elects PUK candidate Nizar Amidi as president of Iraq in the second round, defeating Muthana Amin of the Kurdistan Islamic Union in a 227–15 vote. (Kurdistan24) (AA)
Sports
2026 Grand National
In horse racing, I Am Maximus, rode by Irish jockey Paul Townend, wins this year's Grand National at Aintree Racecourse, England, becoming the second horse since Red Rum to win the Grand National twice. (BBC News)
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