Iran's Foreign Minister briefed his Saudi, Qatari and Egyptian counterparts on Pakistani-mediated talks aimed at ending the US-Israeli campaign against Iran.
More than 500 children have died in Bangladesh's deadliest measles outbreak in decades, blamed on vaccination gaps after the 2024 political upheaval.
Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot says ban follows 'reprehensible actions' against flotilla detainees and urges the EU to consider sanctions against Ben-Gvir.
Tehran says a draft US-Iran deal restores Hormuz traffic to pre-war volumes within 30 days, with a 60-day ceasefire extension and a full naval blockade lift.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu issued his first public response to the emerging US-Iran deal, declaring 'Iran will never have a nuclear weapon' in a post on X.
A blast near Chaman Phatak in Quetta derailed three coaches of a shuttle train on Sunday, killing several and injuring more than 20, Pakistan's APP reported.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in New Delhi the world may get 'some good news' on an Iran peace deal within hours, sharpening the timeline.
Trump said an agreement involving the US, Iran and several Middle Eastern countries was largely negotiated, with the Strait of Hormuz to reopen under the deal.
Secret Service says a man pulled a gun from his bag and fired at officers at a checkpoint near the White House; he died in hospital and a bystander was hit.
A gas blast at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi has killed at least 90 of 247 workers underground, in China's worst mining disaster in 17 years.
Deported Sumud Flotilla activists allege beatings and sexual assault in Israeli custody as Canada, Germany and Spain confirm injuries among their nationals.
Tulsi Gabbard cited her husband's cancer diagnosis as she resigned as US DNI; Trump named former CIA officer Aaron Lukas as acting director.
Indian state retailers lifted petrol to Rs.99.51 and diesel to Rs.92.49 in New Delhi on Saturday — the third hike since May 15 as Iran war crude costs bite.
Iran suspended all civil flight permits in the western sector of its airspace as US media reported Washington was considering further strikes over the weekend.
Lebanon's Health Ministry says two Israeli strikes in 24 hours killed six paramedics in southern Lebanon, calling them violations of international law.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says 'some progress' has been made in Iran talks and a development may come within days; speaking after meeting PM Modi.
Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the UK warn settler violence is at unprecedented levels and the E1 plan would split the West Bank.
Trump told a New York rally he doesn't mind being called a 'brilliant tyrant dictator' but hates being called dumb, returning to his cognitive-test claims.
USCIS says foreigners in the US on student, work or tourist visas must return home to apply for permanent residency, except in 'extraordinary circumstances'.
Donald Trump Jr. married socialite Bettina Anderson in West Palm Beach. President Trump skipped the wedding citing the Iran situation and 'matters of state'.
An angry crowd set fire to Ebola isolation tents at Rwampara Hospital in DR Congo after being denied a body; healthcare worker injured and burial blocked.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran nuclear talks are progressing but more work is needed; calls Iran's Hormuz tolling demand 'unacceptable'.
Foreign Ministry warns damage to nuclear facilities could pose serious risks to civilians and calls on all parties to exercise maximum restraint.
Resolution requiring Congressional authorisation for the Iran war was delayed to early June after Republican leaders concluded they would lose the vote.
Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar unveils the monument, calling it a symbol of unity and cultural connection between Sri Lanka and Cuba.
An Ebola case has been confirmed in rebel-held South Kivu province, hundreds of kilometres from the Bundibugyo outbreak epicentre in Ituri.
UN food agency says agrifood shock is unfolding through energy, fertiliser and yields; alternative routes are limited and El Niño could compound the risk.
India's External Affairs Ministry has postponed the May 28-31 India-Africa Forum Summit citing the evolving Ebola health situation in parts of Africa.
Sri Lankan activist Sameera Mehboobdeen has been deported from Israel after detention from the Global Sumud Flotilla and is en route to Istanbul.
The Foreign Ministry voiced distress over footage posted by Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir and is seeking consular access to flotilla activist Sameera Mehboobdeen.
Trump says US is 'right on the borderline' and could wait a few days for Iran peace deal; IRGC warns next attack would push war beyond the region.
Starmer issues 'indefinite' licence for Russian crude refined in India and other third countries; Tories accuse Labour of buying 'dirty oil'.
A Congressional Research Service report counts 42 US aircraft lost or damaged in the Iran war, including F-15E Strike Eagles, an F-35A and MQ-9 Reapers.
Dr Tedros says 600 suspected cases and 139 suspected deaths in DR Congo and Uganda; both candidate vaccines for the strain are still pre-clinical.
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE officials told the Wall Street Journal they had no knowledge of any US strike plan, contradicting Trump's claim they urged a pause.
IRGC threat lands as Trump says he was an hour away from restarting strikes; Chinese tankers cross Hormuz and Pakistan's interior minister flies to Tehran.
Rubio will travel from Kolkata to Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi for energy, security, trade and defence talks; Jaishankar to host Quad foreign ministers May 26.
UN mid-2026 update flags one of the weakest non-crisis growth years this century; West Asia GDP to plunge from 3.6% to 1.4% on energy and conflict shocks.
Procedural vote clears chamber as Republicans break ranks; Schumer warns of "toddler with a loaded gun" but measure still faces House and veto hurdles.
Bundibugyo outbreak in Ituri has killed 120, up from 80 when WHO declared a global health emergency on May 17; three new treatment centres planned.
Iran's army warned Tuesday it would 'open new fronts' against the US if attacks resume, after Trump paused a planned strike to allow Pakistani-mediated talks.
Iran's revised proposal via Pakistan sees Washington willing to release a quarter of frozen Iranian assets and accept supervised peaceful nuclear activity.
Russian President Vladimir Putin landed in Beijing for two-day talks with Xi Jinping covering the US-Iran war, energy and the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline.
Putin lands in Beijing for two-day Xi talks on US-Iran war, energy and Power of Siberia 2, marking China hosting all four other P5 leaders within months.
MDBs commit to fast-disbursing budget support, supply-chain financing and MSME working capital for economies hit by inflation, food and energy shocks.
FM Vijitha Herath says Colombo is interceding with Israel to free activist Sameera Mehboob, detained after the latest Gaza flotilla interception.
Cabinet reverses 2024 expansion; some nationalities limited to 15 days. Move comes as Q1 arrivals fell 3.4% and Middle East travellers dropped 30%.
US president cancels imminent strike at request of Saudi Crown Prince and Qatari Emir; warns full-scale assault remains ready if deal not reached.
FM Wang Yi describes the Xi-Trump talks as a nine-hour 'historic' meeting and confirms Xi will visit the US in autumn; APEC and G20 to anchor cooperation.
Adani Enterprises agreed to pay US$275 million to settle US Treasury claims of Iran sanctions violations, with SEC and DOJ resolutions also advancing.
MV Hondius docked at Rotterdam Monday as Dutch authorities prepare quarantine for 25 crew and two medical staff after three Andes virus deaths off Cape Verde.
IEA chief Fatih Birol says commercial inventories are depleting rapidly even as 32 member countries release 426 million barrels of strategic reserves.
Commandos boarded vessels of the 50-boat Gaza-bound flotilla off Cyprus on Monday; Sri Lankan participant Sameera Mahboobdeen is part of the fleet.
Privately owned minibuses across Kenya struck Monday after a 23.5% diesel price hike triggered by Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Bodies of all four missing Italian divers located inside Vaavu Atoll cave after Maldives-led search; recovery dives continue. One rescue diver died Saturday.
Brent climbed to $110.70 a barrel and WTI to $107.26 on Monday as the UAE Barakah attack and stalled US-Iran talks deepened Hormuz disruption fears.
The mission warned Sri Lankans that overstaying a Singapore visa or immigration pass carries arrest, prosecution, fines, deportation and possible imprisonment.
Trump issues a stark Truth Social ultimatum to Tehran as Iran demands Hormuz sovereignty and the US insists on uranium transfer, leaving talks at an impasse.
A UN rights office report says Israel's actions since October 2023 amount in many cases to war crimes and indicate ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the West Bank.
Tasnim report says the new draft would waive OFAC oil sanctions during talks, but Iran wants complete removal as a condition for any final deal.
Tamil political analyst D.B.S. Jeyaraj, widely read for decades on Sri Lanka's civil war and post-war reconciliation, has died at 72.
Saudi, Qatari and Egyptian indices fell Sunday after Trump said he was 'running out of patience' and Araghchi questioned US 'seriousness' on a deal.
Moody's says India and Asian importers will secure Iran transit bilaterally through opaque corridors near Larak; India GDP cut 0.8 ppt to 6%.
Israeli PM spoke with US President for over half an hour before convening a limited security discussion; Trump warns Iran 'the clock is ticking'.
Abu Dhabi authorities say a drone strike caused a generator fire outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah nuclear plant; no injuries or radiation impact.
Three killed in Moscow region and one in Belgorod after overnight strikes; SBU says it hit an oil refinery and two pumping stations near the Russian capital.
Bundibugyo strain has caused 80 deaths and 246 suspected cases; first PHEIC declaration for Ebola since 2019-2020 DRC outbreak.
Mosques in Gaza City announced the death of Hamas military wing commander Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a day after Israel said it had targeted the armed wing chief.
India's EC has ordered an inquiry into claims that ten foreign nationals, including Sri Lankans, voted illegally in the April Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
US-mediated talks produced a 45-day extension to the April 16 ceasefire, with new Pentagon security and State Department political tracks set for May and June.
Trump told Fox News he is 'not looking to have somebody go independent' after the Beijing summit, signalling no shift in Washington's one-China stance.
BBC Panorama identifies 'Great British People' and 'Britain Today' as Sri Lanka-operated Facebook pages spreading AI-generated anti-immigration content.
India raised petrol and diesel by Rs.3 per litre on May 15 — its first hike in four years — to offset state-retailer losses on post-Hormuz crude costs.
Modi's UAE visit yielded a strategic defence framework, expanded ADNOC crude storage for India's reserves and an LPG pact, set against the Iran war backdrop.
INS Sunayna deploys as IOS Sagar with sailors from 17 Indian Ocean partners; the seventh port call of its second edition under India's MAHASAGAR initiative.
Vladimir Putin will make a one-day Beijing trip on May 20, with no parade planned, in the first time China hosts both US and Russian leaders the same month.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath led Sri Lankan entrepreneurs at a Minsk roundtable focused on trade, investment and tourism cooperation with Belarus.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath signed a Health Care MoU with his Belarusian counterpart in Minsk, citing 3,000-plus Sri Lankan medical students in Belarus.
Trump left Beijing with Xi invited to the White House on September 24, a claimed oil-and-Boeing deal, and strategic stability as the new US-China frame.
Trump said his patience with Iran was running out, that Xi had agreed Hormuz must reopen, and hinted at a review of sanctions on Chinese refineries.
UK Labour MP Claire Hughes raised alarm over a Facebook page allegedly run from Sri Lanka using AI to produce divisive videos reaching hundreds of thousands.
Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath signs an Air Services Agreement, paving the way for Belavia flights to Sri Lanka, plus MoUs on higher education and healthcare.
A new Myanmar bill would impose capital punishment for forced labour at online scam compounds and life in prison for running scam centres or crypto scams.
Russia's embassy in Colombo has pushed back at the EU Delegation in Sri Lanka over X posts accusing Moscow of forcibly deporting 20,000 Ukrainian children.
Trump and Xi held summit talks at Beijing's Temple of Heaven; Xi called Taiwan the 'most important issue' in bilateral ties and urged US-China partnership.
Trump told Fox News that Xi offered to help on Iran and wants Hormuz open, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly said on NBC the US doesn't need help.
Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong urges the Indian Ocean be kept as a stage for cooperation rather than major-power rivalry.
Speaker Ghalibaf says Washington must accept Iran's 14-point proposal as Revolutionary Guards stage Tehran combat drills against the 'American-Zionist enemy'.
Israeli PM Netanyahu held secret talks with UAE President MBZ in Al Ain during the Iran war, his office said, describing the meeting as a historic breakthrough.
Donald Trump begins his China trip seeking Iran war progress and trade deals with Xi Jinping; says Beijing's leverage over Tehran will be tested.
Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay wins floor test with 144 MLAs; 22 against, 5 abstain; 25 AIADMK rebels defy Palaniswami to back TVK-led coalition.
Adhadhu reporters Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Nasir were jailed for 15 and 10 days over an investigative documentary on President Muizzu, CPJ said.
Seven Andes virus cases now confirmed from the cruise ship; 16 evacuees being monitored at Nebraska facility while two are at Emory in Atlanta.
Pentagon Comptroller Jay Hurst updated the Iran war cost to $29 billion, up from $25 billion, while CNN estimates the full total may reach $40–50 billion.
Modi appeals for Covid-era austerity in a Hyderabad speech as Sensex drops 1,000 points and rupee hits record low; 90% oil-import dependence strains India.
US President dismisses Tehran's counter-proposal as 'a piece of garbage' as Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed and OPEC output hits multi-decade low.
WSJ report says the Emirates entered the war as a combatant, taking a refinery offline in April; Iran has retaliated with 2,800 missiles and drones on the UAE.
US Treasury sanctions three individuals and nine Hong Kong, UAE and Oman firms over IRGC oil shipments to China, days before Trump's planned Xi meeting.
France's PM said a passenger developed symptoms on the chartered Tenerife-to-Paris flight; all five French evacuees placed in strict isolation.
UNOPS executive director Jorge Moreira da Silva says a few weeks remain to avert a massive humanitarian crisis with planting seasons ending.
India Meteorological Department forecasts 92% of long-term-average rainfall for the June–September monsoon, the weakest initial outlook in over two decades.
Netanyahu told CBS '60 Minutes' he aims to draw US financial support to zero within a decade, citing fraying bipartisan backing and a Gulf-states pivot.
Brent climbed $3.18 to $104.47 a barrel as Trump rejected Iran's counter-proposal and the Strait of Hormuz remained largely closed.
The Philippine House voted 257-of-290 to impeach VP Sara Duterte over alleged fund misuse and threats against President Marcos, sending the case to the Senate.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says regional security has been undermined, defends Hormuz reopening conditions.
76-year-old billionaire walks free from Klong Prem Central Prison on parole; daughter Paetongtarn and political allies greet him outside.
Trump's May 13-15 Beijing trip, the first by a US president in nearly a decade, will test the fragile US-China trade truce agreed last October.
Fire in right rear tyre forced one-hour airport closure; airline blames hydraulic pipe malfunction, no injuries reported.
Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said global markets will take time to stabilise even if Hormuz flows resume, with about a billion barrels lost in two months.
Justice BR Gavai told the Bar Association of Sri Lanka that an independent Bar is a constitutional necessity and lawyers must defend institutional integrity.
Iran's IRGC warned of heavy strikes on US bases in the region if its tankers come under fire, after Friday's US Gulf of Oman tanker attack.
Iran's response to the latest U.S. draft to end the war was delivered Sunday through a Pakistani mediator, IRNA reported, with talks focused on ending the war.
Lebanon's health ministry reports 39 killed in Saturday's Israeli strikes — including a Saksakiyeh raid that killed seven — and 120 dead in the past week.
At a Telangana event, Modi said imported petro products should be used only as needed to save foreign exchange and reduce the war's impact on India.
Israeli PM Netanyahu told CBS '60 Minutes' the joint US-Israeli war 'accomplished a great deal, but it's not over' — Tehran still holds enriched uranium.
Militants rammed an explosive-laden car into a police post in NW Pakistan and ambushed reinforcements; Ittehad-ul-Mujahideen claimed responsibility.
Putin told reporters at the Kremlin he thought the Ukraine war was 'coming to an end' — hours after vowing victory at a scaled-back Victory Day parade.
Trump rejected Iran's counter-proposal to a U.S.-backed war-ending plan, calling Tehran's reply 'totally unacceptable' in a Truth Social post.
Britain is moving destroyer HMS Dragon to the Middle East to pre-position for a UK–France-led coalition to escort shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Washington's draft, via Pakistan, asks Iran to halt enrichment for 12 years and surrender 440kg of 60% enriched uranium for sanctions relief and blockade's end.
Tamil Nadu's new CM Vijay launched a women's security wing, doubled free electricity to 200 units bi-monthly, and ordered anti-drug units in every district.
Vijay took oath as Tamil Nadu CM at Chennai's Nehru Stadium on Sunday. President Dissanayake congratulated him on X, citing deepening India-Sri Lanka ties.
Germany, France, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands are dispatching evacuation planes to Tenerife for citizens aboard the hantavirus-stricken MV Hondius.
Péter Magyar took office Saturday, ending Viktor Orbán's 16 years in power. The EU flag was reinstated inside parliament — a symbolic step back toward Brussels.
Trump said Putin and Zelenskyy agreed to a three-day ceasefire over Russia's Victory Day and a prisoner swap — possibly the 'beginning of the end' of the war.
Saturday brought calm to the Strait of Hormuz but no Iranian response to Washington's peace proposal, as a leaked CIA assessment questioned US leverage.
The US Treasury sanctioned 10 firms in China, Hong Kong, UAE and Belarus accused of helping Iran procure parts for Shahed drones and ballistic missiles.
Iran fires missiles and drones at three US Navy ships after a US strike on an Iranian tanker; CENTCOM says it intercepted them and hit Iranian facilities.
Tehran institutionalises Hormuz control through a new toll-collecting agency as a Saudi official says Riyadh refused to back Trump's Project Freedom.
Pakistan Army's SSG and Sri Lanka Special Forces conclude two-week joint counter-terrorism training programme at Tarbela base.
Ambassador Anura Withanage presented his credentials to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in Beirut on May 6, with talks centred on trade and investment.
Ambassador-designate Nirmala Indumathie Dias Paranavitana takes office, also serving as Permanent Observer to the African Union and UNECA.
A 2-1 Court of International Trade ruling finds Trump's worldwide tariff invalid; an appeal is expected, with potential implications for Sri Lankan exporters.
President plays down clash in Hormuz after CENTCOM responds to attacks on US destroyers; Iran accuses Washington of breaching the truce.
UAE Defence Ministry says air defences shot down two ballistic missiles and three drones from Iran on Friday; total injuries reach 230 since attacks began.
Rubio says US expects Iran reply Friday on its latest peace proposal as US and Iranian forces clash in the Gulf and UAE intercepts new missile-drone attack.
Washington's draft Security Council resolution invokes Chapter VII over Hormuz mining; Beijing and Moscow signal they will block it.
MV Hondius will dock in Tenerife within three days; non-Spanish passengers will be repatriated, 14 Spaniards quarantined at a Madrid military hospital.
47 Sri Lankans, mostly women in caregiving roles, flew to Israel on Thursday — the 202nd SLBFE batch as Middle East air links recover post-conflict.
Tehran reviewing one-page memo to formally end the war, fix Hormuz and open a 30-day talks window; Brent down 3% to $98 on Thursday.
American jet disables Iranian-flagged vessel in Gulf of Oman the same day Tehran reviews a 14-point MoU; Saudi base denial forced Project Freedom pause.
Tamil Nadu Governor refused Vijay's claim to form a government for the second day, demanding written backing from 118 MLAs before any swearing-in can proceed.
Chinese FM Wang Yi met Iran's Araghchi in Beijing on Wednesday and called for the strait to be reopened immediately, days before Trump-Xi summit.
Carrier strike group transits Suez to assess Hormuz region for the joint Anglo-French multinational maritime security initiative agreed in Paris last month.
CMA CGM says crew injured aboard the French-flagged container ship after a projectile strike in Hormuz Tuesday — first EU vessel hit since the war began.
Indian Navy submarine INS Sindhukesari left Sri Lanka on May 6 after a port visit at Colombo, with the SL Navy bidding a customary farewell.
Israel hits Beirut's southern suburbs for the first time since the April 16 ceasefire, targeting a Hezbollah Radwan force commander and threatening the truce.
March revision removes 'socialist' from title and references to peaceful reunification, while elevating Kim Jong-un above the Supreme People's Assembly.
Media mogul Ted Turner, who launched CNN in 1980 and revolutionised television news, has died at 87, the network announced.
US President Trump paused the naval escort of commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, citing progress toward an agreement with Iran.
Washington and Tehran are close to a 14-point memo ending the war and opening a 30-day window for a detailed nuclear and Hormuz settlement, sources tell Axios.
Australia refused 38% of Sri Lankan higher-education visas in February, placing the country among the top five rejection rates as Canberra tightens migration.
WHO's Van Kerkhove says intimate contact between cabin-sharing passengers may have spread the Andes-strain virus on MV Hondius; public risk stays low.
Georgieva says global supply chain shocks, shipping costs and oil volatility from the Iran conflict will persist for months regardless of any ceasefire.
Stalin submits resignation to Governor Arlekar after DMK's defeat; TVK wins 108 of 234 seats, Modi's BJP ends Mamata's 15-year Bengal rule.
Ghalibaf says the Hormuz status quo is intolerable for the US 'whilst we have not even started yet' as Colombo stocks slide on Middle East panic.
PM Ilie Bolojan's cabinet ousted by Romanian lawmakers, putting sovereign ratings, EU funding access and currency stability at risk.
Defence Ministry calls a two-day pause to mark WWII anniversary; warns of major retaliatory strike on the Ukrainian capital if celebrations disrupted.
Seoul says it is weighing the US invitation to escort merchant ships through Hormuz, balancing Korean Peninsula readiness against Gulf supply needs.
UAE Interior Ministry tells residents to take shelter as air defences respond to a fresh Iran missile threat, a day after intercepting 19 drones and missiles.
US Defense Secretary Hegseth says the ceasefire holds despite Hormuz hostilities, warning Iran to stay below the escalation threshold.
INS Sindhukesari, an Indian Navy submarine, docked at the Port of Colombo on May 3 for an Operational Turnaround in a rare submarine port call.
Iran's military threatened to attack US forces if they enter Hormuz, hours after Trump's 'Project Freedom' began escorting stranded ships out of the strait.
Iran's state media says two missiles struck a US Navy vessel turned back near Jask. CENTCOM denies any ship was hit. Brent crude rose 5% to $113.69.
Pakistan's foreign ministry flew the remaining 22 Iranian sailors from the US-seized ship Touska to Islamabad as a confidence-building measure.
Panama-flagged ship with six South Korean crew suffers explosion and fire near Hormuz; Seoul says cause unknown as 26 SK-linked vessels remain stranded.
Counting starts at 8am Monday across 234 seats after a record 84.8% turnout, with Stalin's DMK seeking re-election and Vijay's TVK in its first contest.
Trump threatens Iran in Fox News interview as US destroyers transit Hormuz, six Iranian boats sunk and Brent crude jumps past $115 a barrel.
UAE intercepts Iranian missiles, condemns drone strike on ADNOC tanker and Fujairah oil fire as Dubai and Sharjah airports temporarily suspend flights.
Air India will cut select international flights until July as Iran-war airspace restrictions and rising jet fuel prices stretch routes and operating costs.
UKMTO reports a bulker attacked 11nm west of Sirik; AIS data points to Liberian-flagged Minoan Falcon, which went dark after the incident.
Israel has cleared a fourth F-35 squadron from Lockheed Martin and a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing as part of a $119 billion 10-year build-up.
Togo-flagged MT Eureka was overrun in the Gulf of Aden and is being taken to Somalia — the fourth successful piracy hijacking in the region in two weeks.
Sri Lanka's France-backed Regional Centre for Maritime Studies at KDU has trained over 300 officials and is expanding to Maldives, Bangladesh and beyond.
Trump said he was reviewing wording of Iran's proposal and threatened resumed strikes 'if they misbehave', signalling a conditional return to military action.
Trump says the US will guide stranded ships through the Strait of Hormuz from Monday and warned interference will be 'dealt with forcefully'.
Trump says he is unlikely to accept Iran's new peace proposal and warned of possible renewed strikes, as Israel orders Lebanese villagers to evacuate.
A senior Iranian military official said US statements suggest no commitment to diplomacy and Iran's armed forces are fully prepared for renewed conflict.
A senior Iranian official confirmed Tehran's formal proposal to open the Strait of Hormuz before nuclear talks; Trump said he would not agree to its terms.
European jet fuel prices more than doubled to $180 a barrel since February, prompting Lufthansa, SAS and Air France-KLM to cut flights and add surcharges.
Ultra-low-cost US carrier shut down operations Saturday after fuel topped $4.5/gallon and a White House bailout proposal failed; some 17,000 jobs at risk.
President floats Havana operation at Florida event hours after signing executive order tightening sanctions on the island, citing Cuba-Venezuela ties.
Trump said he was unsatisfied with Iran's new proposal as the US announced withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany over Berlin's Iran criticism.
Trump says US Navy seizing Iranian ships and oil is 'a very profitable business' as Washington enforces a naval blockade of Iranian ports.
OFAC says shippers paying Iran for Hormuz passage — even via Red Crescent charity — risk sanctions; tanker NEW FUSION blacklisted, 3 exchange houses hit.
IMF says shipping and air disruptions will keep dragging on growth even after peace, and tourism-dependent economies like Sri Lanka are hardest hit.
Iranian state media said Tehran transmitted a fresh war-ending proposal to Washington through Pakistan, with talks stalling since the April 8 ceasefire.
A senior IRGC official warned of 'long and painful strikes' on US regional positions while Tehran restated its claim to the Strait of Hormuz.
Australia's Sri Lankan-born community grew to an estimated 184,800 by mid-2025, up from 158,300 in June 2023, ABS data shows.
Trump said US tariffs on EU cars and trucks will rise to 25% next week, citing the bloc's non-compliance with last July's Turnberry trade deal.
ADB sharply downgrades Asia-Pacific growth from 5.1% to 4.7%, raises inflation to 5.2%, names Sri Lanka among economies most exposed.
Oil jumped almost 7% to a multi-year high after Axios reported the US military will brief Trump on a 'short and powerful' strike package.
Top three Indian carriers reconnect Doha hub with major Indian metros and regional cities, citing the holding US-Iran ceasefire across West Asia.
Oil hit a multi-year peak of $122 a barrel on Wednesday after reports the White House is preparing to extend the naval blockade of Iran's ports.
Israel detains around 175 activists, sends them to Greek beach. Sri Lankan activist Sameera Mehboobdeen had joined the Crete-area convoy.
Iran says six of 28 crew aboard the seized container ship Touska have been returned home; talks continue for the rest after the April 20 US naval seizure.
State Department cable seen by Reuters details Rubio-approved State-Pentagon initiative to coordinate shipping through the Iran-blockaded strait.
A new State Department directive instructs consular officers to refuse non-immigrant visas if applicants admit to fearing persecution at home.
An MoU on bilateral political consultations and a visa exemption deal for diplomatic and official passports are in final stages, the Foreign Ministry said.
Pentagon CFO blamed munitions for most of the $25 billion outlay as Hegseth slammed Democrats calling Iran a quagmire and approval slid to 34 percent.
King Charles III urged the US to stand firm with its Western allies, in the first British monarch's address to a joint session of Congress since 1991.
Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet — 95% of India's market — tell government surging ATF and airspace restrictions threaten operations; FIA seeks relief.
Death toll from the Bekasi train collision near Jakarta has risen to 14 with 84 injured; rescuers are cutting through wreckage for those still trapped.
Austrian suspect Beran A pleads guilty to planning a foiled Islamist attack on Taylor Swift's Vienna concert; faces up to 20 years on terror charges.
Truth Social post claims Tehran has told Washington it is collapsing; US official says Trump is unhappy with Iran's latest war-resolution proposal.
Energy Minister al-Mazrouei says decision was unilateral; UAE's 5 million bpd capacity now sits outside Saudi-led production quotas amid Hormuz disruption.
Putin told Araghchi in St Petersburg Russia would do everything to bring peace as Iran formally offered Hormuz reopening for US blockade lift.
Iran's FM Araghchi said in Muscat Tehran and Oman have reached 'some agreements' on coordinating the Strait of Hormuz as coastal states with shared interests.
A small CityLink Aviation passenger plane crashed near Juba on Monday morning, killing all 14 on board, including 12 South Sudanese and two Kenyans.
Mali's Defence Minister was killed Saturday when al-Qaeda affiliate JNIM struck his residence at Kati military base outside Bamako, RFI reported.
The six-member Russian crew on a second global circumnavigation visited the Russian House in Colombo and discussed their inclusive sailing programme.
Trump and First Lady Melania were rushed out by Secret Service after gunfire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner. A suspect was arrested.
Iran's FM has arrived in Islamabad as Trump dispatches envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner for talks, with VP JD Vance on standby if progress is made.
Indonesia's Deputy Foreign Minister Muhammad Anis Matta met Sri Lanka's Vijitha Herath and Arun Hemachandra in Colombo to deepen bilateral cooperation.
Iranian MP Nabavian warned of complete cessation of regional oil production if the US resumes strikes on Iran, days into the Trump ceasefire extension.
Lal Kantha told the FAO Asia-Pacific conference that Middle East war and fertiliser cost spikes are forcing Sri Lanka to rethink food resilience.
Pirates seized the MV Honour 25 carrying 18,500 barrels of oil with a Sri Lankan among 17 crew — the first oil tanker hijack in the Indian Ocean revival.
Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne has asked Pakistan's new High Commissioner to facilitate bringing the Fasting Buddha statue from Lahore Museum to Sri Lanka.
Iran's main international gateway reopened with flights to Medina, Muscat and Istanbul after nearly two months of disruption from the Iran-Israel war.
Trump cancels Witkoff and Kushner's Islamabad trip with 'we have all the cards' Truth Social post, hours after Araghchi left Pakistan for Oman.
Treasury Secretary signals new financial pressure track ahead of Witkoff–Kushner Islamabad talks; oil waiver renewal ruled out.
USS George HW Bush joins Gerald R Ford and Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East. The strike group was sailing in the Indian Ocean as of April 23.
WHO approves the first malaria drug formulated for babies under 5kg, allowing UN agencies to procure and distribute treatment in malaria-endemic areas.
Iran clarifies Araghchi's Islamabad visit is bilateral only as EU leaders meeting in Cyprus offer gradual sanctions relief tied to a comprehensive deal.
Iranian FM Araghchi told Sri Lanka's Vijitha Herath the US sinking of IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka violated international law and the Geneva Conventions.
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad Friday night as Pakistan prepares to host the second round of US-Iran talks.
BBC-verified footage shows IDF airstrike on Deir Aames as Netanyahu accuses Hezbollah of trying to sabotage the newly extended ceasefire.
Trump announces three-week extension of the Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire after White House talks between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors.
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says an early-stage malignant tumour was removed and delayed the disclosure to avoid wartime 'Iranian propaganda'.
US DoJ drops criminal probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell, US Attorney Pirro announced. The Fed's inspector general will now handle the cost-overrun matter.
Judges committed Rodrigo Duterte, 81, to trial on three counts of murder over his drug war, finding substantial grounds linking him to 76 killings.
India's MEA calls Trump's repost of a 'hellhole' remark 'uninformed, inappropriate and in poor taste'; US Embassy in Delhi moves to ease tensions.
Iran's deputy parliament speaker says toll revenue from ships using the Strait of Hormuz has been deposited at the Central Bank; no vessels or amounts named.
Defence Minister Israel Katz says Israel is ready to resume the war, awaiting US authorisation to destroy Iranian energy and electricity facilities.
Italy pledges up to four vessels including two minesweepers for an international operation to clear the Strait of Hormuz, its navy chief says.
Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors held a second Washington meeting — first such direct contact in decades — aimed at extending the ceasefire.
Iranian FM thanks Sri Lanka for IRIS Dena rescue efforts; describes US strike on the vessel as 'unprecedented war crime' in breach of Geneva Conventions.
US Special Envoy Paolo Zampolli tells FT he has suggested Italy take Iran's World Cup slot to repair Trump–Meloni ties after Pope Leo XIV row.
Trump told Fox News he is 'not in a rush' on Iran and wants 'a good deal', signalling reduced urgency after the ceasefire's indefinite extension.
Trump ordered US Navy to 'shoot and kill' boats laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz and tripled minesweeping, calling the strait 'sealed up tight'.
Iran war fuel and fertiliser disruptions will push 30 million back into poverty as farmers plant crops, UNDP's Alexander De Croo warns.
US Navy has diverted three Iranian tankers near Sri Lanka, India and Malaysia, Reuters reports. CENTCOM says 29 vessels turned around since blockade.
US military seized Guyana-flagged oil tanker Majestic X in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, calling it an Iran-linked smuggler.
EU Energy Commissioner says mandatory jet fuel reserves and cross-border redistribution are on the table as June shortage looms.
Green League MP Bella Forsgrén asks Finland's foreign minister how the new Sri Lanka MoU will advance accountability for wartime violations against Tamils.
IRGC escorts two vessels to Iranian coast citing 'improper coordination,' hours after gunfire on three ships; a new enforcement mode beyond warning shots.
IRGC Aerospace commander warns Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain that their oil fields and refineries are on Iran's expanded target list.
Iran's Deputy Work Minister says two million jobs have been lost to the war with the US and Israel, with factories, retailers and the digital sector hit.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps fired on a container ship 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman, damaging the bridge. UKMTO confirms all crew safe.
A second outbound cargo ship was fired upon 8 nautical miles west of Iran on Tuesday, marking the second Hormuz attack in a single day.
UKMTO confirms three container vessels struck in a single day, including a Liberia-flagged ship hit by IRGC gunfire and RPGs off Oman; all crews safe.
Trump extends the Iran ceasefire indefinitely until Tehran submits a 'unified proposal,' keeps the Hormuz blockade and cancels Vance's Pakistan trip.
Trump cites positive Pakistan mediation as a new round of talks looks possible in 36-72 hours, but Axios reports the US will give Iran only 3-5 days.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres commends Trump's Iran ceasefire extension as a step toward de-escalation and backs Pakistan's mediating role.
UN-backed initiative brings finance ministers together as 54 countries spend more on debt service than health and education combined.
EU ambassadors reach political agreement to add Hormuz navigation obstructors to sanctions regime; listings expected within weeks amid ceasefire strain.
IEA chief Fatih Birol says the Iran conflict is creating the worst energy crisis the world has ever faced, a sharp escalation from earlier warnings.
INS Nireekshak, a Diving Support Vessel commanded by Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, docked at Colombo on Tuesday for joint training with Sri Lanka Navy divers.
Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf says Iran is ready to reveal new battlefield cards as Trump warns of unprecedented problems if Wednesday ceasefire expires.
A senior Iranian official said Tehran was 'positively reviewing' talks as Vance prepared to depart for Islamabad Tuesday and Brent crude rose above $95.
Iraq and Syria reopened a border crossing for the first time in over a decade, with officials calling it an alternative oil export route bypassing Hormuz.
Lebanon's state news agency reports Israeli strikes on four southern towns including Qaqaiyat al-Jisr and Shamaa, despite the 10-day ceasefire.
Japan's JMA warns the risk of an 8.0-magnitude-or-larger quake in the next seven days is 'relatively higher than normal' after Monday's 7.7 Iwate event.
NATO's 32 members accused Moscow of 'irresponsible nuclear rhetoric' and Beijing of opaque arsenal expansion ahead of a UN NPT review in New York.
Pakistani FM Ishaq Dar urged Washington and Tehran to extend the ceasefire and 'give dialogue a chance' in talks with the US chargé d'affaires.
The Philippines donated $100,000 for Sri Lanka's post-Cyclone Ditwah reconstruction, handed to Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath by Ambassador Nina Cainglet.
Trump told CNBC the US may offer currency swaps to Gulf allies and will resume bombing Iran if no deal is reached before the ceasefire deadline.
Trump said Washington will not lift its blockade on Iranian ports until a deal is reached with Tehran, extending pressure beyond the Wednesday ceasefire.
Pentagon says US forces conducted a 'right-of-visit' interdiction of the sanctioned tanker M/T Tifani in waters between Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Iran threatens retaliation after US seizes cargo ship Touska; Tehran rejects Islamabad talks as the two-week ceasefire nears expiry.
Mohammad Masoum Shahi and Hamed Validi hanged after Supreme Court upheld death sentences for alleged Mossad cooperation, state news outlet Mizan reports.
Iran's foreign ministry says Tehran has no plan for a second US talks round, accusing Washington of continuous ceasefire violations.
Iran's president told public workers the war with the US and Israel must end 'as swiftly as possible' to free the country to focus on reconstruction.
JMA raised Monday's Iwate quake to 7.7 and issued a mega-quake alert for seven prefectures; tsunamis up to 80cm recorded and 171,957 ordered to evacuate.
Japan's JMA lifted the major tsunami warnings from Monday's 7.7 Iwate quake; advisories remain and the mega-quake alert for seven prefectures stands.
Lebanon and Israel will hold a second round of direct talks in Washington on Thursday, led by envoy Yechiel Leiter for Israel and Simon Karam for Lebanon.
Israel's PM condemned 'in the strongest terms' the damage of a Catholic statue by an Israeli soldier in southern Lebanon and ordered a criminal probe.
Pakistan's prime minister reaffirms commitment to regional peace in call with Iranian president as US delegation prepares to arrive in Islamabad Monday.
Trump said he would consider ending the US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after Pakistan's Asim Munir urged the move in a Sunday call.
Trump says the Iran ceasefire expires Wednesday evening and an extension is 'highly unlikely,' sharpening the Hormuz deadline for Sri Lanka's fuel supply.
Former US VP Kamala Harris said PM Benjamin Netanyahu 'pulled' Donald Trump into war with Iran. Trump praised Israel as a 'great ally' in response.
Indian VP Radhakrishnan completes 4,000-home plantation housing phase III, handing over the final 145 units to Sri Lankan estate communities.
IRNA calls reports of a second US-Iran round in Pakistan "not true" after Washington named its Vance-led delegation; an Iranian MP warns of renewed strikes.
Iran says talks with the US have progressed but a deal remains 'far' off; Hormuz will stay closed until Washington lifts its port blockade, Tehran says.
Iran's IRGC has extended the Hormuz closure to the safe-passage corridor, threatening to fire on any vessel until the US lifts its naval blockade.
Iran's parliament drafted a 10-clause Hormuz law to ban Israeli cargo and demand war compensation from hostile states before reopening the strait.
An Iranian delegation will arrive in Islamabad on Tuesday for fresh talks with the US, with a symbolic ceasefire extension announcement expected Wednesday.
A gunman opened fire on a street in Kyiv and took hostages inside a supermarket before being killed by police. At least six people died and 14 were injured.
A suspected domestic-related mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana left eight children dead and two women wounded before police killed the gunman in a chase.
Pyongyang launched its fourth missile salvo this month from Sinpo on Sunday, extending a run of tests experts link to the seven-week U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Islamabad and Rawalpindi are on high alert as Pakistan readies 20,000 police and elite snipers for the expected second round of US-Iran nuclear talks.
A 23-year-old Russian woman died after being struck by an express train from Beliatta to Colombo at the Kabalana crossing, Ada Derana reported.
IBCA confirmed Sri Lanka's membership on May 1, formalising the agreement first announced during Indian VP Radhakrishnan's April visit to Colombo.
Trump called Israel a 'great ally' in a Truth Social post and accused unnamed nations of having 'shown their true colors' during the Iran war.
Both sides described recent US-Iran negotiations as productive even as Tehran shut Hormuz again and Trump said he may not extend the ceasefire past April 22.
US Marines have taken custody of the Iranian-flagged Touska after the US Navy disabled its engine room in the first physical seizure of the Hormuz blockade.
JD Vance will return to Islamabad on Monday with Witkoff and Kushner as Trump threatens to 'knock out' Iran's power plants and bridges if no deal is reached.
Ambassador Qi Zhenhong opens a Mandarin training centre in Akurana, reaffirming China's bilateral support during times of crisis.
The Hind Rajab Foundation urges Sri Lankan authorities to act against a dual-national soldier allegedly involved in Gaza demolitions.
India summoned Iran's ambassador in New Delhi after two Indian-flagged vessels were fired on by Iran's Revolutionary Guard in the Strait of Hormuz.
India reverses PM Modi's COP28 pledge to host the 2028 UN climate summit, citing unspecified factors.
One day after Iran's FM declared Hormuz open, the IRGC reversed course citing US breaches, threatening renewed oil price pressure on Sri Lanka.
Iran's deputy FM says framework of understanding must precede new talks, accuses US of sabotaging Hormuz reopening.
Iran announces partial reopening of its airspace, easing diversions that have raised costs for Asia-Europe flights.
At least two merchant ships came under gunfire while trying to transit the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears over shipping safety.
A fire at a southern Russian oil terminal adds to global energy supply disruptions amid the Middle East conflict.
US president shrugs off Iran's decision to re-close the Strait of Hormuz, claiming talks are progressing well despite the reversal.
US President threatens to resume bombing and maintain the Hormuz blockade if no agreement is reached before the ceasefire deadline.
UN Women report finds over 38,000 women and girls killed in Gaza between October 2023 and December 2025, a rate far exceeding previous conflicts.
A French UN peacekeeper was killed and three wounded in an attack in southern Lebanon, with President Macron directly blaming Hezbollah and demanding arrests.
US 7th Fleet expands Iran enforcement beyond the Middle East as USS Miguel Keith approaches the Strait of Malacca, Sri Lanka's primary shipping corridor.
Iranian sources confirm a second round of US-Iran peace negotiations will take place Monday in Pakistan as the ceasefire deadline looms.
Trump administration extends the Russian oil waiver until May 16 after oil-importing nations push back, benefiting Sri Lanka's energy supply.
G7 finance ministers at IMF Spring Meetings reaffirm need for lasting peace amid mounting global economic damage from the conflict.
Trump claims Iran agreed to surrender its enriched uranium stockpile as both sides inch closer to a deal ending the Middle East war.
Major General Hatami warns any US ground invasion would fail as Iran welcomes home crew of destroyer sunk near Sri Lanka.
Iran's FM Araghchi declares Hormuz fully open for commercial shipping during ceasefire; Brent crude plunges 8.5% to $90.93 per barrel.
Iran's Deputy FM Khatibzadeh says Tehran will not accept any temporary ceasefire, demands comprehensive regional peace covering Lebanon to the Red Sea.
The National Joint Committee says Sri Lanka is legally entitled to reparations for environmental damage from the warship sinking off Galle.
US President expresses confidence in imminent agreement, urges Hezbollah to hold fire as Lebanon ceasefire begins.
US President Donald Trump signals he could personally attend Pakistan-hosted Iran talks — the first offer to visit the negotiating venue.
A fire at Viva Energy's Corio refinery in Geelong — producing 10% of Australia's fuel — adds supply pressure amid the Iran war crunch.
Chinese FM Wang Yi told Iran's Araghchi in a phone call that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is a unanimous international demand, urging freedom of navigation.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth warned US forces are ready to resume strikes on Iranian infrastructure, power and energy targets if Tehran rejects a nuclear deal.
The IEA warned Europe faces jet fuel shortages within six weeks as Middle East supply, which provided 75 percent of European imports, remains disrupted.
IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva says Hormuz-driven supply disruptions are already hitting naphtha and helium, and tanker lags mean pressure will intensify.
Israel and Lebanon agreed to a 10-day ceasefire effective 5 p.m. ET April 16 after Washington talks between Netanyahu and Aoun, President Trump said.
A senior Lebanese security official says the strike 'shattered' the bridge and left no possibility of repair, deepening southern Lebanon's isolation.
Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir visits Tehran with a US message as sources say a nuclear breakthrough is near, with no dates set for further talks.
Pope Leo said the world is 'being ravaged by a handful of tyrants' spending billions on war while healing and education go unfunded.
US President Trump says he will invite Netanyahu and Lebanese President Aoun to Washington for the first 'meaningful' Israel-Lebanon talks since 1983.
Trump says Israel-Lebanon leader talks will happen Thursday as Netanyahu convenes his security cabinet and Hezbollah signals ceasefire readiness.
A new UNDP assessment warns 8.8 million people across Asia-Pacific could fall into poverty from Middle East conflict shocks, with South Asia hardest hit.
Senate Republicans block Democratic bid to require withdrawal from Iran, but some eye future war powers votes as 60-day deadline nears.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back on reports the US has formally sought an extension of the Iran ceasefire, saying talks continue.
Nigeria's Finance Minister tells IMF Spring Meetings that debt payments dwarf overseas aid, creating net resource outflows.
Tehran says dialogue on type and level of nuclear enrichment is possible, marking a shift from its earlier absolute refusal.
President Pezeshkian says Iran will never accept forced surrender, striking a defiant tone as potential new talks are floated.
238 Iranian nationals from warships IRIS Bushehr and IRIS Dena depart Sri Lanka on Turkish Airlines charter, closing naval saga.
PM Takaichi announces $10bn in loans to help Asian nations secure crude oil amid Middle East supply disruption.
Lebanon and Israel held their first diplomatic meeting in over 30 years in Washington, mediated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Field Marshal Asim Munir leads delegation to Tehran carrying fresh message from Washington to sustain fragile ceasefire.
PNS Taimur and PNS Aslat set sail from Colombo on April 13 following LION STAR V bilateral naval exercise.
A trawler carrying about 250 migrants from Bangladesh to Malaysia capsized in the Andaman Sea due to rough conditions.
FM Lavrov says Russia can convert or store Iran's enriched uranium, reviving JCPOA-era role as nuclear deal broker.
Trump says China agreed not to arm Iran, claims credit for permanently opening the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump predicts sharp fuel price drops after Iran conflict ends, says Xi Jinping agreed China will not supply weapons to Iran.
An eighth-grade student killed nine people and wounded 13 at a school in Kahramanmaras, Turkey's second school attack in 48 hours.
US Treasury ends 30-day sanctions waiver on 140 million barrels of Iranian oil at sea, threatens banks in China, UAE and Oman.
Scott Bessent calls China an 'unreliable global partner' for hoarding oil during Middle East war, says blockade will halt Iran supplies.
US Vice President JD Vance publicly rebuked Pope Leo XIV over his criticism of US military action in Iran, escalating the Trump-Vatican rift.
WB President Banga says energy disruptions will outlast any ceasefire and unveils a three-tier crisis response framework.
Xi Jinping met Russia's FM Lavrov in Beijing, calling ties 'precious' as Lavrov offered to supply energy to China and other nations disrupted by the Iran war.
CPJ calls for Kuwait to release journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, jailed since March 3 for posting a US fighter jet crash video amid Iran war crackdown.
Airlines escalate from warnings to political demands as the Hormuz blockade threatens European aviation fuel stocks.
Liberals win all three by-election seats, taking 174 of 343 House of Commons seats and enabling Carney to govern until 2029.
The Rich Starry, blacklisted for Iran sanctions evasion, makes second attempt to transit Hormuz as global shipping pauses.
BBC Verify tracking data shows at least seven vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz after the US blockade began, contradicting CENTCOM's claims.
Three global institutions issue joint warning that energy-importing developing nations face deepest economic damage from conflict.
Tehran estimates $270 billion in US-Israeli strike damage while President Pezeshkian urges Macron to help broker an agreement.
Iran demands five Arab states compensate for enabling US-Israeli strikes, escalating Gulf diplomatic tensions.
Deputy Defence Minister confirms US submarine sank IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka; 240 Iranian sailors depart on Turkish charter.
PM Meloni announces suspension of Italy's defence pact with Israel as European nations distance themselves from the Lebanon offensive.
Japan stops accepting new food services workers as the sector nears its annual quota under the skilled worker admissions scheme.
Analysts warn US naval blockade of Iranian ports could push oil to $150 if Houthis close Bab al-Mandeb; 3,200 vessels stranded near Hormuz.
Pakistan offers to host a second round of talks before the truce deadline while Saudi Arabia warns the blockade risks wider escalation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate in Tuesday's meeting between Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors in Washington.
Russia earned $19 billion from March oil exports after US sanctions relief; the waiver window has now closed.
US President escalates Vatican standoff, dismissing Pope Leo XIV's criticism of the Iran war as uninformed about nuclear dangers.
US President says negotiations with Iran could resume in Pakistan soon, following the collapse of earlier Islamabad talks.
A 19-year-old former student opened fire at a high school in southeastern Turkey, wounding 10 students and 4 teachers.
The IMO invokes UNCLOS to challenge the US naval blockade, opening a potential legal pathway to force reopening.
China's president makes his most direct intervention yet in the conflict, six weeks after the US-Israeli attack on Iran.
Lieutenant General Susan Coyle named chief of army in historic appointment as part of defence leadership reshuffle.
Beijing calls for calm as US begins Hormuz blockade, rejecting allegations of weapons supply to Iran as 'groundless smears'.
Combined death toll reaches 5,000 across Iran and Lebanon, with 3,375 Iranian and 2,089 Lebanese dead since late February.
Pezeshkian calls Trump's criticism of the Pope unacceptable, comparing it to the assassination of Iran's former Supreme Leader.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard says all Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman ports face risk if Iranian ports are threatened by US blockade.
UK, France and NATO members decline to participate in US-led naval blockade of Hormuz, deepening transatlantic rift.
PM Netanyahu endorsed the US naval blockade of Hormuz in a cabinet video address, citing talks with VP Vance on nuclear enrichment.
Péter Magyar's Tisza party wins two-thirds supermajority as 78% of Hungarians end Orbán's 16-year rule.
Shehbaz Sharif tells cabinet the ceasefire holds and efforts continue, hours after US activated naval blockade of Iran.
Pope Leo says he will continue promoting peace despite Trump calling him 'weak' over his opposition to the Iran war.
US President lashes out at Pope Leo after the pontiff criticised Trump's foreign and immigration policies.
The Truth Social post showing Trump in Christ-like robes was removed after criticism from religious leaders and supporters alike.
President Trump escalates rhetoric from capture to sinking, warning Iranian vessels will be 'blown to hell' near blockade.
PM Keir Starmer distances Britain from US naval blockade of Iranian ports, says UK focused on reopening Strait of Hormuz to lower energy prices.
US naval blockade of Iranian ports begins at 1400 GMT as IRGC says civilian ships can pass Hormuz freely.
CENTCOM warns all vessels entering the blockaded Hormuz area without permission face interception, diversion and capture.
World Bank President Ajay Banga tells Reuters developing economies face an 800 million job shortfall over 15 years as Middle East war dominates talks.
BBC analysis warns Sri Lanka faces a triple shock from Cyclone Ditwah, the Iran war's fuel crisis, and an impending El Nino drought.
Far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visits the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, drawing sharp rebukes from Jordan and Palestinian leaders.
Paris breaks from Washington and Tel Aviv, insisting Lebanon must be part of ceasefire as 1 million remain displaced.
Iran's Forensic Medicine Organization confirms 3,375 dead including 496 women since US-Israeli strikes began in February.
Senior Iranian parliamentarian asserts sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz and insists vessels must pay tolls, defying the US naval blockade.
Iran targets restoring most damaged refining capacity within two months after strikes on energy infrastructure.
Four astronauts receive hero's welcome after first crewed voyage toward the Moon in over 50 years.
Israeli PM declares existential threats removed and nuclear goals thwarted, as US-Iran talks collapse without a deal in Islamabad.
Ambassador Samarasinghe leads delegation to Montana for talks on trade, critical minerals and disaster preparedness with US officials.
US President names China explicitly, citing intelligence on shoulder-fired missile transfers, in escalation of post-ceasefire pressure.
Both Washington and Tehran signal negotiations remain possible despite US Navy blockade order and collapsed Islamabad talks.
Trump announces US Navy blockade of Hormuz, vows to interdict ships paying Iran tolls after 20-hour Islamabad talks fail on nuclear issue.
Sri Lanka added to UAE's list requiring police clearance certificates for residence visa applications from April 2026.
British PM Keir Starmer calls on Washington and Tehran to resume diplomacy after 21-hour Islamabad talks ended without a deal.
Vance says Iran rejected nuclear non-proliferation demand; technical talks may resume but no deal reached in Islamabad
CNN reports China is readying new air defence systems for Iran, a move that could undermine the fragile ceasefire.
EU airport trade body warns stored jet fuel will last only three weeks without Hormuz transit supply resuming.
US officials say Iran placed sea mines haphazardly and cannot locate them all, as Trump declares mine-clearing operations underway.
Iran's 70-member team lands in Islamabad for US talks as Trump signals Hormuz reopening but warns 'it won't be easy.'
Tehran warns it will attack US naval vessels within minutes if they attempt Hormuz transit during ceasefire talks.
Reuters reports Mojtaba Khamenei has disfiguring facial and leg wounds from the airstrike that killed his father.
Lebanon's Prime Minister delays planned US trip as regional ceasefire talks remain fragile and Iran issues new threats.
Pakistan deploys jets to King Abdulaziz Air Base under mutual defence pact while hosting Iran-US talks.
Peace council urges Sri Lanka to leverage its neutrality and mobilise a Global South coalition for a lasting Middle East ceasefire.
Iran says Washington agreed to unfreeze Iranian assets held in Qatar and foreign banks as ceasefire talks continue.
Trump administration expected to renew 30-day waiver allowing purchases of sanctioned Russian oil, easing global energy pressure.
Two US Navy destroyers pass through the Strait of Hormuz as Islamabad ceasefire talks enter text-exchange phase.
US VP Vance leads high-level delegation to Pakistan for indirect negotiations with Iran's Ghalibaf and Araghchi.
ADB forecasts regional growth slowing to 5.1% in 2026, warns Middle East conflict is the biggest risk to Asia's outlook.
Fitch Ratings says Gulf ceasefire reduces severe scenarios but warns oil prices, supply chains and regional security remain highly uncertain.
Georgieva says transport and fertiliser disruptions threaten 360 million undernourished worldwide.
Kamal Kharrazi, Iran's FM from 1997-2005, dies from injuries in a US-Israeli strike, according to Iranian media.
Ghalibaf demands Lebanon ceasefire and release of frozen Iranian assets before negotiations can begin with the US.
Kuwait reports a National Guard site struck by hostile drones Thursday evening; vital facilities also targeted as Iran ceasefire fragility deepens.
Senior Lebanese official confirms Beirut will join direct negotiations with Israel next week, contingent on a ceasefire being in place.
Mojtaba Khamenei says Iran 'astonished the world'; 40-day memorial held in Colombo with SL dignitaries.
Brent crude rises to $96.8 as vessels avoid the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi pipeline attacks cut 1.3 million barrels per day.
Islamabad grants visa-on-arrival for delegates as first direct US-Iran negotiations since war began.
Russia announces 32-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Easter; Ukraine says it will comply with the temporary truce.
A 27-year-old Sri Lankan was arrested in a pre-dawn ICA operation in Woodlands after his social visit pass expired in June 2025.
Trump accuses Iran of a 'very poor job' allowing oil through the Strait of Hormuz, escalating ceasefire tensions over reported transit fees on shipping.
US VP JD Vance tasked with shoring up fragile Iran ceasefire in Pakistan; expert talks Friday, lead negotiators Saturday.
IAG carrier will halve Dubai, Doha and Tel Aviv services from July, drop Jeddah and add flights to Bengaluru and Nairobi as Gulf corridor disruption persists.
Hezbollah launched rockets at northern Israel in its first attack since the US-Iran ceasefire, citing Israeli violations in Lebanon.
The IRGC issued navigation instructions telling vessels to take alternative routes around Larak Island to avoid sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
Lebanon's PM Nawaf Salam declared a national day of mourning after Israeli airstrikes killed 254 people and wounded 1,165 in a single day.
Lebanon's death toll climbs to 303 as Israel strikes Beirut; Netanyahu orders talks while denying ceasefire, Iran accuses US of violations.
Beirut embassy confirms a Sri Lankan woman sustained minor injuries after Israeli airstrikes killed 254 in Lebanon on April 8.
Trump said all US ships, aircraft and personnel will remain deployed around Iran until Tehran fully complies with the ceasefire deal and keeps Hormuz open.
Senior Iranian official tempers earlier ceasefire language, suggesting conditional passage through the strait ahead of formal US-Iran meeting in Pakistan.
Iran and Oman plan to levy transit fees on vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire, Tasnim News Agency reports.
Tehran warns it will quit the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire if Israel's strikes on Lebanon continue, raising fresh risk for Sri Lanka's fuel supply.
Iran's UN ambassador says ships passing through Hormuz must now declare vessel owners and cargo, adding a new compliance layer for Sri Lanka-bound tankers.
Israel struck more than 100 Hezbollah-linked targets across Lebanon, killing 89 and wounding 700, prompting Iran to re-block the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli PM contradicts Pakistan's claim that the truce covers all theatres, leaving Hezbollah front open as Islamabad talks begin.
Post-ceasefire warning is separate from the 44 percent general tariff and does not directly affect Sri Lanka, which exports no weapons.
Trump posts sweeping Truth Social statement claiming Iran has undergone regime change and will allow the US to remove all nuclear material.
Iran's Mehr News Agency confirms several blasts on Kharg Island, days after Trump threatened to destroy the facility handling nearly all crude exports.
Iran says it could close Bab al-Mandeb on top of Hormuz — a twin chokepoint shutdown would block a quarter of global energy flows.
Turkish security killed three gunmen and two police officers were wounded in a shooting at Yapi Kredi Plaza, which houses the Israeli consulate in Istanbul.
Doha has issued its starkest warning yet that the US-Iran conflict risks slipping beyond containment, with the 45-day ceasefire track now dead.
Ambassador Anura Withanage begins duties in Beirut as regional war risks mount; High Commissioner Dharshana Perera assumes post in Kuala Lumpur.
UN Women's first Country Gender Equality Profile for Sri Lanka documents a drop of more than 100 places on the Global Gender Gap Index over 15 years.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards confirm intelligence chief Majid Khademi killed in April 6 strikes on Tehran suburbs that left 25 dead.
Legal scholars say US military action against Iran violates the UN Charter and could amount to war crimes under international law.
Trump threatens to bomb Iran 'back to the Stone Ages' if Hormuz not reopened by April 6. Iran exempts Iraqi oil from blockade.
US president names April 7 for infrastructure strikes on Iran, escalating Hormuz standoff with Sri Lanka energy implications.
Two F-15E pilots recovered in separate operations behind enemy lines, in what Trump called the most daring rescue in US military history.
Britain rallies 40 nations including France, Germany and Japan to demand safe passage, but rules out military action.
Iran claims to have downed a US F-15 and A-10; the Pentagon confirms 365 injured and 13 killed, deepening Sri Lanka's energy crisis.
Trump warns Iran it has 48 hours to negotiate or face consequences as Tehran claims to have downed two US warplanes near the Strait of Hormuz.