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U.S., ISRAEL, IRAN WAR | Day 45.

• After U.S.-Iran peace talks in Pakistan ended over the weekend without an agreement, U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. would begin a blockade of Iranian ports and coastal areas in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman beginning today at 10 a.m. EDT. In response, Iranian officials said Gulf shipping security is "either for everyone or no one," and threatened unspecified retaliatory action against regional ports. [more on blockade] [more on failed talks]
• The price of international benchmark Brent crude oil spiked following failed U.S.-Iran peace talks in Pakistan and U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to blockade Iranian ports, reaching as high as $102.24 per barrel early this morning. [more]
• Back-and-forth rhetoric continued yesterday between U.S. President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV following Leo's criticism of what he said is a "delusion of omnipotence" fueling the war in Iran and other conflicts around the world. Posting on social media yesterday, Trump characterized Leo as "weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy and said he is "not a fan" of the Catholic leader. [more]
• Representatives for Lebanon and Israel are scheduled to begin direct peace talks tomorrow in Washington, DC. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1,507 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here is your update:

• Russia and Ukraine accused each other yesterday of violating a 32-hour Easter cease-fire, with both sides citing what they said were hundreds of small-scale violations of the temporary cessation of hostilities. [more]

U.S. GUN VIOLENCE | At least one person was killed, and six others were wounded, Saturday night when a yet-unidentified gunman or gunmen, opened fire at a fast-food restaurant in Union, New Jersey. Reports cite local officials as saying they do not believe the attack was random and that "there is no immediate ongoing threat to the general public.” No arrests have been made in connection with the incident. [more]

U.S. DRUG WAR | The U.S. military's Southern Command said yesterday that it destroyed two suspected drug-trafficking boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean over the weekend, killing five people and leaving one survivor. Reports note that at least 168 people have been killed in U.S. military boat strikes since the Trump administration policy of such action against what it calls "narcoterrorists" was initiated last year. [more]

CALIFORNIA | Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell suspended his campaign to be California's next governor yesterday following allegations against him of sexual assault of a former staffer published over the weekend. Swalwell apologized for what he said were "mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past," but denied the allegations of sexual assault. [more]

MORE CALIFORNIA | The Commerce Department's Pacific Fishery Management Council voted yesterday to open waters off the coast of California to commercial salmon fishing for the first time since 2022. The move comes after regional salmon populations rebounded following the easing of drought conditions. [more]

U.S. DISASTER RELIEF | According to information released by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Saturday, President Donald Trump approved major disaster declaration requests for at least seven U.S. states last week, while some 15 other similar requests and three appeals of previous denials remain pending. Weather-related disaster declarations were approved for the states of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Washington. [full disaster declarations] [more]

WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM | A federal appeals court ruled Saturday that construction of President Donald Trump's proposed $400 million ballroom on the White House grounds can proceed while a lower court reconsiders what government attorneys have argued are critical national safety and security implications of suspending the project. [more]

U.S. FUEL PRICES | In a television interview yesterday, President Donald Trump suggested that gasoline prices in the U.S., which have spiked by more than $1 per gallon amidst the Middle East war, may remain high through November's mid-term elections, saying both oil and gas prices "should be around the same" or "maybe a little ‌bit higher" by fall. [more]

HUNGARY | Péter Magyar will be Hungary's next prime minister after defeating Victor Orban yesterday in the country's national election, ending Orban's 16 years in power. Magyar, a former Orbán loyalist, campaigned largely on domestic issues such as healthcare and public transportation, and has pledged to rebuild Hungary's ties with the E.U. and NATO. [more]

NIGERIA | Humanitarian groups and local officials say 100-200 people were killed Saturday in a Nigerian Air Force strike that mistakenly targeted a local market in Nigeria's northeastern Yobe state. Reports cite government officials as saying the Boko Haram militant group was believed to be operating in the affected area and was known to have used the market to buy food supplies. [more]

U.K. | After U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew his support for the plan, the British government announced Saturday that it does not intend to move forward, for now, with a proposal to return control of the Chagos Islands, which has been under U.K. control since 1814 and is home to the strategic Diego Garcia military base, to Mauritius. [more]

PERU | Following logistical issues at some polling places, electoral authorities extended the presidential election voting period by 24 hours for more than 52,000 residents of Peru’s capital, Lima. Reports note that voting is mandatory for Peruvians aged 18-70 and that failure to do so is punishable by a fine. [more]

SPAIN AND CHINA | Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is in Beijing for his fourth visit to China in as many years. The visit, during which Sanchez will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, comes amidst increasingly strained relations between Spain and the U.S. over the war in Iran and Sanchez's ongoing moves to strengthen political and commercial ties with China. [more]

IRELAND | Following several days of protests over fuel prices that have spiked amidst the Middle East war, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin announced yesterday that his government will implement some $592 million in new fuel tax cuts as part of efforts to end the protests and ease cost of living pressures. [more]

HAITI | Authorities in northern Haiti say at least 25 people died, and dozens of others were injured, Saturday in a stampede during festivities at the Caribbean island nation's Citadelle Laferrière mountaintop historical fortress site. The cause of the incident remains under investigation. [more]

TAIWAN AND CHINA | Following last week's meeting between Taiwanese opposition leader Cheng Li-wun and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government said today that it will resume some previously suspended ties with Taiwan, including direct flights to the island territory and the importation of Taiwanese aquaculture products. [more]

AUSTRALIA | Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced today that Lieutenant General Susan Coyle will be Australia's new chief of army – the first-ever female head of Australia's Army's in its 125-year history. [more]

GOLF | Rory McIlroy won the 2026 Masters golf tournament yesterday, joining Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, and Jack Nicklaus as the only players to ever win the tournament in consecutive years. [full leaderboard] [more]

WEEKEND MOVIES | "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" topped the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $69 million in receipts, followed by "Project Hail Mary" and "The Drama." [more]

ENTERTAINMENT AWARDS | Among the winners at yesterday's 2026 Olivier Awards for the London theatre industry were: "Paddington The Musical" for best new musical and six other awards, "Punch" for best new play, Rachel Zegler for best actress in a musical for her starring role in “Evita," and Jack Holden as best actor for his multiple roles in "Kenrex." [full list of awardees] [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1598, King Henry IV of France promulgated the Edict of Nantes in Brittany, granting a large measure of religious liberty to his Protestant subjects, the Huguenots. [more history]