Ongoing tensions in the Middle East persist with President Trump extending the deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, triggering market unrest and global concerns over oil supplies, while diplomatic efforts by Pakistan and Iran's rejection of a ceasefire plan highlight a complex, volatile situation.

• Iran War Live Updates: Trump Again Extends Deadline for Iran to Open Strait or Face Strikes on Power Grid — New York Times World -
• Australia news live: radio network lawyer says Sandilands’ chance of returning to old show ‘vanishingly small’; Coalition calls for cut to fuel excise — The Guardian -
• Middle East crisis live: Trump says he is ‘pausing’ planned destruction of Iranian energy sites as he claims talks are ‘ongoing’ — The Guardian -

• ‘Emergency situation’: Trump says he will order payments to TSA agents amid turmoil at US airports – live — The Guardian -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• As Markets Revolt in the Face of War, Trump Extends Iran Deadline — New York Times World -
• Malaysia Says Iran Will Allow Its Ships to Pass Through the Strait of Hormuz — New York Times World -
• Pakistan, Playing Mediator Between U.S. and Iran, Is Calling Several Countries — New York Times World -
• Trump takes swipe at ‘not great’ Australia among complaints about global lack of support for US in Iran conflict — The Guardian -
• Trump Extends Iran Deadline on Strait of Hormuz as Stocks Tumble — New York Times World -
• Rubio Says Allies Should Help Secure Strait by Iran for Oil and Gas Ships — New York Times World -
• Displaced by War, Many Seek Shelter in Beirut — New York Times World -
• US markets see biggest slump since start of US-Israel war on Iran — The Guardian -
• After Wooing Trump With Deals, Pakistan Gets a Seat at the Table — New York Times World -
• Trump extends deadline for Iran to open strait of Hormuz by 10 days — The Guardian -
• Rachel Reeves urged to raise taxes on companies profiting from war on Iran — The Guardian -
• Europeans Worry Russia Is Preparing to Deliver Drones to Iran — New York Times World -
• Trump describes UK aircraft carriers as ‘toys’ in latest anti-Nato jibe — The Guardian -
• UK politics: Trump says UK’s aircraft carriers are just ‘toys’ – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Rationing power and diluting petrol - how African countries are coping with effects of Iran war — BBC World -
• The head of NATO says Europe needs time to help secure the Strait of Hormuz. — New York Times World -
• Australia Temporarily Blocks Iranians With Visitor Visas From Entry — New York Times World -
• The delusion of easy victory from the air may have seduced the US into another war — The Guardian -
• War in Iran ‘not a Nato matter’, Finland president says in defence of alliance - as it happened — The Guardian -
• Next says Middle East conflict could raise clothing prices by up to 10% — The Guardian -
• Who Is Alireza Tangsiri, the Latest Iranian Commander Targeted by Israel? — New York Times World -
• EPA approves sale of higher-ethanol fuel in bid to lower gas prices — The Guardian -
• Australian petrol stations report 25% surge in demand as governments plan for ‘biggest energy crisis in history’ — The Guardian -
• Australia urged to swap diesel for electric buses as fuel costs soar — The Guardian -
• Two Killed in Abu Dhabi as Gulf States Face Fresh Attacks — New York Times World -
• Octopus reports sharp rise in solar panel sales since start of Iran war — The Guardian -
• Iran rejects US ceasefire plan and submits its own | First Thing — The Guardian -
• Who Is Alireza Tangsiri, the Latest Iranian Commander Targeted by Israel? — New York Times World -
• Are the US and Iran holding peace talks, and what do both sides want? — BBC World -
• Australian growth forecasts slashed as global economy faces inflation spike — The Guardian -
• Middle East conflict will damage UK’s economy ‘more than any other’ — The Guardian -
• India Appears Sidelined as Pakistan Tries to Play Peacemaker in Iran — New York Times World -
• UK CO2 plant to reopen amid fears Iran war could lead to shortage — The Guardian -
• 'We are being choked': Philippines transport workers strike over fuel costs — BBC World -
• 'We are being choked': Philippines transport workers strike over fuel costs — BBC World -
• Fears net zero is ‘next Brexit’ as oil crisis fuels political climate divide — The Guardian -
• Trump confirms May meeting with Xi Jinping as Iran war forces postponement — BBC World -
• Trump confirms May meeting with Xi Jinping as Iran war forces postponement — BBC World -
• Thursday briefing: Why ​most Israelis ​back the ​conflict​ with Iran, even as international support wanes — The Guardian -
• Tehran Dismisses U.S. Cease-Fire Conditions as Israel Steps Up Attacks — New York Times World -
• How the Iran war is causing fuel chaos in the Philippines — BBC World -
• Gulf states’ scepticism over alleged US-Iran talks signals a distrust of Trump — The Guardian -
• WHO warns of health crisis ‘unfolding in real time’ across Middle East — The Guardian -
• Pakistan’s Army Chief Uses Relationship With Trump to Foster Talks with Iran — New York Times World -
• Trump’s Threats to Europe Put Its Leaders in a Double Bind Over Iran — New York Times World -
• Israel says it is expanding ‘buffer zone’ in Lebanon – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Iran rejects US ceasefire plan and submits its own amid push for talks — The Guardian -
• Republicans in Congress Fret Over Trump Administration’s Handling of Iran War — New York Times World -
• Trump Draws Bipartisan Backlash for Easing Oil Sanctions on Russia and Iran — New York Times World -
• Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly — BBC World -
• Prepare for turbulence - how a prolonged Middle East conflict could reshape how we fly — BBC World -
• Trump’s trip to meet Xi Jinping in China rescheduled for May due to Iran war — The Guardian -
• ‘Massive betrayal’: Iranian nationals with valid tourist visas blocked from entering Australia for six months — The Guardian -
• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• British suppliers to be prioritised for contracts in sectors vital to national security — The Guardian -

President Trump's administration faces challenges regarding TSA agent payments amidst airport turmoil, stalled public health appointments, and controversy over his "freestyle diplomacy" as California renames Cesar Chavez Day and allegations surface against Trump's housing chief.

• Trump to sign order for DHS to pay TSA agents ‘immediately’ amid funding standoff — The Guardian -
• Trump’s Maha agenda stalled as top CDC and surgeon general roles sit empty — The Guardian -
• California lawmakers vote to rename Cesar Chavez Day as Farmworkers Day — The Guardian -

• Standoff With Iran Raises Fresh Doubts About Trump’s Freestyle Diplomacy — New York Times World -
• Guthrie on missing mother: 'We cannot be at peace without knowing' — BBC World -
• US House speaker gives Trump so-called ‘America First’ award amid global chaos — The Guardian -
• US passengers enraged by hours-long lines and missed flights: ‘Absolutely insane’ — The Guardian -
• Savannah Guthrie fears her fame could be reason for mother’s disappearance — The Guardian -
• Hegseth prays at Pentagon service for ‘overwhelming violence’ against enemies — The Guardian -
• Arizona gun dealer accused of selling firearms to two Mexican cartels — The Guardian -
• Idaho bill would criminalize trans people using bathrooms in private businesses — The Guardian -
• U.S. Military Kills 4 People in Boat Strike in Caribbean — New York Times World -
• Travelers flock to Clear security app to bypass TSA lines amid US airport chaos — The Guardian -
• Epstein survivor who voted for Trump says she now fears ‘we’re not going to get justice’ — The Guardian -
• Airport Chaos — New York Times World -
• Trump praises ICE agents he sent to US airports and again suggests deploying national guard amid DHS shutdown – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Trump housing chief requests new criminal investigation into Letitia James — The Guardian -

Significant debates over human rights include Venezuela's torture claims in El Salvador prisons, the Olympic Committee's decision to restrict women's sports to biological females, and legal battles over euthanasia in Spain, alongside ongoing discussions on social media addiction's impact on youth.

• Venezuelans deported by US detail fresh claims of torture and abuse at El Salvador mega-prison — The Guardian -
• Olympic Committee Bars Transgender Athletes From Women’s Events — New York Times World -
• David Davis says Cheshire police made ‘egregious’ failures in Lucy Letby investigation — The Guardian -

• Spanish woman dies by euthanasia after long legal battle with father — BBC World -
• YouGov withdraws survey said to show rising church attendance in England and Wales — The Guardian -
• Spanish woman who won legal battle for right to euthanasia has assisted death — The Guardian -
• Hertfordshire police to reinvestigate Andrew Tate sexual abuse claims — The Guardian -
• London has England’s highest levels of child poverty, data shows — The Guardian -
• MEPs back plans for ‘return hubs’, raising fears of ‘human rights black holes’ — The Guardian -
• Finnish MP convicted for saying homosexuality is ‘developmental disorder’ — The Guardian -
• Brussels opens investigation into Snapchat amid concern over children’s safety — The Guardian -
• Man who murdered pregnant girlfriend has 42-year term increased to whole-life order — The Guardian -
• Don't panic - five ways to stop your kids' endless scrolling — BBC World -
• Olympic women's sport limited to biological females — BBC World -
• Olympic women's sport limited to biological females — BBC World -
• Campaigners welcome Meta and YouTube's defeat in landmark social media addiction trial — BBC World -
• 'A game-changing moment for social media' - what next for big tech after landmark addiction verdict? — BBC World -
• 'A game-changing moment for social media' - what next for big tech after landmark addiction verdict? — BBC World -
• New India bill to amend transgender rights sparks protests — BBC World -
• New India bill to amend transgender rights sparks protests — BBC World -
• How will the UK respond to US court verdict on social media? — BBC World -
• Men bailed over suspected arson attack on Jewish ambulance service in London — The Guardian -
• Pepys ‘curated’ letters to conceal being offered enslaved boy as bribe – research — The Guardian -
• 'I have no recollection of anything' - Epstein survivor says she was drugged and raped — BBC World -
• 'I have no recollection of anything' - Epstein survivor says she was drugged and raped — BBC World -
• EU healthcare workers say they ‘refuse to be instruments’ in deportation plans — The Guardian -
• Parents of Send pupils without EHCPs are least satisfied with schools, survey in England finds — The Guardian -
• How U.S.A.I.D. Birth Control Meant for Africa Was Ruined — New York Times World -
• House of Lords pushes for Australian-style social media ban for under-16s — The Guardian -
• Parents should monitor children '24/7' on Roblox, says developer — BBC World -

Key developments in the UK involve NHS doctors' strikes causing concern, Labour's struggles with public service reform, and a police investigation into historical sexual abuse claims against Andrew Tate, while an inquiry into the Orgreave miners' strike policing has formally begun.

• NHS bosses say resident doctors’ strike will cause ‘maximum harm’ — The Guardian -
• PM rejects ‘far-fetched’ scepticism about Morgan McSweeney phone theft — The Guardian -
• Labour failing to live up to ambition to reform public services, analysis finds — The Guardian -

• NS&I boss forced out as bank faces £470m payout over missing savings — The Guardian -
• Labour vows to ban trail hunting as it opens public consultation — The Guardian -
• Orgreave inquiry formally under way into policing during miners’ strike — The Guardian -
• Ministers vow to spend record £8.4bn on road maintenance in England — The Guardian -
• Starmer tells Travelodge boss to engage with MPs over sexual assault case — The Guardian -
• Co-op boss quits after year marked by cyber-attack and claims of ‘toxic’ culture — The Guardian -
• Doctors waiting on asylum decisions can work in NHS as Home Office lifts ban — The Guardian -
• ‘Give the guy a chance’: Wes Streeting says he does not want Starmer ousted — The Guardian -
• Former Google executive Matt Brittin selected to be next BBC director general — The Guardian -
• Ministers consider charging tourists to access UK national museum collections — The Guardian -

International events beyond the Middle East feature Air Canada's CEO apologizing for English-only condolences after a plane crash, Hungary's government facing accusations of voter intimidation and charging a journalist, and Ukraine's Zelenskyy claiming the US is conditioning security guarantees on Donbas surrender.

• Air Canada C.E.O. Apologizes for English-Language Condolences After Plane Crash — New York Times World -
• Air Canada C.E.O. Draws Scorn for Delivering Condolences Only in English — New York Times World -
• US prosecutors argue Maduro 'plundered' Venezuelan wealth in court battle over legal fees — BBC World -

• Hungary charges journalist after claims minister was in touch with Moscow — The Guardian -
• Zelensky visits Saudi Arabia after offering Ukraine's drone expertise — BBC World -
• Hungary Opens Espionage Case Against Journalist — New York Times World -
• Under Carney, Canada Finally Hits NATO’s 2% Spending Target — New York Times World -
• Nicolás Maduro appears again in New York court on ‘narco-terrorism’ charges — The Guardian -
• Air Canada CEO 'deeply saddened' his English-only message distracted from victims of crash — BBC World -
• Nepal’s PM-to-be uses rap to call for unity in first post-election message — The Guardian -
• Lawmakers call for Air Canada chief to resign after English-only message to plane crash victims — The Guardian -
• Orban's Hungarian government accused of mass voter intimidation ahead of election — BBC World -
• Zelensky Says U.S. Is Conditioning Ukraine’s Security Guarantees on Donbas Surrender — New York Times World -
• Cuban Patients Are Dying Because of U.S. Blockade, Doctors Say — New York Times World -
• After ‘Sausage Making,’ European Lawmakers Approve U.S. Trade Deal — New York Times World -
• Nigeria takes its place on world stage in quest to become regional superpower — The Guardian -
• Russian Lawmakers Go to U.S. for First Time Since Invasion of Ukraine — New York Times World -
• Senegal to parade Afcon trophy despite title being stripped — BBC World -
• Senegal to parade Afcon trophy despite title being stripped — BBC World -
• French court hands Islam scholar Tariq Ramadan 18-year jail term for rape — BBC World -
• French court hands Islam scholar Tariq Ramadan 18-year jail term for rape — BBC World -
• Canada’s Supreme Court Hears Case on Ability to Suspend Constitutional Rights — New York Times World -
• Russia bans Oscar-winning film 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' — BBC World -
• Army commander convicted of Guinea stadium massacre dies in prison — BBC World -
• The Sudden Death of a Man Who Told Chinese Kids How to Succeed — New York Times World -
• European Parliament gives conditional approval to EU-US trade deal — BBC World -
• European Parliament gives conditional approval to EU-US trade deal — BBC World -
• Zimbabwe says 15 nationals killed after being lured to fight for Russia — BBC World -
• Two drone strikes on civilian targets kill 28 people in Sudan — The Guardian -
• In Denmark, It’s All About the Pigs — New York Times World -
• In Rural Ukraine, Basic Health Care Is a Casualty of War — New York Times World -
• Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says US has linked security guarantees to ceding of Donbas — The Guardian -

Australia grapples with local issues like surging petrol demand and calls for fuel excise cuts due to the global energy crisis, a neo-Nazi figure facing trial, and law firms exploring social media addiction cases following a US verdict.

• Australia news live: radio network lawyer says Sandilands’ chance of returning to old show ‘vanishingly small’; Coalition calls for cut to fuel excise — The Guardian -
• Dark Mofo: 2026 festival to show Willem Dafoe film that can only be watched by one person at a time — The Guardian -
• Sydney high school teacher accused of grooming 14-year-old girl and offering money for sexually explicit material — The Guardian -

• Bondi terror attack took place amid global spike in foiled IS-inspired plots, researchers find — The Guardian -
• Dozens of Sydney suburbs urged to reduce water use after major main bursts – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Auction clearance rate slumps to 57% nationwide as interest rate hikes prompt Australians to sell — The Guardian -
• Australia's sunscreen regulator wants new rules after recent product scandal — BBC World -
• Andrew Hastie open to 25% tax on gas profits and says multinationals have ‘had a really good run’ on Australian wealth — The Guardian -
• Law firms investigate possible Australian cases after US jury finds Meta and YouTube designed addictive products — The Guardian -
• Neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell to stand trial after allegedly leading attack on Melbourne Indigenous camp — The Guardian -
• ABC boss’s ‘utterly offensive’ comments condemned as broadcaster comes back online after strike — The Guardian -

Environmental and scientific observations include Arctic sea ice reaching a record low, rescuers working to save a stranded humpback whale, and research suggesting sperm disorientation in microgravity, alongside ongoing concerns about sewage discharges into English waters.

• Scientists Filmed a Whale Birth. The Surprise: Mom Had Many Helpers. — New York Times World -
• Winter Sea Ice in the Arctic Ties a Record Low — New York Times World -
• Rescuers attempt to save stranded humpback whale off German coast — BBC World -

• Rescuers Work to Save a 32-Foot Humpback Whale Trapped in the Baltic Sea — New York Times World -
• Sperm get lost in space, Australian research into microgravity impacts suggests — The Guardian -
• Sewage released into England’s rivers and seas nearly 300,000 times last year — The Guardian -

Cultural milestones and technological advancements mark the day with Olivia Dean leading the Mobo awards, Paul McCartney announcing a new album, and Google warning about quantum computers' encryption-breaking capabilities, while the Oscars are set to move to a new venue in 2029.

• New York City hospitals drop Palantir as controversial AI firm expands in UK — The Guardian -
• Olivia Dean leads the way with three wins at 2026 Mobo awards — The Guardian -
• Betting on Everything — New York Times World -

• Oscars to leave Hollywood for downtown Los Angeles in 2029 — The Guardian -
• Google warns quantum computers could hack encrypted systems by 2029 — The Guardian -
• Dash Crofts of Summer Breeze rock duo Seals and Crofts dies aged 85 — The Guardian -
• Paul McCartney announces 18th solo album, The Boys of Dungeon Lane, promising introspection and revelation — The Guardian -
• Brendan Gleeson wins best actor as Critics’ Circle theatre awards toasts The Weir — The Guardian -
• Bill Maher to receive Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain prize after White House denial — The Guardian -
• Italy seizes €20m of assets allegedly bought with money embezzled from Ursula Andress — The Guardian -
• Ticketmaster quietly raised other fees after US crackdown on hidden charges — The Guardian -
• Charity Commission warns Alan Turing Institute of its legal duties after complaints — The Guardian -