US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declared America is "watching Iran 24/7" to monitor its nuclear programme, testifying before the House Armed Services Committee. Defending the Iran war, Hegseth stated Tehran's unrelenting "nuclear ambitions" made conflict unavoidable. President Trump dismissed Iran's latest peace proposal, warning Tehran to "get smart soon" and demanding complete nuclear dismantlement as a ceasefire condition. Meanwhile, UAE announced its exit from OPEC, shocking global energy markets, as Brent Crude surged past $112 per barrel. Diplomatic tensions deepened with Germany's Chancellor Merz publicly clashing with Trump over the war. In parallel, Lebanon's death toll climbed to 40 as the fragile April 17 ceasefire continued unravelling dangerously. (PC: The Indian Express)

King Charles III's historic state visit to the United States delivered charm, pageantry and carefully crafted diplomacy, but questions remain over its lasting political impact. While British diplomats never expected a full reset of strained UK-US relations, divided over Iran, NATO, Ukraine and trade as they hoped the visit would soften the tone. The King's gifting of an "HMS Trump" ship's bell was widely praised as masterstroke diplomacy. Addressing Congress, King Charles directly challenged Trump's isolationist ideology, declaring "the challenges we face are too great for any one nation to bear alone." Republican Senator Lindsey Graham called the speech a "much needed morale boost" for Washington's deeply polarised political class.

Britain has officially called on its domestic refineries to maximise jet fuel production as the government steps up contingency planning to boost supply flexibility, confirmed Energy Department Minister Michael Shanks. The move comes at a critical moment, airlines worldwide are bracing for severe turbulence as jet fuel prices surge amid the ongoing war in Iran, with the peak holiday travel season rapidly approaching. The crisis is expected to ripple across continents in waves. On Tuesday, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that the jet fuel shortage will first devastate Asia, before spreading to Europe, then Africa and Latin America, threatening global aviation stability. (PC: Bloomberg)

US President Donald Trump escalated tensions with Iran by warning the country to “get smart soon” over nuclear negotiations, hinting at stronger action including potential blockades. The remarks came during the ongoing Iran conflict and were reinforced by a social media post. Trump also claimed that King Charles III agrees with his stance that Iran must never acquire nuclear weapons, following their meeting at a White House state dinner. However, Buckingham Palace responded cautiously, reaffirming neutrality. The comments have sparked diplomatic unease, given the monarch’s traditionally non-political role and ongoing UK-US tensions. (PC: The Guardian)

JD Vance has raised concerns that Donald Trump may not be getting full facts on the Iran war, a report said. In private meetings, he questioned claims made by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth about US success. Officials said Vance asked if the “rosy portrayal” of the war was accurate. He also raised concerns about falling missile stockpiles. Publicly, Vance has praised Hegseth, saying he is “doing a great job.” Reports suggest he is avoiding direct conflict but wants clarity on strategy. Some officials believe the briefings may be overly positive. (PC: NDTV)

Donald Trump said King Charles III agrees that Iran should not have nuclear weapons. Speaking at a White House dinner, Trump said, “Charles agrees with me — even more than I do.” Buckingham Palace later said the King follows the UK government’s long-standing position against nuclear weapons for Iran. It added he is “naturally mindful” of that policy. The dinner was part of efforts to strengthen ties between the US and UK. Charles also spoke about the importance of NATO and global cooperation during his visit. (PC: BBC)

Kim Jong Un praised North Korean troops who killed themselves to avoid capture during fighting in Ukraine. Speaking in Pyongyang, he said those who “opted for self-blasting… to defend the great honour” were “heroes”. Reports say North Korean soldiers were sent to support Russia in the war. South Korea estimates over 15,000 troops were deployed and more than 6,000 killed. Neither Russia nor North Korea confirmed the figures. Intelligence reports suggest soldiers were told to avoid capture. A captured soldier earlier said, “Everyone else blew themselves up. I failed.” Kim described such acts as the “height of loyalty”. (PC: BBC)

King Charles III joked about history during a White House state dinner with Donald Trump. He said Americans might “be speaking French” if not for Britain. He was responding to Trump’s earlier remark that Europe would be speaking German without the US. “Of course, we both love our French cousins greatly,” Charles added. The dinner was part of his four-day US visit with Queen Camilla. He also joked about Britain burning the White House in 1814, calling it “real estate redevelopment.” Charles highlighted the long and complex ties between the US and UK. (PC: HT)

Residents in Karachi have begun storing cooking gas in plastic balloons as a stopgap measure amid severe supply shortages and prolonged load-shedding. The practice, reported in areas like Orangi Town, involves filling specially designed balloons during brief supply windows and using them later for cooking. Locals describe it as a last resort to manage daily needs. However, safety experts have raised serious concerns, warning that such storage methods pose extreme fire and explosion risks, especially in densely populated neighbourhoods. Authorities have been urged to address the worsening gas crisis urgently, as the trend highlights deeper energy supply disruptions affecting the region. (PC: NDTV)

Iran has lodged a formal complaint with the United Nations against the United States, accusing it of “piracy” following the seizure of Iranian vessels amid escalating maritime tensions. In a letter addressed to António Guterres and the UN Security Council, Iran’s envoy Amir Saeid Iravani argued that Washington’s actions lack legal basis under international law. He stated that reliance on domestic laws cannot justify forceful maritime interceptions. The move intensifies the ongoing US-Iran confrontation and raises concerns about adherence to global maritime norms and the broader implications for international security.