{"id":403400,"date":"2026-04-17T12:46:16","date_gmt":"2026-04-17T12:46:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/403400\/"},"modified":"2026-04-17T12:46:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T12:46:16","slug":"leaders-gather-in-paris-for-strait-of-hormuz-meeting-un-urges-israel-and-lebanon-to-uphold-ceasefire-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/403400\/","title":{"rendered":"Leaders gather in Paris for Strait of Hormuz meeting; UN urges Israel and Lebanon to uphold ceasefire \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Main PointsThe leaders of France and the UK have gathered dozens of countries on Friday to push forward plans to reopen the Strait of HormuzUS president Donald Trump expressed confidence that an agreement could soon be reached to end the Iran war as the 10-day ceasefire<\/a> between Israel and Lebanon came into effectIsrael has violated ceasefire<\/a>, Lebanese army saysFrench president Emmanuel Macron says Lebanon-Israel ceasefire \u2018may already be undermined\u2019<\/a>United Nations chief Ant\u00f3nio Guterres has welcomed the 10-day ceasefire<\/a> between Israel and Lebanon, urging \u2018all actors\u2019 to fully respect the truceIran negotiators, citing possible Israeli attack, got Pakistan escort home from peace talks<\/a>Europe has \u201cmaybe six weeks or so (of) jet fuel left,\u201d\u00a0the head of the International Energy Agency said<\/a>Key Reads<\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 2 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Met Police investigating after \u2018discarded items\u2019 found near Israeli embassy in London<\/p>\n

Police are investigating whether items found near the Israeli embassy in central London are connected to a video posted by an Iran-linked Islamist group claiming it was going to be attacked.<\/p>\n

The Metropolitan Police said officers were assessing \u201ca number of discarded items\u201d in Kensington Gardens, and urged people to avoid the area.<\/p>\n

A video, which appears to have been shared by the group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, shows a target over an image of the Israeli embassy and people dressed in hazmat suits flying drones.<\/p>\n

Police insisted the embassy had not been attacked, but said detectives were carrying out inquiries to determine the authenticity of the video and to identify any potential link between it and the items.<\/p>\n

\u201cA suspected security incident is being investigated in the park adjacent to the Embassy of Israel in London,\u201d the embassy said in a statement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wish to clarify that all embassy staff are safe and that the embassy was not attacked.\u201d – PA<\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 25 minutes ago<\/p>\n

UN human rights chief urges Lebanon and Israel to stick to ceasefire <\/p>\n

.@volker_turk<\/a> urges all parties to ensure full and immediate implementation, in good faith, of #Lebanon<\/a> #Israel<\/a> ceasefire. Meaningful efforts must now focus on a durable political solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict and ensures long-term protection on all\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) April 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

United Nations human rights chief Volker T\u00fcrk has urged \u201call parties to ensure full and immediate implementation\u201d of the ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel.<\/p>\n

In a post on X, he said: \u201cMeaningful efforts must now focus on a durable political solution that addresses the root causes of the conflict and ensures long-term protection on all sides for civilians, who have borne the brunt of weeks of unrelenting violence, destruction and displacement.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 34 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Death toll<\/p>\n

More than 3,600 people have been killed in Iran since the US and Israel launched airstrikes there at the end of February, according to the US-based group Human Rights Activists in Iran.<\/p>\n

More than 2,100 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel\u2019s bombing campaign and ground invasion began. About 1.2 million people have been displaced in Lebanon, according to the United Nations.<\/p>\n

\u0623\u0636\u0631\u0627\u0631 \u0645\u0627\u062f\u064a\u0629 \u062c\u0633\u064a\u0645\u0629 \u062c\u0631\u0651\u0627\u0621 \u063a\u0627\u0631\u0629 \u0625\u0633\u0631\u0627\u0626\u064a\u0644\u064a\u0629 \u0628\u0627\u0644\u0642\u0631\u0628 \u0645\u0646 \u0645\u0631\u0643\u0632 \u062a\u0628\u0646\u064a\u0646(\u0642\u0636\u0627\u0621 \u0628\u0646\u062a \u062c\u0628\u064a\u0644)\u060c \u0627\u0644\u0630\u064a \u064a\u0636\u0645 \u063a\u0631\u0641\u0629 \u0639\u0645\u0644\u064a\u0627\u062a \u0625\u0642\u0644\u064a\u0645\u064a\u0629 \u0648\u0645\u0631\u0643\u0632 \u0625\u0633\u0639\u0627\u0641 \u0648\u0637\u0648\u0627\u0631\u0649\u0621 \u0648\u0645\u0631\u0643\u0632 \u0625\u062f\u0627\u0631\u0629 \u0643\u0648\u0627\u0631\u062b\u060c \u0641\u062c\u0631 \u0661\u0666 \u0646\u064a\u0633\u0627\u0646\u060c \u0662\u0660\u0662\u0666. pic.twitter.com\/W8MB9wbD3z<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Lebanese Red Cross (@RedCrossLebanon) April 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 49 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Israel defence minister says army \u2018holds all territories\u2019 it occupies in Lebanon <\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s defence minister, Israel Katz, said the Israeli military \u201cholds and will continue to hold\u201d all positions it has \u201ccleared and captured\u201d in Lebanon. <\/p>\n

In a statement from his office on the first day of the temporary ceasefire in Lebanon, Katz said Israel\u2019s defence forces (IDF) maintains a strip of land up to 10km deep along the border in southern Lebanon, indicating that the IDF would continue demolishing homes in villages he described as having been turned into \u201cterrorist outposts\u201d. <\/p>\n

He said Israel\u2019s goals of disarming Hizbullah have not been achieved yet and that an area of southern Lebanon \u201chas not been demilitarised\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis would have to be done, either diplomatically or by resuming Israeli military activities at the end of the ceasefire,\u201d he said. – The Guardian<\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 55 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Lebanon president says ceasefire is \u2018gateway\u2019 to negotiations <\/p>\n

Lebanese president Joseph Aoun has described the ceasefire with Israel as a \u201cgateway to proceeding with negotiations\u201d, saying he will prioritise the withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied territories in southern Lebanon. <\/p>\n

\u0631\u0626\u064a\u0633 \u0627\u0644\u062c\u0645\u0647\u0648\u0631\u064a\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0645\u0627\u062f \u062c\u0648\u0632\u0627\u0641 \u0639\u0648\u0646 \u0627\u0645\u0627\u0645 \u0648\u0641\u062f \u0645\u0646 \u0646\u0648\u0627\u0628 \u0628\u064a\u0631\u0648\u062a:
– \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0641\u0627\u0648\u0636\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0628\u0627\u0634\u0631\u0629 \u062f\u0642\u064a\u0642\u0629 \u0648\u0645\u0641\u0635\u0644\u064a\u0629 \u0648\u0627\u0644\u0645\u0633\u0624\u0648\u0644\u064a\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0648\u0637\u0646\u064a\u0629 \u064a\u062c\u0628 \u0627\u0646 \u062a\u0643\u0648\u0646 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u062f\u0629 \u0641\u064a \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0631\u062d\u0644\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u0642\u0628\u0644\u0629\u060c \u0648\u0627\u0646\u0638\u0627\u0631 \u0627\u0644\u0639\u0627\u0644\u0645 \u0645\u062a\u062c\u0647\u0629 \u0646\u062d\u0648 \u0644\u0628\u0646\u0627\u0646.
– \u0645\u0648\u0642\u0641 \u0627\u0644\u062f\u0648\u0644\u0629 \u0647\u0648 \u062a\u062b\u0628\u064a\u062a \u0648\u0642\u0641 \u0625\u0637\u0644\u0627\u0642 \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0627\u0631\u060c \u0648\u062a\u0623\u0645\u064a\u0646 \u0627\u0646\u0633\u062d\u0627\u0628 \u0627\u0644\u0642\u0648\u0627\u062a \u0627\u0644\u0625\u0633\u0631\u0627\u0626\u064a\u0644\u064a\u0629 \u0645\u0646 \u0627\u0644\u0623\u0631\u0627\u0636\u064a \u0627\u0644\u062c\u0646\u0648\u0628\u064a\u0629 \u0627\u0644\u0645\u062d\u062a\u0644\u0629\u060c\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/lwakvlN52T<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Lebanese Presidency (@LBpresidency) April 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

In a statement on social media, he said: \u201cDirect negotiations are delicate and crucial; there must be a unified sense of national responsibility in the coming phase, as the eyes of the world are on Lebanon. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe state\u2019s position is to consolidate the ceasefire, ensure the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied southern territories, secure the release of prisoners, and resolve outstanding border disputes. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe ceasefire is the gateway to proceeding with negotiations and is an option that enjoys both domestic and international support.\u201d – The Guardian<\/p>\n

\u00d3rla Ryan – 58 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Should I be worried about my summer travel plans amid jet fuel issues?\"RyanairRyanair has said its suppliers could guarantee it enough jet fuel until sometime next month. Photograph by Filip Singer\/EPA <\/p>\n

Amid concerns about Europe potentially running out of jet fuel, Consumer Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope has taken a look at what this could mean for passengers.<\/p>\n

Ryanair has said its suppliers could guarantee it enough jet fuel until sometime next month, adding that fuel could be in short supply after that if ships carrying fuel do not start coming into Europe from the Strait of Hormuz soon.<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t sound great but it is worth pointing out that the airline is by no means suggesting there will be no jet fuel, just that supplies might become an issue.<\/p>\n

Read the full article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Iran negotiators, citing possible Israeli attack, got Pakistan escort home from peace talks<\/p>\n

Pakistan\u2019s air force escorted Iranian negotiators home from inconclusive peace talks with the US last weekend, \u200claunching a major operation after the Iranians said Israel might seek to kill them, three sources told Reuters.<\/p>\n

Pakistan deployed some two dozen jets in the escort, as well as the force\u2019s Airborne Warning and Control \u200bSystem for aerial surveillance to ensure the safety of the delegation back from Islamabad, said two Pakistani sources with knowledge of the operation.<\/p>\n

One said similar security protection would be provided for subsequent talks if the Iranians ask for it, \u201cotherwise Pakistani aircraft would receive them in Pakistan airspace\u201d.<\/p>\n

A third source involved in the talks said measures were already in the works ahead of an expected further round of talks as soon as \u200bthis weekend. <\/p>\n

A regional diplomat briefed by Tehran, however, said Pakistan insisted on the escort after Iranian delegates raised the \u201chypothetical\u201d possibility of a threat.<\/p>\n

The discussions with the Iranian delegation about a potential threat while \u2060travelling and the presence of a Pakistani air escort into Iran have not previously been reported. – Reuters<\/p>\n

Europe faces summer flight cancellations from jet fuel shortage, Walsh says\"FlightsFlights in Europe could start to be cancelled from the \u200cend of May due to a lack of jet \u200bfuel, the International Air Transport Association\u2019s director general Willie Walsh said on Friday (file photo). Photograph: Alan Betson\/The Irish Times<\/p>\n

Flights in Europe could start to be cancelled from the \u200cend of May due to a lack of jet \u200bfuel, the International Air Transport Association\u2019s director general Willie Walsh said on Friday, highlighting the risk of disruption to the \u200bbusy summer travel season.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlong with doing everything possible \u2060to secure alternative supply lines, it\u2019s important that \u200cauthorities \u200chave well-communicated \u200band well-coordinated plans in place in case rationing becomes necessary, including for \u2060slot relief,\u201d \u200bhe said.<\/p>\n

Walsh is Irish and previously served as the CEO of Aer Lingus and British Airways.<\/p>\n

Some European airlines have warned \u200bof jet fuel shortages within weeks as \u200ca result of the Iran \u200bwar which has blocked the main supply route \u2060through the Strait \u2060of \u200bHormuz. Europe is particularly vulnerable as it relies more on imports of jet fuel than on any other transport fuel, with some 75 per cent of its supply from the Middle East.<\/p>\n

Global jet fuel and \u200ckerosene demand averaged \u20607.8 million barrels per day in 2025, with the Gulf the largest supplier \u200cto the global market, providing nearly 400,000 barrels per day, according to \u200ba report by the International Energy \u200bAgency. – Reuters <\/p>\n

Wall St poised for weekly gain amid hopes of peace deal<\/p>\n

US stock index futures rose on Friday \u200cand were set for a strong weekly close as investors welcomed signs of easing Middle East tensions.<\/p>\n

Sentiment improved after US president Donald \u200bTrump said Washington could soon secure a peace agreement to end the war with Iran, while urging the Tehran-backed Hizbullah group to respect a 10-day truce that had taken effect between Lebanon and Israel.<\/p>\n

The prospect of de-escalation encouraged investors to buy risk assets, including \u200bbattered technology and software stocks. Analysts said a broader risk-on move could persist even without an immediate peace deal, provided investors remain confident \u2060that a resolution is ultimately within reach.<\/p>\n

\u201cA resolution is more likely than not over the coming weeks \u200ceven \u200cif \u200bthe path is unlikely to be a straight line,\u201d analysts at Deutsche Bank wrote.<\/p>\n

Shortly before midday Irish time, Dow E-minis were up 157 points, or 0.32 per cent, S&P 500 \u2060E-minis were up 13.25 points, or 0.19 per cent, and \u200bNasdaq 100 E-minis were up 26.75 points, or 0.1 per cent. – Reuters <\/p>\n

Starmer pledges to do \u2018everything I can\u2019 to reopen Strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n

UK prime minister Keir Starmer has arrived in Paris for talks with fellow world leaders aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the meeting, hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron, Starmer pledged to do \u201ceverything I can\u201d to reopen the vital shipping lane.<\/p>\n

The strait has been blockaded by Iran since the joint US-Israeli strikes on the country began at the end of February, threatening world oil supplies.<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s meeting at the Elysee Palace brings together 40 countries and the International Maritime Organisation to formulate plans for a multinational mission to protect freedom of navigation.<\/p>\n

\"'We‘We must reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance operations to ensure a return to global stability and security,’ Starmer said in Paris. Photograph: Nathan Laine\/Bloomberg <\/p>\n

The US, Israel and Iran are not expected to attend.<\/p>\n

Starmer told reporters: \u201cIt is very important that we build a coalition of countries around the principle that the ceasefire should be permanent, there should be a deal, and that the Strait of Hormuz is open.<\/p>\n

\u201cEmmanuel Macron and I are clear in our commitment to establish a multinational initiative to protect freedom of navigation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe must reassure commercial shipping and support mine clearance operations to ensure a return to global stability and security,\u201d he said. – PA<\/p>\n

Oil prices fall on back of peace talks hopes<\/p>\n

Oil prices fell on Friday on the back of possible further talks between the US and Iran at \u200bthe weekend and the agreement of a ceasefire in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

International oil benchmark Brent crude fell by more than 3 per cent to $96.30. US oil indicator West Texas Intermediate crude futures tipped by more than 4 per cent to $90.68 \u200ba barrel.<\/p>\n

Market analysts suggest oil prices are currently \u201csensitive\u201d to news headlines of peace talks or any escalation of conflict in the key oil producing region of the Middle East.<\/p>\n

Oil \u200cprices have fallen below $100 per barrel but remained elevated \u200bthis week above $90, off the back of 50 per cent rises in March.<\/p>\n

The temporary nature of the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, Israel\u2019s goal \u2060of significantly weakening the Iranian regime, and unlikely \u2060prospects for the Strait \u200bof Hormuz reopening immediately all provided a floor to prices, PVM analyst Tamas Varga said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce the dust settles the hard work begins getting the ships in and out, \u200cand getting them into the right locations. There is no doubt a normalization is still months away and the current tightness will continue to \u200bunderpin the refined product market,\u201d Saxo Bank analyst Ole Hansen said.<\/p>\n

Analysts from ING \u200bestimate that roughly 13 million barrels per day of oil flow has been disrupted by the closure of the Strait. – Additional reporting: Reuters<\/p>\n

\"AnalystsAnalysts from ING \u200bestimate that roughly 13 million barrels per day of oil flow has been disrupted by the closure of the Strait. <\/p>\n

Hugh Dooley – 2 hours ago<\/p>\n

US ammunition delivery may be delayed due to Iran war, says \u200bLithuania <\/p>\n

The \u200cUS has informed \u200bLithuania of possible delays \u200bin \u2060the delivery of ammunition \u200cpurchased \u200cfrom \u200bthe \u2060US \u200bdue to \u200bthe \u200cwar in \u200bthe Middle East, \u2060the \u2060Baltic \u200bcountry\u2019s defence ministry said on \u200cFriday.<\/p>\n

US officials told its counterparts from countries across Europe, including in the \u200cBaltics \u200cand \u200bScandinavia, that some previously contracted weapons deliveries are likely to \u2060be \u200bdelayed as the Iran war \u200bdraws on weapons stocks.<\/p>\n

\u201cLithuania has been \u2060informed by Pentagon \u2060representatives about \u200bpossible delays in the delivery of ammunition purchased from the US due to the conflict,\u201d a Lithuania defence ministry spokesperson said in an email on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are \u200cconstantly in \u2060contact with the Pentagon regarding the delivery of military equipment and \u200cammunition purchased from the US and are guided by \u200bofficial information provided by our allies.\u201d <\/p>\n

Lithuania is one of the larger purchasers of US ammunition in Europe. It agreed to purchase ammunition from US producer Northrop Grumman in 2024. At the time, its defence ministry said it had with more than \u20ac1.3 billion worth of ammunition acquisitions in the pipeline. – Reuters\/AP<\/p>\n

Hugh Dooley – 2 hours ago<\/p>\n

Hugh Dooley – 2 hours ago<\/p>\n

Displaced Lebanese people begin to return to their villages as ceasefire takes effect<\/p>\n

Nabih Berri, the speaker of the Lebanese parliament, has thanked the capital Beirut and northern areas of the country for opening their doors to the displaced, as people uprooted by war began to return to their homes in the south.<\/p>\n

In a statement posted on social media, he said: \u201cI take this opportunity, as we are on the first day of the truce coming into effect and the start of the return of residents to their villages and towns, to renew my thanks to the capital, Beirut, which has opened its doors and neighbourhoods, as have the mountains and the north, to the displaced from the south, the suburbs and the Bekaa.\u201d<\/p>\n

The UN said more than 1.2 million people \u2013 about a fifth of the Lebanese population \u2013 have been displaced across Lebanon, many of them from the south after repeated warnings by the Israeli military to flee their homes. – The Guardian <\/p>\n

Hugh Dooley – 2 hours ago<\/p>\n

Countries to discuss Hormuz mission for when conflict ends<\/p>\n

France and Britain will chair a meeting on Friday \u200cof about 40 countries aimed at signalling to the US that some of its closest allies are ready to play a role in restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz once \u200bconditions allow.<\/p>\n

The initiative being discussed does \u2060not, for now, include the United States or Iran, though European diplomats said any realistic mission would ultimately need to be co-ordinated with both. Washington \u200cwill \u200cbe \u200bbriefed on the outcome of the talks.<\/p>\n

Iran has largely closed the strait to ships other than its own since the start of US-Israeli air strikes against it on February 28th. On Monday, Washington imposed a blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.<\/p>\n

US president Donald Trump has called on other countries to help enforce the blockade and has criticised Nato allies for not doing so.<\/p>\n

Britain, France and others say joining the blockade \u200bwould amount to entering the war, but they have said they would be willing to help keep the strait open once there was a lasting ceasefire or the conflict ended. – Reuters<\/p>\n

Hugh Dooley – 2 hours ago<\/p>\n

Syria-Israel talks \u2018have not reached a dead end\u2019, says Syrian president<\/p>\n

The Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, said talks between Syria and Israel \u201chave not reached a dead end\u201d but were facing \u201cgreat difficulty\u201d due to what he described as Israel\u2019s insistence on remaining in Syrian territory.<\/p>\n

Sharaa stressed that Syria was \u201cserious about reaching a security agreement that preserves regional stability\u201d, in an interview with Turkey\u2019s state-run Anadolu Agency.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe negotiations have not reached a dead end, but they are progressing with great difficulty due to Israel\u2019s insistence on maintaining a presence on Syrian soil,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Israeli forces have pushed into a UN-patrolled buffer zone in the occupied Golan Heights after the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 and conducted incursions deeper into southern Syria.<\/p>\n

Israel previously said it sent troops as the Assad regime fell to protect the security of its borders.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, foreign ministers of Turkey, Pakistan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia will meet on the margins of a diplomacy forum in the southern Turkish province of Antalya today to discuss regional issues including the Iran war, a Turkish diplomatic source told Reuters.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe meeting is expected to include discussions on developing regional solutions to regional issues, particularly the US-Israel-Iran war, within the framework of a regional ownership approach,\u201d the source said. <\/p>\n

Ministers from the four countries held meetings in March as part of efforts to broker an end to the Iran war. \u2013 The Guardian & Reuters<\/p>\n

Add us as a preferred source in Google search<\/p>\n

\" (Andrew Matthews\/PA) <\/p>\n

Preferred sources is a new tool from Google to make sure people receive more frequent search results from their favourite news sources.<\/p>\n

You can now select The Irish Times as a preferred source in order to see our content more often in the Top Stories section in Google search results when logged into your Google account, as well as in a \u201cFrom Your Sources\u201d section on results pages. <\/p>\n

You can make the change using this shortcut<\/a> when logged into your Google account – simply tick the box for The Irish Times under Source Preferences.<\/p>\n

Hugh Dooley – 3 hours ago<\/p>\n

Merchant vessels warned of \u2018critical\u2019 threat in seas near Iran<\/p>\n

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) operations centre has issued a warning of \u2018critical\u2019 threat status for the seas around Iran.<\/p>\n

The critical warning represents the maritime security authority\u2019s highest security threat level, and comes amid the enactment of the US blockade on the shipping lane and Iranian ports.<\/p>\n

The warning is in place for the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman, due to \u201crecent attack patterns, continued navigation interference, and persistent operational disruption\u201d.<\/p>\n

The agreed-upon ceasefire, UKMTO said, \u201chas not restored normal traffic; transits remain very limited\u201d.<\/p>\n

Audio\ud83d\udd0aof a Sailor aboard USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112), with video from the guided-missile destroyer\u2019s embarked helicopter flying over the Gulf of Oman, as the U.S. Navy diverts a merchant vessel while enforcing the blockade on ships entering or departing Iranian ports. U.S.\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/10QxlEoGkk<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 16, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

Hugh Dooley – 3 hours ago<\/p>\n

Kenya requests World Bank funds to cushion Iran war shocks<\/p>\n

Kenya has requested rapid financial support from the World Bank to help it manage the economic \u200bshocks triggered by the Iran war, its central bank governor told Reuters.<\/p>\n

Like other nations that are heavily reliant on energy imports, the East African country is scrambling to stave off shortages of essential commodities including petrol, while managing cost increases that could drive up inflation.<\/p>\n

Kenya is the first larger emerging economy to publicly confirm \u200ba formal request to the World Bank, although a number of countries, such as Egypt, have said they have approached multilateral lenders.<\/p>\n

IMF head Kristalina\u202fGeorgieva said that at least \u206012 countries are seeking assistance from the Fund to cope with the crisis.<\/p>\n

The request for funds was \u201csignificant\u201d, Kenya\u2019s central \u200cbank governor, \u200cKamau \u200bThugge, told Reuters on Thursday on the sidelines of the IMF World Bank spring meetings, without providing a figure. \u2013 Reuters<\/p>\n

Hugh Dooley – 3 hours ago<\/p>\n

EU looks to restore Syria relations amid hopes for overland oil route<\/p>\n

The European Union plans to deepen its engagement with Syria by relaunching formal political contacts and \u200cpaving the way for closer economic and security ties, according to a document seen by Reuters.<\/p>\n

The background paper, produced by the bloc\u2019s diplomatic arm and circulated to EU member countries this week, says the EU will fully resume its 1978 co-operation agreement with Syria and begin a High-Level Political Dialogue, an EU term for formal and structured talks, with the country\u2019s transitional authorities on May 11.<\/p>\n

In a notable policy adjustment, the \u200bEU also said it would \u201creframe and adapt\u201d its sanctions regime to maintain leverage while engaging with Syria\u2019s leadership and targeting spoilers of the transition, according to the paper.<\/p>\n

Syria is emerging as a critical transit point, particularly amid the energy crisis triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war. A first tanker carrying Iraqi oil transported overland sailed from the Syrian port of Baniyas on Thursday.<\/p>\n

Turkey, Syria and Jordan have also agreed to upgrade their railway networks to create a corridor linking southern Europe to the Gulf, Turkish transport minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu told Bloomberg on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Syria, \u2060which had most western sanctions lifted at the end of last year, is seeking broader integration into the international community under \u200cinterim \u200cPresident \u200bAhmed al-Sharaa, who headed an alliance of Islamist rebel factions to oust former leader Bashar al-Assad at the end of 2024, after a devastating 14-year war.<\/p>\n

Europe hosts over \u200b1 million Syrian refugees and asylum seekers, roughly half of whom are in Germany. Their return has been on top of the \u2060agenda in most discussions between European capitals and Damascus since \u2060Assad\u2019s ouster in late \u200b2024. \u2013 Reuters<\/p>\n

Hugh Dooley – 3 hours ago<\/p>\n

Poland to cap fuel prices for as long as necessary<\/p>\n

Poland will maintain measures \u200ccapping fuel prices as \u200blong as needed, Polish energy minister \u200bMilosz Motyka said \u2060on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have \u200cthe \u200clowest \u200bprices in Europe \u2060and \u200bguaranteed security of \u200bsupply, \u200cbut we are \u200bcautious about the \u2060risks \u2060and \u200bpredictions of conflict in the Middle East. These mechanisms will \u200cremain \u2060in place as long as needed,\u201d \u200che said. \u2013 Reuters<\/p>\n

\"PolandPoland will maintain measures \u200ccapping fuel prices as \u200blong as needed, Polish Energy Minister \u200bMilosz Motyka said \u2060on Friday. Photograph: Quentin Top \/ Hans Lucas \/ AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n

Hugh Dooley – 4 hours ago<\/p>\n

Hizbullah to keep \u2018finger on the trigger\u2019 in case ceasefire violated<\/p>\n

Hizbullah has warned that its fighters \u201cwill keep their fingers on the trigger\u201d if Israel violates the ceasefire in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese mujahideen [fighters] will keep their hands on the trigger, ready to defend against the enemy\u2019s treachery and betrayal,\u201d the Iran-backed group said in a short statement carried by the Hizbullah-owned al-Manar TV.<\/p>\n

Earlier, French president Emmanuel Macron warned the ceasefire \u201cmay already be undermined<\/a> by the continuation of military operations\u201d.<\/p>\n

However, local media reports suggest the ceasefire is largely holding, although Lebanon\u2019s official National News Agency reported Israeli machine gunfire at an ambulance belonging to the Hizbullah-linked Islamic Health Authority in the southern Lebanese town of Kounin. \u2013 Agencies<\/p>\n

Hugh Dooley – 4 hours ago<\/p>\n

Israel struck Beirut neighbourhood 62 times in six weeks, official claims<\/p>\n

A local Government official in Beirut\u2019s southern suburb of Haret Hreik said Israel struck the neighbourhood 62 times over the past six weeks, Associated Press reports.<\/p>\n

The deputy mayor of Haret Hreik, Sadek Slim, said 26 buildings were completely destroyed. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been able to clear up the rubble of the partially damaged buildings, but for those totally destroyed we will need special equipment,\u201d Slim said in a news briefing.<\/p>\n

Thousands of people fled Haret Hreik, widely reported as a Hizbullah stronghold, in a mass displacement crisis affecting the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital known as the Dahiyeh.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a disaster\u2019: Lebanon\u2019s most vulnerable struggle to cope in overcrowded war shelters<\/p>\n

Earlier this week, Sally Hayden spoke to people living in overcrowded shelters in Lebanon.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody is sick,\u201d a woman said at an entrance to the Bir Hassan Technical Institute in greater Beirut. <\/p>\n

Mattresses lined the floors of the corridors and classrooms in a series of buildings now sheltering thousands of people. The sound of chatter and coughing, laughter and despair mixed with the drum of the pouring rain outside.<\/p>\n

Things I have seen in the rubble of Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon in the past week, part four.
At least 2,167 people have been killed in Lebanon since March 2 and 7,061 wounded. The dead include at least 172 children and 260 women.
More here: https:\/\/t.co\/0ZOtpW6pJC<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lqbC0qHRlQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Sally Hayden (@sallyhayd) April 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a need across the board in general, and especially when it comes to people with disabilities,\u201d said Nabil Barbir from Tr\u00f3caire, which supports Lebanese organisations providing emergency assistance.<\/p>\n

Read the full report here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018I feel free being back\u2019: Lebanese people attempt to return home\"DisplacedDisplaced residents travel through the Qasmieh area on the way back to their homes in southern Lebanon on Friday. Photograph by Ibrahim Amro\/AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n

News agencies have been speaking to displaced families returning to their homes in southern Lebanon, despite warnings for people to stay put due to how unstable the situation is. <\/p>\n

Alaa Damash acknowledged the warnings \u201cto wait a bit\u201d but she told AFP the people\u2019s \u201clove for their lands and houses, and their attachment to them, pushed them to go back\u201d. <\/p>\n

Cars lined the coastal road linking the capital Beirut to major southern cities including Tyre. Queues formed for miles as people waited to cross the bridge over the Litani river near Qasmiyeh, which was undergoing repairs after an Israeli bombing yesterday. <\/p>\n

\"VehiclesVehicles line the road towards southern Beirut as displaced residents return to their homes in Lebanon on Friday. Photograph: Wael Hamzeh\/EPA <\/p>\n

In the southern village of Jibchit, the Associated Press reported people returning to flattened apartment blocks and streets littered with slabs of concrete, twisted aluminum shutters and dangling electrical wires. <\/p>\n

\u201cI feel free being back,\u201d Zainab Fahas (23) said. \u201cBut look, they destroyed everything: the square, the houses, the shops, everything.\u201d – The Guardian<\/p>\n

European stock markets open calmly<\/p>\n

European stock markets have opened calmly, after a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel came into effect last night. <\/p>\n

With Donald Trump suggesting the next US-Iran meeting might take place over the weekend, hopes of de-escalation in the Middle East are lifting shares slightly. <\/p>\n

While Gemany\u2019s DAX is flat, France\u2019s CAC 40 has gained 0.15 per cent in early trading and Italy\u2019s FTSE Mib index has risen by 0.25 per cent. This leaves the pan-European Stoxx 600 index on track to notch its fourth weekly gain in a row. <\/p>\n

Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: \u201cEvents in the Middle East remain the key market driver, and president Trump\u2019s overnight comments on the potential for further peace talks between the US and Iran could boost equity markets today.\u201d – The Guardian<\/p>\n

Pakistani PM praises Trump for Lebanon ceasefire <\/p>\n

Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed the ceasefire in Lebanon, which he credited to the \u201cbold and sagacious diplomatic efforts\u201d led by US president Donald Trump.<\/p>\n

I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon, facilitated through bold and sagacious diplomatic efforts led by President Donald Trump, and express the hope that it will pave the way for sustainable peace.<\/p>\n

Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

In a post on X, Sharif expressed hope that the ceasefire \u201cwill pave the way for sustainable peace\u201d.<\/p>\n

He wrote: \u201cPakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon, and will continue to support all efforts aimed at lasting peace in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pakistan has facilitated talks between the US and Iran in a bid to secure an end to the wider conflict.<\/p>\n

Macron says Lebanon-Israel ceasefire \u2018may already be undermined\u2019 <\/p>\n

French president Emmanuel Macron has expressed concern that the ceasefire announced by Lebanon and Israel \u201cmay already be undermined by the continuation of military operations\u201d. <\/p>\n

\u201cI call for the safety of civilian populations on both sides of the border between Lebanon and Israel. Hizbullah must renounce its weapons. Israel must respect Lebanese sovereignty and stop the war,\u201d Macron said in a post on X. <\/p>\n

J\u2019apporte tout mon soutien au cessez-le-feu entre le Hezbollah et Isra\u00ebl tel que le Pr\u00e9sident Trump l\u2019a annonc\u00e9 hier. <\/p>\n

J\u2019exprime aussi ma pr\u00e9occupation qu\u2019il puisse d\u2019ores et d\u00e9j\u00e0 \u00eatre fragilis\u00e9 par la poursuite d\u2019op\u00e9rations militaires. <\/p>\n

Je demande la s\u00e9curit\u00e9\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Local media reports suggest the ceasefire is largely holding, although Lebanon\u2019s official National News Agency reported Israeli machine gunfire at an ambulance belonging to the Hizbullah-linked Islamic Health Authority in the southern Lebanese town of Kounin. The Lebanese army also said it arrested nine people in Beirut for firing shots into the air last night after the ceasefire went into effect. – The Guardian<\/p>\n

Displaced people in Lebanon celebrate ceasefire<\/p>\n

People in Lebanon have been celebrating the ceasefire amid hopes some of those who were displaced can return home.<\/p>\n

At least 1.2 million people in Lebanon have been displaced by since the start of the war, the UN has said.<\/p>\n

The exact details of the ceasefire, and whether or not it will last, are still unclear.<\/p>\n

\"AA displaced resident travels through the Qasmieh area while holding a flag of Hizbullah on the way back to her home in southern Lebanon on Friday. Photo by Ibrahim Amro\/AFP via Getty Images \"AA boy who was displaced travels through the Qasmieh area on the way back to his home in southern Lebanon on Friday. Photo by Ibrahim Amro\/AFP via Getty Images \"MoreMore displaced residents travel through the Qasmieh area in Lebanon on the way back to their homes on Friday after a 10-day ceasefire came into effect. Photograph by Ibrahim Amro\/AFP via Getty <\/p>\n

United Nations chief Ant\u00f3nio Guterres has urged \u201call actors\u201d to fully respect the ceasefire in Lebanon. He hoped the halt in fighting would \u201cpave the way for negotiations\u201d.<\/p>\n

I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel & Lebanon, and commend the role of the US in facilitating it.<\/p>\n

I hope this will pave the way for negotiations\u00a0towards a long-term solution to the conflict & contribute to ongoing efforts toward a lasting & comprehensive\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ant\u00f3nio Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Message from the Editor<\/p>\n

\"RuadhanIrish Times Editor Ruadh\u00e1n Mac Cormaic <\/p>\n

Thanks for reading. If you\u2019re interested in world news, The Irish Times has the largest network of foreign correspondents of any Irish news organisation. <\/p>\n

Our team provides sharp reporting, in-depth analysis and thought-provoking commentary. Receive our Global Briefing newsletter<\/a> in your inbox every morning to enjoy Denis Staunton\u2019s guide to understanding world events; what\u2019s happening, why it matters and how it affects you.<\/p>\n

At The Irish Times, our journalism is free of any personal, political or commercial control. Unlike most publishers, we have no shareholders to satisfy, no media baron owner in the background telling us what we can and cannot publish.<\/p>\n

We are owned by a Trust that mandates us to uphold a set of public-interest values. Those values describe a worldview that is outward-looking, tolerant, curious, interested in divergent views and attentive to the needs of minorities.<\/p>\n

Our watchwords are fairness and accuracy. Our goal is to enable you to make informed and independent judgments. And any profit we make goes towards supporting our journalism. <\/p>\n

Ruadh\u00e1n Mac Cormaic<\/p>\n

Editor <\/p>\n

To join Ireland\u2019s biggest community of news subscribers, sign up here<\/a>Specifics of Lebanon ceasefire remain unclear\"PeoplePeople drive past damaged buildings in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon, on Friday. Photograph by Wael Hamzeh\/EPA <\/p>\n

Many specifics of the Lebanese ceasefire remain unclear, including whether the Israeli military will withdraw from areas it is occupying, Sally Hayden writes from Beirut.<\/p>\n

Contacted for comment, a Hizbullah spokesman said any ceasefire \u201cmust not allow the Israeli enemy any freedom of movement\u201d.<\/p>\n

At least 1.2 million people in Lebanon have been displaced by the latest all-out war, according to the United Nations. It is not clear if they will all be able to return home.<\/p>\n

Read the full article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Price of oil drops in early Asian trading<\/p>\n

Oil dropped in early Asian trading amid optimism about securing a permanent ceasefire.<\/p>\n

West Texas Intermediate crude slipped 1.6 per cent to $93.21 (\u20ac79.14), paring gains from the previous session.<\/p>\n

US equity-index futures wavered with contracts for the S&P 500 Index edging up and those for the Nasdaq 100 little changed. <\/p>\n

The two Wall Street gauges both closed higher Thursday, setting record highs for a second day, with technology shares outperforming. Netflix Inc. slid in after-hours trading after issuing a second-quarter forecast that missed analysts\u2019 expectations.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, gold was little changed and the dollar edged lower against most of its Group-of-10 peers. – Bloomberg<\/p>\n

Lebanon\u2019s state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli shelling continued in the villages of Khiam and Dibbine about a half hour after the truce went into effect at midnight Friday local time (10pm Thursday Irish time). <\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s military said it was looking into reports of shelling and artillery fire in southern Lebanon. Hizbullah kept firing rockets at northern Israeli towns and communities right up to the start of the ceasefire. Air raid sirens went off in some often-targeted border towns less than 10 minutes before midnight. – The Guardian<\/p>\n

Israel violates ceasefire, Lebanese army says \"GunfireGunfire is fired into the sky from Beirut’s southern suburbs in the early hours of April 17th, as residents celebrate the start of a 10-day ceasefire that took effect at midnight. Photograph by Nael Chahine\/Middle East Images\/AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n

Israel has committed violations \u200cof a ceasefire in Lebanon that took effect at midnight, including intermittent shelling of several southern \u200cLebanese \u200cvillages, the Lebanese army said in the early hours of Friday morning.<\/p>\n

In a \u200cstatement, the army called on citizens to hold off on returning to southern villages and towns. \u200cThere was no immediate comment from the \u200cIsraeli military. – Reuters <\/p>\n

European countries could help secure passage through Strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n

European countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands and France have mine-clearance capacity which could help secure passage through the Strait of Hormuz, France\u2019s defence minister has said. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere are capabilities to provide fully supported escort services \u2013 that is to say, in no way offensive, of course \u2013 for ships to ensure safe passage through the strait; that is what will be debated today in Paris,\u201d Catherine Vautrin told French TV station TF1 on Friday.<\/p>\n

The UK and France are set to chair a meeting of about 40 countries on Friday aimed at signalling to the US that some of its closest allies are ready to play a role in restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which typically carries about 20 per cent of the world\u2019s oil and liquefied natural gas flows. <\/p>\n

Only a trickle of vessels have passed through the strait since the \u2060war started, compared to an average 130-plus each day before the conflict. – Reuters and The Guardian<\/p>\n

Lebanon ceasefire comes into effect <\/p>\n

The ceasefire in Lebanon went into effect on Thursday and Trump said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Lebanese counterpart Joseph Aoun and planned to invite them to the White House for \u201cmeaningful talks\u201d that could happen over the next week or two.<\/p>\n

Iran has insisted that any peace deal should also cover the fighting in Lebanon. The ceasefire was part of an understanding reached with the US and mediated by Pakistan, Iranian media reported, citing a foreign ministry spokesperson.<\/p>\n

\"Source:Source: Truth Social <\/p>\n

\u201cMay have been a historic day for Lebanon. Good things are happening!!!,\u201d Trump said on Truth Social<\/a> late on Thursday.<\/p>\n

In an earlier post, he urged Hizbullah to respect the ceasefire.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be an GREAT moment for them if they do. No more killing. Must finally have PEACE!,\u201d he said. – Reuters<\/p>\n

Trump again indicates war could soon end<\/p>\n

US president Donald Trump<\/a> has indicated that an agreement could soon be reached to end the Iran<\/a> war and urged the Tehran-aligned Hizbullah group to hold its fire as a 10-day truce went in to effect between Lebanon<\/a> and \u200cIsrael<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Trump said the next meeting between the United States and Iran could take place at the weekend and an extension of a two-week ceasefire was possible, but may not be needed as Tehran wanted a deal.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to see what happens. But I think we\u2019re very close to making a deal with Iran,\u201d he told reporters outside \u200bthe White House, adding if an agreement was reached and signed in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, he may go there for the occasion.<\/p>\n

Hours later while in Las Vegas, Trump went further, saying the war \u201cshould be ending pretty soon\u201d. <\/p>\n

A Pakistani source involved \u200bin mediating between the US and Iran said on Friday there was progress in backdoor diplomacy and that an upcoming meeting between the two sides could result in the signing of an agreement. – Reuters<\/p>\n