All news: Sunday 12 April 2026

2026 Strait of Hormuz campaign

U.S. president Donald Trump announces a U.S. naval blockade of Iran and the strait "effective immediately," which will "seek and interdict" any vessel that paid Iran's toll to cross the strait.

2026 Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia announces the restoration of its East–West Crude Oil Pipeline and other energy facilities following an Iranian attack.

2026 Iran war ceasefire

The initial three rounds of ceasefire talks between Iran and the United States conclude in Islamabad, Pakistan, after 14 hours. However, the Iranian government says that negotiations will continue.

2026 Iran war ceasefire

U.S. vice president JD Vance, who led the American delegation in the ceasefire talks, says that the two sides have not reached a deal to end the war, with disagreement over nuclear weapon development, and that the U.S. made its "final and best offer" and stated "We'll see if the Iranians accept it".

2026 Iran war ceasefire

Pakistani deputy prime minister Ishaq Dar urges Iran and the U.S. to uphold their commitment to observe a ceasefire after Vance said that both sides didn't reach an agreement. Dar also says that Pakistan will continue to play its role in facilitating engagement and dialogue between both sides.

2026 Iran war ceasefire

Pakistani sources say that the major disagreements during the talks were Iran's nuclear program, missile program, restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, and calls for a ceasefire in Lebanon.

2026 Iran war

The Iranian government updates the death toll in Iran to 3,375 people.

2026 Lebanon war

At least 24 people are killed by Israeli airstrikes across southern Lebanon.

Gaza war

The Israeli military claims that they have killed several Hamas terrorists who took part in hostage-taking during the October 7 attacks, including Nukhba commander Ali Sami Mohammad Shakra, in a strike in central Gaza yesterday that killed seven people.

Three Pakistan Coast Guard personnel are killed when Balochistan Liberation Army militants open fire on a patrol boat in the Arabian Sea near the Iran–Pakistan border.

Azerbaijan–Iran relations

Azerbaijan's embassy in Tehran resumes its operations during the ceasefire, initially with a limited staff.

Iraq–Saudi Arabia relations

The Saudi foreign ministry summons the ambassador of Iraq over "continued attacks and threats" against it and other Gulf Arab states from Iraqi territory.

2026 Peruvian general election

Peruvians vote to elect 130 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 60 members of a newly created senate, while also determining the top two presidential candidates that will advance to a run-off election.

2026 Peruvian general election

Peruvian police and prosecutors conduct searches at the electoral authority's headquarters and a private company as part of an investigation into delays in delivering voting materials that prevent more than 60,000 people from voting. Officials attribute the issue to logistical failures affecting multiple polling stations in Lima. The electoral authority later announces that some polling stations will reopen.

2026 Peruvian general election

Exit polls show Popular Force's Keiko Fujimori leading the presidential election with about 16 percent of the vote, with no candidate securing a majority and a run-off expected between Fujimori and Popular Renewal's Rafael López Aliaga.

2026 Beninese presidential election

Beninese citizens vote to elect a president that will succeed the incumbent Patrice Talon and serve for the next seven years. Finance minister Romuald Wadagni and FCBE candidate Paul Hounkpè are the only two candidates on the ballot.

2026 Hungarian parliamentary election

Hungarians vote to elect all 199 members of the National Assembly. The incumbent prime minister, Viktor Orbán, who was seeking a fifth consecutive term in office, concedes defeat and calls Tisza Party leader Péter Magyar on the telephone to congratulate him on his victory. The pro-European Tisza Party wins two-thirds of the seats in Hungary's legislature. The turnout is the highest since the fall of communism, at 77.8%.

2026 Iraqi presidential election

Nizar Amidi, elected the previous day, takes office as President of Iraq, succeeding Abdul Latif Rashid.

2026 Laurence Olivier Awards

In theatre, Punch wins Best New Play and Paddington: The Musical wins seven prizes, including Best New Musical, at the 2026 Laurence Olivier Awards.

2026 Masters Tournament

In golf, Rory McIlroy wins back-to-back titles at the Masters Tournament.