Latest news for 22 April 2026

IRAN

TACO Tuesday?

President Trump has announced he’ll continue to blockade Iranian ports but is extending the ceasefire (due to expire today) until Iran’s “seriously fractured” leadership “can come up with a unified proposal.” In response, various Iranian figures have dismissed Trump’s extension as a “ploy to buy time for a surprise strike”, and refused to engage in talks until the blockade is lifted, while reports suggest Iranian gunboats have since fired on three cargo ships in Hormuz. (CNN)

Comment: Pending any further surprises, Trump seems to be banking on economic pressure now finishing what military operations started. And funnily enough, Iran’s regime seems to be banking on something similar: economic pressure (Hormuz) finishing Trump’s war.

AFGHANISTAN

Delicate manoeuvring.

EU officials (backed by Sweden) are preparing to host a Taliban delegation for technical talks on repatriating Afghan nationals with no lawful right to remain in Europe. (Euractiv)

Comment: Immigration pressures from voters have pushed capitals to repatriate Afghans, but that’s practically impossible without participation from the Taliban, which Europe (and most the world) doesn’t recognise. The EU is trying to skirt this by calling these talks ‘technical’, and hosting them in an offsite Brussels hotel, but you can bet the Taliban will milk them for concessions.

NETHERLANDS

Stalking locations.

Some crafty Dutch journalists have hidden a $6 Bluetooth tracker in a letter addressed to a naval frigate, then tracked it live as it escorted France’s Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier across the Mediterranean! Authorities have now tightened postal screening rules in response. (Defense News)

Comment: The journalists were inspired by Le Monde famously using the Strava fitness app to pinpoint the Charles de Gaulle in real time. Take it as a reminder of the way a free press can make us all stronger and safer.

MYANMAR

Junta state-building.

On the heels of Myanmar's ✌️elections✌️, President Min Aung Hlaing has set a 100-day deadline (July 31) for armed opposition groups to join peace talks. (AA)

Comment: Major groups (like the Karen National Union) have already rejected the deadline absent any guarantee of a real democratic transition. The junta’s outreach looks performative to us: cosplay as peacemakers to consolidate international legitimacy after its sham elections, while still pursuing its enemies.

UKRAINE

Pipeline fix.

The infamous Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian gas through Ukraine to central Europe is apparently now ready to resume post-repair operations. Ukraine’s Zelensky in turn hopes the EU can now unblock the $106M loan previously vetoed by Hungary under its now-ousted Moscow-friendly leader. (Al Jazeera)

EL SALVADOR

All in one go.

El Salvador has launched a mass trial of 486 suspected MS-13 members accused of more than 47,000 crimes, including murder, extortion, and trafficking. (BBC)

Comment: Unsurprisingly, the UN is voicing concerns around a lack of due process. And unsurprisingly, President Bukele doesn’t seem too worried given his approval remains sky-high after slashing his country’s homicide rate by 96%.

ESWATINI

Actually, don’t come.

Taiwan’s President Lai was set to travel to Eswatini today (Wednesday) but suddenly cancelled his trip after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar all yoinked overflight permission, citing their ties with China. Eswatini became Africa’s only country recognising Taiwan after Burkina Faso’s 2018 switch — the trip was to attend the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne this week. (Guardian)

Comment: Beijing hasn’t commented, but Taipei claims China threatened to withhold debt relief from these small nations to force this outcome. It’s a continuation of China’s strangulation policy on Taiwan — capitals across Africa and beyond won’t have missed the demonstration of how China’s largesse can carry strings.