Oil prices surge past $103 a barrel after US announces blockade of Iran
Asian stocks fall as naval blockade threat injects new turmoil into financial markets. Published On 13 Apr 202613 Apr 2026 Oil prices have risen sharply following US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a naval blockade of Iran. Brent crude, the international benchmark, rose more than 8 percent on Sunday to top $103 a barrel. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list It was the first time the benchmark rose above the psychologically important threshold of $100 since Tuesday, when prices surpassed $111 a barrel. Trump announced on Sunday that the US Navy would block all ships from entering or exiting the Strait of Hormuz, following the collapse of ceasefire talks between US and Iranian officials over the weekend. US Central Command said in a later statement that it would only block vessels travelling to and from Iran and that other traffic would not be impeded, in an apparent scaling back of Trump’s threat to impose a full blockade. The command said the blockade would take effect on Monday at 10am Eastern Time (14:00 GMT). Oil prices have been a rollercoaster since US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted Tehran to impose a de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for about one-fifth of global oil and natural gas supplies. After topping $119 last month, Brent fell below $92 a barrel last week after the US and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire following more than six weeks of war. While Iran has allowed a limited number of ships to transit the waterway, subject to prior vetting and authorisation, traffic has been reduced to a trickle compared with peacetime levels. Despite Washington and Tehran’s fragile truce officially remaining in place until April 22, only 17 vessels crossed the strait on Saturday, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward, down from roughly 130 daily transits before the war. Advertisement Major stock markets in Asia opened lower on Monday as Trump’s blockade threat stoked uncertainty on trading floors. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 fell 0.9 percent in morning trading, while South Korea’s KOSPI dropped more than 1 percent. US stock futures, which are traded outside of regular market hours, also fell, with those tied to the benchmark S&P 500 down about 0.8 percent. Adblock test (Why?)
Rory McIlroy wins Masters to become fourth back-to-back champion
The Northern Irishman becomes the first player to repeat at Augusta National since Tiger Woods back in 2001-2002. By Reuters Published On 13 Apr 202613 Apr 2026 Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods, and now, Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman emerged from a tight pack of contenders to win the 90th Masters Tournament on Sunday, joining the trio of golf icons as the only players in history to conquer Augusta National in back-to-back years. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list McIlroy said earlier this week that winning one Masters would make it easier to win a second, and he dug deep into that belief on Sunday to rally from a three-shot deficit on the front nine to post a one-under-par round of 71 for the winning score of 12-under 276 – one better than Scottie Scheffler. “I can’t believe that I waited 17 years to get one green jacket, and I get two in a row,” McIlroy told CBS in Butler Cabin. “I think that all of my perseverance at this golf tournament over the years has really started to pay off.” McIlroy’s sixth career major also tied him with Faldo for the most by a European player in the modern era, and they are tied for 12th-most all-time by any player. Cameron Young, Russell Henley, England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Justin Rose finished another shot back at 10 under. McIlroy putts on the 18th hole to win The Masters [Mike Segar/Reuters] McIlroy rallies McIlroy began the final round tied for the 54-hole lead at 11 under with Young, who birdied the second hole to reach 12 under and take the outright lead. It appeared that McIlroy’s repeat quest might unravel when he went three over on the two par-threes on the front nine to fall to 9 under for the tournament. Suddenly, McIlroy’s name was looking up on the leaderboard at Young and Rose, who reached 12 under with four birdies in a five-hole stretch through No 9. Scheffler was also making a run several holes ahead, and Henley reached 10 under through eight holes. Advertisement This is when McIlroy kicked it back into gear for the first time since closing with six birdies over his final seven holes on Friday. A birdie on the seventh hole got McIlroy back to double digits under par, and he pulled within one shot of the lead with another on the par-five eighth. While Scheffler’s rally stalled for a long stretch with 11 consecutive pars, and Rose and Young struggled to hole putts on the back nine, McIlroy kept ratcheting up the pressure. He birdied the 12th and 13th holes to go 2 under through “Amen Corner” and build a two-shot lead. Scheffler kept it interesting with birdies on numbers 15 and 16 to get to 11 under. Another birdie attempt on 17 stayed on the lip of the cup, and Scheffler parred out to post a 4-under round of 68, with McIlroy on the course with three holes to play. The two-shot cushion proved helpful for McIlroy when he pushed his drive on the 18th hole well right into the trees. He was able to punch the ball forward into a greenside bunker and put it on the putting surface with his third shot. From there, McIlroy easily converted the two-putt bogey, and became the fourth player in history to successfully defend at the Masters. “It’s nice to have that two-shot cushion instead of the one [shot] like I had last year,” McIlroy said. “I looked at the [leader]board after I made the bogey on six, and I went back to 9 under at that point. And I said, ‘If I can get to 14 under, I think I’ve got a really good chance of winning this tournament.’ “I didn’t quite get there, I got to 13, but 13 was good enough standing on the 18th tee.” After setting a Masters record with a six-shot lead after 36 holes, McIlroy played the final 36 holes in even par. That brought a host of players back into the mix, with at least four different players leading at some point during the final round. McIlroy admitted that he kept a close eye on the leaderboard after falling back to 9 under to know where he stood in the tournament. “It was a tough weekend,” he said. “I did the bulk of my work on Thursday and Friday, but just so happy to hang in there and get the job done.” McIlroy holds the Masters championship trophy during the green jacket ceremony after the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club [Kyle Terada/Imagn Images via Reuters] Adblock test (Why?)
Trump says US to blockade ships crossing Strait of Hormuz
NewsFeed US President Donald Trump says the US Navy will immediately blockade the Strait of Hormuz and intercept ships that pay tolls to Iran – after talks in Islamabad failed to produce a peace deal. Al Jazeera’s James Bays looks at what this escalation could look like in the coming days. Published On 12 Apr 202612 Apr 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
FIFA rejects Iran’s request to relocate World Cup games amid US-Israel war
Mexican President Sheinbaum says FIFA will not relocate Iran’s fixtures from US despite repeated requests. Published On 12 Apr 202612 Apr 2026 FIFA has turned down Iran’s request to relocate its World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing logistical impediments, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirms. Iran’s Football Federation (FFIRI) asked the sport’s global governing body to move its games out of the US last month, but FIFA said all World Cup fixtures will go ahead as scheduled, dismissing the possibility of Mexico hosting the Iranian team. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Sheinbaum reiterated FIFA’s stance on Friday, saying the matches will be played in the US as planned. “FIFA ultimately decided that the matches cannot be moved from their original venues,” Sheinbaum said at a news conference in Mexico City. “It [relocation] would make logistics too complicated, and this decision was taken by FIFA,” she said. FIFA did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment on confirmation of host venues for Iran’s games. The US and Israel launched a war on Iran on February 28, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and 168 people at a girls school on the first day. Tehran responded by striking Israeli and US military bases in the Middle East with missiles and drones. A Pakistan-mediated ceasefire brought the attacks to a halt on Wednesday in Iran and the Gulf, but Israel has continued to pound parts of Lebanon. Iran was among the first countries to qualify for the World Cup, racing to book their spot from the Asian confederation. Team Melli are in Group G of the tournament with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand and are scheduled to play all of their group games on the US West Coast, two in Los Angeles (June 15 and 21) and one in Seattle (June 26). Mexico, which is cohosting the World Cup with the US and Canada, had shown willingness to host Iran’s fixtures, but Sheinbaum’s recent comments have reaffirmed the stance of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who met Iranian football players, coaches and officials in Turkiye on March 31. Advertisement “The matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw,” Infantino said on the sidelines of Iran’s friendly match against Costa Rica. Infantino also quelled concerns that Iran would not feature at the next edition of the World Cup at all after FFIRI President Mehdi Taj said Iran would “boycott” the games in the US. “Iran will be at the World Cup. … That’s why we’re here,” Infantino said in Mexico. “I’ve seen the team, I’ve spoken to the players and the coach, so everything is fine,” added Infantino, whose attendance at the friendly was unannounced. Last month, the FFIRI expressed fears over its players’ safety and security in the US after President Donald Trump wrote in a social media post that it would not be appropriate for Iran to participate in the World Cup “for their own life and safety”. “When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” Taj said in response to Trump. Both countries have since exchanged indirect verbal blows on the issue with the latest comments coming from Iranian Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali, who indicated that his country’s participation in the World Cup will be uncertain unless FIFA relocates its fixtures. Adblock test (Why?)
Global Sumud Flotilla sets sail from Barcelona for Gaza
NewsFeed Thousands gathered at Barcelona’s port as the largest ever Global Sumud Flotilla prepared to depart for Gaza, aiming to break Israel’s blockade. Al Jazeera’s @Mohammadfff_ reports, as organisers and volunteers insist they will sail to Gaza despite the risks. Published On 12 Apr 202612 Apr 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Christians return to Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre as Israel eases restriction
NewsFeed Orthodox Christians celebrated Easter’s Holy Fire ceremony at Jerusalem’s Holy Sepulchre after Israel eased restrictions on worshippers accessing holy sites in occupied East Jerusalem. Published On 11 Apr 202611 Apr 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Hungry Fury ‘light and lean’ for heavyweight comeback fight with Makhmudov
Tyson Fury returns lighter than his last fight but still weighs in three pounds heavier than Arslanbek Makhmudov. By Reuters Published On 11 Apr 202611 Apr 2026 Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury hit the scales considerably lighter than last time he fought in 2024, but still carrying a few pounds more than Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov. The 37-year-old registered 267.9 pounds in his underwear after his Canada-based opponent had stepped up at 264.9 in Friday’s weigh-in. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Fury’s weight compared to the 281 pounds he recorded, albeit fully clothed, for his rematch with world champion Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024 and 262 pounds against the Ukrainian in May that year. The Briton said he still had “a bit left in the tank” as he came out of retirement for the fifth time. “After another four or five retirements, I should be good,” he said. “My priority is to beat this fella, I’ve got loads of Easter eggs in the fridge ready for me. Whoever has these belts, I want them back. “I want to make a statement, so I’ve come in nice and light and lean.” Fury, who has spent 16 weeks training in Thailand, has promised fans a knockout win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night. “I’ll knock his head right off his two shoulders,” he told reporters on Thursday. “I’ll be like the gamecock on top of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and he’ll be like the knocked-out man sparked out on the floor.” The Briton has not fought since losing by unanimous decision to Usyk, but believes he remains the division’s top draw. “I actually feel sorry for Makhmudov because he’s got to face me – an injury-free Tyson Fury, on good form,” he said. “Sooner or later, these so-called alphabetical world champions are going to have to fight me. Whoever’s got belts will be begging me to fight by the end of the year – on their hands and knees, begging the Gypsy King to fight them.” Advertisement The bout against Makhmudov will be broadcast exclusively on Netflix, underlining Fury’s continued commercial appeal even after a 16-month absence from the ring. “I’m the money man. When you mention Tyson Fury in heavyweight boxing, you know you’re getting paid,” he said. Adblock test (Why?)
Peru holds presidential election amid a decade of political tumult
Congress versus the presidency Experts like Tuesta argue that the last decade of political instability has all but rendered Peru’s executive branch a secondary power. By contrast, its unicameral Congress has expanded its might, though its members are largely unpopular among Peruvians. Part of its influence comes from its impeachment powers. Peru’s Congress can remove presidents for “moral incapacity”, a catch-all term that has been used to denounce anything from undisclosed meetings to security crises. Paulo Vilca, a researcher at the Institute of Peruvian Studies, explained that the shifting power dynamics have made it difficult for presidents to remain in office. “In the past, we used to elect presidents for five years. Now, what’s more likely is that they will not last five years,” said Vilca. But Peru’s unicameral Congress will come to an end this year. On Sunday, Peruvians will vote for a second congressional chamber, a Senate, for the first time since 1990. Vilca argues that the congressional election may be even more important than this year’s presidential race. But it will also likely deepen Peru’s ongoing political crisis, he added. He predicts that Congress’s chambers will soon be in conflict with each other, as well as with the president, in a three-way battle for power. “It is very likely that those who are elected deputies, for example, will not be very satisfied with having a subordinate position in front of the Senate,” Vilca said. “So we’re going to move from a crisis of two to a crisis of three.” Pedestrians in Cuzco, Peru, pass campaign signs on April 8 [Martin Mejia/AP Photo] The Senate was eliminated in 1992 by the late President Fujimori, Keiko Fujimori’s father, after he dissolved Peru’s bicameral Congress and implemented military rule. The younger Fujimori has sought to build on her father’s legacy, and her right-wing party, Fuerza Popular, has become a deciding force in the unicameral legislature. Keiko Fujimori even pledged to use her party’s power to “govern from Congress” after her defeat in the 2016 presidential race. Since then, analysts have argued that Fuerza Popular has led efforts to change governmental processes to maintain or expand its power, even at the expense of democratic participation. One change that it championed and passed in 2025 requires parties to earn at least 5 percent of the overall vote and a minimum of seven seats in the lower chamber to maintain their official political registration. For the Senate, parties must get at least three seats and 5 percent of votes. Critics have said the measure creates a nearly insurmountable threshold. “This whole system has been designed by the parties that are currently in Congress. And in particular, the one that has controlled the Constitutional Committee all these years has been Fuerza Popular,” said Vilca. “I think the purpose of designing this whole model has been to maintain a status quo, which the Fujimori wing has also created in the last five years.” Vilca is not optimistic that a new Senate will resolve the erosion of power away from the presidency. If anything, he anticipates more conflicts to come. “My most likely scenario is that the crisis continues,” he said, “that whoever is elected president will enter into confrontation with the Senate”. Adblock test (Why?)
Moment Artemis II splashes down after moon mission
NewsFeed NASA’s Artemis II astronauts have safely splashed down on Earth, completing a landmark mission that carried humans around the Moon and back for the first time in more than 50 years. Published On 11 Apr 202611 Apr 2026 Click here to share on social media share-nodes Share googleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Adblock test (Why?)
Trump says Strait of Hormuz to reopen ‘soon’ as US, Iran head to talks
Trump says Washington will not accept Iran’s imposition of a de facto toll booth system in the critical waterway. Published On 11 Apr 202611 Apr 2026 United States President Donald Trump has said the Strait of Hormuz will reopen “fairly soon” with or without Iran’s assistance, as Tehran’s effective blockade of the waterway continues to roil global energy supplies. Speaking to reporters on Friday in advance of peace talks between US and Iranian officials in Pakistan, Trump said the US would “open up the Gulf” and that other countries were ready to “help out”. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list “It won’t be easy,” Trump said. “I would say this: We will have that open fairly soon,” he added. Trump, who did not elaborate on how Washington would unblock the critical maritime chokepoint, also said he would not accept Iran’s imposition of a de facto toll booth system in the strait. Tehran has indicated that it intends to charge vessels fees for safe passage even in the event that a deal is reached with the US to end the war. “If they are doing that, we’re not going to let that happen,” Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Camp Springs, Maryland. Trump said ensuring Iran does not possess nuclear weapons is the priority in any agreement, and the strait would open “automatically”. “No nuclear weapons, that’s 99 percent of it,” Trump said. “The strait will open up,” he added. “If we just left … otherwise they make no money.” Despite the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran on Tuesday, shipping in the strait remains at an effective standstill, disrupting approximately one-fifth of global oil and natural gas flows. Advertisement Only two vessels passed through the strait on Friday, down from five the previous day, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Since the start of the ceasefire, just 22 ships with their automatic identification system turned on have exited the strait, according to the market intelligence provider, compared with about 135 daily transits before the war. More than 600 vessels, including 325 tankers, are still stranded in the Gulf due to the blockage of the strait, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence. US Vice President JD Vance and Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are on Saturday set to lead negotiations in Islamabad aimed at securing a permanent end to the war. The US and Iran have offered conflicting messages on the agreed-upon terms for the negotiations, including the contents of a 10-point plan put forward by Tehran. Adblock test (Why?)