The BBC plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs—around 10% of its workforce—in its biggest downsizing in 15 years, as part of a £600m cost-cutting drive.

U.S. and Iranian negotiators are moving closer to a potential agreement, with officials saying they are “getting closer” after recent talks and backchannel efforts.

Mediators from Pakistan, Egypt and Türkiye are helping bridge gaps before the ceasefire deadline on April 21, though a deal is not guaranteed.

Source: Axios

CENTCOM:

During the first 48 hours of the U.S. blockade on ships entering and exiting Iranian ports, no vessels have made it past U.S. forces.

Additionally, 9 vessels have complied with direction from U.S. forces to turn around and return toward an Iranian port or coastal area.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian:

They call us terrorists, but they are the real terrorists. They slaughter anyone, anywhere, whenever they want, and then they speak about human rights. Shame on them.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson:

A religious leader can say anything they want, but obviously if you wade into political waters, you should expect some political response and I think the Pope has received some of that.

Israel Escalates Deadly Strike on Lebanon to Demolish 20 Villages

Israel has launched operation “Silver Plow” targeting over 20 villages in southern Lebanon for demolitions amid ongoing strikes that killed at least 13, as conflict escalates despite US-Iran diplomatic talks.

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Prof. Nader Hashemi | Middle East Expert | Georgetown University:
 

America's long track record of double standards has created healthy skepticism. After Ukraine, the Global South had had enough.
 
What America championed in Ukraine, it did the exact opposite in Gaza. People can't be fooled anymore.
 
Trump talks about bombing countries to the Stone Age & erasing civilizations - rhetoric straight out of notorious mad men in human history.
 
America has completely lost any claim to moral leadership & has come unraveled through what happened in Gaza, Lebanon & Iran.

FULL INTERVIEW

Israel continues to carry out destruction in Lebanon.

The US and Iran are considering extending their ceasefire by two weeks to allow more time for peace talks.

Source: Bloomberg

The Israeli army has been ordered to kill any Hezbollah fighter in southern Lebanon.

Source: AFP

In Netivot, Israel, tens of thousands of bees swarmed a shopping center, causing disruption and prompting an emergency response.

WSJ:

After the killing of Ali Khamenei, power in Iran has moved not toward moderation but toward more extreme hard-liners.

His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, now leads a system increasingly dominated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Instead of opening space for compromise, the war strengthened radical factions.

These leaders are more repressive at home—cracking down on dissent—and more aggressive abroad, showing little interest in diplomacy.

Key figures in the new leadership, including Ahmad Vahidi and Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, have histories of violence and strong anti-West views.

Pope Leo XIV:

Although we have different beliefs and different ways of worshipping, we can live together in peace.

The Pentagon is quietly stepping up contingency planning for a possible military operation in Cuba, but nothing has been ordered yet.

Source: USA Today

White House:

We have not formally requested an extension of the ceasefire.

White House:

This is important to Trump: the Pakistanis have been incredible mediators, and we appreciate their friendship and their efforts.

They are the only mediator in this negotiation.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent:

We have told countries that if they are buying Iranian oil, or if Iranian money is sitting in their banks, we are now willing to apply secondary sanctions.