International from Wednesday, April 8th, 2026

US President Donald Trump is dispatching his Iran negotiating team, led by Vice President JD Vance, to Pakistan for talks, the White House told reporters on Wednesday, adding that the first round of negotiations would take place on Saturday.

Israel has carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since the conflict with Hezbollah broke out last month, killing more than 250 people on Wednesday, as the group resumed rocket attacks on northern Israel after a brief pause under the two-week US-Iran ceasefire.

The United States will work closely with Iran and the two countries are discussing tariff and sanctions relief, US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire.

Greece will ban access to social media for children under the age of 15 from January 1, 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms.

Turkish authorities have detained 10 people in connection with Tuesday's gun attack near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul as the investigation widened, Turkish media reported on Wednesday.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, suspending a six-week-old war that has killed thousands, spread across the Middle East and caused unprecedented disruption to the world's energy supplies.

Israel's military has issued repeated urgent warnings to residents of the city of Tyre on Wednesday to evacuate their homes immediately and move north of the Zahrani River, saying it will strike the area.

Bahrain's Ministry of Interior has reported that several houses were damaged due to fallen debris from a drone interception in its Sitra area on Wednesday.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday has welcomed a ceasefire in the Middle East struck between the US, Israel and Iran, while criticising the rhetoric of President Donald Trump.

Israel has supported US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, but said the ceasefire does not include Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Wednesday.

The Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah has released abducted American journalist Shelly Kittleson, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday.