News Briefing — April 25, 2026

Every headline below links to its original source. No source, no publish.

🔴 Mali Under Coordinated Attack

The largest jihadist assault in years. Armed groups launched simultaneous attacks on Bamako, the international airport, and cities across northern Mali. The junta is fighting for survival.

• Gunmen stage simultaneous attacks across Mali, army says — Capital Bamako and several other locations hit in an apparently coordinated assault involving multiple groups. (Al Jazeera)

• Explosions and gunfire as armed groups launch coordinated attacks across Mali — Clashes in the centre and north. Described as the largest jihadist attack in years. (BBC)

• Gunfire rocks Bamako: ‘Too soon to tell’ if junta will fall — Mali’s army fighting “terrorist groups.” FRANCE 24’s Wassim Nasr says it’s still too early to know if the military government can hold. (France 24)

• FLA claims attacks on Malian capital — Azawad Liberation Front, a separatist group fighting the Malian army for over a decade, claims responsibility. (France 24)

• ‘Scale and coordination of Mali attacks appear unprecedented’ — Clashes reported in cities across the country. (Al Jazeera)

• Mali attacks live: Gunfire heard near Bamako airport and in several cities — Live updates from across the country. (Al Jazeera)

✈️ Tehran Airport Reopens — First Flights Since War Began

Commercial flights resumed from Iran’s main international airport. Flights to Istanbul, Muscat, and Medina.

• Iran resumes commercial flights from Tehran airport — First flights since the conflict with the US and Israel began about two months ago. (Al Jazeera)

• Flights resume at Tehran airport as US-Iran ceasefire holds — International flights departing for Istanbul, Muscat, and Medina. (Al Jazeera)

• Iran resumes commercial flights from Tehran’s international airport — Iran partially reopened its airspace earlier this month amid the ceasefire. (Middle East Eye)

🕊️ Iran-US Talks — Witkoff & Kushner Head to Pakistan

US envoys travelling despite Iran ruling out direct negotiations. Araghchi already in Islamabad delivering Tehran’s demands.

• Witkoff and Kushner to Travel to Pakistan for Talks on Iran — US team heading to Islamabad as indirect negotiations intensify. (New York Times)

• US envoys to travel to Islamabad despite Iran ruling out direct negotiations with US — Indefinite ceasefire has paused most fighting, but Hormuz closure continues to disrupt global energy. (France 24)

• Iran conveyed ‘demands and reservations’ about US positions to Pakistan — Araghchi delivered Tehran’s negotiating demands and reservations to Pakistani officials. Trump says Iran plans to make an offer but doesn’t know what it contains. (Middle East Eye)

• Turkey may consider role in Hormuz demining after Iran-US deal, minister says — Fidan says Turkey could join a multinational mine-clearing team after a peace agreement. (Middle East Eye)

🇮🇷 Inside Iran — Khamenei in Hiding, Nuclear Reckoning

Mojtaba Khamenei has not been seen publicly since succeeding his father. NYT reveals he rules by handwritten notes, fearing for his life.

• Mojtaba Khamenei remains out of the spotlight in Iran — NYT report: lives in hiding, participates in decision making by handwritten notes. Speculation he was seriously injured in the strike that killed his father. (France 24)

• Trump Seeks to Abolish Iran’s Atomic Stockpile, a Problem He Helped Create — Trump withdrew from the Obama-era nuclear accord in 2018. Iran responded with an enrichment spree that haunts negotiations to this day. (New York Times)

• Iran’s Infowar: Lego, AI and ever tightening control — The tools and techniques behind Iran’s push in the battle of narratives. (Al Jazeera)

🇵🇸 Palestine — First Gaza Election in 21 Years

Palestinians voted in the West Bank and parts of Gaza in local council elections. Hamas-affiliated candidates on the ballot for the first time.

• Palestinians cast their ballots as Gaza holds first election in 21 years — Around 70,000 people registered to vote. (Al Jazeera)

• Palestinians in West Bank and some in Gaza vote in local elections — Local elections in the occupied West Bank and one Gazan city. Hamas and other groups not taking part. (BBC)

• Elections in West Bank provide ‘credibility to Palestinian sovereignty’, expert says — Vote determines local councils overseeing water, roads, electricity. Turnout seen as “barometer” of public opinion. (France 24)

• Elections in West Bank: ‘Barometer’ on Palestinian public opinion — Palestinians cast ballots in tents and damaged buildings in Deir al-Balah. (France 24)

• Under Trump, Green Card Seekers Face New Scrutiny for Views on Israel — Participating in pro-Palestinian protests and criticising Israel described as “overwhelmingly negative” factors for immigration. (New York Times)

• Oscar-winning filmmaker urges Arsenal to reconsider kitman’s dismissal over Gaza posts — Jon Blair says his support is informed by his own Jewish identity and sense of outrage. (Middle East Eye)

🇱🇧 Lebanon — “What Cease-Fire?”

Deadliest day since the truce. Four more killed Saturday. Sixth UN peacekeeper dies. Hezbollah fights on.

• Lebanese Ask, ‘What Cease-Fire?’ as Violence Simmers in the South — Fragile truce extended but both Israel and Hezbollah have traded attacks. (New York Times)

• Four people killed in Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon — Two strikes in Nabatiyeh district. Friday was the deadliest day during the ceasefire. (Middle East Eye)

• Indonesian UN peacekeeper becomes sixth killed in Lebanon — Sixth UN peacekeeper killed in recent hostilities in southern Lebanon. (Al Jazeera)

• Lebanon is a house divided as its leaders negotiate and Hezbollah fights on — 37 Israeli soldiers wounded in 24 hours. Two sharply opposed visions within the country. (Middle East Eye)

• Israel continues attacks and demolitions in south Lebanon — Heavy artillery shelling on Nabatiyeh. Buildings blown up in Bint Jbeil. (Middle East Eye)

• Displaced Lebanese remain skeptical despite extended truce — Families in Sidon say ongoing strikes, uncertainty, and deep mistrust prevent them from returning home. (France 24)

• What levers can Turkey use against Israel if their war of words escalates? — Ankara could hinder Azeri oil flow and restrict Israeli access to its airspace. (Middle East Eye)

🇪🇺 Europe & NATO

RAF scrambled over Russian drones. Spain brushes off NATO expulsion threat. Europe prepares for a longer Ukraine war.

• RAF Typhoons scrambled in response to Russian drone threat near NATO airspace — Jets flew from Romania but did not open fire as drones stayed within Ukrainian airspace. (The Guardian)

• Spain PM brushes off reported Pentagon email on punishing NATO members — Sanchez says US-Israeli actions in Iran contravene international law. Spain refused to allow US forces use of bases or airspace. (France 24)

• Europe Prepares for a Longer War in Ukraine, With No Strategy to End It — American dealmakers wrapped up with Iran. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has a clear path to victory or negotiated peace. (New York Times)

• Zelenskyy ready to hold Ukraine-Russia talks in Azerbaijan — Ukraine ready for talks; Russia continues strikes — seven dead in major attack on Dnipro. (Deutsche Welle)

• Seven dead in major Russian attack on Ukraine — Dnipro hardest hit — four killed in strike on residential building. (BBC)

🇬🇧 UK Politics

• Partygate v Mandelson: Starmer faces attack from his own playbook — Tories studying Labour’s own tactics to use against Starmer over the Mandelson scandal. (The Guardian)

• Trump attends White House Correspondents’ Dinner for first time as president — Famous for clashing with reporters, Trump finally attends the press freedom event. (France 24)

🇺🇸 US

• The 85-Year-Old Widow Snagged by Trump’s Immigration Crackdown — Marie-Thérèse Ross-Mahé, French widow of a former G.I., recounts her experience in ICE detention after being deported. (New York Times)

• Staff decry ‘constant turbulence’ under Trump’s labor secretary, as she blames ‘deep state’ in resignation — Chavez-DeRemer resigned amid affair allegations and grant-steering accusations. (The Guardian)

🌍 Africa & World

• ‘Dire humanitarian crisis’: Hundreds of thousands displaced in Ethiopia’s Tigray — 800,000+ internally displaced. Arbitrary detention reported. (France 24)

• Tunisia suspends rights group amid widening repression — One of Africa’s oldest rights groups ordered to cease activities for a month. (Deutsche Welle)

• Peru police raid ex-election chief’s home amid widening probe — Investigation into ballot shortage and irregularities in April 12 presidential vote. (France 24)

• Canada inches toward trade talks with US in ‘incredibly difficult’ environment — International trade economist warns negotiations will be tough. (New York Times)

• A New Idea to Save the AMOC? Dam the Bering Strait. — Scientists propose blocking the waterway between Russia and Alaska to stabilise vulnerable ocean currents. (New York Times)

• ‘Astonishing’ discovery could help save children from deadly disfiguring condition — New bacteria species found in patients with noma — fatal in 90% of cases without treatment. (The Guardian)

Sources: Al Jazeera (8) · The Guardian (6) · New York Times (10) · Middle East Eye (9) · France 24 (16) · BBC (4) · Deutsche Welle (2) Fetched: 2026-04-25 13:30 UTC via RSS — 7 sources (NPR, Intercept had no new entries this cycle)