**Summary:** The United States and Iran, with regional mediation, are discussing a two-stage plan for a 45-day ceasefire to potentially end their ongoing conflict. While negotiations are underway, officials report that a deal remains unlikely.

**Key points:**
- Negotiations involve messages between US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
- Mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey are facilitating the talks.
- The proposed plan includes a 45-day initial pause followed by a permanent agreement.
- Iran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz and its uranium enrichment as key leverage points.

**Why it matters:** A successful agreement could prevent a major escalation in the Middle East, where both sides have prepared for potential large-scale military strikes on critical infrastructure.

Interfax.ru - США, Иран и посредники обсуждают прекращение огня на 45 дней

Day.az - Иран готов воевать годами

Pravda.com.ua - Перемовникам Трампа не вдається домовитись з Іраном про припинення вогню – Axios

Tengrinews.kz - США, Иран и посредники обсуждают перемирие на 45 дней

US and Iran Negotiate Potential 45-Day Ceasefire

**Summary:** A Ukrainian drone strike on the Sheskharis oil terminal in the Russian city of Novorossiysk caused a significant fire and damaged port infrastructure. The attack resulted in at least five injuries, including two children.

**Key points:**
- The Sheskharis terminal is a major oil-loading complex operated by Transneft, critical for exporting oil and fuel to Russian military units.
- Local authorities reported that drone debris fell on two industrial sites and a residential building in the Southern district.
- Emergency services extinguished the fire at the industrial facility, while two children were hospitalized with shrapnel wounds.
- This incident follows a series of recent Ukrainian drone operations targeting Russian energy infrastructure.

**Why it matters:** The strike highlights the ongoing vulnerability of Russia's strategic energy infrastructure to long-range drone attacks, potentially impacting both military logistics and export capabilities.

pravda.com.ua - У Новоросійську БпЛА знову атакували нафтовий термінал "Шесхаріс"

lenta.ru - Число пострадавших при атаке ВСУ на Новороссийск выросло

tsn.ua - "Це якийсь караул": у Новоросійську горить порт — що сталося (відео)

Ukrainian Drone Attack Strikes Oil Terminal in Novorossiysk

**Summary:** Iran has launched a series of drone and missile attacks targeting petrochemical facilities and oil storage sites in Israel, describing the strikes as retaliation for recent bombings of Iranian infrastructure.

**Key points:**
- The Iranian military reported targeting industrial sites near Dimona, while Israeli media confirmed a direct hit on the Neot Hovaf industrial complex in Beersheba.
- Israel's internal security reported no risk of toxic chemical leaks following the strike on the industrial site.
- The escalation follows a series of regional attacks, with Iran also claiming strikes against energy infrastructure in the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
- Israeli defense systems intercepted some incoming missiles, while the military reported targeting over 120 Iranian air defense and missile systems in the past 24 hours.

**Why it matters:** The direct military exchange between Iran and Israel marks a significant escalation in regional hostilities, threatening critical energy infrastructure and security across the Middle East.

jordanzad.com - إصابة مباشرة لمجمع صناعات إسرائيلي بصاروخ إيراني

La Tercera - Irán anuncia ataques contra instalaciones petroquímicas de Israel

Iran Launches Drone and Missile Strikes Against Israeli Energy Infrastructure

**Summary:** The Hungarian government has ordered the military to secure its section of the TurkStream gas pipeline after Serbian authorities reported the discovery of explosives near the infrastructure.

**Key points:**
- Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó stated that the military will guard the pipeline from the Serbian-Hungarian border to the Hungarian-Slovakian border.
- Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi denied any Ukrainian involvement, suggesting the incident may be a Russian false-flag operation to influence upcoming Hungarian elections.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán convened an emergency national security council meeting in response to the discovery of the explosives.
- Opposition leader Péter Magyar characterized the incident as a staged operation intended to disrupt the political landscape ahead of the April 12 elections.

**Why it matters:** The incident has heightened regional security tensions and triggered political accusations between Ukraine and Hungary just days before the Hungarian parliamentary elections.

pravda.com.ua - Угорщина відправить армію охороняти газопровід після "спроби диверсії" у Сербії

tsn.ua - Вибухівка біля газопроводу "Турецький потік": МЗС України натякнуло на вибори в Угорщині

Hungary Deploys Military to Protect TurkStream Pipeline Following Alleged Sabotage Attempt in Serbia

**Summary:** In his first Easter Urbi et Orbi message, Pope Leo XIV urged world leaders to choose peace through dialogue and denounced the growing indifference toward the violence of ongoing global conflicts.

**Key points:**
- The Pope announced a vigil of prayer for peace to be held on April 11 at St. Peter's Square in Rome.
- Easter celebrations in Jerusalem were conducted under strict security and at reduced capacity due to the ongoing conflict involving Israel and Iran.
- Pope Leo XIV, who assumed the papacy in May 2025, revived the tradition of greeting the faithful in ten different languages.
- The pontiff's message addressed the normalization of violence and the resulting economic and social consequences of war.

**Why it matters:** The Pope's appeal highlights the humanitarian impact of current geopolitical tensions and the challenges faced by religious communities in conflict zones during major holy days.

diariocorreo.pe - Papa León XIV pide “elegir la paz” en su primer mensaje de Pascua marcado por guerras

elfinanciero.com.mx - ‘Quienes tiene el poder de desatar guerras elijan paz’: León XIV encabeza su primera misa de Pascua

elcomercio.pe - Patriarca latino de Jerusalén celebra el Domingo de Pascua a puerta cerrada en el Santo Sepulcro

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Peace in First Easter Message Amid Global Conflicts

**Summary:** Serbian security forces discovered explosives and detonators near the Balkan Stream gas pipeline, prompting a high-level security response from both Serbia and Hungary.

**Key points:**
- Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić vowed a ruthless response against those threatening the nation's critical infrastructure.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán convened an emergency meeting of his country's defense council to address the incident.
- The Balkan Stream pipeline is a vital energy route that transports Russian natural gas through Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary.

**Why it matters:** The discovery of sabotage equipment on a major energy artery raises significant concerns regarding the security of critical infrastructure in Europe amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

pravda.com.ua - Орбан скликав Раду з нацбезпеки через спробу диверсії на газопроводі у Сербії

newsfeed.zeit.de - Aleksandar Vučić: Serbien meldet Sprengstoff-Fund an Gaspipeline nach Ungarn

pobjeda.me - Viktor Orban sazvao Savjet odbrane zbog eksploziva pronađenog u Srbiji

lenta.ru - Вучич пообещал «безжалостные разборки» из-за взрывчатки у трубопровода с российским газом

Explosives Discovered Near Gas Pipeline in Serbia

**Summary:** The 2026 Kwahu Business Forum in Ghana convened leaders to discuss sustainable business practices, governance, and the role of corporate citizenship in national development.

**Key points:**
- KGL Group Executive Chairman Alex Apau Dadey emphasized that governance, compliance, and social impact are essential for the long-term sustainability of African enterprises.
- President John Dramani Mahama highlighted the need for improved succession planning and managerial capacity to help Ghanaian startups scale effectively.
- The forum, established in 2024, serves as a platform for networking and market expansion to harness local entrepreneurial culture.

**Why it matters:** The forum addresses critical challenges for African businesses, such as founder-dependency and the need for structured governance to ensure economic continuity.

ghanamma.com - Kwahu Business Forum 2026 ignites Ghana’s manufacturing push and job creation drive - 3News

myjoyonline.com - Kwahu Business Forum 2026: Corporate citizenship, sustaining African businesses take centre stage with KGL as the case study

Kwahu Business Forum 2026 Focuses on Corporate Citizenship and Sustainable Growth

**Summary:** The Tindouf refugee camps, which host Sahrawi populations, are facing a significant reduction in humanitarian aid alongside emerging internal social protests.

**Key points:**
- United Nations reports indicate a 30% decrease in food rations for refugees in the Tindouf area over the last two years.
- Minority tribal groups in the camps have initiated protests, while the majority population remains silent regarding the situation.
- The region has been a focal point of regional tensions for five decades.

**Why it matters:** The worsening humanitarian conditions and internal social unrest in the camps highlight the ongoing instability of the long-standing regional dispute.

Quarte Bot