Iran's shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz has drawn comparisons with the supply disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic and US President Donald Trump's new tariff regime. The pandemic exposed the world's heavy dependence on China for manufacturing everything from electronics to medical gear, while Trump’s tariffs, introduced last year, also accelerated efforts to cut that reliance.
Skip next section Germany halves 2026 growth forecast amid Iran war fallout April 22, 2026 Germany halves 2026 growth forecast amid Iran war fallout The German Economy Ministry has cut its growth forecasts for 2026 and 2027 as a result of rising energy prices triggered by the Iran war.
The Iran war is having a profound effect on the global aviation sector, with jet fuel shortages and surging prices wreaking havoc on flight routes. On Tuesday, April 21, Germany's largest carrier Lufthansa announced it had canceled 20,000 flights between May and October to try and save fuel.
China said Wednesday it had "high appreciation" for the African countries that denied overflight rights to the plane of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, forcing him to cancel a trip to Eswatini. China claims self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes the island having diplomatic relations with other countries.
The number of foreign-born people living in the EU reached a record high of 64.2 million in 2025, according to a report released Wednesday.
For 30 years, the archive.org internet platform has been archiving digital content. The "Wayback Machine" contains more than 1 billion archived web pages and is considered an indispensable tool for journalists, researchers, historians and lawyers who wish to view deleted or modified online content in its original form.
Skip next section Over $100 million seized in cash, liquor, drugs ahead of polls in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu April 22, 2026 Over $100 million seized in cash, liquor, drugs ahead of polls in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu Election officials have seized cash, liquor and drugs worth over 1,000 crore Indian rupees in
Australia's online safety regulator on Wednesday ordered major online gaming platforms including Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite and Steam to explain how they are protecting children from sexual predators and radicalization online. The eSafety Commission said it had issued legally enforceable transparency notices seeking details on safety systems, staffing and moderation practices.