TURKEY - Turkey has strongly criticised Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as the "Hitler of our time". It came after the Israeli Prime Minister shared a post on X criticising Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. He wrote: "Under my leadership, Israel will continue to fight against Iran's terrorist regime and its proxies, in contrast to Erdogan who aids them and even slaughters his Kurdish citizens." In response, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement in which it referred to Netanyahu as the "Hitler of our time". It accused Israel of "undermining ongoing peace negotiations" and pursuing "expansionist policies in the region". The ministry said: "Netanyahu, who has been described as the Hitler of our time due to the crimes he has committed, is a well-known figure with a clear track record."

AUSTRALIA - Australia has one of the highest per-capita rates of diesel consumption in the world but it relies almost entirely on imports to meet that demand. There are two domestic refineries producing petrol but up to 90 percent of that is imported, too. Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has stifled one fifth of the world’s supply of oil. Much of this goes to the Asian refineries that supply Australia. Now, they’re running short. So the problem in Australia isn’t just the soaring price of fuel. It’s the prospect of not being able to get any at all. The country has 38 days’ worth of petrol left in reserve before reaching critical levels, at which point rationing would need to kick in. For diesel, it’s 31 days and for jet fuel, just 28. In a country that is the fifth-largest producer of wheat and second-largest grower of barley, McIntyre warns that “most farmers will need to decide before Anzac Day [April 25] whether they will plant a crop this year”.

MIDDLE EAST - As the deadline for President Trump’s trade blockade of some traffic through the Strait of Hormuz passed on Monday afternoon, there was debate about whether the policy was now in place and, if so, what it meant for global trade — and whether the severity of the crisis was being reflected in global markets. The US military’s Central Command said the blockade would be “enforced impartially against vessels of all nations” entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. “The blockade will not impede neutral transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations,” Central Command said in a note to seafarers on Monday that was first reported by Reuters, the news agency. Tehran has been blocking other traffic, however. The strait has been effectively closed since the conflict began about seven weeks ago, because of fears of attacks on commercial shipping by Iran.

CHINA - A Chinese tanker under US sanctions passed though the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, defying Washington's naval blockade that began on Monday. After circling the area late on Monday and initially turning back, the 600ft long vessel passed through the waterway on Tuesday. Oil tanker Rich Starry is owned by Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd and became a target for US sanctions because it was used to transport Iranian crude. Rich Starry is a medium-range tanker that is carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol, according to the data. It loaded the cargo at its last port of call, the UAE's Hamriyah, the data showed. Meanwhile, China said on Tuesday that a US blockade around Iranian ports was 'dangerous and irresponsible', after the US President threatened to sink any boats that sought to leave or dock there.

MIDDLE EAST - A Chinese tanker and another vessel have made U-turns after passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Oil tanker Rich Starry is owned by Shanghai Xuanrun Shipping Co Ltd and became a target for US sanctions because it was used to transport Iranian crude. After circling the area late on Monday and initially turning back, the 600ft long vessel passed through the waterway on Tuesday. It then turned around and headed back to the Gulf at 11am UTC (12 pm UK time). The reasons for this about-turn are not currently clear. Rich Starry is a medium-range tanker that is carrying about 250,000 barrels of methanol, according to the data. It loaded the cargo at its last port of call, the UAE's Hamriyah, the data showed. Meanwhile, the Iran-linked Christianna carried out a similar route, passing through the Strait of Hormuz before turning around just before 4 pm UK time. Again, no reason has yet been given for the Liberia-flagged vessel's sudden turn.

ISRAEL - Israel’s army has been ordered to move to a heightened state of readiness and prepare for a return to war with Iran. Eyal Zamir, the Israel Defense Forces chief, told army units to enter war preparation mode by shortening response times and closing operational gaps. The IDF’s military intelligence directorate is increasing its list of targets in Iran, focusing on military targets including missile launchers. In co-ordination with the operations directorate, the Israeli air force is finalising updated strike plans, assembling integrated attack packages that emphasise long-range capabilities, accuracy and operational endurance, YNET reported. The IDF is also preparing its defensive capabilities in case of a renewed war with Iran, reinforcing its air defence systems. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, has said the Israeli and American “achievements” in Iran “are not yet finished”.

HUNGARY - Viktor Orban’s defeat does not mean that Hungarian voters have rejected his tough on immigration, pro-natalist or Brussels-critical policies. The electoral winners, Peter Magyar and his Tisza party, have achieved their robust electoral mandate on the back of a remarkably similar electoral programme. Magyar is a social conservative who wants to increase financial incentives to have children, cut taxes, double the defence budget, and has criticised Orban for admitting too many migrants under Hungary’s guest worker schemes. On effectively every issue he sits firmly on the Right of European politics.

USA - Donald Trump has said Pope Leo is “terrible for foreign policy” after the pontiff made a plea for peace in the Middle East. The US president posted on his Truth Social platform that the first American pope was “weak on crime”, urging him to “stop catering to the Radical Left”. Mr Trump wrote: “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” He claimed the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics had been elected because the Vatican thought it would be the “best way to deal with President Donald J Trump”. Pope Leo reacted by saying he was “not afraid of the Trump administration, nor of telling the message of the Gospel”.

NEW ZEALAND - A powerful cyclone has hit New Zealand, causing large waves, extensive flooding and power outages across the country’s North Island. Cyclone Vaianu turned roads into rivers, brought down trees and forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes. Flooding and fallen trees forced the closure of major roads.The cyclone brought winds exceeding 80mph, torrential rain and heavy sea swells. The cyclone struck the North Island close to the town of Maketu, with the national weather provider, MetService, describing it as a “life-threatening” system. “The combination of damaging winds, heavy rain and coastal inundation makes this a multi-hazard, potentially life-threatening event,” the service said.

UK - Sir Keir Starmer said Britain would not support a US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as he insisted the UK would not be getting “dragged into” a wider conflict. The price of oil rose above $100 a barrel as the US announced it would be blocking “all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports” from 10am ET (3pm BST). President Trump attacked Pope Leo as “weak” after the pontiff denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” that he claimed had motivated the war in Iran. The president also said he did not care if negotiations with Tehran restarted, as reports suggest he is considering resuming some military strikes on the country.