Wednesday morning news: April 15, 2026

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Israel-Lebanon talks » Historic talks in Washington as negotiators from Israel and Lebanon met face to face Tuesday — a meeting aimed at ending a cross-border conflict that has only intensified in recent weeks.

Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter suggested the talks went well.

LEITER: This is an opportunity. This is the first time our two countries are sitting together in over three decades. Let's feel the moment. Let's enjoy the moment. And we enjoyed it together.

But the group at the center of the conflict was not at the table.

Israel’s strikes within Lebanon have been aimed at Hezbollah targets as the Iran-backed terror group continues to fire rockets across the border.

But Leiter said that during the talks, both countries were on the same page and want to see Hezbollah's grip on the southern part of Lebanon loosened.

LEITER: We talked about a number of things, and most importantly, the vision, the long-term vision, where there will be a clearly delineated border between our countries, and where the only reason we will need to cross each other's territory will be in business suits to conduct business, or in bathing suits to go on vacation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio mediated the talks and says don't expect an agreement to be hammered out right away.

RUBIO: All of the complexities of this matter are not going to be resolved in the next six hours, but we can begin to move forward to create the framework where something can happen, something very positive.

And he says the goal of the talks is to work toward a permanent end to Hezbollah's influence in the region.

Iran » Meanwhile, the U.S. military says it has begun enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports and no ships made it past the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz on the first full day.

Six merchant vessels turned back under orders from American forces.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Iran’s efforts to control the strait may have backfired.

THUNE: They probably felt like this was one last, um, you know, leverage point that they could use to try and, and, uh, weaken the US resolve. But the president has met them and uh, and obviously they are now in a position where if they don't get back to the table here, pretty soon they're gonna be feeling a lot of hurt.

Iran has threatened to strike targets across the region, one day after President Trump warned that any Iranian warships approaching the blockade would be destroyed.

However the president also says a second round of talks with Iran could happen within days. The first round ended without a deal over the weekend in Pakistan, which has offered to host another round.

Neither side has said what happens when the current ceasefire expires next week.

Meantime, Democrats are pushing to limit the president's authority to order military strikes without getting permission from Congress. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer:

SCHUMER: Starting this week, we will bring a War Powers resolution to the floor, and if Republicans block it, we will vote again and again and again.

That effort faces long odds in a Republican-controlled Senate.

SOUND: [Typhoon]

Super typhoon » A super typhoon with ferocious winds and heavy rains is battering a group of remote U.S. islands in the Pacific Ocean.

The monster storm slowed to a crawl as it approached the Northern Mariana Islands, home to roughly 50,000 people. And it’s been moving through the US territory at a painfully slow pace.

Super Typhoon Sinlaku is the strongest tropical typhoon on Earth so far this year. Maximum sustained winds reached roughly 150 miles per hour on Wednesday.

Ukraine agrees defense deal with Germany » In Berlin Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a new drone deal with Germany. WORLD’s Benjamin Eicher reports:

BENJAMIN EICHER: The new deal would include advanced drones, missiles, software, and defense systems. And Zelenskyy says their teams are now hammering out the details.

ZELENSKYY: [Speaking Ukrainian]

EICHER: He spoke at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The Ukrainian president said his country can produce twice as much military equipment as it's currently fielding but lacks the money to scale up.

A key hurdle: a promised 90-billion-euro EU loan held up by Hungary's outgoing prime minister. He said Ukraine needs those funds urgently.

The two leaders also announced a four-billion-euro defense package … allowing Kyiv to buy several hundred American-made Patriot missiles to bolster its air defenses.

For WORLD, I’m Benjamin Eicher.

Canada's left gains more power » Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday suspended the federal fuel tax his first act with a newly won majority government behind him.

CARNEY: Today's cut to the fuel excise tax is a responsible temporary measure, consistent with what it takes to build a stronger economy, a more affordable economy combined with sound fiscal management.

The suspension takes effect next Monday and runs through Labor Day, a response to rising fuel prices driven by the Iran war.

That new government majority itself is historic. Following a special election Carney's Liberal Party now holds 174 of 343 seats in the House of Commons, the first Canadian government to flip from a minority to a majority between national elections.

Five opposition lawmakers — four of them Conservatives — defected to the Liberals. That means Carney no longer needs opposition votes to pass legislation and could hold power until 2029.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: The Republican plan to fund border enforcement. That’s ahead on Washington Wednesday. Hunter Baker is standing by. Plus : WORLD Tour.

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