Pope Leo XIV broke with precedent when he directly criticised Donald Trump for his threat to obliterate Iranian civilisation. That hit a sore point among MAGA-aligned Catholics https://t.co/1Nc9DYomkW
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) April 18, 2026
Key Stories
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Iran shuts down Strait of Hormuz and fires on ships — Iran has closed off the vital waterway again, citing a U.S. blockade of its ports, and has reportedly fired on at least two vessels in the area.
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U.S. plans to seize Iran-linked ships — In response to the escalating crisis, the U.S. is reportedly planning to seize several Iranian-linked ships within the next few days.
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Trump holds emergency meeting and issues warning — Donald Trump has convened a situation room meeting to discuss the crisis and warned Iran against what he called blackmail, saying they are playing a dangerous game.
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Hostage situation in Kyiv turns deadly — In separate news, police in Ukraine shot and killed a gunman from Moscow who had taken hostages and killed six people in Kyiv.
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Tensions are hitting a boiling point as Iran has once again shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for the world’s oil. The move comes right as a ceasefire was set to expire, sparking a swift response from Washington and reports of military action.