Independent News & People Network Desk of News

Middle East crisis live: Iran says it has closed the strait of Hormuz; tanker reports being attacked

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T11:13:59+00:00

In a statement carried by Iranian media, the Iranian military’s operational command said the strait had ‘reverted to its previous state’Separate to the Pakistani army chief’s trip to Iran (see post at 07:53), the Pakistani prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and foreign minister Ishaq Dar also concluded a trip to the Middle East after visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey for talks.“We have just concluded the last leg of our engagements following productive and fruitful visits … where we held meaningful bilateral discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation across key areas,” Dar said on X. Co

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Iran says it has closed the Strait of Hormuz again, citing U.S. blockade

Source: Washington Post - World · Published: 2026-04-18T11:10:38+00:00

Iran’s military said the critical Strait of Hormuz was back under the control of the armed forces, claiming the U.S. had breached Tehran’s trust by maintaining its blockade in the region.

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«Камаз» получил чистый убыток по МСФО впервые за шесть лет

Source: Vedomosti – All Articles · Published: 2026-04-18T11:10:30+00:00

Чистый убыток крупнейшего российского производителя грузовиков «Камаз» составил 43 млрд руб. против прибыли в 731 млн руб. в 2024 г. Об этом говорится в отчете предприятия по МСФО, опубликованном 17 апреля. Последний раз компания завершала год с чистым убытком в 2019 г., тогда он составил 1,96 млрд руб.

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Минстрой: почти 13 млн человек используют домовые чаты в Max

Source: Vedomosti – All Articles · Published: 2026-04-18T11:03:19+00:00

12,7 млн человек пользуются мессенджером Max, чтобы взаимодействовать с управляющими компаниями (УК) через домовые чаты. Такие данные привел замминистра строительства и жилищно-коммунального хозяйства Константин Михайлик в конце недели на круглом столе по совершенствованию системы лицензирования деятельности по управлению многоквартирными домами (МКД).

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Godrej Agrovet unveils Disha programme to empower women in agri sector

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-04-18T11:01:55+00:00

Implemented with partners like 1M1B Foundation and Ikka Learning Foundation, the programme focuses on bridging the gap between education and formal agri careers while strengthening the pipeline of skilled women professionals

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Hungary’s incoming PM seeks Polish help to renew EU relations

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T11:00:12+00:00

Péter Magyar hopes building stronger relations with Poland will help restore ties with bloc after Orbán’s ruleThe Hungarian election winner, Péter Magyar, is eyeing a special relationship with Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk to draw on the neighbouring country’s experience of repairing relations with the EU after years of illiberal rule.Since 1989, the two countries have seemingly shared parallels in their paths. Now the two centre-right, pro-European leaders preside over the tricky task of restoring the rule of law and improving state institutions after years of democratic backsliding an

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Earth gets brighter every year but progression is volatile, study finds

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T11:00:11+00:00

Covid, light pollution regulations and faltering global economy affect location and intensity of brightnessEarth continues to get brighter every year, researchers have found, but the location and intensity of the progression has become increasingly volatile because of Covid-19, regulations on light pollution, and a faltering global economy.Nasa-funded researchers at the University of Connecticut (UConn) studied more than 1.1m satellite images taken over a nine-year period to establish that the planet’s artificial light increased by a net 16% between 2014 and 2022. Continue reading...

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Record 55,000 start-ups recognised by Government in FY26

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-04-18T10:57:28+00:00

With the additions in FY26, the number of recognised startups in India has crossed 2.23 lakh as on March 31 2026 and have cumulatively generated about 23.36 lakh direct jobs

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Telangana CM seeks Bayyaram steel plant, EV battery hub from Centre

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-04-18T10:55:29+00:00

During meetings in New Delhi, Revanth Reddy highlighted the projects as key to addressing steel demand, boosting industrial growth, and supporting the “Telangana Rising – 2047” vision

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Norwegian politicians hope Epstein files inquiry will restore faith in democracy

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T10:48:52+00:00

Disgraced financier’s links to politicians and civil servants as far back as 30 years ago to be examined The Epstein files have shaken Norway’s faith in democracy, the head of the Norwegian parliament’s oversight committee has said, as a sprawling investigation into the connections between its foreign office and the late sex offender gets under way.An independent commission to look into information brought to light by the Jeffrey Epstein documents released by the US Department of Justice was launched on Wednesday after the Norwegian parliament voted unanimously last month for it to be set up.

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Hormuz: Spin in the Strait

Source: Al Jazeera - World · Published: 2026-04-18T10:48:10+00:00

The blockade saga in Hormuz and the tactics of war versus tactics of propaganda.

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151 компания в РФ выплатила миллион рублей сотрудникам при рождении ребенка

Source: Vedomosti – All Articles · Published: 2026-04-18T10:38:56+00:00

151 отечественная компания в 2026 г. выплатила по 1 млн руб. сотрудникам в связи с рождением ребенка. Об этом на круглом столе по поддержке молодых семей рассказала первый зампредседателя думского комитета по защите семьи, вопросам отцовства, материнства и детства Татьяна Буцкая («Единая Россия»), ссылаясь на данные ЭКГ-рейтинга ответственного бизнеса. Полный список с названиями компаний будет вскоре опубликован на сайте, уточнила она. 

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Due quindicenni inglesi violentate dal branco durante una vacanza a Matera: condannati in quattro

Source: Repubblica Homepage · Published: 2026-04-18T10:33:42+00:00

Si chiude il processo di primo grado per le violenze della notte tra il 6 e il 7 settembre 2020 ai danni di due giovani turiste inglesi. Pene fino a 9 anni per quattro imputati, assolti altri tre. Resta aperta la posizione di un ottavo ragazzo, che sarà giudicato in Appello il prossimo 8 maggio

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La France entrouvre le dossier sensible des réparations de l’esclavage

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-04-18T10:30:07+00:00

Le ministre des affaires étrangères ghanéen a fait savoir, le 8 avril, après une visite du président John Dramani Mahama à l’Elysée, que Paris serait prêt à « collaborer » pour la « justice réparatrice ». L’entourage d’Emmanuel Macron assure que le chef de l’Etat y est favorable.

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Counter-terror police investigate arson attack in London

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T10:27:12+00:00

Met police say business in Hendon, north-west London, was targeted on FridayCounter-terrorism police are leading an investigation into an arson attack on a business in Hendon, north-west London, on Friday, the Metropolitan police have said.More details soon … Continue reading...

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Trading Spaces

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-04-18T10:23:38+00:00

With spring comes the urge to spring-clean. It’s about so much more than just organizing your closet.

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ICICI Bank Q4 net profit up 9%

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-04-18T10:10:08+00:00

Its provisions fell to ₹96.16 crore in the March quarter.

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Why are Harvard’s slavery researchers quitting or being fired?

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T10:00:11+00:00

The school’s $100m project to examine its slave ownership in Antigua is mired with controversy as academics allege obstructionChristopher Newman remembers seeing campus police officers as he walked into a human resources office at Harvard University, but he didn’t imagine that they were there for him.It was July 2024, and Newman had just turned in the results of a two-month-long internship with the Harvard University Archives: an annotated bibliography for the landmark 2022 Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery Initiative report, which detailed the university’s ties to slavery across three centuri

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As Meloni’s hold over Italy weakens, a progressive challenger gathers momentum in Genoa

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T10:00:10+00:00

Silvia Salis, the leftwing mayor of Genoa and former Olympian, is described as ‘a breath of fresh air’ and potential unifierIt has been a turbulent month in Italian politics.A failed referendum on a judicial overhaul pierced prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s aura of invincibility, triggering government resignations and leaving her scrambling to restore credibility. At the same time, her once special relationship with Donald Trump has frayed after the US president publicly scolded her this week for criticising his broadside against Pope Leo and for not supporting the US-Israeli war on Iran. Conti

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‘It’s kind of a tough situation’: US Catholics torn in feud between president and the pope

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T10:00:10+00:00

Trump’s attacks on Pope Leo XIV polarizing the diverse community as faith and politics come to a headMaryellen Lewicki meets once a week for Bible study with a group of Catholic women in Decatur, Georgia, in a space they try to keep clear of politics. But Donald Trump’s name arises nonetheless.“We have one person that we pray for during the course of the week,” she said. “What my friend said is that she prays for the president every day, that God will remove that hard heart of his and replace it with a softer one that has love.” Continue reading...

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As Meloni’s hold over Italy weakens, a progressive challenger gathers momentum

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T10:00:10+00:00

Silvia Salis, the leftwing mayor of Genoa and former Olympian, is described as ‘a breath of fresh air’ and potential unifierIt has been a turbulent month in Italian politics.A failed referendum on a judicial overhaul pierced prime minister Giorgia Meloni’s aura of invincibility, triggering government resignations and leaving her scrambling to restore credibility. At the same time, her once special relationship with Donald Trump has frayed after the US president publicly scolded her this week for criticising his broadside against Pope Leo and for not supporting the US-Israeli war on Iran. Conti

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