Independent News & People Network Desk of News

In Angola, Pope Leo XIV Faces the Legacy of Colonialism

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-04-18T08:54:09+00:00

His visit includes a trip to a shrine where enslaved Africans were baptized before being forced into the treacherous voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.

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Middle East crisis live: Iran says it has closed the strait of Hormuz again due to US blockade

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T08:43:37+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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EN DIRECT, guerre au Moyen-Orient : le détroit d’Ormuz fermé de nouveau par l’armée iranienne en raison du blocus américain

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-04-18T08:34:55+00:00

Peu avant, samedi, Donald Trump a affirmé que « le blocus continuera » sur les ports iraniens si aucun accord de paix n’est conclu avec Téhéran et a menacé de ne pas prolonger le cessez-le-feu. Le détroit d’Ormuz avait été rouvert complètement vendredi pour les navires commerciaux.

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EN DIRECT, guerre au Moyen-Orient : les Etats-Unis « ne peuvent imposer leur volonté de faire le siège de l’Iran », affirme la diplomatie iranienne ; le détroit d’Ormuz de nouveau fermé

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-04-18T08:34:48+00:00

Peu avant, samedi, Donald Trump a affirmé que « le blocus continuera » sur les ports iraniens si aucun accord de paix n’est conclu avec Téhéran et a menacé de ne pas prolonger le cessez-le-feu. Le détroit d’Ormuz avait été rouvert complètement vendredi pour les navires commerciaux.

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Iran announces partial reopening of its airspace

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-04-18T08:16:28+00:00

The Civil Aviation Organisation said air routes over eastern Iran were reopened at 7 am (0330 GMT), according to the state-owned IRAN newspaper

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Venezuela’s Machado to hold Madrid rally as opposition frozen out after Maduro capture

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T08:00:08+00:00

Exiled leader to revive push for change amid US backing of Delcy Rodríguez and delays to democratic transitionVenezuela’s opposition leader, María Corina Machado, will seek to revive her push for political change with a rally in Madrid on Saturday, having found herself sidelined by Donald Trump after the abduction of the president Nicolás Maduro.“Venezuela will be free,” the Nobel peace prize winner insisted in an interview on the eve of this weekend’s demonstration in the Puerta del Sol square, which is expected to draw tens of thousands of protesters. Continue reading...

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Banque : « Le modèle d’activité des grands groupes n’est plus assez orienté vers le crédit à l’investissement productif »

Source: Le Monde - International · Published: 2026-04-18T08:00:08+00:00

La Commission européenne lance un grand chantier de « simplification réglementaire » au service des banques, dont l’objectif sera d’améliorer leur rentabilité financière et non d’assurer le développement de l’économie, redoute Jézabel Couppey-Soubeyran, dans sa chronique au « Monde ».

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Russian blogger’s fierce critique of Kremlin goes viral: ‘People are afraid of you’

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T08:00:07+00:00

Victoria Bonya says authorities too scared to raise issues with Vladimir Putin, whose approval ratings are decliningThe Kremlin is grappling with the fallout from the viral spread of a celebrity blogger’s criticism of Russian authorities, as Vladimir Putin’s approval ratings register their sixth consecutive weekly decline.Victoria Bonya, a household name in Russia who rose to fame in 2006 on Dom-2, the country’s answer to the reality TV show Big Brother, posted a video on Monday warning the Russian president that a string of mounting problems risked spiralling out of control. Continue reading.

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A Potent Threat in Strait of Hormuz: Iran’s ‘Mosquito Fleet’

Source: New York Times - World · Published: 2026-04-18T07:50:53+00:00

Separate from the regular Iranian Navy, with boats that often go more than 115 miles per hour, it’s what a retired U.S. official calls a “disruptive force.”

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Hungary’s historic elections and its implications

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-04-18T07:49:11+00:00

Magyar has promised to open up previously frozen EU aid to Hungary and more foreign investment in the nation 

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Pressure grows on Starmer over Mandelson vetting despite ousting of Foreign Office official – UK politics live

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-04-18T07:23:27+00:00

PM said he was ‘staggered’ not to have been told that Peter Mandelson had failed his security vetting before becoming ambassador to the USHello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of UK politics on Saturday 18 April.Keir Starmer is facing “judgment day” according to senior government figures over the failure in Peter Mandelson’s vetting process. Continue reading...

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