Новости за 18.04.2026

Venezuela's exiled opposition leader María Corina Machado has drawn several thousand supporters to a rally in Madrid. She declined a meeting Saturday with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez during her European tour. Machado cited Sánchez's summit with progressive leaders as her reason for declining. She addressed supporters alongside Madrid's conservative regional leader Isabel Díaz Ayuso. Machado plans to return to Venezuela but hasn't specified when or how she will do so. She criticized Venezuela's... Читать дальше...

Peruvian interim President José María Balcázar has decided to leave the purchase of 24 fighter jets for the country's military to his successor. Peru is holding a presidential runoff in June after no candidate won an outright majority in last weekend's election. Balcázar announced the decision in an interview with RPP radio on Friday. His transitional government, which began in February, ends in July. He said he believes that committing $3.5 billion to the incoming government would be poor practice. Читать дальше...

President Donald Trump has signed a bill extending a controversial surveillance program until April 30. The bill was approved by the Senate on Friday in a last-minute scramble to prevent Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act from expiring on Monday. Trump and Republican leaders pushed for its renewal, calling it a matter of national security. Critics are concerned about its impact on civil liberties. The program permits the CIA, National Security Agency, FBI and other agencies... Читать дальше...

Iran is not ready for new face-to-face talks with the U.S., according to a senior Iranian official. The official cited Washington's refusal to abandon "maximalist" demands. Speaking at a diplomacy forum in Turkey on Saturday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Iran will not hand over its enriched uranium to the U.S. He rejected claims by President Donald Trump about retrieving nuclear material. Khatibzadeh noted ongoing exchanges between the sides but accused the U.S. of holding firm on excessive demands. Читать дальше...

French President Emmanuel Macron says a French soldier was killed and three others wounded in an attack on U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. Macron identified the soldier as Staff Sgt. Florian Montorio from the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment. He added that three of Montorio’s comrades were wounded and evacuated. He said that Hezbollah is likely responsible for the attack. Macron demanded that Lebanese authorities arrest those responsible and work with UNIFIL, the U.N. mission in southern Lebanon. Читать дальше...

The former Warriors leader's job looks quite different nowadays.

Pope Leo XIV says it is “not in my interest at all” to debate U.S. President Donald Trump about the war in Iran but that he will continue preaching the Gospel message of peace. Leo spoke to reporters aboard the papal plane flying from Cameroon to Angola on Saturday. He addressed the spiraling back-and-forth saga of Trump’s critiques of his peace message which have dominated news headlines this week. But the American pope also sought to set the record straight. Leo insisted that his preaching isn't... Читать дальше...

The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has escalated again as Iran reverses its reopening of the crucial waterway and fires on ships attempting to pass. Saturday's developments come after the United States said it would continue its blockade of Iranian ports. The strait's closure threatens to deepen the global energy crisis. Meanwhile, Pakistani mediators are working to organize new negotiations between the countries. Iran says it has received new proposals from the United States. But Iran's deputy... Читать дальше...

Three people in California have been sentenced for insurance fraud involving a person in a bear costume damaging high-end cars. The California Insurance Department says they staged fake attacks on a Rolls-Royce and two Mercedes. They submitted fraudulent claims in 2024 seeking nearly $142,000. The scheme, called “Operation Bear Claw,” involved two Los Angeles-area men and a woman, who pleaded no contest to felony insurance fraud. They were sentenced to a weekend jail program and probation. Two must pay over $50,000 in restitution. Читать дальше...

The governments of the Dominican Republic and Haiti have agreed to reopen their airspace starting in May, allowing flights between their countries for the first time in more than two years. The Dominican Republic closed its airspace with Haiti in March 2024, citing high levels of insecurity following the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse in 2021. The decision, announced Friday in a joint statement, clears the way for connections between three Dominican airports and one serving Haiti’s northern port city of Cap-Haïtien. Читать дальше...

"With dairy seeing a real resurgence, the timing felt right."

The contiguous United States is experiencing record drought levels for this time of year, according to weather data. Meteorologists warn this could worsen wildfire risks, food prices, and water issues in the West. Over 61% of the Lower 48 states are in moderate to exceptional drought. This includes 97% of the Southeast and two-thirds of the West. The U.S. Drought Monitor reports the highest levels since it began in 2000. Experts say the drought and heat are driven by both natural variability and human-caused climate change. Читать дальше...

Much of the political spotlight this election year in Arizona has been focused on the office that runs elections in Maricopa County, the state’s largest. Republican Justin Heap is overseeing elections in the Phoenix-area and he's an election skeptic. Heap is in a legal feud with the county board over election procedures. He's put in place a controversial system for checking signatures on mail ballots. And he's run voter files through a federal system to check for noncitizens despite questions about the system's accuracy. Читать дальше...

The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to bring fiery streaks to the night sky. The shower peaks Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Ten to twenty meteors are generally visible per hour. The show will be visible across the globe, but views will be best in the Northern Hemisphere. Meteor showers happen when Earth plows through debris trails left behind by space rocks. To see the Lyrids, go outside after midnight and look to the northeastern sky. Avoid looking at your phone to let your eyes get used to the night sky. Читать дальше...

Some of the harshest words that President Donald Trump has used against a leading Democratic rival aren't about political differences but rather a learning disability. Trump's insults geared toward California Gov. Gavin Newsom's struggle with dyslexia are stirring anguish and anger from the president's supporters and critics. Advocates for people with dyslexia are concerned Trump's comments perpetuate a myth about dyslexia. Trump has called the governor “stupid,” “low IQ,” “mentally disabled” and unfit to become president. Читать дальше...

President Donald Trump's influence on the Republican Party is facing a test in Indiana's upcoming primary. After state senators opposed Trump's push for redistricting, he endorsed seven primary challengers in the May 5 election. One Republican incumbent being challenged is Spencer Deery. He resisted Trump's pressure, and now he's facing nearly $1 million in campaign spending against him. Deery says he works for his constituents, not Trump. Indiana's governor, Republican Mike Braun, says he supports... Читать дальше...

The storms happened in March, a popular month for spring break.

The Iran war has doubled jet fuel costs and reduced airline routes in California.

The home "served as the original 'office' for the small startup."

Progressive and traditional democratic leaders have gathered in Barcelona to discuss restoring faith in the liberal order. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is hosting two events, which include leaders like Brazilian President Lula da Silva and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. The IV Meeting in Defense of Democracy focuses on reinforcing the multilateral order, reforming the U.N., and regulating social media to combat hate speech. Sánchez and Lula expressed concern over global conflicts and economic inequality.

Pope Leo XIV is wrapping up his visit to Cameroon with a Mass in the capital Yaounde. President Paul Biya was among the thousands on hand for the celebration, which had a joyous atmosphere. Leo is heading next to Angola for the third leg of his four-nation African tour. In his visit to Cameroon, Leo has sought to encourage especially young people to have hope despite senses of disillusionment. And he has railed against the exploitation of the African continent's natural resources and people.

Israeli strikes targeted three different medical teams in the span of mere minutes in southern Lebanon, killing four medics and wounding six. Emergency workers from Nabatiyeh were responding to a distress call when they were attacked, prompting another team to come to their rescue. But that team came under fire, too, leading a third team, Nabatiyeh Emergency Services, to launch another rescue attempt. But they were also hit by an Israeli strike that killed their team leader, Mahdi Abu Zaid. Eyewitnesses on Friday... Читать дальше...

RAVE, India (AP) — Decorated bamboo poles are raised by members of the Agri-Koli community as part of a centuries-old, annual tradition honoring the goddess Raiba Devi in the village of Rave near Mumbai, India, on Friday.

President Donald Trump says the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz will remain and attacks will resume if no agreement is reached with Iran. Tehran said Friday it had fully reopened the strait to commercial vessels but threatened to close it again. Asked by a reporter Friday night what he will do if there’s no deal when a ceasefire with Iran expires next week, Trump said, “I don’t know. ... But maybe I won’t extend it, so you’ll have a blockade and unfortunately we’ll have to start dropping bombs again.”... Читать дальше...

Australia and Japan have signed contracts for the first three of a $6.5 billion fleet of Japanese-designed warships. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will build the first three Mogami-class frigates in Japan. Australia plans to build another eight in Western Australia. The first delivery is expected in three years. The deal boosts Japan’s defense industry and replaces Australia’s aging ANZAC-class frigates. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Australian counterpart Richard Marles attended the signing ceremony on Saturday. Читать дальше...