Multiple people were sharing a video on social media platform X since Monday, claiming it shows US Navy ships blocking the Strait of Hormuz amid the tensions between the United States and Iran. However, the clip is old and predates the blockade. Backchannel diplomatic efforts by Pakistan paid off, as the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on April 8, after weeks of escalating hostilities triggered by US-Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026, which quickly spiralled into a wider regional conflict. Pakistan emerged as a central diplomatic actor in securing the ceasefire between the US and Iran, actively facilitating communication between the two sides at a critical stage of the conflict. The effort resulted in a two-week ceasefire and a 21-hour-long marathon Islamabad Talks on April 11. However, the failure of the talks led to the US military initiating a blockade of all Iranian ports and coastal areas on Monday. According to the US military, it will allow ships to transit the Str...
US Democrats celebrated the defeat of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Sunday, while President Donald Trump's allies and Republican peers offered a more mixed response to the loss of the leader that Trump had endorsed. Trump had backed Orban leading up to the vote, even speaking briefly last week at a campaign rally in Hungary, when US Vice President JD Vance telephoned his boss upon taking the stage. But Orban lost power after 16 years as Hungarians voted in record numbers for a pro-EU course spearheaded by centre-right rival Peter Magyar. US lawmakers from both major parties congratulated Magyar on his victory. Some Democrats framed Orban's loss as a harbinger of things to come for the November midterm elections in the United States. "Pay attention, Donald Trump. Wannabe dictators wear out their welcome," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said. Former US President Barack Obama also shared his hopes for Hungary's democratic win, and for it to se...