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Fact check: Viral video does not show US naval blockade of Iran

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...
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US Democrats cheer defeat of Trump ally Orban in Hungary

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 serve as a 'reminder to all of us to keep striving for fairness, equality and the rule of law.' The victory of the opposition in Hungary yesterday, like the Polish election in 2023, is a victory for democracy, not just in Europe but around the world. Most of all, it’s a testament to the resilience and determination of the Hungarian people – and a reminder to all of us to… — Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 13, 2026 "Far-right authoritarian Viktor Orban has lost the election. Trump sycophants and MAGA extremists in Congress are up next in November," said US House of Representatives Minority Leader Hakeem ​Jeffries. Republicans such as US Senator Roger Wicker viewed the Hungarian election result as a repudiation of Russian ​President Vladimir Putin, with whom Orban had cultivated ties over the years. Wicker, a Mississippi Republican who chairs the Senate ‌Armed ⁠Services Committee, said the results showed that Hungary's population rejected "the malign influence of Vladimir Putin" and "decided their own future." Trump himself did not mention the Hungarian elections on Sunday, even as he opined on topics through social media posts, a television interview and a brief gathering with reporters. Read More: Hungary's conservative icon Orban defeated by centre-right opposition But a few of his ​pro-Orban allies, such as technology ​tycoon Elon Musk, ⁠lamented the result. "Soros Organisation has taken over Hungary," Musk wrote on his X social media platform. Billionaire financier and major Democratic donor George Soros, a Hungarian immigrant ​to the United States, has long been vilified by many conservatives. Orban has been ​at loggerheads ⁠with the European Union over a range of issues, including Russia's war in Ukraine. His self-described "illiberal democracy" has echoed policies touted by Trump, including a hard line against immigration, hostility toward global institutions, and attacks on the media ⁠and ​universities. Orban was the first European leader to endorse Trump during his ​2016 presidential bid. Trump said last week his administration stood ready "to use the full economic might of the United States to strengthen ​Hungary's economy" if Orban won.

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