NPR News: 04-11-2026 2PM EDT
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What recent military actions have occurred in the Strait of Hormuz?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Dan Roman. Two U.S. Navy warships began removing Iranian mines from the Iranian-block Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command. NPR's Franco Ordonez reports.
Two U.S. Navy guided missile destroyers passed through the Strait of Hormuz today. Now, this would mark the first transit of American warships since the start of the war, you know, which began six weeks ago. The U.S. says this is the start of a process of reopening the strait to commercial shipping. And again, it comes as American and Iranian teams are meeting in Pakistan for peace talks led by the vice president, Vance. You know, they kicked off this morning between the U.S., Iran and Pakistan, which, of course, is serving as host and intermediary for the talks.
Additionally, the U.S. plans to deploy underwater drones to assist in the clearance effort in the coming days. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly confirmed that Ukrainian teams sent to several Gulf countries have helped take down Iranian attack drones. NPR's Joanna Kasisis reports from Kyiv.
Zelenskyy said he had seen video footage from the Gulf of Ukrainian weapons taking down Iranian Shahed drones, which have struck several sites, including U.S. bases in the Middle East, over the last month. He did not say in which Gulf countries the Ukrainian team shot down these drones. citing security reasons. In the last couple of weeks, Zelensky has visited the region and signed defense deals with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Russia has been using Shahid drones to strike Ukrainian cities nearly every night, so Ukraine has developed ways to destroy them. This includes electronic jamming, as well as small, cheap interceptor drones that blow up Shahids. Joanna Kekises, NPR News, Kyiv.
Democratic leaders are calling for Congressman Eric Smallwell to end his bid for the governor of California, following allegations made by a former staffer that he sexually assaulted her. NPR has not independently verified the allegations. NPR's Elena Moore reports.
Smallwell is denying the sexual assault allegations, saying in a video posted online Friday that they were absolutely false. But he also said this.
I've certainly made mistakes in judgment in my past. But those mistakes are between me and my wife. And to her, I apologize deeply for putting her in this position.
Several women have accused him of sexual misconduct. California's primary is set for June, and Swalwell was seen as a frontrunner in the race. Now his standing in Congress is also uncertain. In a statement, House Democratic leaders stopped short of calling for his resignation, but demanded he end his gubernatorial campaign and that there be a, quote, swift investigation. Elena Moore, NPR News.
It's NPR. Voters Sunday in Hungary will cast ballots in a critical national election that could decide the fate of the country's longtime prime minister and Trump supporter Viktor Orban. He is being challenged by a one-time supporter opposition candidate, Peter Maigar, who split with Orban in 2024 amid a corruption scandal involving a pardon for a man accused of child abuse. This week, Vice President J.D. Vance went to Hungary and campaigned on Orban's behalf. Round three is underway at the Augusta National Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, the Masters. The leader is the defending champion, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy. He is 12 under and he begins his round this hour. Steve Futterman reports.
Last year in his 17th try and after years of agonizing frustration, McIlroy won his first Masters. Now he's trying to make it two in a row. McIlroy had a remarkable second round, giving him a six-stroke lead at the midway point, the largest in Masters history.
I've built up a nice cushion at this point, and I guess my mindset is just trying to keep playing well. You know, keeping my foot on the gas.
During Friday's second round, McElroy got birdies on six of the last seven holes. If he ends up winning here, he would become just the fourth golfer ever to win back-to-back Masters, joining Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Nick Faldo.
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