NPR News: 04-18-2026 6PM EDT
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Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Janine Herbst. Iran has reversed its decision and is again imposing restrictions on ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz until the U.S. lists its blockade in the Strait. At least two commercial vessels came under fire today, causing some damage but no fires or casualties. President Emmanuel Macron announced that a French soldier serving in the U.S.
What recent developments have occurred in the Strait of Hormuz?
mission in southern Lebanon has been killed, three others wounded. And Pierce Eleanor Beardsley reports Macron says evidence suggests that the militant group Hezbollah is responsible for the attack.
In addition to the incident involving the French soldiers, the Israeli military says it has conducted strikes against operatives it said approached its troops in Lebanon several times from outside the Israeli-controlled area and who, quote, posed an immediate threat. Meanwhile, in the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranians have fired at a tanker, reports the UK Maritime Agency. In addition, Iran says it is retaking strict control of the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S. refused to end its blockade. The two incidents have set back efforts to bring an end to the wars and stabilize the world's energy markets. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
Elected officials are making their last appeals to Virginians in a congressional redistricting referendum that could see the state send four more Democrats to Congress. Today is the last day of early in-person voting ahead of Tuesday's election. Doug Khalil from VPM News has more.
At a house near Richmond, Governor Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, rallied a crowd preparing to knock on doors.
We want to stand up, reject what we are seeing coming out of Washington, and ensure that we can be a counterweight to the actions of Texas, Missouri, of North Carolina.
Those states recently created new congressional districts that favor Republicans at the urging of President Trump. Despite gains by Democrats in Virginia's election last November, polling indicates the contest is a toss-up. Next door to where yes forces gathered were signs opposing the referendum. The new map proposed by Democrats would result in just one safe GOP seat in the state. Democrats would get 10. For NPR News, I'm Jad Khalil in Henrico, Virginia.
Powerful winds and reported tornadoes hit the upper Midwest yesterday, causing lots of damage but no reported deaths. Several states were affected, with lots of hail and strong winds. In Wisconsin, people are cleaning up after heavy rains and flooding left rivers overflowing and some interest sections flooding, leaving drivers stranded. Today, there's a threat of more storms. Mark Chouinard is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.
So there is a threat of some severe weather today. Greatest chance is farther east. So portions of, say, West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, most at risk today. But it's not expected to be as widespread or as significant as what we saw.
Damaging winds, hail and flash flooding are possible as that cold front heads east. You're listening to NPR News. In Ukraine, officials say a gunman who killed at least six people in the streets of Kyiv before taking hostages was and barricading himself in a nearby supermarket, has been shot and killed by police. Police say attempts to contact the gunman via a negotiator were unsuccessful. There's no word on a motive. A new warning from the International Energy Agency this week says parts of Europe could face jet fuel shortages this summer. Empire's Windsor Johnston reports that could have ripple effects for Americans planning trips overseas.
The agency says parts of Europe could soon face short-term jet fuel shortages as global supplies remain strained. Michael Weber is an energy expert at the University of Texas at Austin. He says even when shortages are less severe in the U.S., Americans can still feel the impact.
The United States will feel good because we're a major energy producer, but we'll absolutely be affected by what's going on around the world because we're coupled to the international economic system.
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