NPR News: 04-19-2026 7AM EDT
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What recent events have escalated tensions in the Strait of Hormuz?
Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Windsor Johnston. Fear and confusion are growing in the Strait of Hormuz after two Indian-flagged oil tankers were attacked on Saturday after Iran reimposed restrictions in the shipping channel. Radio calls from one of the tankers were captured by ABC News.
SEPA Navy, SEPA Navy, this is Motoringa Sanmar Herald. You gave me
The attacks came a day after President Trump refused to lift a U.S. naval blockade in the Strait. India is now demanding answers, summoning the Iranian ambassador to New Delhi for talks. The attack underscores the ongoing risks in one of the world's most critical oil routes. It comes just days before the ceasefire deadline between Washington and Tehran. The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is being tested but still holding for now. NPR's Eleanor Beardsley reports a French peacekeeper and an Israeli soldier were killed in southern Lebanon over the weekend.
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed the French soldier's death, which he said appeared to be caused by fire from Hezbollah. The Iran-backed militant group denies any responsibility. The Israeli military says a soldier was killed when his engineering vehicle ran over a bomb. Meanwhile, polls show most Israelis oppose the ceasefire, which comes as they believe their army was making progress in routing the group. 56-year-old Gabriel Levy is a taxi driver in Tel Aviv. We stop in the middle to finish the work. Levy also supports pursuing military operations against Iran to finish with the regime, he says, even if it means more missiles on Israel. Eleanor Beardsley, NPR News, Tel Aviv.
The Senate will hold a hearing this week for President Trump's pick to lead the Federal Reserve. The nominee is expected to face questions on inflation and interest rate policy. The hearing comes amid tensions between the White House and the Senate Banking Committee. Many parts of the U.S. are facing drought conditions. As NPR's Matt Bloom reports, that's according to recent weather data.
The U.S. Drought Monitor says 97% of the southeastern U.S. is now in moderate to exceptional drought, while two-thirds of western states are in similar shape. That's the monitor's highest levels for this time of year since the service began tracking conditions in 2000. Meteorologists warn it could be a bad sign for the upcoming wildfire season and could affect the agricultural sector and food prices. The drought monitor says many farmers are leaning on irrigation to keep planted crops alive. Researchers at the University of Arizona and UCLA told the Associated Press a major driver of the drought conditions is climate change along with natural variability. Matt Bloom, NPR News.
This is NPR News in Washington. The U.S. is preparing to launch a system to refund tariffs that were ruled unlawful. Officials say the rollout could begin as soon as this week, and the payments could total more than $160 billion to importers. The refunds stem from court rulings that found some Trump-era tariffs improperly imposed. At least six people were killed and more than a dozen injured in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv after a gunman opened fire outside of a supermarket on Saturday. NPR's Joanna Kikis reports that mass shootings are rare in Ukraine, but since Russia's full-scale invasion, there are more firearms in the country.
Ukrainian authorities said the gunman set fire to his apartment in Kyiv, then grabbed his hunting rifle and shot at people on the street. He had taken hostages in a nearby supermarket when special police forces shot him dead. Police identified him as a 58-year-old native of Moscow. They did not release his name. In a video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said investigators are trying to establish a motive. We need to check every detail. He said they are checking every detail, going through his electronic devices and all other connections. Ukraine's prosecutor general said the shooting is being probed as a terrorist act. Joanna Kakisis, NPR News, Kyiv.
How is the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon holding up?
The Federal Reserve says interest rate cuts may be delayed longer than expected.
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