World News for Students of English

13-04-2026 07:00

After 48 hours of extreme tension and apocalyptic threats from President Trump, a two-week truce has been reached.

The deal requires the Strait of Hormuz to remain open under Iranian management, though Israel notes the agreement doesn’t include its operations in Lebanon.

This diplomatic breakthrough was largely made possible by mediation from China and Pakistan, who stepped in while European leaders remained largely silent. However, critics within the European Parliament have attacked the EU’s top officials for ignoring the rising energy costs.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met Donald Trump, who has criticized allies for not supporting his stance on Iran. In Hungary, US Vice President JD Vance joined Viktor Orbán on the campaign trail and openly criticized Brussels for allegedly undermining Hungary’s economy. This visit coincides with leaked reports of a private phone call between Orbán and Vladimir Putin, which is causing further worries within the EU.

Difficult words: apocalyptic (describing a very scary situation where the whole world or a country could be destroyed), truce (an agreement between two people or groups to stop fighting for a short time), stance (a person’s public opinion or official position on a specific topic), undermine (to make someone or something weaker or less effective, often in a secret way).

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