Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope, has continued the approach of his predecessor, Pope Francis, by speaking out against certain policies and actions of President Donald Trump and his administration. He has criticized the use of Christian teachings to justify war and political moves, emphasizing peace and care for the vulnerable.
Key Facts
Pope Leo XIV is the first pope from the United States.
He has taken a calm and careful approach in his leadership.
Pope Leo criticized President Trump’s policies on immigration, climate, and the war in Iran.
The pope said Jesus does not support prayers that promote war.
President Trump responded with posts on his social media platform and shared an altered image of himself as a savior.
This disagreement affects U.S. Catholics’ views and has drawn attention from international leaders like Italy’s Prime Minister.
Pope Leo follows Pope Francis’s focus on defending human rights and addressing global issues like climate change.
The Catholic Church uses its global influence to promote moral values and challenge national self-interest when it harms others.
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Pope Leo XIV spoke out about poor prison conditions in Equatorial Guinea during a large church service attended by nearly 100,000 people. He urged for more freedom in the country.
Key Facts
The event took place in Equatorial Guinea.
Nearly 100,000 worshippers attended the mass.
Pope Leo XIV addressed the issue of detention conditions.
The Pope called for greater freedoms during his speech.
The news was reported on April 22, 2026.
Equatorial Guinea is a country in Central Africa.
Poor detention conditions refer to harsh or unjust prison treatment.
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New research shows that beer contains vitamin B6, which is important for brain, blood, and immune health. Some beers, including non-alcoholic ones, can provide a noticeable amount of this vitamin, but experts say beer should not be counted as a main source of nutrients.
Key Facts
Vitamin B6 helps the brain, blood, and immune system work well.
A typical beer serving can provide about 15-20% of daily vitamin B6 needs.
Non-alcoholic beers that are fully fermented and then have alcohol removed can have higher B6 levels.
Bock beers have the highest B6 content, followed by lagers and wheat beers; rice beers have the least.
Men need about 1.4 mg of vitamin B6 daily, women need about 1.2 mg.
Beer contains between 0.3 mg and 1 mg of B6 per liter.
True vitamin B6 deficiency is rare because many foods contain it, such as meat, fish, oats, potatoes, and chickpeas.
Health experts advise getting vitamins mainly from a balanced diet, not from alcoholic drinks.
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Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally of President Donald Trump, said the U.S. is expanding its blockade of Iran’s oil shipments. He warned that this blockade might soon affect other countries involved in buying or helping Iran sell its oil.
Key Facts
Senator Lindsey Graham supports the U.S. blockade on Iran’s oil shipments.
The blockade is expected to grow larger over time.
The blockade aims to stop Iran from selling its oil as a form of pressure.
Senator Graham warned that the blockade could become global, affecting more countries.
The U.S. will keep the blockade until Iran changes its behavior.
The statement signals a firm U.S. stance against Iran’s oil trade.
The blockade is part of U.S. efforts to influence Iran’s actions internationally.
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A chemical spill occurred in West Virginia, causing local officials to issue temporary shelter-in-place orders. Several people are being cleaned of contamination after exposure to the chemicals.
Key Facts
A chemical spill happened in West Virginia.
Authorities told people in the area to stay indoors temporarily.
Dozens of people are undergoing decontamination to remove hazardous substances.
The spill led to emergency response actions to protect public health.
Officials continue to monitor the situation to ensure safety.
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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the Mexican military did not know U.S. CIA agents were part of a drug raid where five people, including the agents, died in a crash in Chihuahua. The U.S. agents were training Mexican forces as part of joint anti-drug efforts, but details remain under investigation for possible national security issues.
Key Facts
Two U.S. CIA agents died in a car accident during a drug raid in the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
Mexican military and local authorities were unaware that foreign agents were participating in the operation.
The crash also killed two Mexican officers from the State Investigation Agency.
The anti-drug raid targeted one of the largest methamphetamine labs found in Mexico.
U.S. agents were acting as instructors, training Mexican security forces in the operation.
Mexican President Sheinbaum is investigating if national security laws were breached.
Cooperation between U.S. and Mexican forces in drug enforcement is rare and sensitive politically.
Chihuahua is governed by a party opposed to Sheinbaum’s, and she plans to meet its governor about the incident.
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Spain has started a new program allowing undocumented migrants who have lived in the country for at least five months and have no criminal record to get a legal one-year residence permit that can be renewed. The program aims to help around 500,000 people gain legal status, but it faces opposition from political groups who are concerned about its impact on the labor market and the way it was approved without full parliamentary debate.
Key Facts
The amnesty program began in April 2026 and applications will be accepted until the end of June.
Undocumented migrants must prove they have lived in Spain for at least five months and have no criminal record to qualify.
Estimates of the undocumented migrant population in Spain range from 750,000 to 1 million people.
Spain's government expects around 500,000 migrants to benefit from the program.
Most undocumented migrants in Spain come from Latin America, especially Colombia and Venezuela, with others from Africa and Asia.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says the program will protect workers and support Spain’s economy, especially amid an aging population.
Opposition politicians criticize the policy for bypassing full parliamentary approval and worry it may encourage more migrants to come to Spain.
Critics also argue that Spanish citizens should fill available jobs to reduce unemployment, which is one of the highest in the EU.
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President Donald Trump said that new peace talks between the United States and Iran might happen within the next 1 to 3 days. This comes after he extended a ceasefire that currently pauses conflict between the two countries.
Key Facts
President Trump announced the possibility of a second round of peace talks with Iran.
The talks could take place within 36 to 72 hours from his statement.
The announcement was made shortly after President Trump extended a ceasefire indefinitely.
The ceasefire currently pauses fighting between the U.S. and Iran.
Trump communicated this update through a text message to the New York Post.
The peace talks aim to reduce tensions and potentially resolve ongoing conflicts.
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Vlad Plahotniuc, once Moldova's richest man, was sentenced to 19 years in prison for a $1 billion banking fraud that happened in 2014-15. He was accused of personally receiving over $40 million from the scheme and must pay $60 million to the state; he denies the charges and plans to appeal.
Key Facts
The fraud involved $1 billion, about 12% of Moldova's GDP at the time.
Loans were moved in two days to companies registered in the UK and Hong Kong, whose owners were unknown.
The government bailed out the banks to protect depositors, causing a big loss to public funds.
Prosecutors say Plahotniuc used stolen money for a private jet, properties, legal and medical services, tourism, and business deals.
He was arrested in Athens in 2025 after six years on the run and was sent back to Moldova.
Prosecutors claim he helped create a network to get illegal profits and helped pro-Russian oligarch Ilan Shor enter bank ownership.
Ilan Shor currently lives in Moscow and faces accusations of interfering with Moldovan elections.
Plahotniuc faces more criminal cases but says all charges are politically motivated.
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A tourist in Florence was charged for climbing the Neptune fountain statue and touching its genitals as part of a pre-wedding prank, causing thousands of euros in damage. Authorities reported the damage and highlighted ongoing issues with tourists disrespecting historic monuments in the city.
Key Facts
The Neptune fountain in Florence was created in 1559 by Bartolomeo Ammannati.
The tourist, 28 years old, climbed the statue and touched Neptune’s genitals on a dare from friends.
Police charged her with defacing an artistic and architectural asset.
Damage to the fountain was estimated at €5,000 (£4,340), affecting horse legs and a decorative frieze.
Florence has seen repeated incidents of tourists climbing monuments, despite CCTV and stricter controls.
A German tourist and a young couple also caused damage climbing statues recently.
A teenager climbed the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore’s dome in 2024 for a selfie.
Florence attracts about 16 million tourists yearly, and locals are protective of their historic heritage.
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Iranian forces seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route for oil and gas. This action happened amid rising tensions as the US and Iran both imposed blockades, and peace talks remain stalled.
Key Facts
Iranian Revolutionary Guard naval forces stopped and took control of two ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway where about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passed during peaceful times.
A UK maritime security group reported an Iranian gunboat fired at a vessel, damaging it.
This is the first time Iran has seized ships since the war started on February 28.
The US also fired on and took control of Iranian vessels in the Indian Ocean recently.
President Donald Trump threatened military action but later extended a ceasefire and continued a blockade on Iran.
The blockade has caused fuel shortages and increased prices, especially in Asia, which relies heavily on Gulf oil.
The closure of the Strait has stranded about 20,000 seafarers and 2,000 ships, according to the International Maritime Organization.
Negotiations between the US and Iran have not restarted, despite mediation efforts by Pakistan.
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Actress Aubrey Plaza confirmed on "Late Night with Seth Meyers" that she is pregnant with her first child. She shared the news using her usual comedic style during the interview.
Key Facts
Aubrey Plaza is 41 years old and pregnant with her first child.
She is expecting the baby with her partner, actor Christopher Abbott, who is 40.
Plaza confirmed the pregnancy during a TV talk show hosted by Seth Meyers.
Christopher Abbott and Aubrey Plaza have acted together before in theater and a movie.
Plaza is promoting her new animated TV series called "Kevin" on Prime Video.
She was previously married to director Jeff Baena, who passed away in January 2025.
Plaza made her pregnancy announcement in a humorous and deadpan way.
Abbott is currently performing in the Broadway play "Death of a Salesman."
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Several EU countries, including Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia, tried to suspend the EU’s trade deal with Israel because of concerns over its actions in Gaza and the West Bank. However, Germany and Italy blocked the move, showing a split in Europe about how to respond to Israel’s policies.
Key Facts
Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia proposed suspending the EU-Israel trade agreement.
Germany and Italy vetoed the proposal, preventing suspension.
Over 72,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since October 2023, with serious destruction of infrastructure.
Israeli settlements in the West Bank continue to expand, violating international law.
Israel’s far-right government recently passed a death penalty law mostly targeting Palestinians.
The EU-Israel Association Agreement began in 2000 and includes a human rights clause.
The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner, with €42.6 billion in trade in 2024.
European funding supports much of Israel’s scientific research, which would suffer without EU support.
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The United States and Iran are involved in a standoff using blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, where both sides are stopping and taking control of commercial ships. Pakistan is trying to bring the two countries together for peace talks, but so far, no meetings have happened, and tensions remain high.
Key Facts
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway where the U.S. and Iran are blocking and seizing commercial ships.
A ceasefire between Iran, the US, and Israel was extended but faces strain.
Pakistan has offered to host peace talks to ease the conflict, but Iranian and American representatives have not yet arrived.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is actively working to negotiate a settlement.
President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire extension and said a deal might still happen soon.
Iran accuses the US of breaking promises and behaving inconsistently in negotiations.
Iran is reluctant to send its delegation to Islamabad for talks.
Observers question who is currently leading Iran due to changes in its leadership.
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Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22, 2026. This action took place after President Donald Trump stopped planned attacks, increasing Iran’s control over this important shipping route.
Key Facts
Iran took control of two ships in the Strait of Hormuz on April 22, 2026.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway used for global oil shipping.
President Donald Trump canceled planned attacks just before the seizures occurred.
Iran’s move strengthens its influence over the strategic passage.
This event caused concern for countries relying on oil transported through the strait.
The situation is part of ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States.
Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz can impact fuel supplies worldwide.
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Pope Leo criticized the poor conditions of prisons in Equatorial Guinea during his visit to the country, which has a history of human rights abuses and corruption. He urged the government to use its natural wealth to benefit all people and called for greater freedom and dignity for citizens.
Key Facts
Pope Leo led a Mass attended by about 100,000 people, including Equatorial Guinea's president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
He condemned the poor hygiene and treatment of prisoners in Equatorial Guinea's jails, especially the infamous Bata prison.
Amnesty International reports that prisoners in Bata are often beaten and some disappear without contact with their families.
Equatorial Guinea is rich in oil but has high poverty and inequality, with much of the wealth benefiting a small elite.
The president's son, also vice-president, was fined in France for using public funds for luxury living, with assets seized.
The government controls all broadcast media, limiting political opposition and press freedom.
The Pope called on people to focus on the common good and warned that the country's future depends on its citizens' choices.
Pope Leo has also criticized other African “tyrants” and foreign exploitation of Africa's resources during his tour.
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A British woman, Janet Fordham, who lost up to £1 million to romance scammers over five years, died in a car crash in Ghana while trying to recover some of her money. She had traveled there after a man promised to help her get her money back, but she was fatally injured when the car flipped.
Key Facts
Janet Fordham was scammed out of her savings and home from 2017 to 2022 by fraudsters in the UK, Germany, the US, and Ghana.
She sent an estimated £800,000 to £1 million to scammers through various methods like bank and wire transfers.
Fordham met a man online who claimed to be a British army sergeant major and later another claiming to be a diplomat; both were scammers.
She traveled to Ghana in October 2022 after being contacted by a man named Kofi, who said he could help recover her money.
Fordham and Kofi developed a personal relationship, and she agreed to marry him.
On February 14, 2023, Fordham died when the car driven by Kofi flipped; she was not wearing a seatbelt.
Police determined no one else was involved in the crash, and Kofi admitted to a driving offence.
Fordham’s family tried to stop her from sending money, but she was found to be of sound mind and could not be forced to stop.
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The European Union is set to approve a 90-billion-euro loan to Ukraine after Russian oil shipments restarted through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia. The resumption of oil deliveries ended a dispute that had blocked the loan, which aims to support Ukraine’s economy amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Key Facts
The EU diplomats gave preliminary approval for the 90-billion-euro ($106 billion) loan to Ukraine.
Russian oil deliveries resumed via the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia.
Hungary and Slovakia had previously blocked the loan due to stalled pipeline operations.
The pipeline was damaged by Russian attacks in January but is now operational again.
Hungary’s new government plans to stop blocking EU funds for Ukraine.
The loan helps maintain Ukraine’s financial stability through 2026 and 2027.
The EU plans new sanctions against Russia targeting energy, banking, and trade.
The Druzhba pipeline can carry about 1.2 to 1.4 million barrels of oil per day, potentially increasing to 2 million.
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Florida is experiencing many wildfires due to dry weather, strong winds, and drought conditions. Over 100,000 acres have burned this year, and authorities have issued fire warnings, burn bans, and some evacuations to protect people.
Key Facts
On one day, 113 wildfires were burning at the same time across Florida.
So far this year, 1,797 wildfires have burned more than 103,000 acres in the state.
Drought, low humidity, and gusty winds make fires start easily and spread quickly.
Over 92% of Florida is under severe drought, with 20% facing the worst drought level called exceptional drought.
Wildfires have caused evacuations and road closures in some areas.
Fire officials warn that even small sparks can start big fires.
Florida’s rainy season starts in May, but little rain is expected soon.
Smoke from the fires is causing health concerns, especially for people with breathing problems.
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Roman Abramovich has filed a claim with the European Court of Human Rights saying that an investigation by Jersey authorities into his finances violates his human rights. The investigation involves frozen assets linked to the £2.4 billion sale of Chelsea football club, with the UK government seeking to control how the money is used for victims of the war in Ukraine.
Key Facts
Roman Abramovich is under UK sanctions because of his ties to Vladimir Putin.
Jersey authorities are investigating Abramovich for corruption and money laundering.
£5.3 billion of Abramovich’s assets are frozen in Jersey.
The investigation affects £2.4 billion from the sale of Chelsea FC, which Abramovich promised to donate to Ukraine war victims.
Abramovich claims the investigation is unfair, lacks evidence, and is politically motivated.
He argues his right to a fair trial and privacy were violated under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The UK government wants the sale proceeds to be used only for helping Ukraine.
Abramovich wants flexibility on how the funds are spent, including in parts of Ukraine controlled by Russia.
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