Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, visited Cameroon’s English-speaking northwest and spoke out strongly against people who misuse religion for power and profit. His visit included calls for peace amid a separatist conflict, and his words were seen as a message to Cameroon’s longtime president, Paul Biya, as well as a wider audience dealing with global issues.
Key Facts
Pope Leo is the first U.S.-born pope.
He visited Cameroon’s English-speaking northwest region during a four-nation African tour.
During his visit, separatist rebels in the area declared a four-day ceasefire.
Pope Leo criticized those who exploit religion for military, economic, or political gain.
He addressed Cameroon’s president, Paul Biya, who has been in power since 1960.
Half of Cameroon’s population is under 18 years old.
The pope’s visit highlighted challenges facing the Church amid wars, inequality, and competition from evangelical churches.
This visit is part of Pope Leo’s early actions less than a year after succeeding Pope Francis.
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U.S. military leaders said the United States is enforcing a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and will use force if ships do not follow the rules. The blockade is part of efforts to pressure Iran during a ceasefire in ongoing tensions, with the U.S. ready to return to major combat if needed. Discussions between the U.S. and Iran are ongoing, but no final deal has been reached.
Key Facts
The U.S. is enforcing a naval blockade on ships entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. military officials warned they will use force if ships do not comply with the blockade.
So far, 14 ships have turned around to avoid the blockade; none have been boarded by U.S. forces.
The blockade is intended to stop Iran from threatening oil transit in this key waterway carrying 20% of the world’s oil.
Iranian officials have threatened to retaliate by targeting American ships and closing the Red Sea.
A ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is currently in place but no peace agreement has been reached yet.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. prefers a peaceful deal but will prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons by force if necessary.
Talks between Israel and Lebanon have restarted amidst ongoing regional conflicts involving Hezbollah.
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Armed robbers held 25 people hostage in a Naples bank for about two hours before escaping through a hole in the floor leading to the sewers. Police freed all hostages without serious injuries, but it is unclear if the robbers took any valuables.
Key Facts
Three armed robbers entered a Crédit Agricole bank in Naples around 11:30 a.m. on Thursday.
They took 25 staff and customers hostage and locked them in a room.
Police and emergency teams arrived and freed the hostages shortly after 1:30 p.m. with no serious injuries reported.
The robbers escaped through a hole in the bank’s floor into the sewer system before police entered.
It is not confirmed if the robbers stole any money; they were believed to target safe deposit boxes.
Authorities, including a local water company, are inspecting the sewers after the escape.
A similar bank robbery involving sewers happened in Milan in 2020, where robbers also escaped using drain tunnels.
Naples prosecutor Nicola Gratteri was present at the crime scene.
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Over 260 Palestinian journalists have died in Gaza since the war began. A new group of young and mostly untrained journalists is now working to report on human stories from the area.
Key Facts
More than 260 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war started.
A new generation of journalists is emerging to continue reporting.
These new journalists are mostly young and lack formal training.
They focus on telling human stories from the conflict zone.
The reports come through Al Jazeera’s correspondent Hani Mahmoud.
The new journalists show strong determination despite challenges.
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U.S. military officials explained how American forces enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports by warning ships to turn around or face being boarded and seized. This blockade affects global oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and has disrupted shipping in the region.
Key Facts
U.S. warships are actively enforcing a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports.
Ships approaching these ports receive radio warnings telling them to turn around or face boarding and seizure.
Since the blockade began, 13 vessels have been warned and chose to reverse course.
The Strait of Hormuz is crucial, carrying about 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas.
The blockade is focused on traffic related to Iranian ports, not closing the entire Strait of Hormuz.
Many ships and crews remain stranded in the Persian Gulf because of the conflict.
Iran might allow safe passage for ships on the Omani side of the strait if a diplomatic deal with the U.S. is reached.
It is unclear if underwater mines or ships connected to Israel would be allowed safe passage under any agreement.
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China has expressed strong concern over Japan’s plan to deploy medium-range air-defense missiles on Yonaguni Island near Taiwan by 2030. Japan says the move is to strengthen defense amid rising tensions with China, while China sees it as a threat to regional peace.
Key Facts
Japan plans to place Type 03 Chu-SAM surface-to-air missiles and troops on Yonaguni Island by fiscal year 2030.
Yonaguni Island is about 70 miles from Taiwan's east coast and administered by Okinawa Prefecture.
The missile system can track up to 100 flying targets and attack about a dozen at once, with a range of about 30 miles.
Japan’s Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi supports stronger defenses on southwestern islands due to tensions with China, especially over Taiwan.
China views Japan’s move as an offensive military step that threatens stability and accuses Japan’s government of shifting towards expansionism.
Yonaguni’s mayor supports the missile deployment but warns against adding more forces on the island.
Japan has doubled its defense spending and seeks to relax weapons export limits to boost its defense industry and cooperation with allies.
Relations between Japan and China have worsened since Japan’s Prime Minister said that a Chinese blockade of Taiwan might require Japan and the U.S. to intervene.
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The latest episode of "Survivor 50" featured an unexpected twist during the elimination round. This twist resulted in a special ceremony called a trial council, which was the first of its kind in the show's history.
Key Facts
The news comes from a CBS Mornings segment.
The twist happened during the elimination on the Wednesday episode.
The event led to a trial council ceremony, which is new to the show.
"Survivor 50" is the 50th season of the reality TV series "Survivor."
The trial council ceremony was historic because it never happened before.
The report included a spoiler warning for viewers.
The information was available on CBS News and the CBS News app.
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Two school shootings happened in Turkiye within two days, killing at least ten people, mostly students, and injuring several others. The government held a meeting to improve school security, and many people were arrested for threatening similar attacks on social media.
Key Facts
The second shooting took place in Kahramanmaras, killing eight students and a teacher, with a tenth victim dying later in hospital.
The attacker, a 14-year-old student, used guns believed to belong to his father, a former police officer, and was found dead after the attack.
The first shooting happened two days earlier in Sanliurfa province, injuring 16 people, carried out by a former student.
Funerals for the victims were held in Kahramanmaras, attended by many mourners.
Officials reported six wounded people are in critical condition from the second shooting.
Authorities detained 20 people connected to the first shooting and arrested dozens of students for social media posts hinting at more attacks.
A joint security meeting was held in Ankara with government leaders and education officials from across Turkiye to discuss school safety.
School shootings were very rare in Turkiye before this week’s events.
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President Donald Trump announced on social media that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire. The ceasefire is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
Key Facts
The ceasefire involves Israel and Lebanon.
It will last for 10 days.
The ceasefire will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern Time.
President Trump shared the announcement on social media.
The announcement was reported by CBS News journalists Natalie Brand, Eleanor Watson, and Taurean Small.
The news focuses on recent developments in the Middle East conflict.
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Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán lost power after 16 years, threatening financial support for right-wing groups in Britain and Europe. New Hungarian leaders plan to stop government funding for these groups, affecting think tanks and media outlets closely linked to Orbán’s government.
Key Facts
Viktor Orbán and his Fidesz party ruled Hungary for 16 years, supporting right-wing groups in Britain and Europe.
Orbán’s government funded think tanks, media, and individuals that promoted hard-right, anti-immigration views.
The Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC), funded by Orbán’s government, backed British organizations like the Roger Scruton Legacy Foundation.
British figures such as Michael Gove and advisers linked to Nigel Farage received support from Hungarian sources.
MCC’s funding partly comes from the Hungarian energy company MOL, which buys most of its oil from Russia.
Hungarian think tanks like the Danube Institute also provided money for media appearances by British political figures such as Lord Frost.
Péter Magyar, Hungary’s prime minister-elect, said state funding for political groups should stop immediately.
Many groups relying on Orbán’s support will have to find new backers following his defeat.
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Mohammed Lubbad’s home in Gaza was destroyed by an Israeli strike, killing several family members and leaving him unsure if his newborn son survived. Due to confusion and poor hospital records during the war, a baby matching his son’s description was registered under another family’s name, leading to a dispute over the child’s identity.
Key Facts
Mohammed Lubbad’s home in Beit Lahiya, Gaza was hit on October 13, 2023.
His wife Amal, eight months pregnant, was taken to Kamal Adwan Hospital for a C-section and gave birth to a baby boy.
Amal later died on October 22 from injuries sustained during the strike.
There is uncertainty about the survival and location of Mohammed’s newborn son.
A baby who fits the description of Mohammed’s son was recorded under a different family’s name at al-Shifa Hospital.
The war and power outages caused by the Israeli siege made hospital record-keeping difficult and increased risks for premature infants.
Gaza’s police investigations confirmed a dispute between two families over the identity of two premature babies born under similar circumstances.
Several premature infants died amid the crisis, complicating the search for Mohammed’s son.
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President Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 10-day ceasefire after talks in Washington, D.C. The announcement came alongside Pentagon briefings about the ongoing conflict involving Iran and U.S. actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Key Facts
Israel and Lebanon will pause fighting for 10 days as part of a ceasefire deal.
The ceasefire was announced by President Donald Trump.
The talks that led to this agreement took place in Washington, D.C.
Pentagon officials gave updates on the war involving Iran.
The U.S. is maintaining a blockade at Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz is an important waterway for global oil transport.
This ceasefire aims to reduce violence between Israel and Lebanon.
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Four astronauts, including three from NASA and one from the Canadian Space Agency, talked about their experience living inside the Orion spacecraft. They shared the physical and mental challenges they faced while traveling farther from Earth than any humans have before.
Key Facts
The crew members are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen.
They traveled aboard NASA’s Orion capsule.
This mission took them further from Earth than any previous human spaceflight.
The astronauts described what it was like to live in the spacecraft.
They discussed the physical effects of space travel on their bodies.
They also talked about the mental challenges of being far from Earth.
The event was a news conference after their historic moon flyby.
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The UK government is preparing for possible food shortages this summer if the war involving Iran continues. A key concern is the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which could disrupt supplies of carbon dioxide used in the food and drink industry, affecting supermarket stocks.
Key Facts
The UK has created plans in case the war with Iran causes food shortages.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping route that might be closed due to the conflict.
Closing the strait could disrupt global supply chains, including carbon dioxide supplies.
Carbon dioxide is important in preserving and producing food and beverages.
The UK government says these plans are for preparation, not predictions.
The situation could lead to empty supermarket shelves or food scarcity.
The planning is meant to help manage risks in the event of prolonged conflict.
The article includes explanations from the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
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Israel and Lebanon have agreed to stop fighting for 10 days starting at 21:00 GMT on Thursday. US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire after talking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
Key Facts
The ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will last for 10 days.
It starts at 21:00 GMT on Thursday.
President Donald Trump announced the agreement.
President Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
President Trump also spoke with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun.
The situation in the region remains tense, according to a reporter in Tyre.
The ceasefire aims to reduce conflict between Israel and Lebanon during this period.
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A Chinese research ship tested a new device that can cut underwater data cables deep in the ocean. This raises concerns about sabotage of vital undersea cables that connect global communications and power systems.
Key Facts
The device was tested at a depth of about 11,483 feet (3,500 meters) in a deep-sea expedition by the Chinese ship Haiyang Dizhi 2.
The ship has advanced equipment like a 150-ton crane and can deploy underwater robots.
The cable cutter uses a diamond-coated grinding wheel powered by an electric motor and a hydraulic pump to slice through armored cables.
The technology can cut cables down to depths of 13,123 feet (4,000 meters).
This technology is described as “dual-use,” meaning it can be used for both civilian and military purposes.
China has a history of developing tools for cutting or retrieving undersea cables and has many ships involved in accidental or suspicious damage to such cables worldwide.
Other countries, including the US and Russia, also have capabilities to access or interfere with undersea cables.
Undersea cables carry most of the world’s internet data and power connections, so damaging them could disrupt global communications.
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French lawmakers from President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party postponed the debate on the "Yadan bill," a proposed law aiming to ban new forms of anti-Semitism. The bill faced controversy and was removed from the agenda of the French National Assembly.
Key Facts
The "Yadan bill" seeks to combat new types of anti-Semitism in France.
French lawmakers in Macron’s party withdrew the bill from the National Assembly’s agenda on April 16, 2026.
The bill had sparked debate and backlash in recent weeks.
Existing laws in France already make anti-Semitism and apologizing for terrorism illegal.
Some people questioned whether the new law was necessary given current regulations.
The decision to postpone shows ongoing disagreement about how to address anti-Semitism legally.
The bill’s pause provides more time for discussions before any decision is made.
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Widows of soldiers in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are living in a makeshift camp in Beni after fleeing their homes in Goma when rebels took control in early 2025. They are struggling with poor living conditions and are asking for access to their late husbands’ pensions for financial support.
Key Facts
The widows fled Goma, the capital of North Kivu province, after it was captured by M23 rebels on January 27, 2025.
About 250 households, including soldier families and wounded veterans, live in a camp around the Mulekera youth centre in Beni.
The camp consists of tents made from plastic sheeting with mattresses laid on the ground.
The widows fear repression by rebels because of their connection to government soldiers.
They have official documentation proving their status as dependents of deceased soldiers.
The presence of the camp disrupts activities at the youth centre, including broken restroom facilities and limited office access.
Many widows hoped to receive financial help but have not yet gotten any assistance.
The ongoing conflict between M23 rebels and the Congolese army has displaced millions in eastern DR Congo.
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A group of armed robbers took 25 people hostage during a bank robbery in Naples, Italy. After holding them for about two hours, the robbers escaped through a tunnel, possibly into the sewer system, and no serious injuries were reported.
Key Facts
The robbery happened at a Crédit Agricole bank in Naples around midday local time.
The robbers held 25 people hostage but did not use violence.
Police and special armed forces surrounded the bank and negotiated with the robbers.
Hostages were locked in a room and later freed without serious injuries.
Firefighters helped some hostages escape by breaking a window with battering rams.
The robbers escaped through a tunnel, possibly leading to the sewer system.
Authorities used stun grenades and broke into the bank several hours after the robbery started.
The value of the stolen items is unknown because robbers took safety deposit boxes instead of cash.
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Israel destroyed the last bridge connecting southern Lebanon to the rest of the country as part of ongoing strikes against Lebanon’s infrastructure. This happened just before President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
Key Facts
Israel bombed the Qasmiyeh Bridge over the Litani River, the last bridge linking southern Lebanon to other parts of the country.
The bridge connects the Lebanese cities of Tyre and Sidon, about 20 miles from the Israel-Lebanon border.
Israel says it targets infrastructure to stop Hezbollah from moving weapons, but the bridge is also used by civilians.
Lebanese officials say the bridge is destroyed beyond repair.
Since the war began on March 2, more than 2,167 people have died in Lebanon, including at least 91 medical workers.
Over 7,000 people in Lebanon are injured, and more than 1 million have been displaced.
Israeli forces reported striking over 200 Hezbollah targets in the past 24 hours, while Hezbollah launched rocket attacks on northern Israel.
President Donald Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire beginning April 21 after talks with Lebanese and Israeli leaders, marking the first direct negotiations in over 30 years.
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