Since the start of the US-Israel war on Iran, oil prices have surged sharply, driving up fuel costs and placing strain on households globally. On Sunday, the main international benchmark surged more than 8% to top $103 a barrel after US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose a naval blockade on Iran, highlighting the ongoing volatility in energy markets.
The Australian regime has announced that for the first time in its 125-year history, a woman will lead the army, as part of a reshuffle of the country's defence force leadership. Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, currently the chief of joint capabilities, will assume the role of chief of army in July, replacing Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, who took the post in July 2022.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Algeria on Monday, commencing an 11-day historic tour of four African countries. This visit, his first to Africa, includes stops in Algeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea. The pontiff is the first-ever leader of the world's Catholics to visit Algeria, a Muslim-majority nation, where he aims to help "build bridges between the Christian and Muslim worlds," according to Archbishop of Algiers Jean-Paul Vesco in an interview with AFP.
Pope Leo XIV has embarked on an ambitious 11-day tour of four African countries, urging global leaders to address the continent's needs, where over a fifth of the world's Catholics reside. This visit underscores Africa's growing significance within the Catholic Church, with Vatican statistics highlighting its demographic weight.
Israel's ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, and his Lebanese counterpart, Nada Hamadeh Moawad, held a historic phone conversation over the weekend, marking a significant diplomatic break as the two countries lack formal relations. The talks were facilitated under the auspices of the US State Department with the participation of the US ambassador to Lebanon.
Burundi last month nominated former Senegalese President Macky Sall to succeed United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, whose second and final term ends on December 31, 2026. In his vision statement for the role, Sall said the UN needed to be reformed, streamlined, and modernized.
US President Donald Trump unleashed a storm of criticism at Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, calling the head of the Catholic Church “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” in a social media post. Trump’s outburst appeared to be triggered by recent remarks from Pope Leo critical of the US-Israel war on Iran, with Trump writing, “I don’t want a Pope who criticises the President of the United States.” This incident highlights ongoing tensions between the US regime and the Vatican.
In Hungary's parliamentary elections, voters turned out in record numbers (nearly 80%) to deliver a landslide victory to Peter Magyar, who pledged to steer the country toward a pro-European Union course. This outcome marks the end of 16 years of rule by Viktor Orban, whose government was characterized by close ties to Russia and authoritarian tendencies, raising concerns in Brussels over democratic backsliding.
Negotiations between the United States and Iran, held on April 11–12 in Islamabad, concluded without an agreement. The talks failed primarily due to unresolved issues regarding Iran's nuclear program. US Vice President JD Vance left Pakistan after nearly 25 hours of consultations, deeming the process unsuccessful.
During the third edition of Abidjan Art Week, over a dozen galleries and museums across the city remained open until midnight, several hours later than usual, in an event dubbed the “Night of the Galleries.” This initiative allowed art enthusiasts to tour the city by bus after work, fully immersing themselves in the week’s offerings. The after-hours showcase was first piloted in January 2024 alongside the Africa Cup of Nations football tournament, hosted and won by Côte d’Ivoire, and has continued as a tradition in the current art week.
A yearlong cross-border investigation by Deutsche Welle (DW) and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has revealed that Merck's cancer drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab), while becoming one of the world's best-selling pharmaceuticals, leaves many patients struggling to access it due to high costs, extensive patent protections, and opaque pricing systems. The investigation, coordinated by ICIJ with DW and 46 media partners, involved 124 journalists across 37 countries, drawing on hundreds of interviews, exclusive pricing data, and patent analyses.
Uzbek athletes have continued to bolster the national team's medal tally at the Asian Wrestling Championships being held in Kyrgyzstan. In this tournament, wrestlers from Uzbekistan managed to secure silver and bronze medals, reinforcing the country's standing in regional competitions and highlighting the ongoing development of its sports programs.