Pope Leo arrived in Angola as part of an Africa tour that has been drawn into the orbit of his public exchange with U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking to journalists, the Pope said he regretted that remarks made during the tour had been read as a direct response to Trump's criticism, and stated he had no interest in debating the U.S. leader. The comments reflect the difficulty of separating a high-profile papal visit from the political noise surrounding it. Angola marks a significant stop on the tour, though the diplomatic and pastoral agenda risks being overshadowed by the ongoing media focus on the Leo-Trump dynamic. Observers will watch whether the Pope's Angola engagements, and any further statements, continue to be filtered through that lens, or whether the tour reclaims its own narrative on the ground.
Venezuela's earthquake death toll has reached 1,430 with the US Geological Survey warning fatalities could top 10,000, placing it among Latin America's deadliest in a century. US military planes are landing in Caracas, Washington is mobilising $150 million in aid, and rescue teams from 17 countries are on the ground.
Iranian armed forces attacked a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, briefly halting traffic through the waterway. The strike threatens a fragile US-Iran arrangement and could push shipping insurance costs and oil prices higher.
The US has struck Iran, with President Trump citing an Iranian attack on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz as justification. The action raises immediate risks for global oil flows through one of the world's most critical shipping chokepoints.
The US struck ten Iranian targets on the second consecutive day of military action, putting a fragile ceasefire under serious pressure. The escalation raises immediate risks for Gulf shipping, global oil supply, and regional stability.
