Pope Leo XIV, on an 11-day tour of Africa, sought to de-escalate a week-long public spat with U.S. President Donald Trump while reiterating calls for peace. Speaking aboard the papal plane en route from Cameroon to Angola on April 18, the American-born pontiff said reporting of his Africa remarks had been misread and that it was “not in my interest at all” to debate the president. In Bamenda, Cameroon, on April 16 he had denounced leaders who spend billions on war and said the world was being “ravaged by a handful of tyrants”; the speech was later described by Leo as prepared weeks earlier. Trump attacked the pope on Truth Social, calling him “WEAK on Crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy” and briefly posting an AI-generated image of himself as a Jesus-like figure. Leo has been an outspoken critic of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and used his Africa tour to press for reconciliation, condemn exploitation of natural resources and urge an end to violence in places such as Cameroon.

A fragile pause in the Iran conflict produced a volatile weekend that briefly eased — then revived — global energy and market jitters. A U.S.-brokered 10-day Lebanon-Israel ceasefire announced April 16 prompted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on April 17 to say the Strait of Hormuz was open to commercial shipping for the truce period. That news sent Brent down about 9% to $90.38 and U.S. crude down roughly 11% to $83.85, while U.S. indexes (S&P 500, Nasdaq and Dow) hit record closes. Ships tested the route but many turned back, citing safety and insurance concerns; Iran said transits must be coordinated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and hinted at charging fees. On April 18 Tehran reversed course, saying it had tightened control over the strait, radioed that some vessels were barred and at least two merchant ships were reportedly hit by gunfire, including an Indian-flagged tanker identified by New Delhi as the Sanmar Herald. Washington and Tehran signalled ongoing negotiations — mediated partly by Pakistan — even as uncertainty about mines, insurance and enforcement left shipping and markets on edge.

Pope Leo XIV sought to play down a growing public spat with U.S. President Donald Trump while continuing a high-profile Africa tour, telling reporters on April 18 aboard the papal plane that it was “not in my interest at all” to debate the president. The American-born pontiff said a forceful April 16 speech in Bamenda, Cameroon — in which he blasted a “handful of tyrants” who spend billions on war and decried the exploitation of Africa’s resources — had been prepared two weeks earlier and was not directed at Trump. The remarks came after Trump publicly criticised Leo on social media, calling him “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” and posting, then deleting, an AI-generated image of himself. Leo arrived in Luanda, Angola, on April 18 as the third stop on an 11-day, four-country tour that has included large masses, meetings with leaders and appeals for peace, anti-corruption measures and interfaith dialogue. His visit in Cameroon included appeals for ceasefires and drew large crowds, while officials and religious leaders across the region voiced support for his peace message.

On April 18, 2026, a man opened fire in Kyiv’s Holosiivskyi district, killing several people on the street before barricading himself inside a supermarket and taking hostages, Ukrainian officials said. Police special forces stormed the store after roughly 40 minutes of negotiations failed; the attacker was shot dead during the arrest attempt. Authorities gave varying tolls as investigations continued, saying at least five people were killed and dozens wounded, with several sources reporting six fatalities and around 10-15 people hospitalised, including a child. Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko and Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the suspect was a 58-year-old man registered at a Kyiv address but originally from Moscow; he carried a legally registered carbine and had recently sought to renew his licence. Officials reported a fire in the suspect’s apartment and said the incident is being probed as a possible terrorist act. Four hostages were freed. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko expressed condolences and called for a swift investigation as police examine motive, weapon permits and medical certification tied to the shooter.

President Donald Trump on April 18 signed an executive order directing federal agencies to accelerate research and regulatory review of certain psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, psilocybin and others, as potential treatments for severe mental illness and post-traumatic stress disorder. The order instructs the Food and Drug Administration to issue national priority review vouchers for three psychedelics to shorten review times, clears a path for the first U.S. human trials of ibogaine and expands use of the Right to Try pathway for eligible patients. The administration pledged about $50 million in federal‑state funding for psychedelic research and ordered coordination among HHS, the FDA, the Department of Justice and the VA. The signing in the Oval Office included HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, podcaster Joe Rogan and veterans advocates such as Marcus Luttrell. Ibogaine remains a Schedule I substance in the U.S. and has known cardiac risks; researchers and regulators have warned safety concerns and limited evidence require careful clinical study before approval or rescheduling.

British counter-terrorism officers are leading an inquiry after an attempted arson in Hendon, north‑west London, late on Friday, April 17-18, 2026. Metropolitan Police said a man was seen placing a plastic bag containing three bottles of fluid next to a row of shops and lighting the contents; the bottles failed to fully ignite, causing only minor damage and no injuries. The premises has been reported to have been formerly used by a Jewish charity, identified in some reports as the educational organisation Jewish Futures. Police said the incident is not currently being treated as a terrorist act and is not formally linked to recent attacks, but Counter Terrorism Policing London is leading the probe because of similarities with a string of recent incidents in north‑west London, including an attempted arson at a Finchley synagogue and the torching of volunteer Jewish ambulances in Golders Green in March. Officers have increased patrols in the area, including armed units and Project Servator deployments. Investigators are keeping an open mind on motive; no arrests have been made in the Hendon incident, though police have detained suspects over other recent attacks.