World

World Athletics' Nationality Review Panel has rejected 11 allegiance transfer requests to Turkey, citing what it termed a "coordinated recruitment strategy" by the Turkish government to attract overseas athletes through lucrative contracts. The panel determined that approving these applications would undermine eligibility rules and transfer of allegiance regulations, which are designed to ensure a genuine connection between athletes and the country they represent and to protect the integrity, credibility, and global development of the sport. This decision highlights ongoing concerns about the commercialization and potential exploitation in international athletics.

Each year on April 17, Palestinian Prisoner’s Day is commemorated to remember the plight of thousands of men, women, and children held in Israeli prisons. This year’s remembrance is underscored by Israel’s new death penalty law, which solely targets Palestinians convicted of deadly attacks. Rights groups have called the measure a violation of international law and inherently discriminatory. The United Nations human rights chief labeled it a possible “war crime.”

Juba, South Sudan – Growing up, 21-year-old Khloe Nyanda and the women and girls around her were taught "to be small and not take up spaces," she says. But the model and law student at the University of Juba followed her own instincts, inspired by internationally known South Sudanese icons like Adut Akech. Nyanda emphasised that "95% of the models you see from South Sudan will tell you the same thing: Adut Akech is the spark" that ignited interest in the industry.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has released its latest forecasts for Uzbekistan's economy. According to the organization's calculations, the country's gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to remain steady at 6.8% in 2026, with a slowdown to approximately 6% anticipated in 2027. This projection is based on the outcomes of an IMF mission that visited the country in early April.

The leader of Sudan's Hope Government addressed the United Nations Security Council, detailing the country's entry into the fourth year of ongoing conflict. He stated that the war began on April 13, 2023, when the Rapid Support Forces militia violated army traditions and laws by surrounding the airport in the northern Sudanese city of Merowe. These actions were allegedly part of a broader regional conspiracy to plunder Sudan's resources and seize control of its national decision-making, supported by external actors.

The Uzbekistan Hydrometeorological Service (Uzgidromet) has issued an emergency warning for adverse weather conditions expected from April 18 to 23 in the foothill and mountainous regions of Uzbekistan. Forecasts predict heavy rains that could trigger mudflows and floods, posing a significant threat to communities and infrastructure across nearly all provinces, highlighting the country's vulnerability to natural hazards amid ongoing environmental challenges.

The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran has kept the world on edge for nearly seven weeks. A fragile ceasefire brokered by Pakistan is currently in effect, but it is threatened by Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, which have killed over 1,300 people, and its invasion of southern Lebanon. The conflict has resulted in more than 2,000 deaths in the oil-rich nation of 90 million people, displaced millions, and damaged vital infrastructure, including areas near Iran's nuclear sites. US President Donald Trump also threatened to wipe out Iran's "whole civilisation" if it did not accede to Washington's demands.

A crucial English Premier League match is set for Saturday, April 18, as Chelsea hosts Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in London, kicking off at 20:00 local time. This encounter holds significant implications for the race to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, with both teams under pressure to secure a top-five finish. Chelsea, in sixth place, has managed only one win in their last five league games, intensifying scrutiny on manager Liam Rosenior in his debut season at the helm.

Iranian women footballers Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh have announced they have found a 'safe haven' in Australia after being granted humanitarian visas by the Australian government. In their first public comments since Friday, they expressed deep gratitude to the Australian government, particularly Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, for providing humanitarian protection and hope for a future where they can live and compete in safety.

In recent weeks, media outlets have reported the spread of a new coronavirus variant, BA.3.2, dubbed "Cicada". According to the World Health Organization, the mutation has been registered in 23 countries. Nurmat Otabekov, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Sanitary-Epidemiological Well-being and Public Health, noted that the strain was identified earlier and is spreading slowly, hence its name after the cicada insect, which can remain in a "dormant" state for up to 17 years.

French authorities announced the arrest and custody of a man suspected of organizing a deadly attack on a Jewish restaurant in Paris in 1982. Mahmoud Khader Abed Adra, also known as Hicham Harb, was handed over by Palestinian authorities to French officials and flown to Paris. This handover was directly linked by French President Emmanuel Macron to France's recent recognition of Palestinian statehood, highlighting the geopolitical dimensions of the case.

American singer D4vd, legally known as David Anthony Burke, has been arrested by Los Angeles police on suspicion of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her remains were discovered on September 8, 2025, in his Tesla vehicle, sparking a high-profile investigation and public intrigue over the macabre case.