World

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.

The US State Department has announced expanded visa restrictions targeting individuals from countries in the Western Hemisphere who support "adversaries" undermining American interests in the region. In a statement released on Thursday, the department emphasized that 26 individuals have already had their visas revoked under this policy. This move aligns with the Trump administration's efforts to expand US influence through what it purportedly calls the "Donroe Doctrine," a reference to the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine, as part of a broader strategy to assert dominance in the Americas.

Despite a 10-day ceasefire deal taking effect between Israel and Lebanon, the Israeli military has declared that its forces will remain deployed in southern Lebanon. According to Reuters news agency, the military also urged Lebanese residents not to move south of the Litani River, highlighting ongoing tensions in the region.

Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones is expected to become the first person to plead guilty in a sweeping gambling investigation that led to the arrests of over 30 individuals, including alleged mobsters and other basketball figures. A change-of-plea hearing for Jones is scheduled for April 28 in Brooklyn federal court, moved from an original date of May 6 at the request of the parties involved. Jones, 49, had previously pleaded not guilty to indictments charging him with profiting from rigged poker games and providing sports bettors with non-public injury information about stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

The United States House of Representatives has voted to extend temporary immigration protections for approximately 350,000 Haitians living in the country, marking a break with President Donald Trump's stance. In Thursday's vote, ten Republicans joined the Democratic majority, passing the bill by a margin of 224 to 204, highlighting bipartisan support despite the administration's opposition.

The United States Senate this week defeated a measure to block military equipment sales to Israel, yet rights advocates are hailing the vote as a significant “inflection point” revealing growing frustration with Israeli policies. The resolution, introduced by progressive Senator Bernie Sanders, aimed to stop the sale of military bulldozers to Israel. It failed in a 40-59 vote, with only seven Democratic senators crossing party lines to join the Republican majority in opposition.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated that his country does not seek conflict with the United States but is prepared to fight if necessary. The remarks came during a speech marking the 65th anniversary of the socialist character of the Cuban Revolution, where the president recalled Fidel Castro's declaration and the failed Bay of Pigs invasion by US-aligned forces.

Following six weeks of armed clashes between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group in southern Lebanon, US President Donald Trump has announced a 10-day ceasefire set to begin at 17:00 EST (21:00 GMT, midnight local time). Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, stating he would invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to the White House for "the first meaningful talks between Israel and Lebanon since 1983," during the Lebanese Civil War. This move comes after rare direct talks in Washington this week aimed at easing a conflict that has seen deadly airstrikes on parts of Beirut.

Beirut, Lebanon – In late March, a government-planned center in Beirut's Karantina neighborhood for people displaced by Israel's war was canceled following a public outcry. Politicians and protesters opposed the center's establishment, citing reasons such as increased traffic near Beirut's port and health concerns. However, sectarian motivations also played a key role: some of Karantina's Christian population led objections to housing the displaced, who are predominantly Shia Muslims, raising demographic fears and using sectarian slogans reminiscent of the 1975-1990 Lebanese Civil War era.

Reports of exorbitant price hikes for transportation to the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches have triggered widespread outrage among football fans, highlighting yet another contentious issue surrounding the tournament's organization in North America. Transport authorities in the United States are planning to implement steep fare increases specifically for the event, with costs soaring to several times the normal rates, raising questions about accessibility and fairness for supporters.