The Goethe-Institut's new building in Dakar has opened, merging sustainable architecture with traditional construction methods. Designed by renowned Burkina Faso architect Francis Kéré, the structure is built from bricks made of local red soil mixed with minimal cement. This material protects the building from heat and maintains cool interiors.
Pope Leo XIV visited the city of Bamenda in western Cameroon as part of his African tour, where jubilant crowds welcomed him with horn-blowing and dancing. This trip aimed to shine a global spotlight on a separatist conflict that has traumatized the region for nearly a decade and is considered one of the world's most neglected crises.
Germany's national carrier Lufthansa announced on Thursday that its regional subsidiary Lufthansa CityLine will suspend operations of its 27 older aircraft starting Saturday. This move is an immediate cost-cutting measure in response to mounting pressure from labor disputes and sharply higher kerosene prices, which have more than doubled since the war in Iran began, according to the company's statement.
The developments following the 12-day war between Iran and Israel did not lead to de-escalation, but rather to a redefinition of the conflict on a much broader scale. While volatile negotiations between Tehran and Washington continued, the gap between the two sides’ expectations deepened. Ultimately, this gap led to a decision at the White House based on an optimistic assessment: to enter a limited conflict and force Iran into a rapid retreat.
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, stated during an event in Melbourne focusing on the harms of social media that for 10 years she was the 'most trolled person in the entire world' online. Speaking alongside the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, she alleged that she was 'bullied' every day for a decade and criticized tech companies for supposedly not being 'incentivised to stop' the misuse of their platforms.
South African police have arrested French-Beninese activist Kemi Seba (real name Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi) while he was allegedly attempting to flee to Europe via Zimbabwe. Seba is wanted in Benin on charges of "inciting rebellion" after supporting last year's foiled coup attempt in the West African nation.
The Indian government is moving to expedite the implementation of a 2023 law that reserves 33 percent of seats in parliament and state assemblies for women, but has controversially linked this move to a comprehensive redrawing of parliamentary constituencies, intensifying political friction. During a three-day special session of parliament, the government introduced three bills in the Lok Sabha (the lower house), aimed at increasing female representation and conducting "delimitation"—a process to revise electoral boundaries based on population data. These bills propose to expand the total number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850, yet they have ignited widespread debate and opposition criticism over potential gerrymandering and regional disparities.
The Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) ruled on Thursday that users of online gambling services can sue betting operators for reimbursement of losses if such gambling was prohibited in their home country at the time the bets were placed. This landmark decision, which remains valid even if national laws have since changed, paves the way for a German citizen seeking compensation for losses incurred when online gambling was illegal in Germany, highlighting ongoing legal complexities in the EU's digital single market.
In the Italian city of Naples, a group of armed assailants attacked a branch of Credit Agricole bank. The incident, which occurred during working hours in the Arenella district, began as a robbery attempt but quickly escalated into a hostage situation and a full-scale police operation.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people enter wealthy countries on temporary work visas, hoping to earn a living and support their families. For many, these visas undoubtedly offer a chance to earn more money and build a more stable life. But for others, they become another source of vulnerability and abuse.
Alexandre Ramagem, Brazil's former intelligence chief and a fugitive, has been released from custody by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Ramagem was sentenced in Brazil to 16 years in prison for his role in an attempted military coup aimed at keeping former President Jair Bolsonaro in power after he lost the 2022 election. He fled to the US in September 2025 before Brazilian authorities could imprison him.
China's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5% in the first quarter compared to a year earlier, according to official data released on Tuesday. This figure exceeded economists' expectations of around 4.8%, indicating a more robust economic performance than anticipated amidst a complex global landscape.