World

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich launched a sharp criticism of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on social media, following Merz's expression of concern about Israel's settlement policy in the West Bank. Smotrich, a far-right politician and grandson of Holocaust survivors, wrote: "The days when Germans dictated to Jews where they were permitted or forbidden to live are over and shall not return. You will not force us into ghettos again, certainly not in our own land."

Leading South African opposition politician Julius Malema, 45, the head of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party and a member of parliament, has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm and discharging it in public. However, Magistrate Twanet Olivier granted him leave to appeal the verdict and sentencing, meaning Malema will not be taken to prison immediately.

Pope Leo, during his visit to Cameroon, issued unusually forceful criticism of leaders who allocate billions of dollars to wars, stating that the world is "being ravaged by a handful of tyrants." He blasted those who manipulate "the very name of God" for personal gain. These remarks come just days after a high-profile spat with US President Donald Trump, who posted a lengthy attack on the Pope—a vocal critic of the US and Israeli military operations in Iran. Pope Leo had previously expressed concern over Trump's threat that "a whole civilisation will die" if Iran did not comply with US demands.

A former US Marine, Daniel Duggan, 57, is set to be extradited from Australia to the United States over allegations he illegally trained Chinese military pilots. Duggan was arrested in October 2022 in Orange, New South Wales, at the request of the US regime. Washington claims he violated US arms-trafficking laws by training Chinese fighter pilots in South Africa between 2010 and 2012, though Duggan denies these accusations and is an Australian citizen.

A large-scale inspection has been initiated in the Charvak free tourist zone in Bostanlyk District, Tashkent Region, starting April 10, aimed at preventing the illegal dumping of construction waste. This was reported by the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. The inspection is being carried out by a working group comprising representatives from the General Prosecutor's Office, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the National Guard, environmental and tourism police, as well as local authorities.

Turkish police have arrested 162 people accused of posting controversial content online about two deadly school shootings that occurred this week. Authorities stated that those detained were "found to have engaged in posts and activities praising crime and criminals and negatively affecting public order."

A significant fire at one of Australia's two oil refineries, operated by Viva Energy, has been extinguished after burning for 13 hours, but it has intensified concerns over the nation's petrol supplies during a global fuel shortage. The blaze at the Corio refinery in Geelong, southwest of Melbourne, was brought under control by emergency crews, with no injuries reported and dozens of workers safely evacuated.

Authorities in Uzbekistan's Samarkand region have detained a group of citizens involved in the illegal mining of gold from ore without a proper license. According to the Department under the General Prosecutor's Office, the individuals operated under a premeditated conspiracy, highlighting the organized nature of this illicit activity.

Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir has authorized five soldiers accused of sexually assaulting a Palestinian inmate in the notorious Sde Teiman detention camp to return to reserve service after charges against them were dropped, according to Israeli media reports. The soldiers, all from the Force 100 unit assigned to guard military prisons, are being reinstated despite an ongoing, internal military inquiry into their conduct, raising serious questions about accountability within the Israeli military justice system.

Iran's Parliament Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, told his Lebanese counterpart Nabih Berri in a phone conversation that a ceasefire in Lebanon is "as important" as one in Iran, according to a statement posted on social media. Ghalibaf wrote on Telegram that Tehran has "been striving to compel our enemies to establish a permanent ceasefire in all the conflict zones, in accordance with the agreement," highlighting Iran's diplomatic push amid ongoing tensions with the United States and Israel.

The future deployment of Rwandan troops in the fight against terrorism in Mozambique's northern Cabo Delgado province is uncertain, with President Paul Kagame threatening to withdraw his forces as early as May. This move is primarily aimed at pressuring the European Union (EU) for additional financial compensation, amid reports that Brussels may end its support for the operation. The mission against Islamist insurgents could soon conclude if the EU fails to provide reliable funding commitments.

In the early hours of April 16, Russia launched a large-scale aerial assault on Ukrainian territory. According to Ukrainian officials, the heaviest strikes targeted Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro, resulting in 16 deaths and over 100 injuries of varying severity. Ukraine's Air Force reported that 44 missiles and 659 unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) were used in the attack, with 12 missiles and 20 drones hitting their targets.