World

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has initiated an investigation into suspicious activity in the oil futures market, recorded shortly before key statements by US President Donald Trump regarding the conflict with Iran. According to Reuters, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig stated in prepared remarks for a US Congressional hearing on April 16 that the regulator intends to pursue violators, though the text did not mention any specific investigation, and a representative of the agency declined to comment.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Roelf Meyer, a former minister and negotiator from the apartheid government, as the new ambassador to the United States. This move aims to repair strained relations with Washington, which have deteriorated under the Trump administration. Meyer's appointment is seen as a response to US President Donald Trump's accusations that the South African government discriminates against white Afrikaners.

In Sanaa, 14-year-old Qasim begins his daily struggle at 7 a.m. He leaves his family's rented apartment, carrying a white sack about one meter long and half a meter wide. He hopes to fill it by 11:30 a.m. Qasim collects plastic bottles. A sack full of these bottles can earn him up to 1,500 Yemeni riyal, approximately $3. Buyers gather these items to be recycled in factories.

Uzbekistan, Tashkent – AN Podrobno.uz. Unique maps of the Aral Sea, dated 1853, have been introduced into scientific circulation. These archival documents, compiled during the first large-scale hydrographic expeditions, have become a benchmark for assessing changes in the largest enclosed lake, which has undergone one of the most extensive ecological transformations in history over the past 170 years.

Ireland is experiencing widespread protests over soaring fuel prices, described by some commentators as 'arguably the most serious insurrection' since the state's creation in the 1920s. Farmers and hauliers have been staging 'go-slow' convoys and blockading ports and critical infrastructure since last week, drawing comparisons to France's Yellow Vests movement of 2018-2019.

In the rugged Hindu Kush mountains of eastern Afghanistan, along the Kunar riverbed, hundreds of men are scouring for precious gold dust, carving out a livelihood against a backdrop of severely limited economic options. This mountainous region, with peaks still snow-capped in April, draws workers near the Pakistan border, who hope to change their fortunes in a country plagued by persistently low wages and widespread unemployment.

Julius Malema, the leader of the far-left opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party in South Africa, has been sentenced to five years in prison for firing a rifle into the air at a party rally in 2018 in the Eastern Cape province. Magistrate Twanet Olivier handed down the sentence on Thursday, concluding a trial where Malema was convicted last year on charges including unlawful possession of a firearm and discharging a weapon in a public place.

A massive fire has erupted at Australia's largest oil refinery, operated by Viva Energy in Geelong. The blaze began on Wednesday night, with flames reaching up to 60 meters high, and was only brought under control by Thursday morning. This facility is one of only two operational oil refineries in the country, producing approximately 10% of Australia's fuel supply.

Nabijan Mondal, 73, from India's West Bengal state, has voted in every election – national, state, or local – for the past 50 years. However, as the state heads for a two-phase assembly election on April 23 and 29, her name is missing from the voter list published by the Election Commission of India (ECI). While her husband, three sons, daughter, and their spouses remain on the list, Nabijan lost her voting rights because her voter card uses "Nabijan" (her nickname) and other documents use "Nabirul."

Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir — Masrat Mukhtar, 55, handed over gold earrings gifted by her father for her birthday in March to a donation drive supporting civilians in Iran suffering from the US-Israel war on the country. This act occurred during Eid-ul-Fitr, highlighting a shift in the region from customary celebrations to humanitarian aid collection. Her cousins followed suit, bringing personal valuables, while families offered copper utensils, livestock, bicycles, and savings, with children sharing piggy bank contents.

The European Union's new Entry/Exit System (EES), a biometric border control mechanism, has reportedly triggered hours-long queues and significant delays at airports in six member states. Since its full implementation on April 10, the system has allegedly exacerbated congestion in France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Spain, and Greece. Airports Council International (ACI) Europe has warned that the situation could escalate into a "collapse" as the peak tourist season approaches.

Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities – Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro – killed at least 13 people and injured several others in overnight attacks, local authorities reported on Thursday. In the capital Kyiv, a 12-year-old child and three others were killed in a Russian strike, while seven people died in the southern port city of Odesa, officials stated.