World

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, in an interview with Reuters, warned that the Middle East conflict is set to negatively impact global economic growth and drive up inflation. She stated that the conflict has already caused the largest historical disruption in energy supplies, with the Strait of Hormuz—through which about 20% of global oil and gas shipments pass—effectively blocked, reducing global oil supplies by 13%.

NASA's Orion spacecraft, as part of the Artemis II mission, has set a new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth. On Monday, the spacecraft reached a distance of 252,752 miles (406,764.9 kilometers), surpassing the previous record of 248,655 miles set by the Apollo 13 mission in April 1970. This flight marks the first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years, following a figure-eight trajectory around Earth and the Moon.

United States Vice President JD Vance has arrived in Budapest for a two-day visit aimed at bolstering support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his Fidesz Party ahead of the April 12 parliamentary elections. This trip follows US President Donald Trump's alleged endorsement of the right-wing leader in February, as well as a visit by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to the country that same month, highlighting the close alignment between the Trump administration and Orban's government.

At least 10 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes and clashes between Hamas and an Israel-backed Palestinian militia in central Gaza, according to local sources. The violence erupted after members of the Israel-backed militia established a checkpoint east of the Maghazi refugee camp, leading to an attack by Hamas security personnel and subsequent intense fighting.

Albert Mazibuko, who sang in the iconic South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo for more than five decades, has died at the age of 77. The choral group announced on their Facebook page that the musician's death occurred on Sunday following a short illness.

▪️ US President Donald Trump has issued a stark threat to destroy Iran 'in one night' if it fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy chokepoint in the Persian Gulf, by a deadline he set for Tuesday at 20:00 EDT (01:00 GMT). Trump's demand for an 'acceptable' deal, which includes ensuring the free flow of energy, comes amid ongoing tensions, with Iran so far rejecting US ceasefire proposals and instead calling for an immediate end to hostilities, post-conflict reconstruction, and the lifting of sanctions.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that the United States is considering charging tolls for ships passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz following its war with Iran, a move that would likely necessitate direct US military control over the waterway. This proposal raises significant geopolitical concerns, as the strait lies mostly within Iranian and Omani territorial waters, and could further destabilize the already tense region.

An Israeli airstrike has killed at least 10 people and wounded several others near a school housing displaced Palestinians in central Gaza, according to health officials. The strike on Monday occurred as Palestinians clashed with members of an Israeli-backed militia that reportedly attempted to abduct some individuals, based on accounts from medics and residents.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have announced a missile and drone attack targeting Israel, which they claim was coordinated with Iran and the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. In a statement on Monday, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the three allies “launched a barrage of cruise missiles and drones targeting several vital and military sites belonging to the Israeli enemy.” The Houthis, who control most of northern Yemen, joined the conflict in support of Iran on March 28.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has reached a deal with the administration of Donald Trump to join its third-country program, allowing it to receive migrant deportees from the US. The Congolese Ministry of Communications stated that deportees will begin arriving this month, but did not provide details on the exact number of individuals involved.

Bangladesh has launched an emergency vaccination campaign following a fast-spreading measles outbreak suspected of killing more than 100 people, predominantly children, in what may be the country's most lethal wave of the disease in recent history. According to health ministry data, there have been over 7,500 suspected measles cases since March 15, with more than 900 confirmed—a sharp increase from 2025, when just 125 measles cases were recorded throughout the entire year.

Thirty-one civilians taken hostage following a Sunday morning attack on a church in north-west Nigeria's Kaduna state have been rescued, according to a statement from the army. The incident occurred during Easter celebrations in Ariko, with soldiers engaging the attackers in what was described as a "fierce firefight," forcing them to flee and abandon the hostages along with the bodies of the dead victims.