World

The UN Security Council is preparing to vote on a Bahrain-sponsored resolution that would authorize countries to use "defensive means necessary" to secure safe transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters. The resolution, supported by six Gulf nations and Jordan, comes as countries worldwide feel the impact of disrupted oil flows, with the strait carrying a quarter of the world's oil. This move highlights the escalating tensions in the region amid the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could impose long-threatened tariffs of up to 100% on some patented pharmaceuticals if drug companies fail to reach deals with his administration in the coming months. Under the order issued on Thursday, companies that have signed a "most favoured nation" pricing agreement and are actively building facilities in the US will face a zero-percent tariff.

Ten Muslim civil rights organizations have issued a joint letter denouncing the arrest of Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian-American community leader in Wisconsin. Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee and a vocal advocate for Palestine, was reportedly pulled over by ten federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents while driving on March 30, then transferred to detention facilities in Illinois and Indiana, leaving his family scrambling to determine his whereabouts. A lawful permanent resident who had lived in the U.S. for 32 years, with a wife and children who are U.S. citizens, he has remained in immigration detention since his arrest.

Water has evolved from a sectoral issue into a strategic resource at the intersection of economy, climate, geopolitics, and energy. At the Tashkent Water Week forum held in late March, experts discussed global trends and regional challenges facing Central Asian states. Mirshohid Aslanov, Executive Director of the Center for Progressive Reforms in Uzbekistan, emphasized that current water problems in the region urgently require a shift from outdated resource assessment methods to real-time monitoring systems.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump made mocking comments about French President Emmanuel Macron's wife while criticizing NATO allies for failing to join U.S. operations in Iran. In a video briefly posted by the White House on YouTube and later removed, Trump referenced Macron, saying, "France, Macron — whose wife treats him extremely badly. Still recovering from the right to the jaw." This alludes to a video from last year that appeared to show Brigitte Macron shoving the French president's face during a trip to Vietnam.

Madrid, Spain – Spain's aspirations to host the 2030 World Cup final suffered a significant setback after racist and Islamophobic chants marred a friendly match against Egypt. The country is set to co-host the next edition of football's premier event with Morocco and Portugal, but the location of the final remains undecided by FIFA, the sport's global governing body. Instead of showcasing form ahead of this year's World Cup in the Americas, Spain's performance on the pitch was overshadowed by off-field controversies.

The United States has reiterated its openness to diplomacy with Tehran, even as the US-Israel war against Iran continues and President Donald Trump renews threats to destroy the country's civilian infrastructure. In a TV interview with Al Jazeera on Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott claimed that Trump pursued talks with Iran before the war, but accused Iran of continuing to pursue a nuclear weapon. Pigott stated, "The president is always open to diplomacy, but he's also been clear we will see his objectives be fulfilled here".

At least 43 people have been killed in an attack by a rebel group linked to ISIL (ISIS) in northeast Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to the army. The assault occurred in Bafwakoa village, located in Mambasa territory in Ituri province, where regional army spokesperson Lieutenant Jules Tshikudi Ngongo stated on Thursday that “43 compatriots were killed and 44 houses torched” during the previous day’s violence. Authorities attributed the attack to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), a group led by former Ugandan rebels that has sworn allegiance to ISIL, highlighting the persistent threat of extremist violence in the region.

The National Capital Planning Commission has approved President Donald Trump's proposal to build a massive ballroom at the White House, a move that has sparked significant backlash and legal challenges over his attempt to impose a personal touch on a national landmark. The commission, responsible for overseeing construction on federal sites in the Washington, DC area, voted in favor of the project on Thursday, despite ongoing controversies.

In a remote alpine area of the Campbell Range in the Arahura Valley on New Zealand's South Island, a border collie named Molly was successfully rescued after being missing for a week. The dog's owner, Jessica Johnston, had fallen down a 55-meter drop during a hike on March 24, sustaining serious injuries and being evacuated by helicopter, but the dog was lost.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump used a prime-time address to declare the month-long war with Iran a success “nearing completion,” despite a spiraling conflict that has caused global economic turmoil, fractured transatlantic alliances, and eroded his approval ratings. In a 19-minute speech from the White House, Trump argued that the U.S.’s “little journey” to Iran had nearly accomplished “all of America’s military objectives,” but offered little clarity on how he plans to wind down the conflict over the next “two to three weeks.”

U.S. President Donald Trump used a prime-time national address to declare the month-long war with Iran 'nearing completion' and a success, despite a spiraling conflict that has triggered global economic turmoil, fractured transatlantic alliances, and eroded the president's approval ratings. His speech offered little clarity on how he plans to wind down the hostilities over the coming weeks.