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The Eurovision Song Contest began in Vienna under the shadow of boycotts and protests over Israel's participation, with five countries withdrawing. Broadcasters in Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia are refusing to air the event, while organizers express hope for the absent nations' return. The first semi-final saw Finland and Israel advance amid ongoing controversy.
Maria Fernanda Espinosa, former President of the UN General Assembly, has been nominated by Antigua and Barbuda for the position of UN Secretary-General. She is one of five candidates vying for the role, with the election scheduled for July 2026. Espinosa stressed the importance of impartiality in a recent interview, warning against double standards that erode trust in the UN.
US President Donald Trump announced that Cuba is seeking assistance and that Washington intends to hold talks with Havana, describing the island as a 'failed country.' The announcement comes amid a fuel blockade and sanctions imposed by the US, with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel expressing gratitude for potential US aid.
A bomb hidden on a rickshaw exploded in a crowded bazaar in Lakki Marwat, northwest Pakistan, killing at least nine people and wounding more than two dozen. The Pakistani Taliban denied involvement, though the attack comes amid a wave of recent militant violence and heightened tensions with Afghanistan.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced €23 billion in investments for Africa at the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, co-hosted with Kenya. The summit aimed to reset France-Africa ties, with leaders emphasizing mutual respect and sovereign equality. Kenyan President William Ruto and other African figures voiced support for a partnership based on shared responsibility.
Christian Schmidt, the international High Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, has resigned after nearly five years, a move that comes as the US lifts sanctions on Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik and questions grow over the future of the role. The resignation has sparked debate over the viability of the Dayton Peace Agreement's oversight mechanism and the stability of the multi-ethnic state.
At a groundbreaking ceremony for a $340 million UN campus expansion in Nairobi, President William Ruto announced a $1.1 billion infrastructure investment to position Kenya as a global conferencing hub, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for reform to increase African representation in international institutions.
The European Union has dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal that former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder represent Europe in potential peace negotiations. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the idea a “trap,” emphasizing that Russia should not choose Europe’s negotiator. Meanwhile, Russian officials and some German voices have defended the proposal, highlighting a stark divide over the path to dialogue.
The European Union and the United Kingdom have announced sanctions against Russian institutions and officials accused of systematically deporting and indoctrinating Ukrainian children. The measures target individuals and entities linked to forced transfers and military training of children, with the EU citing nearly 20,500 children affected since 2022. The actions follow UN findings that these practices constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
The European Union has agreed to impose sanctions on Israeli settlers and organizations over violence in the West Bank, alongside new measures targeting Hamas leaders. The decision came after Hungary's new Prime Minister Peter Magyar lifted the veto that had blocked the measures. Israeli officials condemned the move as 'arbitrary and political'.
A US-brokered ceasefire in Lebanon, which began on April 16, is increasingly fragile as Israeli attacks have killed hundreds, including medical workers. Lebanese officials report 51 deaths in the past 24 hours, and the UN documents over 100 medics killed since March. Diplomatic efforts continue, with US-hosted talks planned for May 14-15.
A new suspected oil slick has been detected near Iran's main export hub of Kharg Island, adding to a larger spill already drifting toward Saudi waters. Satellite imagery reveals an apparent spill covering dozens of square kilometers, raising questions about the state of Iran's aging oil infrastructure amid US sanctions and a naval blockade.
An attack by CODECO militia groups in DR Congo's Ituri province has left at least 69 dead, according to local and security sources. The violence follows a clash between another armed group and the army, with the UN mission rescuing nearly 200 people. The region has long been plagued by ethnic conflict and ongoing rebel activity.
Iran has submitted its response to a US proposal to end the ongoing conflict through Pakistani mediators, according to Iranian state media. The talks are reportedly focused on ending hostilities, with negotiations also addressing the Strait of Hormuz and a possible interim agreement.
A suicide assault on a police post in Bannu killed between 12 and 15 officers, with a Pakistani Taliban splinter group claiming responsibility. Days later a bomb-laden rickshaw explosion in nearby Sarai Naurang killed at least seven to nine people and wounded about 30, deepening tensions as Islamabad blamed Afghan-based militants and Kabul rejected the charges.
Niger's military government has suspended nine major French media outlets, citing threats to public order and national security. Reporters Without Borders condemned the decision as 'abusive' and part of a coordinated strategy to repress press freedom in the Sahel. Some Nigeriens support the ban, viewing it as a stand against perceived imperialist influence.
Dr. Cochav Elkayam-Levy is preparing to release a 300-page report documenting Hamas's systematic sexual violence on October 7, based on survivor testimonies, forensic analysis, and terrorist footage. The report introduces the term 'kinocide' and will be shared with courts, parliaments, and feminist scholars. Meanwhile, a New York Times opinion piece alleging abuses by Israeli forces has shifted media focus, raising questions about journalistic priorities.
Relative calm has returned to the Strait of Hormuz after days of naval clashes, with Washington awaiting Tehran’s response to a US peace proposal. Iran has questioned the seriousness of American diplomacy, while US officials say they expect a reply soon.
Iran's army spokesman says countries imposing sanctions on Iran will face obstacles transiting the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran establishes a 'new legal and security system' in the strategic waterway. The warning comes amid ongoing US-Iran strikes and while Saudi Aramco reports a surge in profits due to higher energy prices.
A Palestinian family in the occupied West Bank says Israeli settlers forced them to exhume and rebury their father’s body hours after his funeral, claiming the cemetery land belonged to a nearby Israeli settlement. The UN Human Rights Office condemned the incident as 'appalling and emblematic of the dehumanisation of Palestinians.' The Israeli military denied giving reburial instructions.