Iraq sandstorm leaves 1,800 with breathing problems

Alfie Tobutt BBC World Service Getty Images The sandstorm blanketed parts of southern Iraq in an orange haze More than a thousand people have been left with respiratory problems after a sandstorm swept across Iraq’s central and southern parts of the country, health officials said. One official in Muthanna province reported to the AFP news … Read more

Palestinian student activist arrested at US citizenship interview

Getty Images Mr Mahdawi participated in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University An organiser of pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University has been arrested by immigration officials as he attended an interview as part of his application for US citizenship, his lawyer says. Mohsen Mahdawi, a green card holder who is due to graduate next month from … Read more

Couple arrested for breeding exotic cats in Spain

Danai Nesta Kupemba BBC News Guardia Civil Ministry of Interior Police say the couple’s activities were connected to a larger global trafficking organisation Spanish authorities have arrested a couple suspected of selling exotic cats online, including protected species like white tigers, pumas and clouded leopards. Civil Guard police raided the couple’s home on the island … Read more

Good cops, bad cops – how Trump’s tariff team kept world guessing

Bernd Debusmann Jr BBC News, White House Getty Images Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent addressed reporters within minutes of Trump’s tariffs pause on 9 April In the chaotic minutes after US President Donald Trump’s administration abruptly reversed course and paused dozens of sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs, one man quickly became the public face of the decision: Treasury … Read more

More than 400 killed by rebel group in Sudan says UN

More than 400 people have been killed in recent attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s Darfur region, says the UN citing “credible sources”. Last week, the RSF launched an intense ground and aerial assault on refugee camps surrounding the city of El-Fasher in an attempt to seize the last state capital … Read more

JD Vance drops college football trophy at White House

US Vice-president JD Vance has dropped the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy at the White House on Monday during Ohio State Buckeyes’ visit. The 2025 College Football champions were invited by President Donald Trump to celebrate the team’s title-winning season with a ceremony on the South Lawn.

Hungary’s parliament votes to limit rights of dual nationals and LGBTQ+ people

Hungary’s parliament has backed a range of constitutional amendments which will limit the rights of LGBTQ+ people and dual nationals. The amendments, which the government says are aimed at protecting children’s physical and moral development, will enable it to ban public LGBTQ+ gatherings. Hundreds gathered outside parliament to protest against the move, which rights campaigners … Read more