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French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France has raised 23 billion euros in investments for Africa at the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi. France is promoting a "partnership of equals" with African countries as it ends its military presence in West Africa and aims to change its past relationship with the continent.
Key Facts
The Africa Forward summit is taking place in Nairobi, Kenya.
France raised 23 billion euros for investment in Africa.
President Macron wants to build a balanced partnership with African countries.
France is completing its military withdrawal from several West African nations.
This move reflects a shift in France’s role and influence in Africa.
The new approach seeks to move away from France’s history of neocolonialism.
Kenya’s President William Ruto joined Macron at a joint press conference.
The summit focuses on economic and political cooperation between Africa and France.
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The Israeli military carried out an air strike in southern Lebanon that killed six people and injured seven, despite a ceasefire agreed in April. Israel continues military actions in Lebanon, including forcing some residents to leave their homes, while Lebanon requests U.S. help to stop the attacks ahead of a planned meeting between Israeli and Lebanese officials.
Key Facts
Six people were killed in an Israeli air raid on a house in Kfar Dounin, southern Lebanon.
Seven people were wounded and taken to hospitals in the city of Tyre.
The April 16 ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has seen frequent violations with attacks from both sides.
Israeli forces say they targeted over 1,100 sites in Lebanon since the start of the ceasefire.
Over 500 people died during the ceasefire, with total deaths since March 2 exceeding 2,800.
Israel issued new orders for residents to leave several towns in southern Lebanon and destroyed infrastructure including a water pumping station.
Lebanese leaders asked the U.S. to pressure Israel to stop attacks before upcoming talks in Washington, D.C.
The planned meeting will discuss the ceasefire’s future but no direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli leaders are expected soon.
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Sir Keir Starmer is facing a leadership crisis after a poor set of election results for the Labour Party. Many Labour members want him to step down or set a timetable for leaving, but he insists on continuing as prime minister and leader.
Key Facts
Sir Keir Starmer holds a cabinet meeting amid calls for him to resign.
Over 70 Labour MPs want Starmer to quit or make a plan to leave leadership.
Some cabinet ministers, including Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, urge Starmer to set a departure timetable.
No formal leadership challenge has been launched yet, which needs support from 81 MPs (20% of Labour MPs).
Starmer told his cabinet the country expects Labour to focus on governing, not leadership battles.
Labour recently lost nearly 1,500 council seats in England and their power in Wales, plus had a poor showing in Scotland.
Labour’s bad election results and controversies, like Starmer’s appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, have caused internal doubts about his leadership.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner are seen as potential leadership challengers.
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The UN health agency says there is currently no sign of a larger outbreak of hantavirus after passengers were evacuated from a cruise ship where several cases have been confirmed. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) cautions that the situation could change, and more cases might appear due to the virus's long incubation period.
Key Facts
Seven cases of hantavirus have been confirmed among passengers of the MV Hondius cruise ship.
Three people who traveled on the ship have died.
The cruise ship left Tenerife, Spain, and is sailing to Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Twelve hospital workers in the Netherlands are quarantined after possible virus exposure while treating one patient.
The virus strain involved is likely the Andes strain, which can sometimes spread between people.
Symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, stomach troubles, and breathing difficulties.
The ship's final passengers and many crew members have been evacuated and repatriated to their home countries.
Health officials continue monitoring the situation and preparing to contain any further cases.
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The war involving Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off supplies of bunker fuel, a heavy oil used to power most cargo ships. This shortage is causing fuel prices to rise, especially in Asia, leading shipping companies to slow down ships and plan for alternative fuels. The fuel shortage is expected to increase shipping costs, raise prices for consumers, and affect businesses around the world.
Key Facts
Bunker fuel is a thick, heavy oil used to power about 80% of goods shipped by sea globally.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war has blocked key sources of bunker fuel, especially from Middle Eastern countries like Iraq and Kuwait.
Singapore is the world's largest hub for refueling ships with bunker fuel, but its reserves are running low and prices have risen sharply.
Before the conflict, bunker fuel cost around $500 per metric ton in Singapore; prices have increased to over $800 per metric ton.
Shipping companies are reducing vessel speeds and changing schedules to save fuel in the short term.
Some companies may struggle to survive the increased fuel costs caused by the shortage.
Asia depends heavily on Middle Eastern oil and has started using more coal, buying more Russian crude oil, and considering nuclear power to deal with energy problems.
More than half of global seaborne trade passed through Asian ports in 2024, so disruptions there affect supply chains worldwide.
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Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies named Andriy Yermak, former chief of staff to President Zelenskyy, as a suspect in a $10.5 million money-laundering investigation. The announcement came as a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia ended, and fighting continued with drone attacks.
Key Facts
Andriy Yermak is under suspicion for allegedly laundering 460 million hryvnias (about $10.5 million).
Yermak resigned in November amid the investigation.
The corruption probe is considered a major embarrassment for President Zelenskyy.
The ceasefire brokered by the U.S. lasted three days but ended with ongoing conflict.
Ukraine proposed to extend the pause in fighting, but Russia launched over 200 drone attacks overnight.
At least one civilian was killed and six others were wounded in the drone strikes.
President Zelenskyy met with the CEO of Palantir Technologies, a U.S. AI software company that helps with defense data analysis.
Russia claimed to have intercepted 30 Ukrainian drones near its border.
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U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he plans to stay in office despite pressure from many members of his party to resign after poor local election results. He met with his Cabinet for important talks and took responsibility for the losses but refused to step down.
Key Facts
More than 70 Labour Party members in Parliament want Prime Minister Starmer to quit or set a timetable for leaving.
Starmer’s Labour Party suffered significant losses in recent local elections across the U.K.
Junior minister Miatta Fahnbulleh resigned and urged Starmer to step down for the good of the country.
Fahnbulleh criticized the government for lacking clear vision and strong values in governing.
Starmer told his Cabinet he would keep fighting and that there is a formal process to remove a leader that has not started.
He emphasized that the country expects the government to continue working rather than focus on leadership fights.
The Cabinet meeting was seen as a key moment to determine Starmer’s future as leader.
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Keir Starmer told his cabinet that he will not quit as prime minister because no formal leadership challenge has been started. Despite pressure from some colleagues and one minister resigning, Starmer said he wants to continue governing and focus on delivering change.
Key Facts
Keir Starmer said the rules for challenging a party leader have not been met, so he will not resign.
At least 80 members of parliament asked Starmer to set a date for leaving the leadership.
Communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh resigned and urged Starmer to plan an orderly exit.
Some senior cabinet members discussed with Starmer the need for a calm and responsible transition if he leaves.
Others encouraged Starmer to stay and keep leading the party.
Starmer’s team highlighted the tough job of being prime minister and warned against quick leadership changes.
Some MPs publicly supported Starmer, saying the country needs political stability because of global problems.
Starmer stated that he accepts responsibility for election results and wants to focus on governing.
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Indigenous Australians from the Yindjibarndi group have won a record A$150.1 million payout after a court found that billionaire Andrew Forrest’s mining company, Fortescue, mined iron ore on their land without permission. The payment is the largest native title compensation ever granted in Australia and covers both economic losses and cultural damage.
Key Facts
The Yindjibarndi people were awarded A$150.1 million after a legal battle with Fortescue.
Fortescue is owned by billionaire Andrew Forrest and operates mines in Australia’s Pilbara region.
Since 2013, Fortescue has made billions mining iron ore on Yindjibarndi land.
The Yindjibarndi group originally sought A$1.8 billion in compensation.
The court recognized both economic loss (A$150,000) and cultural loss (A$150 million).
The cultural loss relates to the loss of connection and spiritual ties to the land.
The dispute began after a 2017 ruling gave the Yindjibarndi exclusive native title rights over a 2,700 sq km area.
Fortescue had government and some local approval but not from the native title holders, leading to nearly 20 years of legal conflict.
The mines are expected to keep operating until around the mid-2040s.
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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder affecting about 170 million women worldwide, has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) after over a decade of global work. The new name better reflects the wide effects of the condition on hormones, metabolism, and the risk of diabetes and heart disease, not just the ovaries.
Key Facts
PCOS affects about one in eight women globally, totaling approximately 170 million women.
The condition has been renamed PMOS to better describe its broad impact on hormone balance and metabolism.
The name change was announced at the European Congress of Endocrinology and published in the Lancet medical journal.
The change followed 14 years of collaboration among international medical groups and patient organizations across six continents.
The old name "polycystic ovary syndrome" was misleading because not all patients have ovarian cysts, and the cysts are actually immature eggs, not true cysts.
PMOS involves hormone imbalances like excess male hormones (androgens) and insulin resistance, affecting reproductive health and increasing risks for diabetes and heart disease.
The renaming effort was led by endocrinologist Prof Helena Teede, who aims to improve diagnosis and treatment by removing confusion linked to the old name.
Patients played a key role in pushing for the name change to better represent their experiences with the condition.
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The Bahamas is holding a general election where three main political groups are competing for control. Key issues for voters include immigration from Haiti and rising costs, especially high gas prices linked to the Middle East conflict. The ruling Progressive Liberal Party seeks another term while the opposition focuses on immigration concerns.
Key Facts
Over 200,000 voters are registered across 41 areas in the Bahamas for the election.
The main parties are the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), the Free National Movement (FNM), and the Coalition of Independents (COI).
Former basketball star Rick Fox is running as a candidate for the FNM.
Immigration, especially illegal immigration from Haiti, is a major issue in the campaign.
Gas prices in the Bahamas have risen to around $7 per gallon, much higher than in the U.S.
PLP Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis argues that keeping his party in power will maintain stability and ongoing recovery.
The FNM warns against illegal immigration and promises no citizenship for those who enter illegally.
The COI, a smaller party with strong social media support, aims to increase its influence after gaining 8,000 votes in 2021.
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A new study from Oura, a company that makes health-tracking rings, shows that people in different countries sleep different amounts each night. For example, people in Japan sleep an average of 6.23 hours, less than those in the United States who average 7.05 hours. The study also found that cultural habits and environments affect sleep patterns, but shorter sleep does not always mean worse health.
Key Facts
People in Japan sleep about 6.23 hours per night on average.
Americans sleep about 7.05 hours, and New Zealanders about 7.11 hours on average.
Other countries with shorter average sleep include India and the United Arab Emirates.
Cultural factors affect sleep, such as late family meals in India and long work hours in Japan.
Japan, despite less sleep on average, has a longer life expectancy than many countries in the study.
Experts recommend adults get at least 7 hours of sleep to avoid health risks like heart disease and diabetes.
Sleep patterns vary due to biological differences called chronotypes, meaning some people are naturally night owls or morning people.
Social factors, like work and school schedules, can reduce sleep time, especially for those who are night owls.
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Senator Bernie Sanders supports cooperating with China to regulate the fast development of artificial intelligence (AI) to prevent dangerous outcomes. However, some experts warn that working with China on AI could harm U.S. interests because China has refused key talks and may use cooperation to gain an advantage.
Key Facts
Bernie Sanders wants to slow down AI development by working together with China and creating global agreements.
Sanders hosted American and Chinese scientists to discuss AI cooperation and believes leaders can work together on this issue.
President Trump may discuss AI with Chinese President Xi Jinping during their meeting in Beijing.
President Biden raised AI cooperation with Xi in 2023, but China rejected talks on restricting AI for nuclear weapons control.
Experts warn that China is unlikely to cooperate fully and that cooperation could weaken the U.S. lead in AI.
Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proposed a law to pause building AI data centers until rules are in place.
Some analysts say that cooperating with China on AI is risky because China’s government system does not support open innovation like the U.S.
There is concern that China could use AI cooperation to gain global power at America’s expense.
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An American climber named Shelley Johannesen died in an avalanche on Mount Makalu in Nepal while descending from the summit. This death adds to other fatalities during Nepal’s busy spring climbing season in the Himalayas.
Key Facts
Shelley Johannesen, 53, an American climber and co-founder of Dash Adventures, died on Monday.
She was hit by an avalanche at about 23,600 feet while coming down from Mount Makalu’s 27,838-foot summit.
Johannesen was climbing with her partner and two Nepali guides when the accident happened.
So far this season, five climbers, including a Czech climber and three Nepali guides, have died in the Himalayas.
Johannesen’s body was flown to a hospital in Kathmandu.
Mount Makalu is known for being a very difficult and steep mountain to climb due to harsh weather and its remote area.
Nepal issues many climbing permits each year; this season there are over 1,000 permits for 30 mountains, with 72 for Makalu and a record 492 for Mount Everest.
Nepal’s highest peaks attract hundreds of climbers during spring and autumn every year.
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Israel sent Iron Dome missile defense systems and staff to the United Arab Emirates to help protect the country during the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to the U.S. ambassador to Israel. This move highlights growing security cooperation between Israel and the UAE, which established formal diplomatic ties in 2020 under the Abraham Accords.
Key Facts
Israel deployed Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and personnel to the UAE for defense purposes amid the Iran war.
Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, spoke about this at a conference in Tel Aviv.
The UAE and Israel normalized relations in 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords.
The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway near Iran, remains a tense area in the conflict.
Diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran are currently stalled.
Huckabee expressed optimism that more Middle Eastern countries may join the Abraham Accords.
Some Arab states remain unhappy about Israel’s military actions following Hamas’ 2023 attack.
The Gulf states are facing a choice between fearing attacks from Iran or Israel, according to Huckabee.
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Zoe Ball said she did not get the job as a new presenter of the BBC dance show Strictly Come Dancing. She expressed gratitude for being considered and said she enjoyed the audition process.
Key Facts
Zoe Ball confirmed she was not chosen as one of the new Strictly presenters.
The BBC will soon announce who will replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on Strictly.
Ball took part in screen tests but was not selected.
She has previously hosted the two BBC Radio breakfast shows and Strictly’s spin-off, It Takes Two.
Emma Willis, who took over Ball’s Radio 2 weekend show, is reported to be offered one of the Strictly presenting roles.
Other names considered for the role included Rylan Clark, Alex Jones, Bradley Walsh, and Rob Rinder.
The final decision followed several rounds of on-screen chemistry tests.
Ball said she is a big fan of the show and happy with the outcome.
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Russia and Ukraine resumed attacks after a US-brokered three-day ceasefire ended, with Ukraine reporting over 200 Russian drone strikes. Both sides accused each other of breaking the truce, and Russia’s President Putin said the war might be ending soon, while warning of wider conflict risks.
Key Facts
A US-brokered 72-hour ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine expired without lasting peace.
Ukraine said Russia launched over 200 drone attacks, targeting regions including Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Sumy, and Chernihiv.
Russian attacks hit energy infrastructure and civilian areas, resulting in at least one death and four injuries in Dnipropetrovsk.
Russia reported shooting down 27 Ukrainian drones and accused Ukraine of more than 1,000 ceasefire violations, including attacks on Russian civilians and military sites.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia did not seriously observe the ceasefire and fighting continued near front-line areas.
US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire, hoping it would mark progress toward ending the war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to meet Zelenskyy after a peace deal and warned about the potential for wider conflict involving the West.
The war in Ukraine continues amid broader international tensions, including a separate conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
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French President Emmanuel Macron announced $27 billion in investments for Africa during a summit in Kenya. The funds come from French and African companies and aim to create jobs and support projects in energy, farming, and artificial intelligence.
Key Facts
Macron revealed 23 billion euros ($27 billion) in new investments at the Africa Forward summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
Investment includes 14 billion euros from French companies and 9 billion euros from African firms.
The investments focus on energy transition, agriculture, and artificial intelligence.
These projects are expected to create 250,000 jobs in both France and Africa.
The summit marked France’s effort to strengthen ties with English-speaking African countries.
French companies such as TotalEnergies, Orange, and CMA CGM pledged significant investments, including 700 million euros to improve Kenya’s port facilities.
Macron emphasized a partnership of equals and encouraged African leaders to invest in France.
France is also advancing the return of African cultural artifacts taken during colonial times through new laws.
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Pakistan is facing a serious shortage of cooking gas due to reduced imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) amid the war involving the US and Israel attacking Iran. This has caused households, especially women, to adjust their daily routines around limited and irregular gas supply windows for cooking.
Key Facts
Pakistan’s LNG imports have dropped from 8.2 million tonnes in 2021 to 6.1 million tonnes by late 2025.
The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, 2024, disrupting LNG supplies and worsening Pakistan’s energy crisis.
Domestic gas production in Pakistan has been declining for years, increasing reliance on imported LNG.
Most of Pakistan’s imported LNG comes from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
In early 2026, Pakistan usually received 8-12 LNG shipments per month, but in March 2026, only two shipments arrived.
A Qatari LNG tanker recently passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the way to Pakistan, the first since the war began.
Cooking gas in Karachi homes is available only during short periods in the morning, afternoon, and evening, affecting daily meal schedules.
Women in Pakistan, who do most unpaid household work, are adjusting their daily lives significantly due to the irregular gas supply.
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The National Weather Service issued an Extreme Heat Warning for the Phoenix area, warning of unusually high temperatures reaching over 105°F through Tuesday. The heat wave poses health risks, especially to outdoor workers, older adults, and those without cooling options, with the hottest day expected to be Tuesday before a gradual cooldown begins.
Key Facts
An Extreme Heat Warning is active for Phoenix and nearby cities until Tuesday night.
Temperatures are forecast to rise between 105°F and 110°F, peaking around 107°F on Tuesday.
Normal May temperatures in Phoenix are usually around 95°F to 98°F, so this heat is about 10°F hotter than usual.
Night temperatures will stay in the 70s, limiting the body’s ability to cool down overnight.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke risks increase during such heat waves, especially for vulnerable groups.
Residents are advised to drink water frequently, avoid outdoor activities during the hottest hours, use air conditioning, and avoid leaving pets or children in vehicles.
Cooler weather will start by midweek but temperatures will stay above normal through the week.
The heat warning affects a broad area including Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale, and Tempe.
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