Italy's annual inflation rate accelerated in April, even as core inflation excluding energy and fresh food prices weakened to 1.6 percent from 1.9 percent in March. The divergence between overall and core inflation suggests that energy and food price pressures drove the headline increase, while underlying price pressures in other sectors of the economy continued to moderate.
The Netherlands is experiencing difficulties meeting its gas storage targets as the filling season that began in early April encounters obstacles. Gas companies have reduced their purchasing and storage activities due to a sharp increase in gas prices linked to the conflict in Iran, making current market rates less attractive for building up reserves. The price surge has created economic disincentives for energy companies to acquire and store natural gas at prevailing market prices, potentially affecting the country's energy security preparations for the upcoming winter heating season.
Israeli military forces shot and killed a 15-year-old Palestinian teenager in the West Bank city of Nablus on Friday. The Palestinian Authority condemned the incident and demanded the return of the boy's body, while the Israeli army claimed it eliminated a masked terrorist who was endangering vehicles by throwing stones. The shooting occurred in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, a Palestinian territory that has been under Israeli military control since 1967 and remains a flashpoint for violence between Israeli forces and Palestinian residents.
A candidate in Peru's presidential election has called for a recount of the first round of voting after failing to advance to the runoff. Aliaga, who did not qualify for the second round, is challenging the results of the initial vote. The demand comes as Peru continues its process of selecting a new president through its multi-round electoral system.
Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is battling a new Ebola outbreak, with health authorities confirming 246 suspected cases and 65 probable deaths. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa) announced Friday that the outbreak has emerged in Ituri province, marking another resurgence of the deadly disease in a region that has experienced multiple Ebola epidemics in recent years. The Democratic Republic of Congo has faced recurring Ebola outbreaks, particularly in its eastern provinces, where ongoing conflict and weak healthcare infrastructure have complicated containment efforts.
Unknown perpetrators hung a modified Israeli flag featuring swastikas at New York University's campus center, prompting strong condemnation from city officials. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani denounced the antisemitic incident on Thursday, calling it a despicable act designed to spread fear among the city's Jewish community. The incident occurred directly on the university grounds in what authorities are treating as a hate crime targeting Jewish students and residents.
Argentina has deployed a specialized team of experts to the southern port city of Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego following the deaths of two Dutch tourists from hantavirus after sailing from the local harbor. The experts will analyze environmental samples to rule out the presence of the Andean strain of the virus, which can transmit between humans. Hantavirus is typically contracted through contact with infected rodent droppings or urine, but the Andean variant poses additional public health concerns due to its person-to-person transmission capability. Ushuaia, located at the southern tip of South America, serves as a gateway for Antarctic tourism and cruise ship operations.
US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping continued their Beijing summit with informal discussions in the government gardens of Zhongnanhai. According to Trump, China wants to purchase American oil as the two leaders work out details of a potential trade agreement. The second day of the American president's visit will address global security issues, including questions regarding Taiwan and the war in the Middle East.
The Solomon Islands Parliament elected Matthew Wale as the country's new prime minister in a secret ballot vote. Wale, who leads the Democratic Party of the Solomon Islands, secured 26 votes in the 50-member parliament, giving him a narrow majority to form the next government. The election comes as the Pacific island nation continues to navigate complex geopolitical relationships, particularly between traditional Western allies and China, which has increased its influence in the region in recent years.
The head of the US Border Patrol has resigned from his position, claiming he had "brought the ship back on course." Under his leadership, Border Patrol expanded its anti-immigration operations beyond traditional border areas, with agents detaining migrants in major cities across the country. The resignation comes after the agency significantly broadened its enforcement activities under his direction.
US President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing during the second day of Trump's official visit to China. The talks are expected to focus on three key issues: Taiwan, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and trade relations between the two countries. The meeting represents another high-level diplomatic engagement between the leaders of the world's two largest economies amid ongoing tensions over various geopolitical and economic matters.
Yemen's Saudi-backed government and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have agreed to exchange 1,750 prisoners of war, according to a spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition. The prisoner swap includes 27 individuals from coalition forces who have been held by the Houthis. The agreement represents a significant humanitarian gesture amid Yemen's ongoing civil war, which has raged since 2014 when the Houthis seized control of the capital Sanaa and much of northern Yemen, prompting Saudi Arabia to lead a military intervention in 2015 to restore the internationally recognized government.
The death toll from Thursday's Russian attacks on Kyiv has risen to at least 21, Ukrainian officials reported. The Ukrainian Air Force said Russia launched overnight attacks across Ukraine using 675 drones and 56 missiles, with the capital bearing the brunt of the assault. The strikes represent one of the largest coordinated drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian territory since Russia's invasion began in February 2022, demonstrating Moscow's continued targeting of civilian areas despite international condemnation.
Lebanese and Israeli representatives met for a second round of negotiations in Washington within recent weeks. The talks represent continued diplomatic efforts between the two neighboring countries, which have maintained a complex relationship marked by border disputes and security concerns. Lebanon and Israel technically remain in a state of war, with their shared border controlled by UN peacekeeping forces since the 2006 conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia that holds significant political power in Lebanon.
British Prime Minister has appointed James Murray as the new Health Secretary, replacing Wes Streeting in the role. Murray previously served as a secretary in the Treasury department before taking on his new healthcare portfolio responsibilities.
Violence erupted during Jerusalem Day marches, forcing many Palestinian residents of the Old City to barricade themselves inside their homes. The annual Israeli commemoration, which celebrates the capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 Six-Day War, has historically been a flashpoint for tensions between Israelis and Palestinians. The event typically draws thousands of Israeli participants who march through Jerusalem's Old City, including areas with significant Palestinian populations, often leading to confrontations and security concerns for local residents.
Czech police have arrested a man suspected of stealing the skull of Saint Zdislava, a medieval Bohemian saint, and have obtained information about the whereabouts of the priceless religious relic. The theft of the skull, which police describe as having incalculable value, had created a mystery that has now taken an unexpected turn with the suspect's detention. Saint Zdislava was a 13th-century Bohemian noblewoman who was canonized by the Catholic Church, and her remains are venerated as sacred relics by believers.
Iraq's parliament has approved a new government led by Prime Minister Ali Zajdi, despite the cabinet remaining incomplete. The government is planned to have 23 ministers, but the full composition has not yet been finalized. Under Iraqi law, a government gains parliamentary confidence when more than half of the proposed ministerial candidates receive approval from lawmakers.
Ali al-Zaidi, a young businessman, has become Iraq's new prime minister, making him the youngest person to hold the office in the country's history. Al-Zaidi assumes the role during a critical period as Iraq attempts to balance its relationships between the United States and Iran following recent regional conflict escalation. While the new prime minister secured parliamentary confidence for most of his ministerial appointments, his cabinet remains incomplete and faces scrutiny from Washington. The formation of this government comes as Iraq navigates complex geopolitical pressures, caught between its two major allies whose relations have been strained by recent tensions in the Middle East.
Young businessman Ali al-Zaidi has been appointed as Iraq's new prime minister, becoming the youngest person to hold the office in the country's history. Al-Zaidi assumes power during a critical period as Iraq attempts to balance its relationships between the United States and Iran following recent escalations in regional conflict. While al-Zaidi secured parliamentary confidence for the majority of his ministerial appointments, his cabinet remains incomplete and operates under close scrutiny from Washington. The new government faces the challenging task of navigating Iraq's complex geopolitical position between two major powers while addressing domestic priorities.