World
Pope Leo XIV called on world leaders to lay down their arms
In his Easter message “Urbi et Orbi” on 5 April, Pope Leo XIV called on those who “hold weapons in their hands” to lay them down, and on those with the power to wage war to choose peace based not on force but on dialogue.
Germany is introducing permits for men to travel abroad for extended periods: what we know
Legislative changes have come into force in Germany that significantly alter the rules governing men’s stays abroad. From now on, citizens aged between 17 and 45 must obtain special permission if they plan to leave the country for a period exceeding three months
Trump is restoring Alcatraz: $152 million has been allocated in the US budget
The Donald Trump administration has officially launched a move to restore the legendary Alcatraz to its former status as an operational prison. The 2027 budget request allocates $152 million to transform the San Francisco tourist attraction into a modern high-security facility
Volkswagen and Audi are preparing a spectacular launch: 10 new models
April is set to be a month of major changes for the global automotive industry. Ahead of the Beijing Motor Show, Volkswagen Group (China) has announced a veritable ‘parade of new models’: from electric SUVs to Formula 1 cars
An 18-year-old musician has been executed in Iran following protests
In Iran, 18-year-old musician Amirhossein Khatami was executed; he had been arrested following anti-government protests and sentenced to death on charges of “enmity against God”. Following this, human rights activists and representatives of the Iranian opposition warned of the risk of a new wave of executions in the country.
The assassination attempt, the military and the organiser’s escape: what is happening in Madagascar
Authorities in Madagascar have announced that a plot to assassinate President Michael Randrianirina has been foiled. According to the public prosecutor’s office, 13 people are involved in the case, 11 of whom are already in custody, and the suspects include members of the military.
Ukraine has received nearly $1.3 billion from the Japanese government for social spending
Ukraine has received almost $1.3 billion from the Japanese government for social spending — pensions, assistance for the low-income, housing benefits, and so on.
Van Gogh’s painting *Spring Garden*, which was stolen in 2020, has been returned to a museum in the Netherlands
The painting *Spring Garden* by the world-famous artist Vincent van Gogh, which was stolen six years ago, has been put on display again at a museum in the Dutch city of Groningen.
Palm Beach Airport in Florida is to be renamed in honour of Donald Trump
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a bill renaming Palm Beach International Airport in honour of US President Donald Trump.
France has sentenced the captain of a ‘shadow fleet’ tanker to one year in prison
The captain of the tanker Boracay, which was boarded by the French military in September, has been sentenced to one year in prison for refusing to comply with their demands. The ‘shadow fleet’ tanker, which was carrying Russian oil, was sailing under a false flag and was suspected of launching drones into Danish territory.
Two more suspects have been arrested in France in connection with the attack near the Bank of America
On 30 March, French security forces arrested two more people in connection with the foiled attack near the Bank of America office in Paris. A total of five suspects are currently in custody, including three minors who were arrested earlier
In step with the EU: Moldova has synchronised its time with Ukraine and Europe
This year, Moldova changed its clocks at the same time as Ukraine and the EU for the first time, finally abandoning Soviet standards
