Category: World

Moscow has opened a 33-kilometre tram corridor branded T2, a cross-city route that Mayor Sergei Sobyanin says is now the world’s longest urban tram diameter, linking Chertanovskaya metro station in the south with Novogireevo on Moscow Central Diameter line D4 in the east. The launch marks the second stage of the capital’s tram-diameter programme and extends a surface-rail strategy designed to ease pressure on the underground network while improving orbital travel across densely populated districts.Sobyanin had flagged the T2

Russia said on Thursday that President Vladimir Putin had ordered a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine over Orthodox Easter, casting the move as a humanitarian gesture and urging Kyiv to follow suit, even as both sides remained deeply sceptical that any holiday pause would materially change the course of the war.The Kremlin said Russian forces were to halt combat operations from 4 p. m. on Saturday, April 11, until the end of Sunday, April 12, when Orthodox Christians in both

South Korea is sending a special envoy to Iran as Seoul steps up efforts to secure passage for 26 South Korean-linked vessels stranded around the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring how a partial US-Iran ceasefire has done little to restore normal shipping through one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. Seoul’s foreign ministry has appointed former ambassador to Kuwait Chung Byung-ha for the mission, with the government saying he will discuss safe transit for ships, crews and nationals as well

Washington and Tehran head into talks in Islamabad this weekend with far more at stake than a temporary pause in fighting, as negotiators face pressure to tackle the entire dispute at once rather than salvage only a narrow ceasefire. Pakistan has helped bring the sides to the table after a two-week truce took shape, but the diplomatic opening is already under strain from disputes over uranium enrichment, sanctions relief, maritime access through the Strait of Hormuz and the reach of

Air travellers in Germany faced widespread disruption on Friday after Lufthansa cabin crew staged a one-day strike that the airline and airport officials said would force the cancellation of more than 520 flights and affect about 90,000 passengers, hitting the carrier’s Frankfurt and Munich hubs during a busy holiday return period. The walkout, called by the UFO cabin crew union, ran from 00:01 to 22:00 local time and also extended to Lufthansa CityLine operations at nine German airports.The action

US unemployment benefit claims rose last week but stayed at levels that still point to a labour market holding together, even as investors and policymakers brace for a March inflation reading that could complicate the Federal Reserve’s next move.Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased by 16,000 to 219,000 in the week ended April 4, according to Labor Department data released on Thursday. The prior week’s figure was revised up to 203,000 from 202,000. Continuing claims, a proxy for the

South Africa’s net foreign reserves fell to $73.19 billion at the end of March from $75.84 billion in February, as the country’s gross reserves also dropped to $77.76 billion from $81.06 billion, according to central bank data released on Thursday. The decline came after a stronger February reading and marks a pullback from levels that had been supported earlier this year by higher reserve values and foreign-exchange purchases.The March figures matter because foreign reserves are a key buffer for

Sub-Saharan Africa’s growth is set to hold at 4.1% in 2026, but the World Bank has cut its earlier projection and warned that a more hostile external backdrop, led by conflict-linked jumps in fuel and fertiliser costs, is making the region’s recovery harder to sustain. The lender said the outlook had been revised down by 0.3 percentage points from its October 2025 estimate, even as governments across the region remain constrained by debt, inflation risks and weaker access to external

South Africa is drawing a broader mix of overseas visitors who are staying longer, travelling with more intention and looking beyond checklist tourism, as global travel habits tilt towards slower, experience-led holidays and the country posts record inbound numbers.Official data show South Africa welcomed about 10.5 million international tourists in 2025, the highest annual total on record and above pre-pandemic levels. Statistics South Africa separately said the country recorded 18.9 million arrivals overall in 2025, while tourism authorities have highlighted

Afreximbank has been confirmed as a partner for African Energy Week 2026, due to run from October 12 to 16 in Cape Town, in a move that places one of the continent’s most active trade financiers at the centre of discussions over how African-led capital can support oil, gas, power and infrastructure projects. The partnership also signals how the event is seeking to position itself less as a conference circuit stop and more as a marketplace for financing, policy bargaining

A high-speed TGV travelling from Dunkirk to Paris struck a military truck at a level crossing in northern France on Tuesday, killing the train driver and injuring passengers in a crash that has renewed scrutiny of rail safety on one of Europe’s most intensively used networks. Authorities said the collision happened in Pas-de-Calais, between Béthune and Lens, after the train hit a trailer carrying military equipment.Emergency services rushed to the scene after the impact, which forced part of the

Romania is poised to keep borrowing costs unchanged as a fresh oil shock clouds the inflation outlook and leaves policymakers wary of loosening monetary conditions too early. The National Bank of Romania is widely expected to leave its benchmark interest rate at 6.5 per cent, preserving one of the European Union’s highest policy rates while consumer prices remain far above target and fiscal strains continue to weigh on confidence.The expected decision reflects a difficult balancing act for Governor Mugur Isărescu

Israel has warned civilians across Iran to avoid trains and railway lines, signalling a new phase in its expanding campaign against Iranian infrastructure as the conflict entered a more dangerous stage on Tuesday. The Israeli military issued the message in Persian on its official account, telling people not to travel by rail or go near railway tracks until 9pm local time, and saying their presence there could endanger their lives.The warning was brief but highly consequential. It did not

Oil prices pushed higher on Tuesday as Donald Trump intensified pressure on Iran, sharpening investor anxiety over the fate of the Strait of Hormuz and the risk of a wider supply shock across global energy markets. Brent crude traded above $110 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate rose past $113, extending a rally driven by fears that a prolonged disruption in the Gulf could squeeze flows through one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.The market reaction

Gold prices extended their retreat as investors recalibrated expectations for US interest rates after stronger labour-market signals collided with a worsening conflict in the Middle East, a combination that lifted the dollar, pushed oil higher and revived concerns that inflation could stay stubborn for longer. Spot bullion has come under pressure even as geopolitical risk remains elevated, an unusual pattern that reflects how sharply energy costs and policy expectations are shaping the market.Bullion would ordinarily draw support from war

Italy has introduced temporary jet fuel limits at four airports as supply strains tied to the Middle East conflict begin to hit European aviation, raising the prospect of operational disruption just as airlines prepare for heavier spring and summer traffic. Notices to airmen issued for Bologna, Milan Linate, Venice and Treviso said Jet A1 availability from Air BP Italia was limited, with restrictions running between April 2 and April 9.The advisories indicate that priority will be given to ambulance flights,

Federal agents in the United States have arrested a woman identified by Washington as the niece of slain Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, along with her daughter, after Secretary of State Marco Rubio revoked their lawful permanent resident status, according to statements issued on April 4. The pair are now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, marking the latest step in a wider campaign against Iranian nationals whom the Trump administration says have ties to Tehran’s ruling establishment.

Gold prices surged on 27 March as bargain hunters returned to the market after a sharp pullback earlier in the week, lifting bullion by more than 3% and sending other precious metals higher as investors weighed signs that tensions in the Middle East might ease. Spot gold climbed as much as $4,554.39 an ounce during the session before trading around $4,491.78 by mid-afternoon in New York, while April gold futures settled about 2.7% higher at $4,492.50. Silver, platinum and palladium

France is preparing targeted support for motorists who rely on their cars for work and daily life after the war involving Iran drove up oil prices and sharpened pressure on household budgets, with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu signalling that broad-based fuel subsidies remain off the table even as pump costs climb.Speaking in Bordeaux, Lecornu said ministers had been asked to draw up measures for people who are especially dependent on driving, framing the response as selective rather than universal.

Flames pushed across scrub and recreational land east of Moreno Valley on Friday, forcing evacuation orders in Riverside County as a fast-moving wildfire spread under strong winds and sent smoke across nearby communities. The Springs Fire was reported around 11 a. m. on 3 April near Gilman Springs Road, and authorities said its cause was under investigation.Officials described the fire as burning in an unincorporated area that is populated but not densely built, close to Moreno Valley, a city

America’s labour market delivered a stronger headline performance in March, but the underlying picture still points to a jobs backdrop that remains exposed to shocks. Nonfarm payrolls rose by 178,000 and the unemployment rate edged down to 4.3 per cent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, offering relief after February’s revised loss of 133,000 jobs. Yet the rebound was flattered by temporary factors, including the return of striking healthcare workers and weather-related gains in construction, while broader measures of

Iran struck Gulf energy infrastructure again overnight into Friday, setting fire to Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi refinery and damaging a power and water desalination plant, as US President Donald Trump warned that Washington could escalate by targeting more of Iran’s infrastructure if Tehran did not yield. The attacks sharpened fears that a conflict already disrupting shipping and fuel markets is moving deeper into the economic core of the Gulf.Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said the refinery attack caused fires in operating units

A Japanese-owned liquefied natural gas tanker has crossed the Strait of Hormuz, offering the clearest sign yet that tightly controlled commercial traffic may be resuming through one of the world’s most sensitive energy corridors after weeks of disruption linked to the war involving Iran. The vessel, SOHAR LNG, is the first Japan-linked LNG carrier confirmed to have made the passage since the conflict began on 28 February, according to shipping and company information published on Friday.The crossing matters far

 U. S. defence shares have failed to sustain the geopolitical bounce that often accompanies armed conflict, with the sector sliding in March even as tensions around Iran intensified. The NYSE Arca Defense Index, which tracks 34 large and small-cap companies, fell nearly 8% during the month, a steeper decline than the S&P 500’s roughly 5% drop, underscoring how investors have become more cautious about paying up for war-linked expectations.That retreat marks a contrast with the pattern seen after Russia’s full-scale

A powerful undersea earthquake off Indonesia’s eastern islands killed at least one person, damaged homes and public buildings, and triggered a tsunami warning that was later lifted after small waves were recorded along parts of the coast. Authorities said the magnitude 7.4 quake struck northwest of Ternate in North Maluku at a depth of about 35 km, sending residents into the streets in Ternate, Bitung and Manado as strong shaking spread across northern Sulawesi and nearby island groups.The fatality