English musician, author and vlogger; McFly founder and lead vocalist
South Africa has appointed Ralph Meyer as its new US ambassador, following a vacancy since 2025 and the expulsion of Ebrahim Rasool. Meyer, a key figure in ending apartheid, is expected to improve diplomatic relations with Washington amid recent tensions, including the US refugee program for white South Africans and diplomatic expulsions.
UNICEF has issued its first Child Alert in 20 years for Darfur, saying children have been pushed into extreme hunger, disease, displacement and violence as fighting between Sudan's army and the RSF has intensified. The agency has warned that needs are larger than in 2005 and that international funding and access are dangerously low.
Sudan has been in a civil war since April 2023, with ongoing fighting between the military and RSF. The conflict has caused widespread displacement, famine, and infrastructure destruction. International efforts to broker peace and provide aid are ongoing, but the crisis remains unresolved as of April 2026.
Recent aid budget cuts by the US and UK are worsening the humanitarian crisis caused by the Iran war. UN officials warn that these reductions will increase global poverty, displacement, and instability, with millions at risk of suffering from food and water shortages. The conflict's ripple effects are felt worldwide.
The UN and aid groups warn that more than 21 million people in Sudan face acute hunger after 1,000 days of conflict, with funding shortfalls risking the suspension of food and nutrition programmes and possibly famine in parts of the country.
Syria has been invited to participate in the upcoming G7 summit discussions as a guest state, a move aimed at boosting legitimacy and attracting reconstruction support. Officials say the talks will also focus on Syria’s role as a potential hub for supply chains in a geopolitically tense region, even as the domestic economy remains severely strained and humanitarian needs persist.
Field reports from Kenya and Somalia depict youths turning to farming and aid-funded programs as climate shocks drive unemployment, hunger, and mass displacement. In Kenya, young workers blend farming with digital tools to survive; in Somalia, drought and war overwhelm families pushing them into camps.
The UN and rights groups have condemned Israel’s move to transfer planning and construction powers in Hebron’s H2 zone to Israeli authorities. Palestinian and international actors say the unilateral action undermines agreements and risks escalating tensions in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
Drones have intensified around El Obeid in North Kordofan, with attacks hitting fuel depots, water points and aid trucks. Civilians face acute shortages as electricity outages hinder water access. The international response calls for protection and humanitarian access while warning of potential mass displacement.