Kosovo’s Parliament approved sending dozens of its security troops to join an international peace force for Gaza. This effort is part of a U.S.-led initiative to help maintain peace and aid rebuilding in Gaza after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Key Facts
Kosovo voted 89-0 to send troops to the International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza.
The ISF mission is supported by U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace.
Kosovo’s contribution includes officers, some from explosive removal (demining) units.
The troops will offer humanitarian help and security support as part of the peacekeeping mission.
Kosovo sees this mission as a sign of its progress since its independence from Serbia in 2008.
Kosovo’s security force has about 4,000 members and is being trained to work with NATO.
Other countries joining the ISF include Indonesia, Albania, and Kazakhstan.
Kosovo’s decision follows its experience with NATO peacekeepers who helped after its conflict with Serbia in 1999.
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Colombia's environment minister says the conflict in Iran highlights the urgent need to switch from oil and gas to clean energy sources like solar and wind. She believes the global energy instability caused by the war should speed up, not slow down, the move to greener energy.
Key Facts
Colombia’s environment minister is Irene Vélez Torres.
She spoke ahead of international talks involving about 50 countries.
These talks focus on reducing use of polluting fuels like oil and gas.
The war in Iran has caused instability in global energy markets.
Vélez Torres says this conflict shows why faster action on clean energy is needed.
Clean energy sources mentioned include solar, wind, and geothermal power.
She calls for a stronger, faster shift toward environmentally friendly energy.
The goal is to move away from coal, oil, and gas to reduce pollution and risk.
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People in the United States are facing higher prices for things, mainly because of inflation. The ongoing war in Iran is making oil and gas more expensive, which is causing prices to rise even more.
Key Facts
Inflation is causing prices to rise across many goods and services.
The war in Iran is affecting the supply and cost of oil and gas.
Higher oil and gas prices lead to increased costs for transportation and other products.
Many Americans are feeling the impact of these higher prices in their daily lives.
The price increases are linked to both global events and economic factors.
CBS News reporter Lana Zak covered the story on how people are reacting.
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The United Nations refugee agency reported that nearly 900 Rohingya refugees died or went missing at sea in 2025, marking the deadliest year for these dangerous journeys in South and Southeast Asia. Many Rohingya continue to flee Myanmar and Bangladesh by boat, hoping to reach countries like Malaysia or Indonesia, despite the high risks.
Key Facts
About 900 Rohingya refugees were reported dead or missing at sea in 2025.
The Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea are the main areas where these deaths occurred.
Around 5,000 Rohingya refugees have drowned at sea over the past ten years.
Many Rohingya fled Myanmar starting in 2017 due to ethnic cleansing and now live mainly in camps in Bangladesh.
Reduced humanitarian aid and limited opportunities in camps lead some refugees to try dangerous boat trips.
Over 2,800 Rohingya refugees tried to cross the sea in 2026 so far, mostly leaving from Bangladesh or Myanmar.
More than half of the refugees making sea crossings are women and children, who face risks like trafficking.
A boat carrying about 250 people sank recently in the Andaman Sea; only nine survivors were reported.
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Jessica Vosk, a singer and actress, will play C.C. Bloom in the new Broadway musical adaptation of the 1988 film Beaches. The show, which honors Bette Midler’s original role and iconic song "Wind Beneath My Wings," will open at the Majestic Theatre on April 22 for a limited run.
Key Facts
Jessica Vosk stars as C.C. Bloom in the Broadway version of Beaches.
Beaches is adapted from the 1988 film starring Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey.
The musical respects Midler’s original performance, especially the song "Wind Beneath My Wings."
Vosk describes herself as a "Bette purist" and pays tribute rather than changing the song.
Originating a role on Broadway means creating the character from scratch, which Vosk finds challenging.
Vosk’s own journey resembles C.C. Bloom’s – she did not follow a traditional Broadway path and worked hard to succeed.
Beaches the musical runs from April 22 to early September at the Majestic Theatre.
Vosk hopes to perform for Bette Midler someday and feels proud of her work.
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Italy changed its citizenship rules in 2025, limiting who can claim Italian citizenship by descent to only those with Italian parents or grandparents. This change affects many Americans who were hoping to gain citizenship through more distant ancestors, leading some families to challenge the new law in Italy’s highest court.
Key Facts
Italy allowed citizenship claims based on having any Italian ancestor alive after 1861 until recently.
The new rule, called the Tajani decree, restricts citizenship claims to only those with Italian parents or grandparents.
The change stopped many Americans with more distant Italian ancestors from qualifying.
Some affected families are fighting the law in Italy’s Supreme Court, arguing it should not apply to people born before the rule changed.
The court is also considering cases related to a "minor issue" that cuts off citizenship claims if an Italian parent naturalized abroad before their child was an adult.
The affected families say that the new rules take away a right that has existed for over 160 years.
The outcome of the court cases could affect thousands of people worldwide seeking Italian citizenship.
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Tibnin Hospital, the only working hospital in southern Lebanon, was hit several times by Israeli military strikes this week. The attacks used a "triple-tap" method, meaning the same target was hit multiple times in a short period.
Key Facts
Tibnin Hospital is the only hospital still operating in southern Lebanon.
The hospital was hit multiple times by the Israeli army.
The attacks involved a "triple-tap" strategy, where the same place is struck repeatedly.
These events happened during ongoing conflict involving Israel and Lebanon.
The strikes have impacted medical care availability in southern Lebanon.
The information comes from reporter Obaida Hitto of Al Jazeera, who is on site.
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Finnian Garbutt, an actor from Northern Ireland known for playing police constable Ryan Power in the BBC drama Hope Street, has died peacefully at home at age 28. He was diagnosed with skin cancer four years ago and publicly shared updates about his illness before his condition quickly worsened.
Key Facts
Finnian Garbutt was born in Bangor, Northern Ireland.
He starred in all five seasons of the BBC Northern Ireland drama Hope Street.
Garbutt was diagnosed with malignant melanoma (skin cancer) in 2019.
He publicly announced in March 2024 that his cancer had rapidly progressed and he was entering the final stages.
Finnian married his partner Louise in 2023 and had a one-year-old daughter.
He graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2019.
He also appeared in BBC’s hospital series Casualty and the film Housejackers.
His family and colleagues praised him for being a loving husband, father, and valued team member.
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Coach Wade and Chrissy Hofbeck were eliminated in a double eviction during Survivor 50, after Cirie Fields made a strategic move to remove their alliance. Wade reflects on how his gameplay changed during the season and shares some background about his life as a performer and a father.
Key Facts
Coach Wade and Chrissy Hofbeck were voted out in a double elimination in Survivor 50.
Cirie Fields planned a strategy to eliminate Wade and Hofbeck to protect her alliance.
Wade admits his gameplay shifted about halfway through the season.
Wade is known as the "Dragon Slayer" on the show.
Outside the game, Wade is a caring father who has a background in musical performance.
Wade performed with his mother and brother growing up and learned to bring joy to others through music.
Survivor 50 is a special, iconic season with many twists and surprises.
Wade appreciates that the show gave him significant screen time and honored his role in the season.
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Ukraine has been attacking Russian oil and gas facilities with long-range strikes, causing major damage. In response, Russia warned European countries that support Ukraine's drone production that they could face serious consequences. Several European nations, including Germany and Norway, recently agreed to help Ukraine produce and supply drones for these attacks.
Key Facts
Ukraine damaged many Russian oil and gas sites in recent weeks, including pipelines, drilling platforms, and refineries.
Russia issued a warning to European countries and companies about funding Ukraine’s drone production, calling it a dangerous escalation.
Russia published a list of European companies involved in making weapons with Ukraine, calling them potential targets.
Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium pledged hundreds of millions of euros to support Ukraine’s drone strike capabilities.
Ukraine’s attacks have reduced Russia’s oil exports by about 2 million barrels per day, cutting into Russia’s potential profits.
Ukrainian president Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukraine can now carry out deep strikes inside Russia partly due to Western aid.
An analysis noted that Russia lacks enough air defense systems to fully protect its vast territory from repeated Ukrainian drone attacks.
Ukraine has increased its defense industry capacity by more than 50 times since the war began, producing many weapons and drones.
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A Mexican environmental activist named Erik Saracho survived a shooting at his home while protecting jaguars. A report released in Mexico shows that violence connected to the drug war also harms environmental activists, with many facing threats, attacks, and murders.
Key Facts
Erik Saracho was attacked with a pistol on March 11 at his home in Nayarit, western Mexico.
He pressed a panic button given by the federal government, but waited 25 minutes for medical help.
The Jaguar Alliance, which Saracho leads, called for a full and open investigation into the attack.
The report by the Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA) recorded 10 activist killings and 135 other aggressions in 2025.
These aggressions include stigmatization, defamation, robbery, and surveillance.
The Mexican government, at federal, state, and local levels, was involved in over half of the threats documented.
Over the last 10 years, 199 environmental defenders in Mexico have been murdered due to their work.
State agents were not linked to any of the 10 killings but were involved in other forms of aggression against activists.
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Singer D4vd, whose real name is David Burke, was arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of killing 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Her decomposed body was found in a Tesla registered to Burke, and police are investigating the case, while Burke’s lawyers say he did not commit the crime.
Key Facts
D4vd is a 21-year-old alt-pop singer from Houston, Texas, whose real name is David Burke.
Celeste Rivas Hernandez was 14 years old when she was killed; her body was found decomposed in a Tesla in Hollywood Hills.
The Tesla where the body was found was registered to Burke and had been parked for some time.
Burke was arrested on suspicion of murder and is held without bail.
Defense attorneys say Burke is innocent and dispute that he caused Hernandez’s death.
Police plan to present the case to the Los Angeles District Attorney to decide on formal charges.
The investigation involved a secret grand jury, revealed after Burke’s family tried to block subpoenas in Texas.
Burke is known for his music career, including viral TikTok hits and tours that were canceled following the discovery.
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The European Union is planning to strengthen rules on "forever chemicals," also known as PFAS, which do not break down easily in the environment or the human body. These chemicals are found in everyday items and pose health risks; the EU faces challenges from industrial groups opposing stricter laws.
Key Facts
"Forever chemicals" are synthetic substances that resist breaking down in people and nature.
PFAS includes thousands of different chemicals.
People can be exposed to PFAS during daily activities like cooking.
The EU already has strict chemical rules compared to many other regions.
Some industries lobby against tighter regulations on these chemicals.
The EU is working to make its rules about PFAS stronger.
Other European countries, like Britain and France, are also taking steps to limit these chemicals.
Studies found PFAS in over 90% of tap water tested in France.
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A 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, involving Hezbollah, has started after intense fighting. Although President Trump announced ending this war, the situation remains unstable with Israeli troops still active in Lebanon and unresolved issues between the two sides.
Key Facts
Israel’s security cabinet learned about the ceasefire from a social media post by President Donald Trump.
Hezbollah found out about the ceasefire through the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon.
Both Israel and Hezbollah launched many attacks before the ceasefire began.
Israeli troops remain positioned in Lebanon and continue limited firing even after the ceasefire.
Hezbollah agreed to respect the ceasefire but warned their fighters were ready to respond if needed.
The ceasefire stops fighting temporarily but does not resolve core issues like Hezbollah’s weapons or disputed borders.
Direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli governments are planned for lasting peace, a rare step given decades without communication.
Many Lebanese homes were destroyed during the conflict, and about 2,200 people were killed in the past month.
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Lord Mandelson failed security checks for his appointment as the UK ambassador to the US. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking at a summit in France, said he was very angry about not being informed of this and will inform Parliament soon.
Key Facts
Lord Mandelson did not pass security vetting for the role of UK ambassador to the US.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the situation “staggering” and said he was not told about the failure.
Starmer expressed strong anger and plans to update Members of Parliament on Monday.
Opposition leaders are asking Prime Minister Starmer to resign, citing poor judgment.
The news was discussed on the BBC Newscast podcast by presenters and political analysts.
The podcast also covered topics related to the Scottish Parliament elections.
The episode aired on April 17, 2026, and is available on BBC Sounds and smart speakers.
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A 12-year-old Chihuahua named Bunny was adopted from an animal shelter where he was about to be euthanized. After a month in his new home, he gained confidence and barked for the first time, which was captured in a viral video.
Key Facts
Bunny is a senior Chihuahua, 12 years old, who was sick when adopted.
He was surrendered to be euthanized at an animal shelter.
Bunny was adopted in March by a TikTok user named @showmeyourchichis.
Over a month, Bunny showed signs of gaining confidence and happiness.
His first bark at his new home was captured in a video that became popular online.
The video shows Bunny barking while sitting comfortably on his owner's lap in a car.
Research shows dogs take time to reveal their full personality after adoption.
Social media users praised the patience and bond shown in Bunny’s story.
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French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer held a video meeting with European allies to discuss sending a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz after the war in Iran ends. Macron welcomed Iran's plan to reopen the waterway to commercial ships during the ceasefire but called for the strait to be open without any conditions permanently.
Key Facts
Macron and Starmer organized a video conference with European leaders on April 17, 2026.
The meeting focused on securing the Strait of Hormuz after the Iran war.
Iran announced it would allow commercial shipping through the strait during the ceasefire.
Macron asked for the strait to be reopened unconditionally and permanently.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway for global oil shipments.
The multinational force discussion aims to keep the strait safe for all ships.
Other European leaders including Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Germany’s Friedrich Merz are involved in talks.
Securing the Strait of Hormuz is important for global trade and energy supplies.
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European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, held a video meeting to discuss sending a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz after the war in Iran ends. They welcomed Iran’s decision to reopen the waterway to commercial shipping during the ceasefire but stressed the need for the strait to be fully and permanently open.
Key Facts
France and Britain led a video conference with European allies about the Strait of Hormuz.
They talked about deploying a multinational force to the strait after the Iran war ends.
Iran announced it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial ships during the ceasefire.
European leaders want the strait reopened without any restrictions ("unconditionally").
The Strait of Hormuz is important for international shipping and global trade.
France’s President Macron and Britain’s Prime Minister Starmer are actively involved in this discussion.
The meeting shows European concern about security in the Middle East after the conflict with Iran.
The reopening of the strait is seen as a positive step but not the final solution.
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A video showing a rescue dog, Honey, a chow-corgi mix, asking her owner to go for a walk has gained a lot of attention online. Honey uses body language like pawing the blanket, looking at the window, and jumping excitedly to communicate her desire to go outside.
Key Facts
Honey is a rescue dog that is a mix of chow and corgi breeds.
The video was posted on Instagram by the user @honey_the_fox and went viral quickly.
In the video, Honey stands by her owner’s bed, paws on the blanket, wagging her tail, and looks happy.
Honey signals she wants to go outside by looking at the window and jumping when asked.
The video has over 206,000 views and 42,000 likes on Instagram.
Honey’s owner, Zoe Becker from New York, says Honey responds well to spoken words and enjoys interaction.
The American Kennel Club says dogs need exercise tailored to their age, breed, and health for their physical and mental well-being.
Regular exercise helps dogs stay healthy, with puppies needing shorter, more frequent sessions and adults requiring activity based on their energy level.
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European leaders held a video meeting to talk about sending a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz after the war in Iran ends. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed Iran’s decision to reopen the strait for commercial ships during the ceasefire but asked for the strait to be fully reopened without conditions.
Key Facts
Leaders from Europe, including France and the UK, joined a video conference on April 17, 2026.
The meeting focused on possibly deploying a multinational force to the Strait of Hormuz after the Iran war ends.
Iran announced it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz for commercial shipping during the ceasefire.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for the strait to be fully and unconditionally opened.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer also took part in the discussions.
The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway for global shipping.
The reopening and security of the strait are important for international trade and stability.
European leaders are planning security efforts in the region once the conflict in Iran is over.
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