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Sergey Lavrov touched down in Beijing as Washington intensified its pressure on Iran by attempting to block the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that carries roughly one‑third of China’s oil imports. The Russian foreign minister was greeted with a red‑carpet reception, according to photos released by Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both Beijing and Moscow condemned the United States and Israel over their involvement in the ongoing war on Iran, noting that the conflict has already strained China’s energy supplies. China, a major purchaser of Iranian crude, denounced a newly announced U.S. plan to prohibit vessels from entering or leaving Iranian ports and coastal waters, calling the measure an unjustified interference with international trade. “The Strait of Hormuz is a vital international trade route for goods and energy, and its security and uninterrupted flow serve the common interest of the global community,” Chinese MFA spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Monday. According to Al Jazeera’s Alan Fisher, the U.S. hopes that by choking Iran’s trade it can force China to pressure Tehran into returning to negotiations, given that Beijing imports about a third of its oil from Iran. Lavrov also held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, emphasizing the need to prevent any resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East and reiterating Russia’s “unwavering readiness” to assist in a diplomatic settlement. Araghchi relayed details of recent U.S.–Iran talks in Pakistan, which ended without a breakthrough, underscoring the limited diplomatic progress on the issue. The visit comes as China‑Russia relations have deepened since Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Earlier in the week, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with Lavrov, agreeing that the two capitals would cooperate to de‑escalate tensions in the region. Beijing’s diplomatic calendar this week also featured meetings with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and an upcoming visit by Vietnamese President To Lam, highlighting China’s active role in global diplomacy despite its low‑profile stance on the Iran conflict. Analysts note that China’s restrained approach allows it to position itself as a “reliable, stable and predictable partner” for states seeking alternatives to U.S. influence, especially given its extensive trade ties with Tehran. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, slated to visit Beijing next month, warned he would impose a 50 percent tariff on Chinese goods if China provides military assistance to Iran. The claim followed a CNN report citing U.S. intelligence that China might deliver new air‑defence systems to Tehran. Chinese officials dismissed the report as “completely fabricated” and warned of “resolute counter‑measures” should the United States use it as a pretext for additional tariffs.

In a heartwarming display of community compassion, the childhood home of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona has been transformed into a soup kitchen to support those struggling amid President Javier Milei's austerity measures.Located at 523 Amazor street in Fiorito, a Buenos Aires suburb where Maradona grew up in extreme poverty, the initiative provides meals and clothing assistance to locals in need. The neighborhood, home to about 50,000 residents, features numerous murals commemorating Maradona's illustrious career.As a criminal negligence trial begins against the medical team responsible for Maradona's final care, his childhood community continues his legacy of compassion. Neighbors visit 'Diego's house,' where volunteers prepare chicken stew and other meals in large cauldrons in the yard, accompanied by cumbia music, Maradona's preferred genre.Diego Gavilan, a local who benefits from the kitchen's services, shared that Maradona would often emphasize the need to help those struggling with hunger. Gavilan, who collects cardboard and scrap metal, began visiting the soup kitchen after Milei implemented radical free-market reforms in December 2023.Despite statistics showing poverty reduction under Milei, primarily due to decreasing inflation, family finances remain in crisis. Over 20,000 business closures have been reported due to increased imports and plummeting consumption.Gavilan expressed gratitude for the assistance, noting that Maradona suffered greatly from hunger in the same neighborhood as a child. The facility operates without dining accommodations, with volunteers distributing food in bags to those waiting at the entrance.Maria Torres, one of the centre's cooks, believes Maradona would approve of his childhood home's charitable repurposing, saying, 'People are going hungry.'

Israel has conducted separate strikes in Gaza, leading to the deaths of three Palestinians. The incidents occurred on April 14, 2026, as reported by Al Jazeera.The strikes are part of the ongoing conflict in the region, which has seen increased tensions between Israel and Palestine. The Gaza Strip has been a focal point of the conflict, with both sides experiencing significant losses and casualties.The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with many calling for de-escalation and peace talks to resolve the longstanding conflict.

Celebrating two decades since its West End debut, Avenue Q is back at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre until 29 August, offering a refreshed version of the Broadway‑to‑London hit that originally won Tonys for Best Musical, Book and Score.The revival, billed as a “love letter to the original”, is helmed once again by Jason Moore – the director who first staged the show in 2006. At 55, Moore admits that returning to a work he originally conceived is unusual, but he sees the anniversary as an opportunity to upgrade the show’s scale, technical ambition and cultural sensitivity.Created by composers Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx with book by Jeff Whitty, the musical blends colourful Sesame‑Street‑style puppets with adult themes such as sex, racism, housing crises and existential angst. While the core story remains, the production team has added contextual notes to jokes that might puzzle Gen‑Z audiences – for example, the reference to 1980s sitcom star Gary Coleman is retained but clarified for modern viewers.Moore’s casting criteria emphasise a youthful “innocence” and a strong aptitude for puppeteering. As actor Emily Benjamin explains, performing through a puppet is an “ego death” that forces the performer to shift focus from self to the character, reducing vocal anxiety and deepening emotional honesty.Behind the scenes, puppet director Iestyn Evans coordinates a complex choreography where human actors operate hand‑and‑rod puppets in full view, interacting simultaneously with fellow performers. This layered performance style demands precise timing, especially when tackling songs like “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” and “If You Were Gay”, which have sparked whole‑company discussions about their relevance and sensitivity today.Moore acknowledges that the show’s transgressive edge – famously illustrated by “naked puppets having sex” – still feels bold, even as contemporary West End productions such as Oh, Mary! and The Book of Mormon have pushed similar boundaries. He argues that the musical’s core questions – “how do you give your life meaning?” – remain timeless, and that the updated production aims to engage a new generation of audiences.As Benjamin puts it, “they might just be little cloth things, but people can often empathise with something that isn’t real more directly than with a human being telling the same story.” The revival therefore hopes to prove that puppetry can still provoke, entertain and resonate in today’s cultural climate.

The NAACP has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, alleging that it has been illegally spewing toxic pollutants into Black neighborhoods near Memphis. The lawsuit claims that xAI's makeshift power plant in Southaven, Mississippi, has been operating without permits, violating the Clean Air Act.The suit, filed on Tuesday in Mississippi federal court, alleges that xAI has been polluting the surrounding historically Black communities by using dozens of methane gas generators without permits. The organization is seeking to force the company to stop operating its unpermitted turbines in Southaven.“All too often, big corporations like xAI treat our communities and families like obstacles to be pushed aside,” said Derrick Johnson, the president and CEO of the NAACP. “We will not allow xAI to get away with this.”xAI's datacenters, nicknamed “Colossus” and “Colossus II” by Musk, are massive facilities, with the latter occupying 1m sq ft in Memphis. They are located in Memphis's industrial zone and a few miles from residential neighborhoods that have long dealt with harmful pollution, including Boxtown, a neighborhood that was established by formerly enslaved people after emancipation in the 19th century.The lawsuit alleges xAI illegally installed and operated up to 27 gas turbines, each one the size of a large bus, to power the datacenters. Combined, they have the capacity to emit tons of harmful nitrogen oxides per year, along with toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, according to the Southern Environmental Law Center.xAI issued a statement in response to the lawsuit: “We take our commitment to the community and environment seriously. The temporary power generation units are operating in compliance with all applicable laws.” The company did not respond to questions about whether it will address the alleged violations listed in the lawsuit.Black residents still make up a large portion of the Memphis neighborhoods, which have faced higher rates of asthma and respiratory diseases as well as a lower life expectancy than other parts of the city. Studies have likewise shown these neighborhoods have a cancer risk that is four times the national average.

The ongoing conflict in Sudan has been marked by a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with 14 million people forced to flee their homes and tens of thousands reported missing. As the conflict enters its fourth year, the UN's top official in Sudan, Denise Brown, has expressed her concern over the apparent lack of political urgency to end the war.Brown described the situation as 'bloody unacceptable,' stating that it seems the world focuses on other crises and fails to find solutions for Sudan. The conflict between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the Sudanese army has killed at least 150,000 people and left 33 million in need of assistance.New research by Islamic Relief reveals that almost half of Sudan's vital community kitchens have closed in the past six months, exacerbating hunger and the threat of famine. Other studies corroborate the food crisis, with millions surviving on a single meal a day. The conflict has also led to the deliberate targeting of Sudan's health infrastructure, with 37% of hospitals deemed 'non-functional' and over 200 documented attacks on health facilities.The war has set Sudan's economy back more than 30 years, according to a detailed assessment by the UN Development Programme and the Institute for Security Studies. If the conflict continues until 2030, an additional 34 million people could be pushed into deprivation. Investigators are attempting to track down tens of thousands of civilians reported missing or forcibly disappeared since the start of the war.Cases of missing persons recorded by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sudan stand above 11,000 – an increase of more than 40% during the last year – with the true figure believed to be many times higher. The ICRC helped 62,000 families track down relatives who had gone missing last year.The issue of funding has become increasingly critical, with overall funding for Sudan's humanitarian plans now only 16% met this year. The UN agency for children, Unicef, noted that even the modest amounts forthcoming are becoming less impactful due to increasing transport costs.

Itch! thrusts viewers into a nightmarish scenario where a hyper‑contagious disease forces victims to scratch themselves to death. The film’s most striking moment features a woman literally tearing her own skin, a set‑piece that showcases the director’s knack for visceral body‑horror despite a shoestring budget. The narrative then shifts to a cramped department store, where a rag‑tag group of uninfected shoppers must endure a claustrophobic dialogue‑driven showdown. While the premise echoes classic confinement thrillers such as John Carpenter’s The Thing and Assault on Precinct 13, the limited resources prevent the film from fully capitalising on these influences. Critics note that a larger budget could have amplified the already effective practical effects, and a tighter script would have deepened the human drama. The ensemble includes a widowed father (played by director‑screenwriter Bari Kang) juggling single‑parenthood, a cantankerous customer (portrayed by Douglas Stirling) who complains about price‑matching on Amazon, and several other archetypal figures. However, the screenplay struggles to give each character a distinct emotional arc, leaving audiences at a distance. Despite these shortcomings, the film’s core concept—an epidemic of fatal itching—offers a fresh angle for the under‑served eczema community and delivers moments of genuine horror. Itch! becomes as much a character study as a genre piece, though the balance tilts unevenly. The movie is available on UK digital platforms from 20 April 2026 and on US digital platforms from 21 April 2026.

The relationship between Britain and Israel has come under scrutiny as the UK government faces criticism for its response to Israel's actions in Lebanon and the West Bank. A recent report revealed that Donald Trump asked Benjamin Netanyahu to be more 'low-key' in Lebanon, sparking concerns about the international community's stance on the issue.As someone who is Palestinian Lebanese, the author notes that the West Bank is often overlooked, allowing the killing and dispossession to continue quietly. In contrast, Lebanon has garnered more attention due to the scale of violence, with 300 people killed in just 10 minutes. The message from Washington, it seems, is to keep the actions quiet and take the land without drawing attention.Britain's response has been condemnation, but critics argue that words are not enough. The UK's continued preferential trade terms with Israel and supply of components for warplanes and weapons systems used in strikes have raised questions about its complicity. The author asks, 'What has to happen before our government acts – rather than simply condemns?'The issue has sparked a wider conversation about the role of governments in addressing human rights abuses and the need for more concrete action. As one reader noted, 'When Trump destroys the world those who are left will look at one another and wonder why nobody stopped him.'

"Bloody unacceptable" – those were the words of UN humanitarian chief Denise Brown as she condemned the failure to halt a war that has now entered its fourth year. The conflict, which began with rival generals overthrowing Sudan’s civilian leadership, has eclipsed global crises in Ukraine, Gaza and Iran, yet remains largely ignored. The Berlin‑hosted international conference aims to inject urgency into a situation where tens of thousands have been killed, four million have fled abroad, and millions more are internally displaced. Roughly 30 million Sudanese – more than half the population – now face acute food insecurity, and large swathes of Khartoum lie in ruins. Violence has not abated. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), led by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, have established a rival administration in western Sudan. In the siege of El Fasher, an estimated 10,000 civilians were massacred – a UN mission described the atrocity as bearing the hallmarks of genocide. Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) under Gen. Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan have deliberately targeted civilians, carried out summary executions, tortured detainees and increasingly employed drones to devastate urban areas. Gen. Burhan, whose government enjoys international recognition, refuses any compromise, insisting the RSF must first disarm and retreat to camps before any national dialogue. The RSF, meanwhile, demands a new federal system and the removal of Islamist elements – a stance that directly challenges Burhan’s coalition. In September, a US‑led mediation team that included Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt outlined a tentative roadmap: a humanitarian truce leading to a cease‑fire and subsequent political talks. Yet the United States has shown little appetite to prioritize Sudan, and the plan sidestepped the most contentious issues. The deeper scandal, according to diplomats and analysts, is the role of external actors in sustaining the war. Despite denials, the UAE is widely reported as the principal backer of the RSF, while Saudi Arabia and Egypt back Burhan’s forces. Recent Yale research points to Ethiopian collusion with the RSF, raising fears of a broader regional conflagration. European states, which previously funded Sudanese security to curb migration, have inadvertently strengthened the RSF and supplied weapons now used on the battlefield. The ongoing Iran‑Israel conflict further hampers relief efforts, inflating costs and limiting aid deliveries. Community kitchens that once fed countless families are disappearing – more than 40 % have closed in the past six months. The Berlin delegates must therefore boost support for Sudan’s grassroots mutual‑aid networks, but humanitarian assistance cannot replace a durable peace. Pressure on the UAE and other geopolitically motivated actors is essential if the international community hopes to halt the suffering of millions of Sudanese.