Israel has struck a military target near the presidential palace in Damascus, Syria, killing 1 civilian and injuring 18 others, according to the Syrian health ministry. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed it hit Syria’s defense ministry headquarters in Damascus. Israel claims the strikes aim to protect the Druze community in southwest Syria, where deadly clashes with Syrian government forces continue. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is acting “to save our Druze brothers.” These latest attacks follow days of Israeli strikes on the Suweida region. Syria’s government has condemned the strikes as violations of its sovereignty. (PC: BBC)

Nimisha Priya, a nurse from Kerala’s Palakkad district, has received a last-minute delay in her execution in Yemen. She was sentenced to death in 2018 for the murder of her Yemeni business partner. Nimisha went to Yemen in 2008, opened a clinic, and was arrested in 2017 after the man’s death. Her family raised over $40,000 to pay “blood money” for her release. India’s government and religious leaders, including Yemen’s Grand Mufti, appealed to stop her execution. Originally set for July 16, the execution is now on hold as India continues to seek clemency for her. (PC: HT)

England’s Joe Root has reclaimed the No.1 spot in the ICC Men’s Test batting rankings after his brilliant century at Lord’s against India. Root scored 104 and 40 in England’s seven-wicket victory, helping the hosts take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. With 888 rating points, Root has overtaken teammate Harry Brook. This marks Root’s eighth stint as the world’s top Test batter. At 34, he becomes the oldest No.1 since Kumar Sangakkara in 2014. Root also surpassed Rahul Dravid’s tally of centuries and crossed 8000 runs batting exclusively at No.4, joining legends Tendulkar, Jayawardene, and Kallis.  (PC: India Today)

A dam near Orsk in Russia’s Orenburg region collapsed on April 5 after torrential rain and melting snow, causing the Ural River to overflow and submerging the city of 200,000 into a “critical” flood situation, officials have warned . Over 4,500 people—including 1,100 children—have been evacuated, with more than 6,500 homes inundated and a federal emergency declared . Water levels rose 28 cm in a single day in nearby Orenburg (pop. 560,000), prompting threats of forced evacuation . Russian authorities are preparing for further flooding in Kurgan and Tyumen, with the flood peak expected by April 9 and stabilization after April 20.  

Israel bombed the entrance of the Syrian army’s headquarters in Damascus and launched strikes on Suwayda, a Druze-majority city in southern Syria. The strikes followed renewed clashes in Suwayda despite a ceasefire agreed on Tuesday. Syrian state media reported Israeli drone attacks caused civilian casualties. The Israeli army claimed its actions aimed to protect Druze communities and warned it is prepared for “various scenarios.” Fighting between armed groups and Syrian government forces has intensified in Suwayda. Israel’s strikes near key military sites in Damascus further escalate tensions, as fears grow over a broader regional conflict. (PC: News18)

At least 20 Palestinians were killed in a chaotic crowd surge at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid centre in Khan Younis on Wednesday. The Israel and US-backed group blamed armed agitators within the crowd. Palestinian health officials said suffocation and crushing caused the deaths. Over 875 people have died near Gaza aid sites in 6 weeks. The UN has condemned these centres as "death traps" amid Gaza’s worsening hunger crisis, with 1 in 10 children now malnourished. GHF rejected criticism, insisting its security reduces looting risks, while Palestinians say they have no other option for food. (PC: NDTV)

India has urged Bangladesh to reconsider demolishing the ancestral home of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh. Built by his grandfather, Upendra Kishore Ray Chowdhury, the house symbolizes the shared cultural heritage of India and Bangladesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs expressed regret over the demolition and offered assistance for restoration, suggesting it could be converted into a museum. Local residents and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have also voiced strong opposition. The century-old building had been abandoned for years. Bangladesh authorities plan to replace it with a semi-concrete structure for academic activities. (PC: India Today)

The UK government secretly relocated 4,500 Afghans after a 2022 data breach exposed nearly 19,000 individuals at risk from the Taliban. The leak, involving names and contact details, came from an MoD official’s mistake and was only discovered when details appeared on Facebook in 2023. A secret resettlement scheme costing £400 million was launched but kept under a super-injunction until lifted by a High Court judge this week. Defence Secretary John Healey issued a public apology. The scheme is now closing, but relocation offers already made will be honoured. Hundreds remain stranded in Afghanistan despite the breach. (PC: BBC)

India’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar said he helped postpone Kerala nurse Nimisha Priya’s execution in Yemen through discussions with Islamic scholars. “Islam has a law allowing the victim’s family to pardon a murderer,” he said. Priya’s July 16 execution was deferred after Yemeni scholars, contacted by the Mufti, agreed to mediate with the victim’s family. The Mufti also informed India’s central government and PMO of these efforts. Priya was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her Yemeni business partner. The postponement offers more time for negotiations towards a possible pardon under Islamic law. (PC: HT)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has nominated Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko as Ukraine’s new prime minister in the most significant government reshuffle since Russia’s invasion in 2022. Svyrydenko, 39, gained prominence through high-stakes negotiations with the US over rare minerals. If approved, she will replace Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine’s longest-serving PM since independence. Zelenskyy said, “I have proposed Yulia Svyrydenko to lead the government and renew its work.” Shmyhal is set to become defence minister. Analysts say the move aims to refresh Ukraine’s leadership amid war fatigue and strengthen its economy and defence ties with key allies, especially the United States. (PC: Al Jazeera)