According to the European Statistical Service, 42,960 requests for international protection were submitted in EU countries for the first time in April. This figure shows an 11% decrease compared to April 2025 (when there were 48,465) and a 9% decrease relative to March (47,155).
Additionally, 9,145 subsequent applicants were registered, representing a 17% increase compared to April 2025 (7,835), but this is a 9% decrease compared to March 2026 (10,075).
Among the member states, Italy (9,710), France (8,645), Spain (8,350), and Germany (6,140) received the highest number of first-time asylum applicants. These four countries accounted for three-quarters of the total primary applicants in the EU.
In April 2026, the largest group of people seeking asylum were citizens of Venezuela (4,875 primary applicants). They were followed by Afghans (3,830), citizens of Bangladesh (2,630), and Sudanese (1,720).
Cooperation between Uzbekistan and China in the field of education continues to strengthen, expanding into supporting talented youth and jointly implementing modern educational projects.
Savar Shokirov, Director of the Agency for Specialized Educational Institutions, met with Mr. Yu Jun, the Chargé d'Affaires of the People's Republic of China in Uzbekistan, as well as Mr. Sun Changdong, an advisor on education matters.
Important agreements were reached regarding the launch of a new school specializing in Chinese language and STEM fields starting next academic year in the country. Discussions also covered the creation of professional development programs for teachers, the development of modern educational and methodological materials, and the introduction of advanced international experience into the educational process.
The parties exchanged views on plans to establish an HSK international examination center at the Agency, expand opportunities for students to study Chinese, and transform Uzbekistan into one of the centers of modern education and international certification in the region.
According to the Agency for Specialized Educational Institutions, the reached agreements strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries in the field of education.
The first group of Trek4Mandela 2026 participants has begun their journey with the aim of raising awareness and collecting funds for the Imbumba Foundation's fight against menstrual poverty and to support girls' education.
This first group officially commenced its route on Monday, marking the beginning of a new phase in the Imbumba Foundation's campaign to eradicate menstrual poverty and ensure that no girl misses school due to her menstrual cycle. This start signifies the launch of the Trek4Mandela expedition series this year, which will involve 40 mountaineers in three separate challenges aimed at fundraising and raising awareness for the foundation's Caring4Girls Program.
Forty participants will undertake three challenges within Trek4Mandela 2026, including climbs up Mount Kilimanjaro, to support the Caring4Girls Program. Trek4Mandela, considered the largest annual charitable expedition on Mount Kilimanjaro in South Africa, has mobilized hundreds of adventurers over many years to support women's health and girls' education. This year, the first team will travel to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in honor of Mandela Day, while the second group is scheduled for August 9th, International Women's Day. The campaign will also expand its horizons by hosting the Larapinta Outback Challenge in Australia for the first time, allowing it to reach a new international audience.
The mountaineers represent a diverse group of business leaders, corporate teams, public figures, and ordinary citizens united by a common goal: to remove barriers preventing young girls from receiving an education. This initiative was founded in 2012 by social entrepreneur Richard Mabaso after a deeply personal experience involving his niece, who experienced fear, confusion, and stigma during her first menstrual cycle due to limited access to hygiene products and information. What began as an attempt to change one girl's experience has evolved into the Caring4Girls Program, which has reached nearly three million beneficiaries across South Africa.
Mabaso stated that 'mountains symbolize the challenges many girls face daily in accessing education and opportunities.' He added that 'every mountaineer joining Trek4Mandela becomes an ambassador for change, helping us ensure that young girls are not deprived of education simply because they lack access to hygiene products.' Since 2012, Trek4Mandela has used the challenge of mountain climbing to highlight the issue of menstrual poverty and raise support for women's health initiatives across South Africa. In addition to raising awareness, the expeditions play a crucial role in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the program. The Imbumba Foundation has also launched its own brand of pads, available online and through Takealot, enabling individuals, schools, organizations, and community groups to support women's health initiatives independently.
As part of Mandela Month, the foundation collaborates with several long-standing corporate social investment partners, including SOUTH32, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), Spur Corp, Sidima Sisters, Shell South Africa, and Estée Lauder South Africa, through public relations programs that include volunteer participation. The foundation has called on the public, corporate partners, and stakeholders to support the 2026 mountaineers and contribute to providing hygiene products and women's health educational materials to vulnerable students across the country under its current #MakeADifference campaign.
