Stories that are getting the most attention from our readers this month.
Cupertino, California, USA: Fortnite remains banned on Apple’s U.S. App Store, despite Apple reinstating it elsewhere. Epic Games accuses Apple of “retaliation” for not approving an update that would restore Fortnite to American iPhones. Apple insists Epic must comply with App Store rules first. The dispute began when Epic challenged Apple’s 30% commission. A 2023 appeals court upheld much of Apple’s policy but required some payment changes. Now, Fortnite players in the U.S. must resort to PCs, consoles, or web-based workarounds.
Paris, France: Rafael Nadal’s retirement leaves the French Open without its 14-time champion for the first time in two decades. Fans and rivals alike feel the void on Roland Garros’ clay. Novak Djokovic, now 38, is defending champion but also facing age and injury. Younger contenders like Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and Casper Ruud see a wide-open chance to claim the Coupe des Mousquetaires. Organizers plan tributes to Nadal, whose absence underscores a generational shift in men’s tennis. Bookmakers highlight unpredictability—someone new will lift the trophy.
New York, USA, and Oklahoma City, USA: The NBA playoffs have taken a thrilling turn, with the Knicks and Thunder emerging as prime contenders for the championship. The Knicks, led by Julius Randle and Jalen Brunson, stunned top-seeded rivals in the East, while the young Thunder, anchored by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, dethroned last year’s champions in the West. Fans are buzzing about a possible Knicks-Thunder matchup—an underdog showdown that defies big-market team expectations. Whether these teams can maintain momentum remains to be seen, but the excitement is real.