Senegal opposition candidate Faye leads initial presidential election tallies
Dakar, Senegal Reuters The first polling station tallies of Senegal’s delayed presidential election on Sunday showed opposition candidate Bassirou Diomaye Faye taking the lead, prompting street celebrations after a peaceful day of voting that many hope will bring change. Millions lined up to elect Senegal’s fifth president following three years of unprecedented political turbulence that […]
Thousands of faithful attend Palm Sunday celebrations in Jerusalem against a backdrop of war
Jerusalem AP Thousands of Christian faithful attended Palm Sunday celebrations at Jerusalem’s sacred Mount of Olives, marking the first day of Holy Week as conflict surges across the region. Pilgrims waved branches and fronds in the air, items that were placed before Jesus’ feet as he was greeted by cheering crowds during his entrance into […]
Pope Francis skips Palm Sunday homily at start of busy Holy Week that will test his health
Rome, Italy AP Pope Francis decided at the last minute to skip his homily during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square, avoiding a strenuous speech at the start of a busy Holy Week that will test his increasingly frail health. Hobbled by bad knees and persistent respiratory problems, Francis also didn’t participate in the procession […]
Russians lower flags, lay flowers to honour concert hall attack victims
Moscow, Russia Reuters Russia lowered flags to half-mast on Sunday for a day of mourning and swiftly charged two suspects after gunmen killed scores of people at a concert outside Moscow in the deadliest attack inside Russia for two decades. President Vladimir Putin declared a national day of mourning after pledging to punish all those […]
Israel besieges two more Gaza hospitals, demands evacuations, Palestinians say
Cairo, Egypt Reuters Israeli forces besieged two more Gaza hospitals on Sunday, pinning down medical teams under heavy gunfire, the Palestinian Red Crescent said, and Israel said it had captured 480 militants in continued clashes at Gaza’s main Al Shifa hospital. Israel says hospitals in the Palestinian enclave, where war has been raging for over […]
Russia stages major airstrike on Ukraine; one missile enters Polish airspace
Kyiv, Ukraine Reuters Russia struck critical infrastructure in Ukraine’s western region of Lviv with missiles early on Sunday, Kyiv said, in a major airstrike that saw one Russian cruise missile briefly fly into Polish airspace according to Warsaw. Moscow launched 57 missiles and drones in the attack that also targeted the capital Kyiv, two days […]