Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Vatican on Saturday to seek the support of Pope Francis for Ukraine's peace plan to end the war launched by Russia a year ago. During the meeting, Zelenskyy discussed the tens of thousands of deported Ukrainian children and held meetings with Italian officials. This marks Zelenskyy's first trip to Italy since the beginning of the Russian invasion, and the outcome of the meetings is yet to be seen.
Posts published in “World”
After five days of intense fighting between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire has been agreed to by both sides, starting at 10 p.m. local time on Saturday. The conflict has resulted in the deaths of 33 Palestinians and two people in Israel, and hundreds of thousands of Israelis and more than two million people in Gaza had been largely confined to bomb shelters. Despite a last-minute burst of rocket fire and Israeli airstrikes, the cease-fire brings a sense of relief to the region, though it remains to be seen how long it will last.
This Sunday, Turkey will hold its general election, with current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan facing off against Kemal Kilicdaroglu. The election is seen as a referendum on Erdogan's 20-year rule, with many voters hoping for a change in leadership. The outcome of the election will be closely watched around the world, as it could signal a shift in the political landscape of Turkey.
For the fifth consecutive day, Israel and Palestinian militants have been exchanging fire in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 Palestinians and four Israeli civilians. Saturday saw the Islamic Jihad militant group launch dozens of rockets, while the Israeli military responded with airstrikes and raided the Balata refugee camp near Nablus, sparking a firefight that killed two Palestinians. Missile shrapnel from the conflict also struck an agricultural community in Israel's southern Negev desert, wounding three Palestinians.
Brittney Griner, a seven-time All-Star, returned to game action with the Phoenix Mercury after nearly 10 months of detainment in Russia on drug-related charges. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to be back on the court and made an impact in her first game back, finishing with 10 points and three rebounds. Despite the loss, the joy of having Griner back on the court was the primary focus, as she was finally able to return to the game she loves.
Liverpool is hosting the 67th Eurovision Song Contest, which has been moved from Kyiv, Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict in the region. Locals have embraced Ukrainian culture and will be showing their support with British flags. The grand final will be a night of music, costumes, and culture, as the world watches to see who will win the continent's pop crown.
On Monday, a mysterious object crashed through the roof of a ranch-style home in Hopewell, New Jersey. After investigation, experts from The College of New Jersey confirmed it was a rare 4.56 billion year old stony chondrite meteorite weighing 2.2 pounds and 6 inches by 4 inches in size. Nate Magee, a physics professor, said it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study a meteorite that has made landfall in a home.
Imran Khan, Pakistan's former Prime Minister, was granted bail for two weeks on Friday after the Supreme Court ruled his arrest on corruption charges unlawful. This followed two days of deadly protests across the country, and the Islamabad High Court barred his re-arrest until at least May 17. Khan's supporters have been protesting against the government since his arrest, and the ruling marks a victory for him and his supporters. It is unclear what will happen after the two-week period.