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.
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President Joe Biden addressed the graduating class of Howard University, a leading historically Black university, warning of the dangers of white supremacy and racism. He spoke of the need to recognize and confront the history of racism in the United States, and warned that “hate never goes away” and that “silence is complicity.” Biden also addressed the recent bomb scares made to HBCUs, and urged the graduates to “stand up for the best in us” and to confront the threats to American democracy and to suppress Black history.
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.
Hundreds of abortion-rights activists and voters gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina to witness Governor Roy Cooper veto a bill that would place additional restrictions on physicians, abortion clinics, and women seeking the procedure. Cooper, a strong advocate for abortion rights, noted that the bill was written in secret and kept from public input, and his veto was met with cheers from the crowd. However, the state legislature’s GOP supermajority still has the power to override Cooper’s veto, leaving the fate of the bill uncertain.
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.