Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on April 21 that Russian troops resumed hostilities after the supposed Easter ceasefire, even as Ukraine accused Moscow of repeated violations while the truce was allegedly in effect. The Russian ministry claimed its forces had struck Ukrainian forces near the village of Khmelivka in Sumy Oblast, the town of Kupiansk in […]
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg will meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on April 24, the prime minister’s office announced on April 21. The leaders will discuss the security situation, NATO, the Russia-Ukraine war, and trade, the statement read. Norway’s officials will meet the U.S. president after […]
Editor’s note: The article was expanded with responses from world leaders. Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, at the age of 88, in his residence in Vatican City, the Vatican news service reported. “At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the home of the Father. His entire life was […]
When the cause of liberty seemed most fragile, and its defenders most alone, a man named Thomas Paine picked up his pen and wrote: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” It was December 1776, one of the bleakest moments in the American War of Independence. Washington’s army was in retreat. Winter was biting. […]
The funeral for Pope Francis will include many long-held traditions, but will also eschew some of the more intricate customs after the pope amended the Catholic Church’s papal funeral rights. Francis died Monday at age 88, the Vatican announced. While much of the tradition associated with papal funerals – which dates all the way […]
After a pope dies, the Catholic Church chooses its next leader through an ancient electoral process called the “papal conclave.” In practice, since at least 1276, the conclave gathers the church’s top bishops – called the College of Cardinals – from around the globe. Though there are more than 240 cardinals currently, only those under […]
Vice President JD Vance was one of the last visitors of Pope Francis before the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church died at age 88. Vance met with Francis briefly on Sunday to exchange Easter greetings in one of the reception rooms of the Vatican hotel where he’d been living since being released from […]
Russia and Ukraine will be able to “do big business” with the United States if they secure a peace deal in the next week, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote in a social media post on April 20. Trump’s comments come shortly after he threatened to pull U.S. support from the peace process altogether if either […]
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated with additional details. Kyiv is proposing a 30-day ceasefire on long-range drone and missile strikes against civilian infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 20. Zelensky’s proposal falls on Easter Sunday, amid a so-called “Easter truce” initiated on April 19 by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite Putin’s promise […]
The United States aims to secure “a full and comprehensive ceasefire” in Ukraine beyond a temporary Easter truce, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on April 20 in a statement emailed to Reuters. Russian President Vladimir Putin unilaterally declared a temporary Easter ceasefire from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April […]
Ukrainian tennis player Elina Svitolina won her first title in nearly two years on April 20 at the WTA 250 Open Capfinances Rouen Metropole. Svitolina, a celebrated Ukrainian athlete originally from Odesa, was chosen as one of the Ukraine’s two flag bearers at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Svitolina defeated Serbian tennis player Olga […]
Key developments on April 19-20: Multiple Russian ceasefire violations reported from front line during Easter ceasefire, Zelensky says Ukraine brings home 277 POWs in swap with Russia Ukraine advances in Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, Zelensky says Republican US Congressman Fitzpatrick visits Ukraine’s front line, signs a shell for Putin Russia prepares to push toward Kostiantynivka in […]