Pope Francis is in critical condition after a long respiratory crisis, requiring oxygen at high flow
ROME (AP) — The Vatican says Pope Francis is in critical condition after he suffered a long asthmatic respiratory crisis that required high flows of oxygen. Francis has been hospitalized for a week with a complex lung infection. The Vatican said on Saturday that Francis also received blood transfusions after tests showed low blood platelets, which are needed for clotting. The statement said that the “Holy Father continues to be alert and spent the day in an armchair although in more pain than yesterday. At the moment the prognosis is reserved.”
Israel delays release of Palestinian prisoners, citing ‘humiliating’ handovers of hostages
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel says the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners is delayed “until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies” at handovers of Israeli captives in Gaza. The statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office came early Sunday as vehicles apparently carrying prisoners left the open gates of Ofer prison, only to turn around and go back in. The release of 620 Palestinian prisoners had been delayed for several hours and was meant to occur just after six Israeli hostages were released on Saturday. Israel’s announcement abruptly put the future of the ceasefire into further doubt.
Discontented Germany votes in an election with economy, migration and far-right strength in focus
BERLIN (AP) — German voters are choosing their new government in an election dominated by worries about the years-long stagnation of Europe’s biggest economy, pressure to curb migration and growing uncertainty over the future of Ukraine and Europe’s alliance with the United States. The center-right opposition is favored to win, while polls point to the strongest result for a far-right party since World War II. Germany is the most populous country in the 27-nation European Union and a leading member of NATO. It will be central to determining the continent’s response to the challenges of the coming years, including the Trump administration’s confrontational foreign and trade policy.
The leaders of France and Britain head to Washington to urge Trump not to abandon Ukraine
LONDON (AP) — The leaders of France and Britain are making tag-team visits to Washington this week. It’s part of European efforts to persuade President Donald Trump not to abandon Ukraine in pursuit of a peace deal in the three-year-old war with Russia. There is an element of good cop, bad cop to messages from Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron. Starmer is reluctant to openly confront Trump and speaks of being a bridge between Europe and the U.S. administration. Macron has more strongly criticized Trump’s statements and American moves to negotiate with Moscow. Both leaders insist Ukraine must not be sidelined in peace talks. Macron is due at the White House on Monday and Starmer on Thursday.
Wounded, recovered and back to war. Ukrainian soldiers are returning to battle after amputation
DONETSK REGION, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian soldiers who lost limbs in the three-year war against Russia are returning to the battlefield out of a sense of duty amid the grim outlook for their country. Many Ukrainian brigades have at least one, and often several, amputee soldiers who have returned to active duty. On the front line Russia is expending huge amounts of weaponry and human life to make small but steady territorial gains to the nearly one-fifth of Ukraine it already controls. Meanwhile Ukraine, outnumbered and outgunned, faces challenges not only on the battlefield but also in diplomacy, as its once strongest ally, the U.S., enters talks with Russia, raising fears that Ukraine and its European partners will be sidelined.
Musk gives all federal workers 48 hours to explain what they did last week
NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have little more than 48 hours to explain what they accomplished over the last week. The order is part of billionaire Elon Musk’s crusade to slash what he describes as “waste everywhere” in the federal government. Musk, who serves as President Donald Trump’s cost-cutting chief, shared the extraordinary request on his social media network on Saturday. He said that “failure to respond will be taken as a resignation.” Shortly afterward, federal employees received a three-line email telling them to share “approx. 5 bullets of what you accomplished last week and cc your manager.” Thousands of government employees have already been forced out of the federal workforce during the first month of Trump’s administration.
States threaten fines and jail time for local officials who resist Trump’s immigration crackdown
ATLANTA (AP) — Republican lawmakers in some states are threatening local officials with lawsuits, fines and jail time if they resist President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Lawmakers in more than 20 states have filed legislation targeting so-called sanctuary polices that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Some of those states already ban sanctuary polices. But they are now proposing to punish mayors, council members or others who ignore those bans. The state proposals come as Trump’s administration also has begun taking legal action against governments with policies inhibiting arrests and deportations of people who are in the U.S. illegally.
As Rwanda-backed rebels seized Goma, the families of Congolese soldiers became a target
GOMA, Congo (AP) — Rwanda-backed rebels who captured eastern Congo’s major city of Goma have targeted relatives of fleeing Congolese soldiers. That’s according to the soldier’s families. They say soldiers’ wives were chased from military barracks and left stranded in the city while some of their children are allegedly being forced to join the rebellion. The women said that when M23 rebels swept into Goma in late January they moved quickly to empty military camps of soldier’s relatives. M23 is the most potent of about 100 armed groups vying for a foothold in Congo’s mineral-rich east. Many families of fleeing Congolese soldiers are sheltering in temporary settlements. They spoke to The Associated Press about their new life of hardship and uncertainty.
Thousands of people attend the funeral of late Hezbollah leader Nasrallah 5 months after his death
BEIRUT (AP) — Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Beirut to attend the funeral of Hezbollah’s leader nearly five months after he was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb of the capital. Hassan Nasrallah was killed when Israel’s air force dropped more than 80 bombs on the militant group’s main operations room. His death was a major blow for the Iran-backed group that the late leader transformed into a potent force in the Middle East. Nasrallah was the group’s leader for more than 30 years and one of its founders. He enjoyed broad influence among Iran-backed groups in the region.
Kamala Harris receives prestigious Chairman’s prize at NAACP Image Awards
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Former Vice President Kamala Harris stepped on the NAACP Image Awards stage with a sobering message, calling the civil rights organization a pillar of the Black community and urging people to stay resilient and hold onto their faith during President Donald Trump’s tenure. The 56th ceremony has kicked off in Pasadena, California, with host Deon Cole honoring Altadena residents who were affected by a recent wildfire. Cole lightened the mood with a comedic prayer for Kanye West’s wife to find more clothes after her barely-there Grammys look and for Shannon Sharpe to finally size up his T-shirts. Pasadena is located just south of Altadena in the Los Angeles area.