Hamas says fate of U.S.-Israeli hostage unknown
Hamas claims it has lost contact with the group holding Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli soldier, after an Israeli airstrike reportedly killed one of his guards.
Gabonese voters head to the polls Saturday in the first presidential election since the 2023 bloodless military coup. Voting runs with over 900,000 eligible voters casting ballots at 3,037 polling stations, according to the Interior Ministry.
Eight candidates are in the race, including Zenaba Gninga Chaning, the sole female contender. The two-week campaign ended Friday in the nation of 2.5 million people.
Interior Minister Hermann Immongault called the vote a “milestone in the restoration of national institutions.” Around 2,450 national and international observers have been accredited, including from the African Union, Commonwealth, and other regional bodies.
Transitional President Brice Oligui Nguema, who led last year’s coup that ended the 56-year Bongo dynasty, is the frontrunner. His main rival is Alain Claude Bilie By Nze, the last prime minister under Ali Bongo.
Both candidates have pledged to diversify the economy, which currently relies heavily on oil, timber, and manganese exports.
Nguema, backed by multiple political parties under the Rally of Builders, highlighted his anti-corruption efforts and infrastructure projects during the transition. He promises to continue reforms, improve public services, and tackle youth unemployment.
Nze, running under the “Together for Gabon” movement, seeks to distance himself from the former regime and drive economic transformation.
If no candidate secures over 50% of the vote, a runoff will be held. Under the new constitution adopted in 2023, Gabon abolished the prime minister’s role and introduced a renewable seven-year presidential term.
The Russian ruble has emerged as the top-performing currency globally in 2025, registering an impressive 38% appreciation against the US dollar since the beginning of the year, according to a report by Bloomberg.
A small plane crashed near Kopake, New York, on April 13, killing at 6 people. The Mitsubishi MU-2B aircraft, carrying six people, went down under unclear circumstances. This marks the second aviation accident in New York in a week, raising safety concerns.
The Holy Fire ceremony stands as one of Christianity's most enduring and mysterious rituals, drawing thousands of pilgrims to Jerusalem each year.
Several regions in Ukraine faced heightened alert on Palm Sunday, as reports of explosions and missile threats drew public attention and official responses.
Severe rainfall on April 17 led to flooding and landslides in the Piedmont region, prompting a large-scale emergency response from over 400 firefighters.
Hamas claims it has lost contact with the group holding Edan Alexander, a U.S.-Israeli soldier, after an Israeli airstrike reportedly killed one of his guards.
Tehran and Washington have wrapped up their second round of nuclear talks, aiming to revive stalled diplomacy and explore the path to a potential agreement.
Jordan's King Abdullah II and Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held a phone conversation on Saturday to discuss ongoing efforts to end the Israeli war on Gaza, which has been ongoing since October 7, 2023.
President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine has drawn strong criticism from Kyiv, as Ukrainian leaders question the sincerity behind Moscow’s gesture amid continued hostilities and deep mistrust.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has denounced a Russian drone strike that occurred just hours after the start of a declared Easter truce, calling it proof of Vladimir Putin’s blatant disregard for both the holiday and human life.
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