Ukraine imposes new sanctions targeting Russian maritime and defence supply chains
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved new sanctions targeting Russian maritime operators, defence-linked companies and individuals co...
Christians worldwide are marking Easter Sunday together this year, as both Catholic and Orthodox churches celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on the same day.
Christians across the globe are celebrating Easter, Christianity’s most significant holiday.
For over 400 years, Catholic and Orthodox churches have used different methods to calculate the date of Easter. But this Sunday marks a rare occasion as both traditions celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on the same day.
In Kyiv, residents attended Easter Mass from Saturday night into Sunday morning. Due to the city’s midnight curfew, worshippers remained inside the church until dawn. Ceremonies across Ukraine came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a temporary ceasefire lasting until midnight on Sunday.
In Moscow, hundreds gathered at Christ the Saviour Cathedral for Easter Mass led by Patriarch Kirill, which took place overnight from Saturday into Sunday.
On Chios Island, rival churches continued their annual Easter tradition of launching fireworks at each other's buildings in an effort to strike the opponent’s church bell. Worshippers from Panagia Erithiani and Saint Mark use handmade rockets crafted from sulphur and gunpowder, continuing a tradition that evolved from the use of heavy cannons to today’s less-harmful fireworks.
In North Bohemia, a village boy dressed in a hay suit led the traditional "Marching Judas" procession on Easter Saturday. Surviving in only a few eastern Czech villages, the eldest teenage boy becomes the "Straw Judas," symbolizing the disciple who betrayed Jesus. Children follow him door to door, singing and collecting sweets, eggs, and money in a cart pulled by Judas.
In Oruro, artists crafted large sand sculptures portraying biblical scenes and the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross. Nearly 200 artists from Bolivia, Argentina, and Peru turned the dunes into a massive canvas for the festival’s 19th edition, attracting crowds to admire the detailed sand creations.
In Jerusalem, Orthodox Christians gathered at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the Holy Fire ceremony, a tradition believed to symbolize Jesus’ resurrection. At 2 p.m. on Holy Saturday, a sunbeam is said to ignite a lamp inside the tomb, after which the Greek Orthodox Patriarch emerges with a lit candle. The flame is then shared among worshippers and passed to pilgrims waiting in the nearby streets.
While many observe Easter Sunday with traditional practices like prayer and mass, others embrace more secular customs — from colorful egg hunts and decorating to festive baskets and visits from the Easter Bunny.
Quentin Griffiths, co-founder of online fashion retailer ASOS, has died in Pattaya, Thailand, after falling from the 17th floor of a condominium on 9 February, Thai police confirmed.
Ukraine’s National Paralympic Committee has announced it will boycott the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics in Verona on 6 March, citing the International Paralympic Committee’s decision to allow some Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under their national flags.
Eric Dane, the actor best known for his roles in 'Grey’s Anatomy' and 'Euphoria', died on Thursday, at the age of 53 after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). His family confirmed his death after what they described as a “courageous battle” with ALS.
An Austrian climber has been convicted of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend died from hypothermia while climbing Austria’s highest peak, the Grossglockner, in January 2025.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday (21 February) that he will raise temporary tariffs on nearly all U.S. imports from 10% to 15%, the maximum allowed under the law, after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved new sanctions targeting Russian maritime operators, defence-linked companies and individuals connected to Moscow’s military and energy sectors, according to official decrees issued on Saturday.
Divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their minibus broke through the ice of Lake Baikal in Russia, authorities said.
A technical fault in the helium system of NASA’s next-generation moon rocket was announced on Saturday, ruling out the planned March launch window for the Artemis II mission.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday (21 February) that he will raise temporary tariffs on nearly all U.S. imports from 10% to 15%, the maximum allowed under the law, after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.
Germany's ruling conservatives on Saturday (21 February) passed a motion to ban social media use for under 14s and introduce more stringent digital verification checks for teenagers, building momentum for such limits in Germany and elsewhere in Europe.
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