Azerbaijani parliament speaker attended Pope Leo XIV inauguration
The inauguration ceremony of Pope Leo XIV took place in Vatican City, attended by international dignitaries, including Azerbaijani parliament speaker.
Black smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signalling that the cardinals have not yet elected a new pope as the secretive Vatican conclave continues into its second day.
Black smoke billowed from the chimney above the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, indicating that the College of Cardinals has not yet agreed on a new leader for the Roman Catholic Church.
Thousands of onlookers gathered in St. Peter’s Square, watching as the smoke rose shortly before noon local time (1000 GMT). The signal followed an inconclusive vote by the 133 cardinals under the age of 80, who began the conclave on Wednesday and are locked in total isolation until a new pope is chosen.
The smoke, generated by burning the cardinals’ ballots mixed with special chemicals, plays a key role in the centuries-old ritual. Black smoke means no consensus has been reached, while white smoke heralds the election of a new pontiff.
Cardinals held the first ballot on Wednesday evening, as tradition dictates. On Thursday, they are expected to conduct two votes in the afternoon, with more smoke anticipated around 5:30 p.m. local time (1530 GMT).
Known as the “princes of the Church,” the cardinals may cast up to four votes per day until a candidate secures a two-thirds majority.
Historically, no pope in modern times has been elected on the first ballot. Both Pope Francis, elected in 2013, and his predecessor, Benedict XVI, chosen in 2005, were selected on the evening of the second day — making a similar outcome this week plausible.
This conclave follows the death of Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff, who led the Catholic Church through a transformative decade marked by reform, global engagement, and internal challenges.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently allowed President Donald Trump's administration to move forward with ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for around 350,000 Venezuelans living in the U.S. Trump has also aimed to end TPS protections for Haitians, Afghans, and others.
The U.S. Supreme Court has granted a request from the Trump administration to lift protections under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) program for approximately 350,000 Venezuelans, potentially opening the door to future deportations while litigation continues.
Lithuania has taken legal action against Belarus at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Minsk of organizing irregular migrant crossings and violating international obligations.
Indonesia has raised the alert level to the highest for Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki after it erupted eight times over the weekend, the country’s volcanology agency said.
As South Western Railway becomes the latest operator to be renationalised under Great British Railways (GBR), questions remain about whether these changes will lead to better services or lower fares.
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