International
At least one dead and more than 20 injured in a Russian attack against a residential area of Zaporiyia
At least one person has died and 24 others have been injured in the city of Zaporiyia, in southeastern Ukraine, after the launch of four Russian missiles this morning against a residential area of this city, relatively close to the front.
The governor of the Zaporiyya region, Ivan Fedorov, published images of the consequences of the attack in which several destroyed apartments and damaged buildings are seen.
In addition, Russia is still advancing on the Pokrovsk front, in Donetsk, where in recent hours it has launched more than 60 attacks.
“The enemy attacks the city again. At least four explosions were heard in Zaporiyia,” Fedórov said shortly after the attack on Ukrainian television, who explained early in the morning that medical services were attending to the injured at the scene of the impacts.
Zaporiyia had more than 700,000 inhabitants before the war and is located in the homonymous region of southeastern Ukraine partially occupied by Russia.
The city has been regularly attacked by Russian forces since the beginning of the war.
At the front, Russian forces continue to concentrate their greatest efforts to achieve progress on the front axis of Pokrovsk, one of the most important cities still in Ukrainian hands in the eastern region of Donetsk.
According to the General Staff of Kiev, Ukrainian forces repelled more than 60 Russian attacks during the past day in that area rich in mineral resources.
A total of 115 fighting took place along the line of contact, according to the Ukrainian military report.
The Ukrainian war analysis platform DeepState has reported Russian progress in several areas of Donetsk.
The offensive is particularly intense in the south and southwest of the city of Pokrovsk, where Russian troops continue to approach the town.
The Ukrainian General Staff has assured that Russian forces lost 1,340 soldiers on Wednesday throughout the front line.
In addition, the Ukrainian Army claims to have destroyed 12 armored vehicles and 62 enemy artillery systems.
International
Vatican speeds up Sistine Chapel preparations for upcoming conclave
Work is accelerating inside the Sistine Chapel as the Vatican prepares for the papal conclave set to begin on Wednesday. The preparations include the installation of a wooden floor, the setup of a stove for burning secret ballots, and the iconic chimney that will signal the election results.
A nearly five-minute video released by the Vatican on Saturday shows technicians assembling scaffolding beneath Michelangelo’s frescoes and laying a false wooden floor, where large tables will be placed to accommodate the 133 cardinals expected to vote.
Elsewhere in the chapel, workers are installing the heavy stove that will be used to burn the ballots. The footage, dated Friday, also shows firefighters climbing the tiled roof to prepare the chimney flue, which will emit either white smoke when a new pope is elected, or black smoke if no decision has been reached.
“This is a key stage for the Catholic Church,” said Silvio Screpanti, deputy director of Vatican infrastructure, on the Vatican’s official website. The stove has been discreetly tested, and in case of any issues, a technician will remain in a nearby technical room with a remote control to manage the stove, which now operates electronically.
A team of five electricians, five technicians, and two florists will remain on-site throughout the conclave. After taking an oath, they will stay within Vatican grounds with no outside contact, including with their families.
Some of these workers have participated in previous conclaves, while younger staff will receive guidance from more experienced colleagues, ensuring a smooth transition for future conclaves.
International
Venezuela achieves 22% drop in maternal mortality in first months of 2025
Maternal mortality in Venezuela decreased by 22% during the first four months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024, Vice President Delcy Rodríguez announced on Saturday.
The significant reduction is attributed to a combination of public health policies focused on primary care, obstetric surveillance, and the promotion of community health, Rodríguez explained during a broadcast on the state television channel, following a meeting of the Sectoral Vice Presidents Council.
“These are lives saved thanks to the joint efforts of medical teams, community brigades, and the national healthcare system,” she said.
Contributing factors include the strengthening of prenatal care programs, free access to safe childbirth services, and the deployment of mobile medical units in remote areas. Additionally, emergency obstetric protocols were reinforced and specialized staff received further training.
The council meeting also addressed other areas of government action.
In the economic sphere, officials reviewed progress in the “13 Productive Engines” initiative, designed to boost key sectors such as agriculture, energy, tourism, and the pharmaceutical industry. The goal is to stimulate domestic production, generate foreign currency, and reduce external dependency.
In education, over two million students participated in the 19th edition of the National School Sports Games, held between March and April. Authorities highlighted the importance of these events in supporting the comprehensive development of the nation’s youth.
The government also assessed the national rain mitigation plan, which includes structural and preventive measures such as drainage maintenance, reinforcement of vulnerable areas, and the activation of early warning systems.
International
Trump signs order to end federal funding for NPR and PBS
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to halt federal funding for two public media outlets, PBS television and NPR radio, accusing them of being biased.
NPR and PBS are partially funded by American taxpayers but rely heavily on private donations.
Trump has long maintained a hostile relationship with most media outlets, which he has referred to as the “enemy of the people.”
An exception is the conservative Fox News channel, some of whose hosts have played important roles in the administration of the Republican magnate.
“National Public Radio (NPR) and Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) receive taxpayer funding through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB),” Trump said.
“Therefore, I direct the CPB board and all executive departments and agencies to cease federal funding for NPR and PBS,” he added.
The Republican leader argued that “neither of these entities provides a fair, accurate, or impartial portrayal of current events to the taxpayer citizens.”
At the end of March, Donald Trump called on Congress to end public funding for these two “horrible and completely biased networks.”
Vatican speeds up Sistine Chapel preparations for upcoming conclave
Venezuela achieves 22% drop in maternal mortality in first months of 2025
Trump signs order to end federal funding for NPR and PBS
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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