Qatar hints at progress in Gaza truce talks as UN urges lifting of blockade

As the UN urgently requests that Israel lift the “total and complete blockade” of the besieged Palestinian territory, Qatar claims there has been “a bit of progress” in the talks aimed at securing a new truce in the besieged Palestinian territory.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, met with Hakan Fidan, the foreign minister of Turkey, for talks in Doha, which were dominated by Israel’s 18-month conflict in Gaza.

“We saw some improvement on Thursday compared to other meetings, but we still need to address the key issue: how to put an end to this war. The main focus of the negotiations, according to Mohammed, who also serves as foreign minister.

In order to rekindle Israel’s relationship with Hamas, David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, reported to have traveled to Doha on Thursday.

Hamas and Israel are still at odds with one another over the ultimate goal of the negotiations, Mohammed said, not revealing how far the ceasefire talks had gone.

After Israel pulled out of a previous ceasefire and resumed its military operations on March 18, Mediator Qatar attempted to restore a truce, which ended in total secrecy.

The “ethnic cleansing being carried out by Israel in Gaza is against international and humanitarian law,” according to Turkiye’s Fidan.

“Gaza has not received humanitarian aid in the last two months. The entire world is watching and observing this humanitarian crisis. He said we must find a way to put an end to the violence in Gaza and ensure that aid is delivered to those in desperate need.

Palestinians in Gaza are facing starvation threat, according to the UN, because World Food Programme warehouses across the region are currently full after last week’s supply shortage.

The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) stated on Sunday that “the siege must be lifted,” noting that Gaza’s residents have been “plungered into a cycle of deadly violence and deprivation.”

UNRWA criticized Israel in a prior statement, claiming that nothing “can justify the Palestinian people’s collective punishment.”

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Gaza, headed by Jonathan Whittall, accused Israel of “weaponizing” aid by denying it to displaced Palestinians on Saturday.

People in Gaza are not surviving right now. He claimed that those who aren’t being killed by bombs and bullets are “dead on the verge”. There is no justification for the inalienable lack of humanitarian aid. Additionally, no weapon should ever be used to provide humanitarian aid.

Israel continued its airstrikes throughout Palestinian territory as a result of the famine warnings in Gaza. As hospitals are still flooded with children among the victims, at least nine have died as of Sunday morning, dawn.

Since Israel’s war on Gaza began 18 months ago, there have been at least 52, 243 Palestinian deaths and 117, 639 injuries. More than 61,700 people have been reported missing under the rubble, according to the Gaza Government Media Office, who added thousands are believed to be dead.

During the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, an estimated 1, 139 people were killed in Israel, and more than 200 were taken prisoner.

Israel’s aerial and ground attacks were described as “devastating,” according to Tareq Abu Azzoum, an Al Jazeera correspondent from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.

Russia launches nearly 150 drones, strikes in Ukraine, killing at least 4

At least four people were killed when Russia launched a massive drone assault and airstrikes across Ukraine, according to officials a day after Donald Trump questioned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to put an end to the conflict.

Russia dropped three glide bombs on the city on Sunday, according to a post from the Donetsk regional prosecutor’s office on Facebook. They were located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) away from the front line. Over the past year, Russian forces have gotten closer to it.

According to the post, a couple, 47 and 48, were killed, as was a 78-year-old pensioner, and 21 homes were ruined. A single-story house that had been destroyed as well as a burned-out car were captured in images taken at the scene.

A drone attack on the Dnipropetrovsk region’s Pavlohrad city, which was hit for the third night in a row, claimed the death of another person and injured a 14-year-old girl.

According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia also fired 149 exploding drones and decoys during the most recent wave of attacks, with 57 intercepted and 67 blocked.

In the city of Zhytomyr, drone attacks on the Odesa region left one person dead, and another left another injured. According to local officials, an air attack in Kherson city on Sunday morning left four people injured.

Following Putin’s claim that Russian forces had regained control of the area’s remaining areas, which Ukrainian forces had taken control of in an unexpected incursion in August, the attacks occurred just hours after. Officials in Ukraine resisted Kursk’s continued fighting.

US criticizes peace efforts

Trump expressed doubts about the potential conclusion of a peace deal on Saturday, saying that he doubts Putin wants to end the more than three-year conflict in Ukraine. Trump had previously stated that Ukraine and Russia were “very close to a deal.”

Trump frequently boasted that he could bring the world to an end in 24 hours during the campaign, but the reality has turned out to be more challenging.

As he flew back to the US after attending Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican, where he briefly met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, Trump wrote in a social media post that “there was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities, and towns.” Trump also made hints about putting additional sanctions on Russia.

The leaders’ first direct encounter since their heated exchange at the White House in late February was during the Trump-Zelenskyy summit on the sidelines of the pope’s funeral.

In Saint Peter’s Basilica, the two leaders sat next to one another without any aides, and they reportedly sat there for about 15 minutes, according to Zelenskyy’s office, in addition to the photos that Kyiv and Washington released of the meeting.

Zelenskyy predicted the meeting would be historic if it brought about the peace he desired, and a White House spokesman called it “very productive.”

A peace deal needs to be reached soon, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Washington is weighing whether serving as a mediator is worthwhile.

If this endeavor is going to fail, Rubio said on NBC’s Meet the Press program, “We cannot continue to devote our time and resources to it.”

“The last week has really been about figuring out how close these sides really are, and how close enough that this merits a continued time spent working as a mediator,” he continued.

suspect in a car bombing attack

Russian prosecutors charged a man with killing a senior Russian military officer in a separate incident on Sunday, according to the Interfax news agency.

Yaroslav Moskalik, 59, was the latest of a number of Russian military officers and pro-war figures to have been killed since the start of the Ukrainian conflict, according to the Kremlin.

Ukraine has not made any comments on the incident.

Ignat Kuzin, who used to reside in Ukraine, admitted to killing Moskalik and claimed he was recruited and paid by Ukraine’s security services, according to Interfax, citing Russia’s Investigative Committee.

Just before Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff was scheduled to meet with Putin in Moscow, Moskalik, who was the deputy head of Russia’s General Staff’s main operations division, died on Friday in the town of Balashikha.

What next for Crystal Palace after WSL relegation?

Getty Images

Twelve months on from the joyous scenes that greeted Crystal Palace winning promotion to the Women’s Super League for the first time, they face the prospect of life back in the Championship.

The Eagles were consigned to the second tier after accumulating a total of just nine points so far this season – seven behind Aston Villa and Leicester City – in becoming the first team ever to be relegated in their debut WSL campaign.

Table showing the total points of the past five teams who were relegated from the Women's Super League.BBC Sport

Before Palace, the only sides to go down the season after they were promoted to the WSL – which introduced relegation in 2014 – were Doncaster Rovers Belles (2016) and Bristol City (2024).

Unlike in the Premier League, there are no parachute payments for relegated clubs to help them manage the financial impact of dropping down to the Championship.

Liverpool (relegated in 2019-20) – back in WSL

Liverpool Women celebrate with the Championship title.Getty Images

Liverpool’s 2020 relegation ended a decade of them being in the WSL. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the 2019-20 season being scrapped and the relegated side being determined on a points-by-game basis.

There was criticism over a lack of investment and scrutiny of poor facilities following their relegation. However, the Reds would spend only two seasons in the second tier before one of the women’s top-flight founders reclaimed their place among the domestic elite.

Vicky Jepson left her role as manager in January of their 2020-21 campaign – they finished third at the end of that season – and Matt Beard returned in the summer amid player unrest.

He had previously led the Merseyside club to back-to-back WSL titles, and was part of a revamp of the women’s team that included the appointment of Russ Fraser as their first-ever managing director.

Bristol City (relegated in 2020-21) – returned to WSL

Shania Hayles celebrates after scoring for Bristol City.Getty Images

Bristol City were relegated from the WSL at the end of 2020-21 under interim manager Matt Beard, who was given the role until the end of the season as maternity cover for Tanya Oxtoby.

Lauren Smith, who had previously been an assistant manager, returned to the club to take charge of the Robins.

She guided City to third place in the following season behind champions Liverpool, with Abi Harrison – a striker they managed to keep after relegation – the division’s top scorer.

They built on that success with seven new signings helping the Robins to their first league title in 2023.

Birmingham City (relegated 2021-22) – pushing for promotion

Birmingham City celebrateGetty Images

Birmingham City had narrowly avoided relegation two years’ running before their 11-year WSL stint came to an end in 2022 when they were relegated under head coach Darren Carter.

That came a year after the squad had sent a letter to the board complaining about conditions for the women’s team.

The Blues, another founding member of the WSL in 2010, missed out on the Championship title to Bristol City by one point in 2023, with Carter initially remaining in his role after they dropped down a division.

He remained as boss until April 2024, when he was replaced by former Brighton boss Amy Merricks, as they finished fifth and 10 points behind title winners Crystal Palace.

Reading (relegated in 2022-23) – dropped to fifth tier

Reading Women FCGetty Images

Reading’s massive fall wasn’t just due to matters on the pitch, but rather off it.

The Royals played the 2023-24 season – their first after relegation to the second tier – and finished 10th, just above the relegation spots.

There was a cloud over the Berkshire club for the entirety of this campaign due to the financial difficulties they faced, and the women’s team was withdrawn from the Championship before the 2024-25 season began.

Bristol City (relegated 2023-24) – in Championship

Jamie-Lee NapierGetty Images

Bristol City endured a miserable return to the top flight, finishing the 2023-24 season with only one win and six points – the lowest from a side in a 22-game WSL season – and nine successive defeats.

The inexperienced team were the first promoted side to go straight down from the WSL since Doncaster in 2016.

Stephen Kirby was appointed manager of the newly relegated Robins in September 2024, after Lauren Smith stepped down from her role 12 days before the Women’s Championship season kicked off.

As well as Smith ending her long association with the club, Lisa Evans, Rachel Furness, Megan Connolly and Carrie Jones were among a host of players to depart.

City only added Lexi Lloyd-Smith, Harley Bennett and Jacqueline Burns as permanent signings.

Crystal Palace (relegated 2024-25) – ?

Leif SmerudGetty Images

Laura Kaminski led the Eagles to the top flight as champions in 2024, but with the club sitting at the foot of the WSL table in this difficult campaign, she was sacked in February and replaced by Smerud.

When the Norwegian took charge, he said: “My mission is quite clear. Short-term, it’s to stay in the league.

“But I’m also someone who likes to develop things long-term. Palace has strong values, and that matters to me.”

Whether Smerud stays or the Eagles decide to change their head coach again, clubs who have been relegated previously have not always found it easy to bounce back to the WSL straight away.

Teams have struggled financially in the Championship and found it difficult to keep hold of key players.

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Thousands visit Pope Francis tomb in Rome day after funeral

A day after Pope Francis’ funeral attracted world leaders and hundreds of thousands of faithful, thousands of mourners gathered in Rome to pay their respects to his tomb.

The tomb, which was opened to the public on the second of nine days of official mourning, had crowds on Sunday. A conclave to choose his successor is scheduled for May 5 and May 10.

Ushers urged visitors to keep moving so that the steady stream of visitors could bid farewell outside St. Mary’s Basilica.

The Argentinian pontiff, who passed away on April 21, 1988, was interred in a modest white marble tomb close to a Madonna icon, which he so revered.

Pope Francis was an inspiration and a guide to me, according to Elias Caravalhal, a resident of Rome who had to leave St. Peter’s Basilica to offer thanks at the tomb.

Reflecting on the site’s simplicity, Polish pilgrim Maria Brzezinska declared, “It’s exactly the Pope’s way.” He was straightforward, and now he is.

Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, left, camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, presided over Pope Francis’ eulogy in Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore [File: Vatican media handout/EPA-EFE]

Francis decided to be buried outside the Vatican, breaking with centuries-old customs, and choosing Rome as his final destination.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state and a potential successor to pope, conducted a special mass earlier on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square.

Parolin paid tribute to Francis in a speech addressed to a crowd of 200, 000 people, many of whom were young pilgrims who had initially gathered for Carlo Acutis’ planned canonization.

Pope Francis, the shepherd the Lord gave to his people, has given up his earthly life and left us, he claimed. We are experiencing all of this, including the grief caused by his departure and the sadness that plagues us.

Susmidah Murphy from Kerala, India, was one of those who was mourning. She said, “It’s unbelievable that he’s no longer with us.” “It’s sad. This is not a very common occurrence for popes.

MotoGP Spain: Alex Marquez wins first Grand Prix after brother Marc crashes

Alex Marquez of Gresini Racing won his first MotoGP race at the Spanish Grand Prix to take the title from his older brother Marc, who crashed early and finished 12th overall.

After claiming a dream race victory on home soil on Sunday in front of more than 100,000 spectators with the Spaniard urging them to increase the volume even with only a few corners left in the closing lap. Alex won in both sprints and races this year with seven second-place finishes in the categories of racing.

Yamaha won the podium for the first time since the 2023 Indonesian Grand Prix, led by Francesco Bagnaia of Ducati, who came in third.

As the two Spaniards became the first brothers to win MotoGP, Marc made his way through the crowd to congratulate Alex in the winner’s circle.

However, the Gresini rider had the honor of taking the chequered flag, which was waved by Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz, who was leading his older sibling by one point in the standings.

“Amazing birthday gift, the best.” Alex, who turned 29 on Wednesday, described the first one as “something amazing” in Jerez.

I have no desire to request more. I was very clever throughout the entire race.

Quartararo, polesitter, took the lead into turn one with a perfect start off the line, while Marc, the weekend’s sprint champion, finished in fourth place.

By threading the needle between his two bikes, Alex attempted to overtake three riders in front of him early on, but he braked too late and fell behind as Marc and Bagnaia collided while they were battling for position.

[Jose Breton/AP] Celebrates his victory at the Angel Nieto racetrack in Jerez de la Frontera as a member of the BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP.

Marc Marquez crashes

As thousands of fans around the circuit collectively groan as Marc runs in third and tries to overtake his teammate, the Spaniard then crashes at turn seven and rejoins in 22nd place with a damaged bike.

However, Bagnaia was at a loss for time when Alex elbowed the Italian to move up to second and target Quartararo.

The Yamaha rider made an effort to keep Alex at bay, but on lap 11 he overtook Quartararo, who had roared from the Marquez grandstand.

As Bagnaia couldn’t catch up with Alex, who was in the clear, he started to fade into the distance and fought valiantly to overtake Quartararo, who obstinately held onto second place.

“Unbelievable.” The podium position is extremely special, especially with Alex and keeping Pecco [Bagnaia] in the lead, according to Quartararo, the 2021 MotoGP champion.

“I’ve been away for a long time, but I’m thrilled to be back on the podium in Jerez.”

Marc Marquez in action.
Marc Marquez, a Ducati Lenovo Team rider, crashed and damaged his bike at the Spanish Grand Prix, leaving the race in 12th place [Jorge Guerrero/AFP].