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Anne Okumu & Brian Khisa BBC News, Gaborone Lesego Chombo/Instagram Lesego Chombo’s enthusiasm for life is as infectious as her achievements are impressive: she has won the Miss Botswana 2022 and Miss World Africa 2024 crowns, is a working lawyer, has set up her own charitable foundation – and made history in November, becoming Botswana’s … Read more
Getty Who will follow in the footsteps of Loreen and Nemo as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest? The Eurovision Song Contest was watched by around 163 million people last year – meaning there are potentially 163 million different opinions on what makes a perfect entrant. Do you go for a soulful ballad, guaranteed … Read more
Madeline Halpert BBC News, New York Lily Jamali BBC News, Alcatraz Island Daniel A. Edwards Hopkins has moved back to his home state of Florida since he was released in 1963 When Charlie Hopkins thinks back to the three years he spent in one of America’s most famous prisons, he remembers the “deathly quiet” the … Read more
Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for “direct talks” with Ukraine, saying they should “start without delay, as early as 15 May”. “We seek serious talks… to remove the root causes of the conflict and start moving towards a lasting, strong peace”, he said on Saturday, in a rare televised late-night address from the Kremlin. … Read more
A former Ryanair pilot has appeared in court in the Republic of Ireland charged in connection with the seizure of more than 10m euros (£8.5m) worth of herbal cannabis. Brendan O’Meara, 62, with an address at An Tulach, Summer Hill, Meelick, County Clare, appeared before a special sitting of the district court in Ennis on … Read more
Sir Keir Starmer has said that the outcome of talks between Ukraine’s allies in Kyiv marks a “significant moment” in the push to secure a ceasefire in its conflict with Russia – but admitted it was not “the end of the process”. Speaking to the BBC in Kyiv following a virtual meeting of the “coalition … Read more
Gardaí (Irish police) and emergency services are currently engaged in a search and rescue operation off the coast of Buncrana in County Donegal. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) confirmed to BBC News NI that the incident involves three young men and that they are providing support. The multi-agency operation is being led by Malin … Read more
India and Pakistan say they have agreed to a ceasefire after four days of escalating cross-border military strikes. A series of drone and missile attacks have occurred since Delhi launched attacks against Islamabad over the killing of Indian tourists by militants in the Indian-administered Kashmir region. Pakistan had denied any involvement. Fighting intensified overnight, with … Read more
European leaders have called US President Donald Trump to discuss proposals for a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine from Monday while on a visit to Kyiv. The call came after leaders of the so-called “coalition of the willing” held a meeting to discuss advancing peace talks. The leaders of France, Germany, the UK and … Read more
Stephen Miller, the White House deputy chief of staff, told reporters on Friday that the US Constitution allowed for the legal liberty to be suspended in times of “rebellion or invasion”. His comments come as judges have sought to challenge some recent detentions made by the Trump administration in an effort to combat illegal immigration, … Read more