Moscow (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement of a 30-hour Easter truce came as a surprise to many – but citizens in both Moscow and Kyiv express scepticism over whether it will make any lasting difference to the three-year conflict. Both sides have accused each other of violating the truce, although Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed extending it for 30 days beyond Sunday to “give peace a chance”.
Vatican City (AFP) – Pope Francis makes a surprise appearance in front of thousands of Catholics at St Peter’s Square on Easter Sunday, despite the 88-year-old pontiff’s frail health that has kept him from most Holy Week events.
Oruro (Bolivia) (AFP) – Bolivian artists gather on Good Friday at the Cochiraya sandbanks near Oruro, about 200 kilometers south of La Paz, to create sand sculptures depicting the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as other biblical figures such as Adam and Eve.
Beijing (AFP) – Dozens of humanoid robots take to the streets of Beijing, joining thousands of their flesh-and-blood counterparts in a world-first half-marathon showcasing China’s drive to lead the global race in cutting-edge technology.
Zamora (Spain) (AFP) – The northwestern city of Zamora in Spain attracts thousands during Holy Week. Catholics and athiests alike commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in solemn, centuries-old processions organised by religious brotherhoods.
Gariāband (India) (AFP) – In central India’s dry forests, community elephant trackers hunt for signs to feed into an alert system that is helping prevent some of the hundreds of fatal interactions between the animals and humans each year.
Herat (Afghanistan) (AFP) – The Manzar-e-Jahad (Jihad Museum) in Afghanistan’s city of Herat commemorates the 1979 uprising of Heratis against Soviet political advisors in the city, and the ensuing Afghan conflict with Russian forces. Russia’s Supreme Court on Thursday removed the Taliban’s designation as a “terrorist organisation”, a symbolic gesture aimed at building friendly ties with Afghanistan’s de facto rulers.
Kandalama (Sri Lanka) (AFP) – A new Sri Lankan hotel on the shores of Lake Kandalma has a unique selling point –its staff are exclusively women. The Amba Yaalu Hotel, which opened in January, is the first of its kind in the country and is designed to promote women in a tourism sector where men hold up to 90 percent of hotel jobs. “This is a good opportunity for women to demonstrate their talents, to showcase our skills and courage to the new generations,” says Upeka Ekanayake who works at the hotel as a chef.
Amsterdam (AFP) – In the Netherlands, the government is trying to persuade the reluctant Dutch to strap on a helmet when riding their beloved bikes, kicking off an awareness campaign. The campaign ‘Zet ’em op’ literally means ‘Put it on’ but is also slang for ‘Good Luck’, which authorities will need to change attitudes in a country where only one cyclist in 25 wears a helmet. “I’d rather stop biking and go walking than wear a helmet,” says writer Roos Stamet.
Moscow (AFP) – Russia’s top economic negotiator Kirill Dmitriev says that certain countries are trying to “derail” Moscow’s talks with the United States, as the two sides work towards normalising ties.
San Salvador (AFP) – The wrongful deportation of Salvadoran Kilmar Abrego Garcia has triggered a political firestorm over President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration policies. While the Trump administration has acknowledged its mistake, it insists that Abrego Garcia will “never again” live in the United States, defying the court order for his return. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen flew to El Salvador in an attempt to speak with Abrego García, but was denied access.
Phnom Srok (Cambodia) (AFP) – Fifty years after Phnom Penh fell to the Khmer Rouge, survivors like Mean Loeuy are helping Cambodia’s youth learn about the atrocities that killed two million people. A mobile museum travels across the country, sharing firsthand accounts of starvation, forced labor, and genocide with students who never lived through the horrors.
