The accident occurred after midnight, near the island of Basilan. The MV Trisha Kerstin 3, which had departed from Zamboanga and was headed for Jolo, reportedly experienced technical problems. Investigations into the causes are ongoing, while at least 28 people are missing. Maritime disasters are common in the country due to frequent storms and poor maintenance.

Civilians are hit in airstrikes in several regions of the country on the eve of the last phase of voting organised by the military junta. In the village of Kawngjar, Kachin State, an attack left at least 22 dead during a funeral prayer. Other raids struck Magway and Sagaing. Condemned by much of the international community, the electoral process was marred by intimidations, while areas controlled by resistance forces were excluded from voting.

According to Dugin and Soloviev, the former Soviet republics ‘have no right to independence’ and must reunite with Russia to avoid becoming slaves to China, America or Europe. Local governments have issued only feeble protests, invoking the ‘spirit of strategic partnership’. The suspicion that the two propagandists are saying ‘what the Russian leadership does not want to express openly, but which in reality corresponds to its plans’

Leo XIV thanked the participants in the Caravan of Peace: “Never be violent”. The pontiff's “pain” for Ukraine: the continuing hostilities “distance a just and lasting peace”. “Closeness” to people suffering from leprosy, on the day commemorating them. Comment on the Gospel: “We Christians must overcome the temptation to close ourselves off”.

Leo XIV's text for mission's Sunday published today on feast of the Conversion of St Paul, marking 100 years after its establishment in 1926. “One in Christ, united in mission” is the theme indicated by the pontiff.

United Nations experts have spoken of a persistent pattern of forced labor imposed by the Chinese state on Uyghurs, Tibetans, Kazakhs, and Kyrgyz in Xinjiang and other provinces. Under the guise of “poverty alleviation” programs, millions of people are reportedly involved in coercive transfers, with serious consequences for fundamental rights, cultural identity, and religious freedoms. Beijing has rejected the accusations as unfounded.