Historic Vatican conclave: the cardinals responsible for electing the pope designate the successor of Francis on Wednesday

This afternoon, the cardinals responsible for electing the pope lock themselves in the Sistine Chapel for a historic conclave responsible for designating, in the greatest secrecy, the successor of Francis. More than two weeks after the death of Jorge Bergoglio, the 133 cardinal electors from 70 countries will launch this highly codified ceremony, which is closely followed by some 1.4 billion Catholics, via the media around the world. The countdown will really start around 17:00 (15:00 GMT), with the entry of the Cardinals in a procession into a Sistine Chapel in drastic isolation. No mobile phones will be allowed, and telecommunications networks will be cut off within the walls of Vatican City.

Bombing between India and Pakistan: 11 dead

India and Pakistan bombed each other overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday. Eight deaths have been recorded on the Pakistani side and three on the Indian side, reaching a new level in the escalation between the two nuclear powers. According to the spokesman of the Pakistani army, Lieutenant General Ahmed Chaudhry, eight civilians including “a three-year-old girl” were killed in “24 strikes” from India using missiles on “six locations” in Pakistan. Early Wednesday a condition of 35 injured and two missing was made.

Paris: Macron welcomes the Syrian president for a controversial first visit to the West

This Wednesday, Emmanuel Macron welcomes Syrian President Ahmad al-Shareh to Paris for a controversial first visit to the West. During the discussions, he will ask him to punish those responsible for “exactions” that tarnish the image of the Islamist coalition in power since the fall of Bashar al-Assad in December. In reality, the French president is strongly criticized by the French right and extreme right for the invitation extended to this man with a jihadist past, which he received in the afternoon at the Elysée Palace before a rare joint press conference.

Commemorations of the victory over Nazi Germany: Xi Jinping expected in Moscow to discuss Ukraine and United States

On the occasion of the commemorations of the victory over Nazi Germany alongside Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected from Wednesday to Saturday in Moscow where he is due to discuss Thursday on the conflict in Ukraine and relations with Washington. This trip, which illustrates the partnership between Russia and China in the face of the West, comes at a time when recent efforts to end hostilities in Ukraine seem to have reached an impasse, and in the midst of a commercial confrontation between Beijing and Washington.
The master of the Kremlin refused a 30-day truce proposed by Kiev, announcing instead a unilateral ceasefire between Thursday and Saturday, which was

IN A NUTSHELL

Despite a call for a strike, SNCF assured that 90% of trips would be maintained over the week and that financial compensation would be offered to customers affected by train cancellations.

PSG hopes to make its fans experience the momentum of their first-leg victory against Arsenal (1-0), a historic evening on Wednesday at the Parc des Princes, where a place in the Champions League final is being played out.