European countries propose a peace plan for Ukraine, completely different from the US's
European countries proposed an alternative peace plan for Ukraine on Sunday that leaves out some of the pro-Russian points made in the original US-backed document and calls for respect for Kiev's sovereignty.
The proposal emerged as U.S., Ukrainian and international negotiators met in Switzerland. The U.S. document, released last week, calls for Ukraine to hand over territory to Russia, limit the size of its military and not prosecute the Kremlin for alleged war crimes.
Donald Trump said Ukraine had shown "zero gratitude" for US efforts to end the conflict. European officials have been harsh about the US draft in private conversations. They say it undermines Ukraine's sovereignty and sets conditions for its accession to the EU.
Hezbollah chief of staff killed in Beirut airstrike, Israeli military says
Israel targeted one of Hezbollah's top military commanders in an airstrike in Beirut on Sunday, dramatically escalating tensions with the group. The Israeli military said hours after the strike that Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah's chief of staff, was killed in the attack in the Lebanese capital.
Lebanon's health ministry said the attack killed at least five people and wounded 28. Israel has launched increasingly frequent airstrikes in southern Lebanon this month, which are aimed at preventing a military resurgence by Hezbollah.
The campaign is also designed to increase pressure on the Lebanese authorities and military to act more quickly to disarm the organization, a key demand of last year's ceasefire agreement.
Nigeria: Hundreds of children kidnapped from Catholic school
Gunmen kidnapped students and teachers from St Mary's School, a Nigerian Catholic school, the latest in a wave of school attacks this week that have forced the government to close 47 colleges.
Fifty of the more than 300 schoolchildren abducted last week have managed to escape, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said on Sunday. The students escaped between Friday and Saturday and have since been reunited with their parents, CAN chairman Bulus Yohanna said in a statement.
Pope Leo demanded the immediate release of the kidnapped children and staff. "I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages," the Pope said at the end of a mass in St. Peter's Square in Rome.
EU urges capitals to improve private pension options
The European Union is urging member states to promote private pension schemes, as state pension funds face pressure as a result of an aging population.
The EU wants citizens to have more ways to secure sufficient retirement income, while directing some of their savings towards the bloc's strategic priorities - but state pensions will remain "the backbone of pension systems in Europe".
State pensions in most EU countries work like this: current workers finance current retirees. With the working-age population shrinking and non-standard employment on the rise, citizens in some member states, especially women, have no guarantee of securing an adequate pension in the future. The gender pension gap - the difference in average pension income between men and women - is now 24.5%.
