News in brief
By The Associated Press
Saudi Arabian officials declare start of Ramadan
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates | Officials in Saudi Arabia have declared the start of the fasting month of Ramadan after sighting the crescent moon Sunday night. The announcement marks the beginning of Ramadan for many of the world’s 1.8 billion Muslims.
Saudi Arabia is home to the holiest sites in Islam.
The sacred month sees those observing abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset. It’s a period of religious reflection, family get-togethers and giving across the Muslim world. But Ramadan this year comes as the Middle East remains inflamed by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
Police arrest two for fraud and preventing burial in England
LONDON | Police in northern England say they have removed 34 bodies from a funeral home and arrested a man and woman on suspicion of fraud and preventing lawful burials. The arrests Sunday follow several days of investigation at Legacy Funeral Directors in Hull and two related funeral homes.
Police say they arrested 46-year-old man and 23-year-old woman on suspicion of prevention of a lawful and decent burial, fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position. An email sent to the funeral home seeking comment was not immediately returned and a phone listed for the business rang unanswered.
Pope Francis’ ‘white flag’ comment is met with criticism by Ukraine, its allies
KYIV, Ukraine | Ukrainian and allied officials have criticized Pope Francis for saying that Kyiv should have the “courage” to negotiate an end to the war with Russia. The pontiff’s statement was interpreted by many as a call on Ukraine to surrender.
The foreign minister of Poland and Ukraine’s ambassador to the Vatican condemned the pope’s remarks. A leader of one of Ukraine’s Christian churches on Sunday said that only the country’s determined resistance to Russia’s aggression had prevented a mass slaughter of civilians.
Francis used the phrase “the courage of the white flag” to argue that Ukraine should be open to peace talks.
The remarks came in an interview recorded last month with Swiss broadcaster RSI and partially released on Saturday.
—From AP reports
