Headlines Strong

  IMAGE SOURCE, Image caption, Belarus charged Sofia Sapega with criminal offences after her arrest A court in Belarus has sentenced a Russian student to six years in jail, one year after she and her dissident journalist partner were removed from a Ryanair plane and arrested. Sofia Sapega was travelling with Roman Protasevich to Lithuania when their flight was forcibly diverted to Minsk. The case sparked worldwide condemnation and fresh sanctions against the government of Alexander Lukashenko. The court said she was guilty of inciting social enmity and discord. She was also found guilty of illegally collecting and disseminating information about the private life of an unnamed person without his consent. The authorities in Belarus had previously accused her of organising riots. Mr Protasevich was editor of the Nexta Telegram channel, based in Poland, which published videos and information from the wave of giant street protests against President Lukashenko that began in the summer of...

IMAGE SOURC Image caption, Bongbong Marcos, son of the ousted president Ferdinand Marcos, is one of the leading candidates The Philippines is holding presidential elections on 9 May. Among the controversial candidates are the daughter of the country's notorious outgoing president, the son of a former dictator and a world-famous boxer. When do the polls open, and when will the results be announced? More than 67 million people are eligible to vote in the elections. Polling stations are open from 06:00 to 19:00 local time, and the results could be known just a few hours after they close. A total of 10 candidates are running for president. Who are the main candidates? Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr The current frontrunner for president is Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, son of the former president, Ferdinand Marcos. President Marcos declared martial law in 1972 and took control of the country's courts, businesses and media. The army and police arrested and tortu...

  IMAGE SOURCE Image caption, Leni Robredo is the main opponent of presidential frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr In 1986, the Philippine capital Manila was awash with yellow when the People Power movement toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Now, more than 30 years on, opponents of his son's presidential run are uniting behind one woman for what's been called a "pink revolution" - to stop the return of the Marcos dynasty. In recent weeks, legions of young voters have voiced their support for Leni Robredo, the current vice-president and the only female candidate in the race to lead the country. Although Ms Robredo has been polling far behind Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr, her pop concert rallies have drawn tens of thousands of people. At a recent one, a 17-year-old told the BBC he wasn't registered to vote but was there to show his support because "he was helping my mom choose the most qualified and the best president for our country". "She i...