The mayor was elected in the first round in six municipalities in the Republic of Moldova

The municipalities of Orhei, Străseni, Soroca, Hîncești, Ceadîr-lunga and Cahul have elected their mayors.

LIVE TEXT // General local elections. In over 600 localities in the country, the mayors were elected in the first round

UPDATE 15:58 Mayors were elected in the first round in 623 localities in the country, said the president of the CEC, Angelica Caraman. In other 265 localities no candidate receives more than half of the number of validly cast votes, which is why within two weeks the second round of voting is organized with two candidates with the highest number of votes in the first ballot ".

Turkey recalls ambassador from Israel

Turkey recalled its ambassador to Israel on Saturday morning, citing the “humanitarian tragedy” in Gaza and “Israel’s refusal of calls for ceasefire”, Politico reports.

Dorin Recean: "Today we decide on the future of the Republic of Moldova"

We build the European future of the Republic of Moldova every day, and today we do it by offering our vote for European mayors and councilors, said Prime Minister Dorin Recean after voting. Also, the PM encouraged everyone to vote.

Ukraine orders investigation into Russian attack on assault brigade

Ukraine's defence minister ordered on Saturday an investigation into an alleged Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukrainian assault brigade, after reports that more than 20 soldiers were killed during an awards ceremony, Reuters reports.

LIVE // The Central Electoral Commission holds a briefing

The Central Electoral Commission holds a briefing on the conduct of general local elections.

Protesters mass outside Netanyahu's house as anger grows

Police held back protesters outside the residence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, amid widespread anger at the failures that led to last month's deadly attack by Hamas gunmen on communities around the Gaza Strip, Reuters reports.

Igor Grosu: "I voted for a European capital, for mayors and councilors to represent us"

The Parliament Speaker Igor Grosu cast his vote in the general local elections, declaring that he voted for "a European capital, for mayors and councilors to represent us".

Blinken visits West Bank to meet Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken brought his frenetic Mideast diplomatic push on the Israel-Hamas war to the occupied West Bank on Sunday, meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his latest bid to ease civilian suffering in the Gaza Strip and begin to sketch out a post-conflict scenario for the territory, AP reports.

President of the voting commission in the village of Gradiste, Cimișlia district, died on the day of the election

The president of the voting commission at a polling station in the village of Gradiste, Cimișlia district, died on the very day of the election. The information was confirmed for Radio Moldova by the spokeswoman of the General Police Inspectorate, Diana Fetco.

Maia Sandu: "Democracy depends on our vote"

The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, cast her vote in the local general elections. The head of state voted in Chisinau "for people she trusts." Also, Maia Sandu urged citizens to vote, "because voting means the power of the people".

Gaza's Health Ministry reports dozens dead in a refugee camp

Dozens were killed and many more injured in a blast at the Al-Maghazi refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip late Saturday night, according to an official at a nearby hospital, CNN reports.