World Tour - Political upset in Pakistan

MARY REICHARD, HOST: Coming up next on The World and Everything in It: World Tour with our reporter in Africa, Onize Ohikere.

French voters select Macron, LePen for runoff—We start today in Europe.

AUDIO: Macron, president! Macron, president!

Voters in France have selected two candidates for the presidential runoff elections on April 24th. Incumbent Emmanuel Macron got the most votes, with nearly 28 percent. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen finished second with 23 percent.

AUDIO: [Man speaking French]

During a campaign stop on Monday, Macron defended one of his less popular measures—moving the retirement age from 62 to 65.

AUDIO: [Woman speaking French]

Le Pen said she was counting on voters to reject what she called Macron’s policy of “social destruction.” And she touted her experience campaigning against Macron. The two met in the runoff in 2017, when Macron won with 66 percent of the vote.

But this time, polls suggest the contest could be much closer.

Pakistani parliament selects new prime minister—Next we go to South Asia.

AUDIO: [Sound of cheering]

Pakistan’s parliament voted Monday to elect Shehbaz Sharif as the country's new prime minister. Sharif’s election followed a no-confidence vote against the former prime minister, Imran Khan, over the weekend.

AUDIO: [Man speaking Urdu]

In his first speech to parliament, Sharif called his election “a victory for righteousness.” But he also called for dialogue over the deadlock.

Pakistan is struggling with a weak economy, rising threats of terrorism, and soured relations with the West. Khan moved his country closer to Russia and China. But Sharif signaled an interest in once again strengthening ties with Washington.

But he could face a rocky road ahead. In 2019, Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau seized nearly two dozen properties belonging to Sharif and his son. It accused them of money laundering. Sharif is still awaiting trial on those charges.

China delivers weapons system to Serbia—Next to China.

AUDIO: [Man speaking Mandarin]

A spokesman for China’s foreign ministry denied claims on Monday that deliveries of military supplies to Serbia had anything to do with Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Over the weekend, the Russian ally accepted delivery of a sophisticated Chinese anti-aircraft system. But China’s foreign ministry spokesman said the cooperative project between China and Serbia had long been a part of the country’s annual plan.

Serbia and China have strong ties, based partly on their common opposition to the United States. Western leaders fear Serbia could be gearing up for another Balkan war aimed at retaking Kosovo. Serbia, Russia, and China don’t recognize Kosovo’s statehood, while the United States and most Western countries do.

Christians celebrate Palm Sunday in Jerusalem—And finally, we end today in the Middle East.

AUDIO: [Sound of singing]

Thousands of Christians celebrated Palm Sunday in Jerusalem.

Participants waved palm branches and sang “hallelujah” as they made their way from the Mount of Olives past the Garden of Gethsemane and ended up in the Old City.

The annual tradition was less festive during the last two years. But as pandemic restrictions ease, more tourists are returning to the Holy Land.

Easter celebrations will continue this week, with events marking Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

That’s it for this week’s World Tour. Reporting for WORLD, I’m Onize Ohikere in Abuja, Nigeria.

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