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France's Macron talks war, peace and basketball with Pope Leo
Pope Leo XIV and French President Emmanuel Macron held their first meeting Friday, a private audience at the Vatican where discussions ranged from the Iran war to basketball.
US-Iran talks in Pakistan uncertain as sides trade accusations
A cloud of uncertainty hung Friday over the scheduled start of talks in Pakistan between the United States and Iran, with no announcement yet on the arrival of negotiators and both sides accusing the other of failing to properly implement a fragile ceasefire.
Giving birth in a shelter in Israel
Inside an underground shelter at a hospital in the Israeli city of Haifa, a television screen flickers with images of Iranian missiles as doctors and midwives deliver Sarah Bird's third child.
Five things to know about the planned Iran-US talks in Islamabad
Pakistan is due to host talks between Iran and the United States in a bid to turn a fragile two-week ceasefire into a lasting end to a war that has roiled global energy markets.
Kyiv books tentative diplomatic coup with Iran war forays
When the US-Israeli war with Iran began at the end of February, it was widely assumed that Moscow would be one of the conflict's key winners.
Chinese, Taiwanese will unite, Xi tells Taiwan opposition leader
China's President Xi Jinping met Taiwan's opposition party leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday, telling the visiting delegation he had "full confidence" that Taiwanese and Chinese people would be united.
Fish furore fuels fierce election in India's West Bengal
In India's West Bengal state, the beloved fish has leapt from the kitchen table to the campaign trail, becoming an unexpected flashpoint in a fiercely contested election.
Myanmar junta chief sworn in as president
Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing was sworn in as president on Friday, continuing his rule from a civilian post five years after snatching power in a military coup.
In Pakistan's mediation to end Mideast war, China may hold the key
As Iranian and US envoys prepare to hold talks in Islamabad to end the Middle East war, official sources and experts say Beijing helped pave the way for the negotiations and will be a crucial component in securing a permanent truce.
Lego-style memes troll Trump after fragile US-Iran truce
Shortly after news of a US-Iran ceasefire, an Iranian group released a new Lego-style video lampooning President Donald Trump and declaring "Iran won," the latest in a wave of war-themed AI-generated propaganda flooding the internet.
After oil, Venezuela opens up mining to private investors
Venezuela on Thursday threw open the country's vast mineral reserves to private investment, less than three months after rolling back state control over the oil sector, in line with US demands.
Ukraine and Russia will cease fire for Orthodox Easter
Ukraine and Russia will cease fire for the Orthodox Easter holidays, the warring countries' leaders said on Thursday, announcing a rare 32-hour halt in fighting.
Pentagon denies giving Vatican envoy 'bitter lecture'
The Pentagon on Thursday denied a report that the Vatican's US envoy was summoned in January for a "bitter" dressing down over remarks by Pope Leo that were seen as criticizing the Trump administration’s use of military force.
Israel and Lebanon set for ceasefire talks next week, says US official
Israel and Lebanon will hold talks next week in Washington, a State Department official said Thursday, as concerns grow that fighting involving Hezbollah could cause the fragile US-Iran truce to unravel.
US stocks extend gains, shrugging off ceasefire worries
Wall Street stocks finished higher Thursday after a shaky start, adopting an optimistic view of the Middle East ceasefire despite largely stalled traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which boosted oil prices.
Russian police raid independent Novaya Gazeta outlet, reporter detained
Russian law enforcement agents on Thursday raided the offices of the Novaya Gazeta independent media outlet, the paper said, adding that a reporter was detained by the police.
Strait of Hormuz traffic remains becalmed despite ceasefire
Just 10 vessels have passed through Strait of Hormuz since the Middle East war ceasefire took effect, according to maritime tracking data, amid lingering fears about using the strategic waterway.
France's Macron in Rome for first meeting with Pope Leo
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived Thursday in Rome on the eve of his first meeting with Pope Leo XIV, almost one year after the election of the US pontiff.
US Democrats fail in bid to curb Trump's Iran war powers
US President Donald Trump's Republicans on Thursday blocked an attempt by the opposition Democrats to curb his authority to wage war in Iran, amid mounting frustration in Congress over his handling of the Middle East conflict.
Israel seeks Lebanon talks as its strikes threaten US-Iran truce
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his ministers on Thursday to seek direct talks with Lebanon, pushing for Hezbollah's disarmament amid mounting concern that its ongoing strikes could cause the fragile US-Iran truce to unravel and plunge the region back into all-out war.
Russian police raid independent Novaya Gazeta media outlet
Russian law enforcement agents on Thursday raided the offices of the Novaya Gazeta independent media outlet, the paper said, adding that a reporter was being questioned by the police.
Russia brands Nobel Prize-winning rights group Memorial 'extremist'
Russia's Supreme Court labelled the Nobel Prize-winning human rights group Memorial "extremist" on Thursday, making it easier for authorities to prosecute its supporters and those who work with it.
Trump, Vance not 'meddling' in Hungary vote, says US envoy to EU
Donald Trump's ambassador to the EU denied in an AFP interview Thursday that the US leader or his vice president were "meddling" in Hungary's election by endorsing nationalist incumbent Viktor Orban.
Jihadists kill 18 Nigerian troops including senior brigadier general
Jihadists in northeast Nigeria killed 18 troops including a brigadier general in an assault on a military base, local government and intelligence sources told AFP on Thursday, the second killing of a high-ranking officer in five months.
Mideast war threatens Africa's supply of humanitarian medicine
The Middle East conflict is exacerbating tensions over the humanitarian supply of medicines in Africa, a sector already severely impacted by funding cuts, with nonprofits warning of emptying shelves.
China FM vows deeper ties with North Korea on trip to Pyongyang
China's top diplomat told his North Korean counterpart on Thursday that Beijing was willing to step up exchanges and cooperation, Chinese state media reported, following their meeting in Pyongyang.
Oil prices jump back toward $100 on Mideast ceasefire doubts
Oil prices jumped and most stock markets fell Thursday as investors weighed the prospects of a shaky Middle East ceasefire and a re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz, crucial to restoring oil and gas shipments.
Israel vows to fight on as Iran warns ceasefire talks at risk
Israel vowed to continue its campaign against Hezbollah on Thursday, dismissing mounting international concern that its strikes on Lebanon threaten a fragile US-Iran truce that could lead to peace negotiations.
EU lawmakers want to tax Big Tech to fund budget
EU lawmakers on Thursday demanded a European Union-wide tax on the world's biggest tech companies and online gambling sites to help fund the 27-country bloc's next seven-year budget.
Israel dismisses calls to add Lebanon to US-Iran ceasefire
Israel vowed more strikes against Hezbollah on Thursday, dismissing mounting international demands that the fragile truce between the United States and Iran in the Gulf be expanded to cover the war in Lebanon.
Russia's Nobel Prize-winning rights group Memorial branded 'extremist'
Russia's Supreme Court labelled the Nobel Prize-winning human rights group Memorial "extremist" on Thursday, making it easier to prosecute supporters and those who work with it.
Nepal ex-PM Oli gives defiant message after release from custody
Nepal's ex-prime minister KP Sharma Oli offered a defiant message on Thursday after he was released from custody following questioning over his alleged role in a deadly 2025 crackdown on protesters.