Top World News

Apr 26, 2025 - World

A Pakistani man who shot and wounded former Prime Minister Imran Khan and killed one of his supporters in 2022 has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison

Apr 26, 2025 - World

Hamas is open to an agreement to end the war in Gaza that would see all hostages released and secure a five-year truce, an official said Saturday ahead of talks with mediators.A Hamas delegation was in Cairo to discuss with Egyptian mediators ways out of the 18-month war, as on the ground rescuers said an Israeli strike on a family home in Gaza City killed at least 10 people and left more feared buried under the rubble.The Hamas official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the Palestinian militant group "is ready for an exchange of prisoners in a single batch and a truce for five years".The latest bid to seal a ceasefire follows an Israeli proposal which Hamas had rejected earlier this month as "partial", calling instead for a "comprehensive" agreement to halt the war ignited by the group's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.The Israeli offer included a 45-day ceasefire in exchange for the return of 10 living hostages.AFPPalestinians inspect the damage after a strike hit a family home in Gaza CityHamas has consistently demanded that a truce deal must lead to an end to the war, a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and a surge in humanitarian aid into the besieged territory -- where on Friday the United Nations warned food stocks were running out.Israel, for its part, demands the return of all hostages seized in the 2023 attack, and Hamas's disarmament, which the group has rejected as a "red line".More than a month into a renewed Israeli offensive in Gaza after a two-month truce, a Hamas official said earlier this week that its delegation in Cairo would discuss "new ideas" on a ceasefire.- 'The house collapsed' -In Gaza City, in the territory's north, the civil defence agency said a strike on the Al-Khour family home killed 10 people, with an estimated 20 more trapped in the debris.Umm Walid al-Khour, who survived the attack, said that "everyone was sleeping with their children" when the strike hit."The house collapsed on top of us," she told AFP."Those who survived cried for help but nobody came... Most of the deceased were children."Elsewhere in the city, three people were killed in Israeli shelling of a house in the Al-Shati refugee camp, civil defence official Mohammed al-Mughayyir said.AFPPeople queue for meals from a soup kitchen in the northern Gaza StripMore strikes across the Gaza Strip killed four others.There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.Qatar, the United States and Egypt brokered one truce which began on January 19 and enabled a surge in aid, alongside exchanges of hostages and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.But it collapsed amid disagreements over the terms of the ceasefire's next stage.After blocking aid during the impasse in negotiations, Israel resumed bombarding Gaza on March 18, followed by a ground offensive.- Low on food, medical supplies -Since then, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, at least 2,111 Palestinians have been killed, taking the overall war death toll in Gaza to 51,495 people.The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.Militants also abducted 251 people, 58 of whom are still held in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military says are dead.Israel says the renewed military campaign aims to force Hamas to free the remaining captives.On Friday, the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) -- one of the main providers of food aid in the Palestinian territory -- said it had "delivered its last remaining food stocks to hot meals kitchens in the Gaza Strip".It said "these kitchens are expected to fully run out of food in the coming days".Following the WFP warning, the World Health Organization's chief said medical supplies were also "running out" in Gaza while 16 WHO trucks wait to enter."This aid blockade must end. Lives depend on it", Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X.Despite warnings from aid agencies and foreign governments, Israel has denied there is hunger in Gaza and says blocking aid is meant to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages.

Apr 26, 2025 - World

Catholic faithful poured into St Peter's Square from all corners of the globe on Saturday, determined to honour Pope Francis after waking up at dawn or spending the night in sleeping bags.Within an hour of the opening of the square, the empty chairs for the public were already filled by those anxious for a front-row seat to history."People were pushing and running," said Andrea Ugalde, a childcare worker from Los Angeles who arrived at 1:00 am (2300 GMT) and described the moment security agents opened the crowd control barriers as "madness".French student Jean-Baptiste Leclezio, 22, was one of the lucky ones, having slept on the ground overnight in order to be assured of a spot. "We took floor mats and sleeping bags and we slept there with 400 people, a lot of young people, scouts," he told AFP. "There were people singing all night but we managed to sleep," he said. AFPAs the first rays of the day rose over the sprawling Baroque plaza, mourners rushed towards empty chairsAuthorities said nearly 200,000 people filled the Baroque plaza in front of St Peter's Basilica and packed the wide Via della Conciliazione leading up to the Vatican for the funeral of Francis, 88, who died on Monday.Aerial images showed a sea of people gathered at the Catholic enclave for the unfolding of the centuries-old ceremony to honour the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.- 'Most beautiful thing' - Australian Eloise Bird, 38, said she was tired but happy to have made it into the square having queued up since 5:15 am with her four children.Determined to make the most of a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity", she said it had been "very hard getting in here". AFPGiant television screens gave a closer view of the funeral to those further away, broadcasting images of the world leaders in attendance and red-robed cardinals praying for Francis"There was so much pushing. The little children were just getting squished from every side," she said.Peruvian social worker Gabriela Lazo, 41, meanwhile, "spent the whole night here in the car"."Being at the funeral with my family and being able to hear the mass is the most beautiful thing," said Lazo. "We would have liked to see him in person... but thank God and him that we are here at this moment."Many in the crowd were young pilgrims with flags and banners draped over their shoulders, pressed against barricades or sitting in circles near the plaza's majestic colonnades of Gian Lorenzo Bernini.Mexican student Jessica Kinzie, 22, said she was elated to be so close, even though she was behind a barricade. "It's just such a historic moment -- it's insane for us to be here," she said."I know he was the head of the Church and everything but for me, more than anything, I think I'll remember him for his humanitarian side," she told AFP. AFPAerial images showed a sea of people gathered at the Catholic enclave for the unfolding of the centuries-old ceremony to honour the leader of the world's 1.4 billion CatholicsGiant television screens gave a closer view of the funeral to those further away, broadcasting images of the world leaders in attendance and red-robed cardinals praying for Francis.Spontaneous applause erupted amongst the crowd of faithful as Francis's coffin emerged from the doors of St Peter's."He represented peace and acceptance," said Cyril Clark, a student from the United States. "He seemed a good pope for everybody.

Apr 26, 2025 - World

The United States and Iran were expected to start haggling over details of a potential nuclear deal in Oman Saturday as they held their third round of talks in as many weeks.US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are again leading the discussions, which this time include a technical-level meeting between experts from both sides.The talks are aimed at striking a new deal that would stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons -- an objective Tehran denies pursuing -- in return for relief from crippling sanctions.US President Donald Trump pulled out of an earlier multilateral nuclear deal during his first term in office.Araghchi has expressed "cautious optimism", saying this week: "If the sole demand by the US is for Iran to not possess nuclear weapons, this demand is achievable."But if Washington had "impractical or illogical demands, we will naturally encounter problems", he added.Michael Anton, the State Department's head of policy planning, leads the US expert-level delegation, while deputy foreign ministers Kazem Gharibabadi and Majid Takht-Ravanchi will lead Tehran's, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency.Iranian state TV reported that the talks started at around midday Omani time (0800 GMT).Iran's state news agency IRNA said that while only one day of talks was scheduled, "given that the negotiations have entered technical and expert-level discussions and the examination of details... (they) may be extended if necessary".Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Iran's defence capabilities and missile programme were not part of the discussions."The question of defence capacities and the country's missiles is not (on the agenda)," he told state TV.- Trump would 'prefer deal' -Trump, in an interview published Friday by Time magazine, reiterated his threat of military action if a deal fell through.But he added that he "would much prefer a deal than bombs being dropped".AFPIran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi (C) speaks to Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi (L) at a book signing in MuscatBaqaei said Friday that the new talks, like the previous rounds in Muscat and Rome oon the previous two Saturdays, would be mediated by Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi.The negotiations are the highest-level engagement between the long-time foes since 2018, when Trump withdrew from the landmark 2015 accord that gave Iran sanctions relief in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.Since returning to office in January, Trump has reinstated his "maximum pressure" policy of sanctions against Tehran.In March, he wrote to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei proposing talks, but also warning of potential military action if diplomacy failed.On Tuesday, Washington announced new sanctions targeting Iran's oil network -- a move Tehran described as "hostile" ahead of Saturday's talks.AFPSpecial envoy Steve Witkoff leads the US side in nuclear talks with Iran, being held in OmanWestern nations, including the United States, have long accused Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons -- an allegation Tehran has consistently denied.Iran maintains its nuclear programme is strictly for peaceful purposes.On Wednesday, UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi called on Iran to explain tunnels built near its Natanz nuclear site, seen in satellite imagery released by the Institute for Science and International Security.The Washington-based think tank also noted construction of a new security perimeter."We're asking them, what is this for? They are telling us, it's none of your business," Grossi told reporters.Tehran had no immediate comment.- 'Non-negotiable' right -In an interview released Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Washington's firm stance against Iran's uranium enrichment.AFPIran's Abbas Araghchi (R) arrives in Muscat ahead of nuclear talks with the United States"If Iran wants a civil nuclear programme, they can have one just like many other countries in the world have one: and that is they import enriched material," he said on the Honestly podcast.Iran currently enriches uranium up to 60 percent, far above the 3.67 percent limit imposed by the 2015 deal but still below the 90 percent threshold required for weapons-grade material.Araghchi has previously called Iran's right to enrich uranium "non-negotiable".He said in the text of a speech posted to X this week that Iran sought "to build at least 19 more reactors".Tehran recently sought to reopen dialogue with Britain, France and Germany -- also signatories to the 2015 deal -- holding several rounds of nuclear talks ahead of the US meetings.AFPThe nuclear talks between the United States and Iran are being held in MuscatLast week, Rubio urged the three European states to decide whether to trigger the "snapback" mechanism under the 2015 agreement, which would automatically reinstate UN sanctions on Iran over its non-compliance.The option to use the mechanism expires in October.Iran has warned that it could withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if the snapback is triggered.

Apr 26, 2025 - World

President Trump wasted no time defunding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, but it turns out his administration wasn't finished.