Latest World News & Archive

In his first speech to the crowds packed into St Peter's Square, Leo echoed his predecessor Pope Francis with call for peace

Leo XIV, First US Pope, To Celebrate First Mass As Pontiff

Pope Leo XIV will celebrate mass Friday, the day after becoming the first US head of the Catholic Church, with the world watching for signs of what kind of pope he will be.

Nearing 100, Malaysian Ex-PM Mahathir Blasts 'Old World' Trump

Asked what he thought was his most important legacy, Mahathir said it was 'for others' to judge

Former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad is giving President Donald Trump three months before his fellow Americans force him to rethink his stringent global tariff strategy, accusing the US leader of "living in an old world".

Putin Gears Up To Host World Leaders At Lavish Army Parade

Putin has made May 9 Russia's most important public holiday

Russian President Vladimir Putin will host a lavish World War II Victory Day parade in Moscow on Friday, an event the Kremlin hopes will rally patriotism at home and project strength abroad as its troops fight in Ukraine.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is due to hold talks with Chinese officials in Switzerland at the weekend

Asian Stocks Lifted By Hopes For US-China Talks After UK Deal

Most Asian equities rose Friday on growing optimism that the worst of Donald Trump's trade war is past after he reached a deal with Britain and suggested he could lower tariffs on China as officials prepare for high-stakes talks this weekend.

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Thousands are gathered in St Peter's Square to learn the name of the new pope

Cardinals Elect First American Pope As Robert Francis Prevost Becomes Leo XIV

Robert Francis Prevost became Pope Leo XIV on Thursday after cardinals from around the globe chose him as the first American leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

Newly elected Pope Leo XIV was greeted by world leader

'Great Honor': Leaders Welcome Leo, First US Pope

World leaders welcomed the election Thursday of Robert Francis Prevost as the next leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

'It is unacceptable that humanitarian aid is not allowed into the Gaza Strip,' said Krahenbuhl

Israel's Aid Blockade To Gaza 'Unacceptable': Red Cross

The Red Cross on Thursday denounced the human cost of the war raging in Gaza, slamming Israel's "unacceptable" full blockade on aid into the besieged and conflict-ravaged Palestinian territory.

US President Donald Trump has imposed a raft of hefty tariffs on Europe since March

EU Threatens To Target US Cars, Planes If Trump Tariff Talks Fail

The EU on Thursday threatened to target US cars and planes among a raft of products worth 95 billion euros ($107 billion) if negotiations with President Donald Trump's team fail to avert a trade war.

Attendees sing the national anthem at a commemoration ceremony marking 80 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany

Germany Slams Russian 'Lies' On Ukraine In WWII Commemoration

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday criticised Russia's "historical lies" over the Ukraine war, as he marked the Nazi defeat that ended World War II in Europe 80 years ago.

US President Donald Trump has a close affinity to the UK due to the fact his mother was born in Scotland, where he owns a golf course

Trump Announces Trade Agreement With UK

"The agreement with the United Kingdom is a full and comprehensive one that will cement the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom for many years to come," the president posted on his Truth Social platform.

Much of Poonch -- where buildings hit by artillery fire could be seen -- is now deserted, but a few people have stayed

Screams And Shattered Glass Under Pakistan Bombardment

Madasar Choudhary said his sister saw two children killed in the town of Poonch that bore the brunt of this week's shelling by Pakistan, with India saying a total of 13 people died there.

Smoke billows over Port Sudan after a paramilitary drone strike on the army-contolled aid hub on Tuesday.

Drone Strikes Spark Civilian Exodus From Army-controlled Sudan Aid Hub

Paramilitary drones struck army-held areas of eastern and southern Sudan for a fifth straight day Thursday, army sources said, prompting an exodus of civilians from Port Sudan, seat of the army-backed government.

Israel restarted intense military operations in Gaza on March 18

First Responders In Gaza Run Out Of Supplies

First responders in Gaza said Thursday that their operations were at a near standstill, more than two months into a full Israeli blockade that has left food and fuel in severe shortage.

Xi told Putin Beijing stood by Russia in the face of 'hegemonic bullying'

Xi Meets Putin In Moscow As Ukraine Reports Truce Violations

China's Xi Jinping was in Moscow on Thursday for a state visit ahead of the Kremlin's grand Victory Day celebrations, as Ukraine accused Russia's army of launching air strikes just hours into a supposed truce.

Map showing places hit by strikes in Pakistani-administered Kashmir region on May 7, plus incidents reported in Indian-administered Kashmir

India And Pakistan Trade Fire After Deadly Escalation

Indian and Pakistani soldiers exchanged gunfire overnight in Kashmir, New Delhi said Thursday, a day after the worst violence between the nuclear-armed rivals in two decades.

Mohammed Ismail working at his car repair shop in Arbil

A Bitter Return For Iraqis Kicked Out Of Europe

Iraqi Mohammed Jalal lost 10 years of his life seeking asylum in Germany, without success.

The cardinals will remain sequestered and conduct no public rituals until a new pope is elected

All Eyes On Sistine Chapel Chimney As Conclave Enters Day Two

Anticipation gripped the Catholic world Thursday as the cardinals tasked with choosing a new pope prepared to retreat behind the heavy doors of the Vatican's Sistine Chapel for their second day of voting.

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro faces trial on charges of trying to cling onto power after his October 2022 election defeat

Bolsonaro Leads Rally At Site Of 2023 Brazil Insurrection

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro, who faces a trial on coup charges, vowed Wednesday to "continue the fight" at a protest to demand amnesty for people convicted over a failed right-wing insurrection.

ChatGPT maker OpenAI's initiative to help countries build infrastructures for 'sovereign' artificial intelligence systems comes as it faces competition from China-based DeepSeek

OpenAI Offers To Help Countries Build AI Systems

OpenAI on Wednesday announced an initiative to help countries build their own artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructures, with the US government a partner in projects.

The Indian strikes destroyed structures at the Government Health and Educational complex in Muridke, about 30 kilometres from Lahore

Pakistan Warns Will 'Avenge' Deaths From Indian Strikes

Pakistan has warned it will "avenge" those killed by Indian air strikes that New Delhi said were in response to an attack in Kashmir, signalling an imminent escalation in the worst violence in decades between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

Bukayo Saka pulls a goal back for Arsenal in the second half

PSG Finish Off Arsenal To Reach Champions League Final

Paris Saint-Germain clinched a place in the Champions League final as goals by Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi gave them a 2-1 win over Arsenal in the second leg of their last-four tie on Wednesday, securing a 3-1 aggregate triumph.

The cardinals meeting Wednesday behind closed doors in the Sistine Chapel will not hear any female opinions during deliberations expected to last days

Pink Smoke Signals In Rome Call For Women Priests

Excluded from the conclave to elect a new pope Wednesday -- and more broadly from the Church's entire global priesthood -- some Catholic women were determined that their voices will be heard.