Middle East

Powerful Quake Aftershocks Cause More Injuries in Afghanistan
Powerful Quake Aftershocks Cause More Injuries in Afghanistan

A series of strong aftershocks from a deadly earthquake that hit eastern Afghanistan over the weekend injured at least another 10 people and caused further damage, Taliban authorities said on Friday. Five shallow aftershocks, the strongest measuring at magnitude 5.6, were recorded by the US Geological Survey (USGS) on Thursday night and Friday ...

US to Cut Military Aid for Europe
US to Cut Military Aid for Europe

The United States is to end long-running military assistance for European countries close to Russia, as it pushes the continent to play a greater role in its own defense, an official in one of the countries confirmed on Friday. "Last week, the US Defense Department informed the countries that, starting from its next financial period, funding will ...

European Body Seeks Release of Jailed Turkish Activist
European Body Seeks Release of Jailed Turkish Activist

A Council of Europe body on Friday voiced hope a youth delegate detained in Turkey for criticizing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government would be released immediately. Enes Hocaogullari, 23, was detained last month as he arrived at Ankara airport. He had been targeted by Turkish authorities after a March speech at the Congress of ...

Putin Threatens to Target any Western Troops in Ukraine
Putin Threatens to Target any Western Troops in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that any Western forces deployed to Ukraine would be a "legitimate" target for Moscow's army, a day after Kyiv's allies said they had committed to a troop presence in the event of a peace deal. Two dozen countries, led by France and Britain, pledged Thursday to join a "reassurance" force on land, ...

Sudan's RSF Commits 'Myriad Crimes Against Humanity': UN Probe
Sudan's RSF Commits 'Myriad Crimes Against Humanity': UN Probe

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in Sudan has committed numerous crimes against humanity in Sudan's civil war, in particular in its siege of El-Fasher in western Darfur, UN investigators said Friday. The United Nations' fact-finding mission for Sudan also found evidence of war crimes by both sides in the conflict between the regular ...

US Sanctions Palestinian Rights Groups Over ICC Probe
US Sanctions Palestinian Rights Groups Over ICC Probe

The United States has imposed sanctions on three leading Palestinian NGOs, accusing them of supporting International Criminal Court efforts to prosecute Israeli nationals. The move is the latest in Washington's effort to hobble the ICC, which has sought arrest warrants for Israeli officials over alleged war crimes in Gaza. The court has also ...

Beijing Rejects Trump Call to Pressure China on Ukraine
Beijing Rejects Trump Call to Pressure China on Ukraine

Beijing said Friday it "strongly opposes" calls to put economic pressure on China, after US President Donald Trump urged European countries to do so over the war in Ukraine. China has never denounced Russia's war nor called for it to withdraw its troops, and many of Ukraine's allies believe that Beijing has provided support to ...

'God's Influencer' to Become First Millennial Saint
'God's Influencer' to Become First Millennial Saint

An Italian teenager dubbed "God's Influencer" for his efforts to spread the Catholic faith online will become the first millennial saint Sunday at a canonization attended by thousands of pilgrims. Computer whiz Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 aged 15, will be raised to sainthood by Pope Leo XIV in a solemn ceremony in St Peter's Square ...

Trump Rebrands Department of Defense as 'Department of War'
Trump Rebrands Department of Defense as 'Department of War'

President Donald Trump is changing the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War, the White House announced Thursday, insisting the rebrand will project a more powerful image. While the department's official name is set in law, Trump in an executive order is authorizing use of the new label as a "secondary title" by his ...

Russia rejects Western security guarantees for Ukraine after coalition pledges force
Russia rejects Western security guarantees for Ukraine after coalition pledges force

Russia rejected the notion of Western security guarantees for Ukraine on Friday, after more than two dozen countries pledged to join a "reassurance" force to deploy in the war torn country after any eventual peace deal with Moscow. On Friday morning, Putin said any Western troops in Ukraine would be target for Russian army. A force to deter ...