world
Israel, Iran play down apparent Israeli strike. The muted responses could calm tensions -- for now
Israel and Iran on Friday both played down an apparent Israeli airstrike near a major air base and nuclear site in central Iran, signaling the two bitter enemies are ready to prevent their latest eruption of violence from escalating into a full-blown regional war.
Ukraine claims it shot down a Russian strategic bomber as Moscow's missiles kill 8 Ukrainians
Ukraine's air force claimed Friday it shot down a Russian strategic bomber, but Moscow officials said the plane crashed in a sparsely populated area due to a malfunction after a combat mission.
Attack blamed on IS militants kills 22 pro-government fighters in central Syria
An attack on pro-government fighters by suspected members of the Islamic State group in central Syria killed 22 pro-government fighters, an opposition war monitor and pro-government media reported Friday.
Italian court drops charges against migrant rescue ship crews and ends long-running legal battle
An Italian court on Friday dismissed a long-running case against rescue ship crews of three humanitarian organizations, dropping charges accusing them of collaborating with smugglers as they helped rescue thousands of migrants at sea.
Apple pulls WhatsApp and Threads from App Store on Beijing's orders
Apple said it had removed Meta's WhatsApp messaging app and its Threads social media app from the App Store in China to comply with orders from Chinese authorities.
UN refugee agency tells Cyprus to stick to the law in its efforts at sea to thwart refugee boats
The United Nations' refugee agency said Friday that Cypriot efforts at sea to stop numerous Syrian refugee-laden boats departing Lebanon from reaching the European Union-member island nation mustn't contravene international human rights laws or put passengers at risk.
Police in Paris detain a man wearing fake explosives vest at Iran's Consulate
A man wearing a fake explosive vest and making threats was detained Friday outside the Iranian Consulate in Paris after police locked down the area, authorities said. His motive was unclear.
The US attempts a new military deal with Niger in a last ditch effort to stay
The United States is attempting to create a new military agreement with Niger that would allow it to remain in the country, weeks after the junta said its presence was no longer justified, two Western officials told The Associated Press Friday.
NATO secretary-general says some allies have air defense systems they could give to Ukraine
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Friday pressed member countries to give more Patriot missile systems to Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeated Kyiv's almost daily appeals for more Western air defense equipment.
Northern Ireland prosecutor says UK soldiers involved in Bloody Sunday won't face perjury charges
Fifteen British soldiers who allegedly lied to an inquiry into Bloody Sunday, one of the deadliest days of the decades-long Northern Ireland conflict, will not face perjury charges, prosecutors said Friday.
Indians vote in the first phase of the world's largest election as Modi seeks a third term
Millions of Indians began voting on Friday in a six-week election that's a referendum on Narendra Modi, the populist prime minister who has championed an assertive brand of Hindu nationalist politics and is seeking a rare third term as the country's leader.
Hungary's Orbán launches EU election campaign with pledge to 'occupy Brussels'
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Friday painted a grim picture of a continent teetering on the edge of armed conflict in a speech opening his party's campaign for European Union elections. He called for a changing of the guard among the bloc's leaders.
Croatia's top court rules President Milanović cannot be prime minister because of campaign
Croatia's Constitutional Court on Friday banned President Zoran Milanović from becoming prime minister in case his center-left party manages to garner a majority after this week's highly contested parliamentary election.
Hackers claim Belarus fertilizer plant infiltrated to demand political prisoner release
A Belarusian hacker activist group claims to have infiltrated computers at the country's largest fertilizer plant to pressure the government to release political prisoners.
Olympic organizers unveil strategy for using artificial intelligence in sports
Olympic organizers unveiled their strategy Friday to use artificial intelligence in sports, joining the global rush to capitalize on the rapidly advancing technology.
Mexico's president is getting a little sloppy in the rush to finish projects before his term ends
Mexico's president is in a rush to finish the big legislative and building projects he promised before his term ends in September, and experts say officials are getting a bit sloppy amid all the haste.
2 suspects detained in Poland for attack on a Navalny ally in Lithuania
Two men have been detained in Poland on suspicion that they attacked Russian activist Leonid Volkov — an ally of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny — on the orders of foreign intelligence services, officials said Friday.
A former Russian tycoon who once led separatist region launches a hunger strike in Azerbaijan jail
A former Russian tycoon jailed in Azerbaijan on charges stemming from his time as a top separatist figure in the Karabakh region has gone on a hunger strike, his family said Friday.
5 Japanese workers narrowly escape suicide bombing that targeted their vehicle in Pakistan
A suicide bomber detonated his explosive-laden vest near a van carrying Japanese autoworkers in Pakistan's port city of Karachi on Friday, police said. They narrowly escaped the attack but three bystanders were wounded.