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Pope Leo to host Hollywood stars including Cate Blanchett, Pine at Vatican
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -- Lights, camera, action, pope? About three dozen Hollywood stars will meet Pope Leo this weekend, including actors Cate Blanchett, Chris Pine and Adam Scott, the Vatican said on Monday. Also joining a special audience at the Vatican with Leo, the first pope from the United States, will be Oscar-winning directors Spike Lee, George Miller and Gus Van Sant. The pope "has expressed his desire to deepen dialogue with the World of Cinema ... exploring the possibilities that ar
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Ukraine's anti-graft agency alleges $100 million energy kickback scheme
KYIV, Ukraine (Reuters) -- Ukraine's anti-corruption bureau said it was investigating the country's energy sector on Monday, alleging a $100 million kickback scheme involving the state nuclear power company. The state agency, which operates independently of the Ukrainian government, announced the investigation as Ukraine braces for winter with its power sector under frequent fire from Russia and facing regular outages. It alleged in a statement published on social media that a "high-level crimin
Nov. 11, 2025 -
UN warns of rough winter ahead for refugees
GENEVA (AFP) -- The UN warned Tuesday that millions of refugees and displaced people face a grueling winter, with far less humanitarian aid available this year as the coldest months arrive in the northern hemisphere. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, has seen its funding from governments slashed and is trying to raise at least $35 million in public donations to help Syrian, Afghan and Ukrainian refugees through the winter. "Families will have to endure freezing temperatures without things many of us
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Netanyahu and Kushner meet as Gaza ceasefire's first phase winds down
US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, met on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the next stages of the fragile Gaza ceasefire, while Israel returned the remains of another 15 Palestinians. The remains of four hostages are still in Gaza after Palestinian militants released the remains of another on Sunday. The first stage of the ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10 is nearing its end. The next stage calls for the implementation of a govern
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Intense fighting in central Sudan displaces 2,000 people in just days, a UN agency says
Intense fighting in central Sudan displaced some 2,000 people over the past three days, the UN migration agency said Monday, the latest in a war that has convulsed the country for more than two years and killed tens of thousands. The International Organization for Migration said the displaced fled from several towns and villages in the area of Bara in North Kordofan province between Friday and Sunday. Kordofan has been one of two areas, along with the western Darfur region, that recently became
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Canada loses measles elimination status after ongoing outbreaks
Canada is no longer measles-free because of ongoing outbreaks, international health experts said Monday, as childhood vaccination rates fall and the highly contagious virus spreads across North and South America. The loss of the country’s measles elimination status comes more than a year after the highly contagious virus started spreading. Canada has logged 5,138 measles cases this year and two deaths. Both were babies who were exposed to the measles virus in the womb and born prematurely. Measl
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Trump threatens $1 billion action as BBC apologizes for edit error
LONDON (AFP) -- US President Donald Trump threatened the BBC with a billion-dollar lawsuit Monday as the broadcaster apologized for editing a speech that gave the impression he urged "violent action" ahead of the 2021 assault on the US Capitol. In a letter seen by Agence France-Presse, Trump's lawyers gave the British broadcaster until Friday to fully retract the documentary containing the edit, apologize and "appropriately compensate" the president "for the harm caused." If the BBC does not com
Nov. 11, 2025 -
Trump vows to do everything he can to help Syria after landmark talks with Sharaa
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- US President Donald Trump vowed on Monday to do everything he can to make Syria successful after landmark talks with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaida commander who until recently was sanctioned by Washington as a foreign terrorist. Sharaa's visit capped a stunning year for the rebel-turned-ruler who toppled longtime autocratic leader Bashar Assad and has since traveled the world trying to depict himself as a moderate leader who wants to unify his war-ra
Nov. 11, 2025 -
US Senate takes first step toward ending shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate took the first step to end the government shutdown on Sunday after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, angering many in their caucus who say Americans want them to continue the fight. In a test vote that is the first in a series of required procedural maneuvers, the Senate voted 60-40 to move toward passing compromise legislation to fund the government and hold a later vote on extending Affordable C
Nov. 10, 2025 -
EU, Latin America and Caribbean nations hold summit overshadowed by US military operation
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Representatives of European, Latin American and Caribbean nations on Sunday began a two-day summit in Colombia to try to strengthen ties despite questions on the gathering's relevance and divisions in the Western Hemisphere over the US military operation targeting alleged drug-carrying vessels. Colombian officials have indicated they will seek the signing of a declaration on renewable energy, food security, financing and technological cooperation at the end of the summit
Nov. 10, 2025 -
Before talks with Trump, Saudi Arabia doubles down on terms for Israel ties
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters) -- US President Donald Trump has been talking up the prospects of Saudi Arabia agreeing to normalize ties with Israel, but it is unlikely to happen when Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits the White House this month. The establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia after decades of enmity could shake up the political and security landscape in the Middle East, potentially strengthening US influence in the region. Trump said
Nov. 10, 2025 -
Pakistan commits to 'dialogue' despite Afghan talks ending
ISLAMABAD (AFP) -- Pakistan said Sunday it was committed to "dialogue" with Afghanistan despite peace talks ending after deadly violence, with Islamabad stressing its security concerns persist. The two sides met in Istanbul in an effort to cement a truce agreed on Oct. 19 in Qatar, after dozens of people were killed in cross-border fire between the South Asian nations. In its first acknowledgement that the negotiations were over, Islamabad said the third round of talks "concluded" on Friday. "Pa
Nov. 10, 2025 -
Israel confirms receiving remains of soldier killed in Gaza in 2014
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel on Sunday confirmed it had received the remains of Hadar Goldin, a soldier killed in the Gaza Strip in 2014, closing a painful chapter for the country. The 23-year-old was killed two hours after a ceasefire took effect in that year’s war between Israel and Hamas. Goldin’s family waged a public campaign for 11 years to bring home his remains. Earlier this year, they marked 4,000 days since his body was taken. Israel’s military had long determined that he had been ki
Nov. 10, 2025 -
'I miss breathing': Delhi protesters demand action on pollution
Dozens of protesters rallied in New Delhi on Sunday to demand government action on toxic air, as a thick haze containing dangerous microparticles shrouded the Indian capital. Parents in the crowd brought their children, who wore masks and waved placards, with one reading, "I miss breathing." New Delhi with its sprawling metropolitan region of 30 million residents is regularly ranked among the world's most polluted capitals. Acrid smog blankets the skyline each winter, when cooler air traps pollu
Nov. 10, 2025 -
UN says refugees stuck in vicious cycle of conflict and climate
GENEVA (AFP) -- Millions of refugees are trapped in a vicious cycle of conflict and climate extremes, the UN said Monday, urging the COP30 summit to provide financing for the most vulnerable. UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said that within 15 years the places currently hosting nearly half the world's refugees could be facing extreme exposure to climate-related shocks. "Climate change is not only amplifying existing vulnerabilities -- it is also fueling displacement trends, creating complex and co
Nov. 10, 2025