World News

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who led the Catholic Church for nearly eight years before becoming the first pope to resign in six centuries, died Saturday at the age of 95. Benedict’s death followed an appeal by Pope Francis to pray for his predecessor, with the Vatican announcing the former pontiff’s health had worsened due to […]

TAIPEI, TAIWAN — Seventy-one Chinese air force aircraft including fighter jets and drones entered Taiwan’s air defense identification zone in the past 24 hours, the island’s government said on Monday, the largest reported incursion to date. Of the aircraft, 43 also crossed the Taiwan Strait’s median line, an unofficial buffer between the two sides that lies […]

CAIRO — Iranian authorities arrested one of the country’s most famous actresses on charges of spreading falsehoods about nationwide protests that grip the country, state media said Saturday. The report by IRNA said Taraneh Alidoosti, star of the Oscar-winning movie “The Salesman,” was detained a week after she made a post on Instagram expressing solidarity with […]

GABORONE, BOTSWANA — Botswana is developing a national security strategy amid fears of heightened terrorism threats. The country’s minister of defense, Kagiso Mmusi, addressed parliament Thursday. “The emerging global security challenges, such as cybercrime, terrorism, poaching, human trafficking, distribution of drugs, money laundering and transnational organized crimes, continue to threaten Botswana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Irregular […]

Criminalization of journalism is on the rise around the globe with a record 363 journalists jailed, according to data published Wednesday. In its annual census of journalists jailed in retaliation for their work, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) recorded its highest tally since it began compiling data in 1992. The 363 in jail as […]

DOHA, QATAR — Defending champions France edged past England 2-1 on Saturday as Harry Kane missed a late penalty in the World Cup quarterfinals, after Morocco became the first African team ever to reach the last four. France will face the surprising north Africans in a semifinal on Wednesday, earning their place when Olivier Giroud’s header […]

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he expects a long war in Ukraine, but that he saw “no sense” in mobilizing additional soldiers at this point. Putin told a televised meeting of the Kremlin’s Human Rights Council — a loyal group of journalists, activists and public figures — that Russia would continue to “defend ourselves […]

JERUSALEM — In Jerusalem’s Old City, there are dozens of churches. But as Christmas beckons, there is just one Santa Claus — a towering Palestinian former basketball player. Each December, the streets sparkle green and red as Christian pilgrims and others arrive to celebrate Christmas in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem. Seven years ago one resident, Issa Kassissieh, […]

Britian’s Defense Ministry said Monday that the number of missions conducted by Russian tactical combat aircraft over Ukraine “has reduced significantly” to probably “tens of missions per day, compared to a high of up to 300 per day. In its intelligence update, posted on Twitter, the ministry said Russia has lost over 60 fixed-wing aircraft. […]

As World Cup fans throng stadiums across Qatar, about 8,000 American troops stationed just nearby watch over the airspace of the tumultuous Middle East from a major base run by this energy-rich nation. Built on a flat stretch of desert about 20 miles (30 kilometers) southwest of Qatari capital Doha, Al-Udeid Air Base once was […]