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Iran and the US hold hours of expert talks in Oman over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program
MUSCAT, Oman (AP) — Iran and the United States held in-depth negotiations in Oman over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program on Saturday, ending the discussions with a promise for more talks and perhaps another high-level meeting next weekend. The talks ran for several hours in Muscat, the mountain-wrapped capital of this sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television after the talks that the parties exchanged written po
April 27, 2025 -
US has nearly 900 measles cases, and 10 states have active outbreaks
With one-fifth of states seeing active measles outbreaks, the US is nearing 900 cases, according to figures posted Friday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC's confirmed measles cases count is 884, triple the amount seen in all of 2024. The vast majority — 646 — are in Texas, where an outbreak in the western part of the state that's approaching the three-month mark. Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children died from measles-related illnesses in the epicenter in
April 27, 2025 -
Pakistan calls for neutral probe into Kashmir attack India blames it for
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (Reuters) — Pakistan called on Saturday for a "neutral" investigation into the killings of mostly Indian tourists in Kashmir that New Delhi has blamed on Islamabad, saying it was willing to cooperate and favored peace. India has identified two of the three suspected militants as Pakistani, though Islamabad has denied any role in the attack on Tuesday that killed 25 Indian and one Nepali tourists. "Pakistan is fully prepared to cooperate with any neutral investigators to ensur
April 27, 2025 -
A massive explosion at an Iranian port linked to missile fuel shipment kills 14, injures some 750
MUSCAT, Oman (AP) — A massive explosion and fire rocked a port Saturday in southern Iran purportedly linked to a shipment of a chemical ingredient used to make missile propellant, killing 14 people and injuring around 750 others. Helicopters dumped water from the air on the raging fire hours after the initial explosion, which happened at the Shahid Rajaei port just as Iran and the United States met Saturday in Oman for the third round of negotiations over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear progr
April 27, 2025 -
Only about half of Republicans say Trump has focused on the right priorities, AP-NORC poll finds
WASHINGTON (AP) — Many Americans do not agree with President Trump's aggressive efforts to quickly enact his agenda, a new poll finds, and even Republicans are not overwhelmingly convinced that his attention has been in the right place. Americans are nearly twice as likely to say Trump has been mostly focusing on the wrong priorities as to say he has been focusing on the right ones, according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Further, about 4 in 10
April 27, 2025 -
Trump raises Putin doubts after Zelenskyy talks
ROME (AFP) — US President Donald Trump cast doubt on whether Russian leader Vladimir Putin wants a peace deal, shortly after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the hush of St. Peter's Basilica before Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday. Zelenskyy said they had discussed a possible unconditional ceasefire with Russia and was "hoping for results" from a "very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic." This was the two leaders' first meeting since a noisy White House
April 27, 2025 -
Epstein, Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre dies by suicide
SYDNEY (AFP) -- Virginia Giuffre, who accused disgraced US financier Jeffrey Epstein and Britain's Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, has taken her own life at her home in Australia, her family said Saturday. Giuffre, a US and Australian citizen, was 41. "It is with utterly broken hearts that we announce that Virginia passed away last night at her farm in Western Australia," the family said in a statement provided to Agence France-Presse by her agent. "She lost her life to suicide, after being a lif
April 27, 2025 -
Royalty and presidents joining multitude of mourners at Pope Francis' funeral
Royalty, presidents, prime ministers and a legion of faithful will pay their last respects to Pope Francis on Saturday at a funeral Mass in St. Peter's Square to honour his sometimes turbulent papacy. Among those attending from more than 150 countries will be U.S. President Donald Trump, who clashed with Francis on numerous occasions over their starkly contrasting positions on immigration. The Argentine pope died on Monday, aged 88, following a stroke, ushering in a meticulously planned period o
April 26, 2025 -
UN watchdog asks Iran to clarify tunnels but upbeat on deal
WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency called Wednesday on Iran to explain tunnels built around a nuclear site but voiced optimism that United States-Iran talks would land a deal. The Institute for Science and International Security, a Washington think tank, released satellite imagery on Wednesday that it said showed a new, deeply buried tunnel alongside an older one around the Natanz site, as well as a new security perimeter. "I've been raising this issue rep
April 24, 2025 -
Brazil probes alleged scam to defraud pensioners
SAO PAULO (AFP) -- The Brazilian government said Wednesday it was investigating a corrupt scheme in which associations and unions allegedly stole money from retirees by skimming off part of their pensions. The head of Brazil's National Social Security Institute, which administers pensions, was removed from his post over the scandal that comes as President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's administration grapples with plummeting approval ratings. Four other INSS officials and a federal police officer w
April 24, 2025 -
Dozen US states sue Trump administration to stop tariff policy
NEW YORK (AP) — A dozen states sued the Trump administration in the United States Court of International Trade in New York on Wednesday to stop its tariff policy, saying it is unlawful and has brought chaos to the American economy. The lawsuit said the policy put in place by President Donald Trump has been subject to his “whims rather than the sound exercise of lawful authority.” It challenged Trump’s claim that he could arbitrarily impose tariffs based on the International Emergency Economic Po
April 24, 2025 -
Trump, Zelenskyy clash again and US warns it could abandon Ukraine talks
United States President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy clashed again on Wednesday on efforts to end the three-year-old war in Ukraine, with the US leader chiding Zelenskyy for refusing to recognize Russia's occupation of Crimea. Trump's Vice President JD Vance said it was time for Russia and Ukraine to either agree to a US peace proposal "or for the United States to walk away from this process," echoing a warning from Trump last week. Speaking to reporters in India, Van
April 24, 2025 -
Trump's cabinet ready to take back power with Musk stepping back
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Members of President Donald Trump's cabinet will likely move to limit the influence of Department of Government Efficiency employees and reassert control over budgets and staffing once Elon Musk steps back from DOGE, two government sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. The Department of Government Efficiency, created by executive order the day Trump took office and helmed by billionaire Musk, has spearheaded efforts to shrink the federal workforce and slash th
April 24, 2025 -
A set of first editions of Shakespeare's plays could fetch $6 million at auction
LONDON (AP) — A set of the first four editions of William Shakespeare's collected works is expected to sell for up to 4.5 million pounds ($6 million) at auction next month. Sotheby's auction house announced the sale on Wednesday, Shakespeare's 461st birthday. It said the May 23 sale will be the first time since 1989 that a set of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Folios has been offered at auction as a single lot. The auction house estimated the sale price at between 3.5 million and 4.5 millio
April 24, 2025 -
Bells toll as Pope Francis' body is transferred to St. Peter's Basilica for 3 days of public viewing
VATICAN CITY (AP) — The bells of St. Peter's tolled Wednesday as the body of Pope Francis was transferred from the Vatican hotel where he lived to the basilica, escorted by a procession of solemn cardinals and Swiss Guards. Pallbearers carried the simple wooden coffin on their shoulders through the Vatican's archway gates leading out into St. Peter's Square, the cardinals in their scarlet cassocks processing behind and the Swiss Guards at their sides in their golden and blue uniforms. Francis' b
April 23, 2025