Skip next section Woman leaves 20 tarantulas on German train April 17, 2026 Woman leaves 20 tarantulas on German train A woman has been reunited with 20 tarantulas that she left on a regional train in southern Germany.
Hassan Koko sits on top of a homemade wooden bed, overlooking the majestic hills of the Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan, Sudan. Despite the spectacular view and a comforting late afternoon breeze, he looks uneasy.
Efforts to broker a stable ceasefire in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israel have been underway for many months, with very little progress. Last Sunday, a Hamas delegation set off for Cairo to discuss the next steps in the ceasefire process with Egyptian mediators.
Rain is drizzling as we gather on the runway at the Stuttgart army airfield in southern Germany. It's 2:30 a.m., time for takeoff. A Dash 8 airliner is ready for boarding. The military plane will take us to Sirte in Libya.
An Australian court ordered on Friday bail with travel restrictions for Ben Roberts-Smith, the country's most-decorated living war veteran. The decision comes 10 days after he was charged with war crimes in the killings of five people while deployed in Afghanistan. Roberts-Smith has denied the accusations. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank announced Thursday that they had resumed dealings with Venezuela after a seven-year pause over government recognition issues. The Latin American country's relations with the financial institutions collapsed in 2019 when the IMF recognized the opposition, which controlled the parliament, as the legitimate government.
Skip next section Israel's offensive in Lebanon 'still not complete' — Defense Minister Katz April 17, 2026 Israel's offensive in Lebanon 'still not complete' — Defense Minister Katz Israel's defense minister said the country would resume its offensive in Lebanon if its goals are not met diplomatically [FILE: January 20, 2026]Image: Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday said, "We don't want that [confrontation] but it is our duty to be ready to avoid it… and if it were unavoidable, to win it."
Skip next section Trump says pope must understand Iran threat April 17, 2026 Trump says pope must understand Iran threat US President Donald Trump continued to rail against Pope Leo XIV, telling reporters that Leo could say what he likes about world issues, but that the Pontiff needs to understand the realities of a "nasty world."
As Pope Leo XIV continues his Africa tour, he has remained steadfast in his condemnation of war. On Thursday, the head of the Roman Catholic Church renewed his message of peace in Cameroon, presiding over a meeting designed to foster dialogue in a place that has been experiencing simmering violence for nearly a decade.
The peace talks between the United States and Iran in Islamabad failed to deliver an agreement, with one key issue proving to be the main sticking point: Iran's nuclear program. This week, US Vice President JD Vance said Washington's core demand is that Tehran commits "to not having a nuclear weapon."
The effective halt of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, initially by Iran and the subsequent US naval blockade of Iranian ports, is hitting multiple sectors in India's economy, exposing the country's dependence on the critical trade and energy corridor.