CNN World

By Simone McCarthy, CNN Hong Kong (CNN) — As Russian President Vladimir Putin prepares for his heavily choreographed May 9 “Victory Day” military parade, he’s been clear who’s at the top of his guest list: Xi Jinping. The Chinese leader arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for a four-day state visit, Russian state news agency RIA

By Sophia Saifi, Vedika Sud, Jerome Taylor, Ross Adkin, Rhea Mogul and Helen Regan, CNN Islamabad, Pakistan / New Delhi, India (CNN) — India launched military strikes on targets in Pakistan, both countries said on Wednesday and Pakistan claimed it had shot down five Indian Air Force jets, in an escalation that has pushed the

By Christopher Lamb, CNN Rome (CNN) — When the cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday at the start of conclave, the process of electing a new pope, they will be sealed off from the world. But that doesn’t stop people trying to influence the thinking of the 133 prelates who will choose a successor

By Rob Picheta, CNN (CNN) — Germany’s Friedrich Merz has formally become chancellor at the second attempt, hours after an unprecedented defeat signaled deep discontent within his coalition. In a hastily organized session on Tuesday afternoon, 325 lawmakers voted to approve his appointment — more than the 316 he required. His appointment was approved by

By Rhea Mogul, CNN (CNN) — Multiple major airlines are avoiding flying over Pakistan as relations with neighbor India crater in the wake of a recent tourist massacre, the latest geopolitical flashpoint to disrupt global travel. Air France said it has suspended flying over the South Asian country until further notice because of the “recent

By Sharon Braithwaite, Caitlin Danaher and Christopher Lamb, CNN (CNN) — All mobile phone signals will be deactivated in the Vatican on Wednesday ahead of the highly secretive conclave to elect the next pope, Italian state media reported. The Vatican also plans to use signal jammers around the Sistine Chapel to prevent electronic surveillance or

By Chris Lau, CNN (CNN) — Japan’s Emperor Emeritus Akihito will be admitted to hospital for heart tests on Tuesday, public broadcaster NHK reported, citing the Imperial Household Agency. Akihito, 91, who is retired, is the father of Emperor Naruhito. He abdicated from the Chrysanthemum Throne in 2019, seven years after he had heart bypass

CNN By Nic Robertson, CNN Sarjiwar, Pakistani-administered Kashmir (CNN) — Malik Khadim’s lips tremble, his voice chokes and his head dips as he raises a hand to his grief-stricken face. It’s a vain effort to stem the tears gushing down his gaunt and weatherbeaten cheeks. Khadim is a farmer who lives on the Pakistani side

By Olivia Kemp, CNN London (CNN) — Britain is marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day this week with four days of commemorations honoring the end of World War II on the continent, as well as those who served and perished during the conflict. The official surrender of Nazi Germany to Allied

By Christian Edwards, CNN (CNN) — One of them often dons a Trump-style red baseball cap and wants to make his country “great again.” The other visited the US president at the White House to drum up support. Both could soon become presidents of major allies on Ukraine’s border. In Romania, the hard-right euroskeptic George

By Dana Karni, Lucas Lilieholm and Oren Liebermann, CNN Jerusalem (CNN) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the population of Gaza will be displaced to the south after his security cabinet approved an expanded military operation in the enclave that a minister described as a plan to “conquer” the territory. The vote on Sunday

By Caroline Baum, CNN Paris (CNN) — French police rescued the father of a cryptocurrency entrepreneur from his kidnappers Saturday night, but found he’d had one of his fingers severed – the latest in a spate of abductions tied to cryptocurrency. The victim, who has not been publicly identified, was forced into a van by

By Ibrahim Dahman, Eyad Kourdi, Abeer Salman, Oren Liebermann and Tareq Al Hilou, CNN (CNN) — Hamas has executed six Palestinians in Gaza and shot 13 others in the legs for alleged looting, the militant group said in a statement, as desperation grows under a complete Israeli blockade that has now entered its third month.

By Max Saltman and Gustavo Valdes, CNN (CNN) — It’s Saturday night at a rooftop bar in downtown Atlanta, and the band Orden Activa is about to launch into a Mexican ballad. What seemed like a shy and reserved audience suddenly transforms as the opening chords of the trotting polka begin. The crowd rises to

By Sophie Tanno, Christopher Lamb and Antonia Mortensen, CNN (CNN) — US President Donald Trump posted an AI image of himself as the pope, prompting accusations of poor taste in the Roman Catholic community just days before the conclave to elect Pope Francis’s successor is due to begin. Trump, who days prior joked that he