AP

By The Associated Press Iran’ s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday made his first public appearance since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran began, attending a mourning ceremony on the eve of Ashoura. Khamenei’s absence during the war suggested the Iranian leader, who has final say on all state matters, had been

By SAMAR KASSABALLI and BASSEM MROUE Associated Press DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — British Foreign Secretary David Lammy met in Damascus on Saturday with Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, marking the restoration of relations after 14 years of tension during Syria’s conflict and Assad family rule. Syria has been improving relations with Western countries following the

By WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMYA KULLAB Associated Press DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — U.S.-led ceasefire efforts in Gaza appeared to gain momentum Saturday after nearly 21 months of war, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ’s office said Israel on Sunday will send a negotiating team to talks in Qatar. The statement also asserted that

By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV signaled commitment to continuing the fight against clergy sexual abuse by appointing France’s Bishop Thibault Verny to head the Vatican’s child protection advisory commission on Saturday. Verny, 59, replaces American Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the retired archbishop of Boston. O’Malley was the founding president of

By TOM NOUVIAN Associated Press PARIS (AP) — Cries of “It is warm!” rang out across the Seine on Saturday morning as Parisians jumped into the river — legally — for the first time in more than 100 years. Public swimming was allowed in designated areas of the Seine, including two newly built wooden decks

By ELISE MORTON Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Ukraine said it struck a Russian air base on Saturday, while Russia continued to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones overnight as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than 3-year-old war. Ukraine’s military General

By SHONAL GANGULY and SHEIKH SAALIQ Associated Press DHARAMSHALA, India (AP) — Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said that he hopes to live until he is over 130 years old, days after he laid out a succession plan by saying he plans to reincarnate after his death. The Dalai Lama, who is celebrating his