Pope Francis is showing ‘slight improvement’ after pneumonia diagnosis, Vatican says
Pope Francis is showing “slight improvement” after being diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs, the Vatican said on Wednesday in its latest update on the 88-year-old pontiff’s health. His “clinical conditions are stable” and his blood tests show “a slight improvement, in particular of the inflammatory markers” the Vatican said. The announcement comes after the Vatican said Francis had a peaceful night in hospital.
Tourists flock to erupting volcano in Italy, blocking rescue workers
A week of spectacular lava sprays on Sicily’s snow-capped Mount Etna, one of the world’s most active volcanos, has drawn thousands of people wanting to see the eruption. But the sudden influx of sightseers has become a safety risk, according to Salvo Cocina, head of Sicily’s regional Civil Protection agency.
Romanian minister says he did not face US pressure over influencer Andrew Tate
Romania’s foreign minister said he had not come under pressure from US President Donald Trump’s envoy to lift restrictions on social media influencer Andrew Tate, who faces human trafficking charges, despite them discussing the case. The Financial Times reported on Monday, citing sources, that US officials had brought up the case of Tate and his brother Tristan, both former kickboxers with dual US and British citizenship, in a phone call to the Romanian government.
Israel demolishes West Bank apartment buildings as military campaign displaces tens of thousands of Palestinians
Israeli forces demolished more than a dozen apartment buildings at a refugee camp in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, a Palestinian official told CNN, the latest move in a military operation that has displaced tens of thousands of Palestinians. Since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack, Israel has engaged in an increasingly militarized campaign that it says targets West Bank militants, employing tactics like airstrikes that were once nearly unheard of there. The Israel Defense Forces launched a major campaign - “Operation Iron Wall” - focused on the northern West Bank last month.
Iran accuses detained British couple of spying
Iranian authorities have accused a British couple detained in the country since January of spying, state media reported Tuesday. Mizanonline.ir, a news website affiliated with the country’s judiciary, cited Asghar Jahangir, a spokesman for the judiciary as saying that the Revolutionary Guard’s intelligence forces incarcerated the couple, a man and a woman, while in the southern city of Kerman at the time. They are accused of spying and having links to intelligence agencies of “hostile countries” and collecting information from several Iranian provinces, according to Jahangir who didn’t provide further details.
Chinese film ‘Nezha 2’ becomes world’s highest-grossing animated movie
Chinese animated blockbuster “Nezha 2” overtook Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” on Tuesday to become the highest-grossing animated film globally, according to data from ticketing platform Maoyan. “Nezha 2” has amassed a total box office of 12.3 billion yuan ($1.69 billion) including pre-sales and overseas earnings, making it the eighth-highest box office film globally.
British journalist missing in Brazil for nearly two weeks
A British journalist living in Brazil has been missing in the South American country for nearly two weeks, according to an association of foreign correspondents. Charlotte Peet, 32, last contacted a friend in Rio de Janeiro on February 8, according to a Tuesday statement from the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents in Brazil (ACIE). Texting over WhatsApp, Peet asked the friend for a place to stay, saying she was in São Paulo and was planning to head to Rio, the statement said.
Hamas to turn over bodies of Shiri Bibas and 2 young children
The Israeli government has received confirmation on the identities of the deceased hostages due to be released from Gaza on Thursday. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum Headquarters confirmed the names of Shiri Bibas and her two children, as well as Oded Lifshitz, a journalist and peace activist. All four were murdered while in Hamas custody.
Two Britons detained in Iran charged with spying, Iranian judiciary says
Two British nationals detained in Iran have been charged with espionage after they allegedly gathered information in different parts of the country, the Iranian judiciary's Mizan news agency reported on Tuesday.The two were named as Craig and Lindsay Foreman, and their family said on Saturday they were engaging with relevant authorities to ensure the pair's well-being and safe return home. "The detained individuals entered the country as tourists and collected information in several provinces of the country," Mizan said, without giving further details. British media have said they are a married couple.
Anti-Israel protest in NYC devolves into violence and mayhem
A group of anti-Israel demonstrators descended on an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in New York City on Tuesday, leading to violent clashes and chaotic scenes, according to reports and video. Several fights broke out as the agitators chanted, "Zionists go to hell," and waved Palestinian flags at the Borough Park protest in Brooklyn. The neighborhood is well known for its large Orthodox Jewish population.