Iran, U.S. nuclear negotiations set to proceed despite naval clashes

U.S. F-35C downs Iranian drone near carrier as tanker confrontation tests path to nuclear talks A U.S. fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that approached the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Middle East today, the Pentagon said, in a flare-up at sea that coincided with a separate attempt by Iranian forces to detain a U.S.-flagged tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is still expected “to have conversations with the Iranians late this week,” despite…

Spain evacuates thousands as unprecedented torrential rains slam multiple regions

Storm Leonardo unleashed what forecasters called “extraordinary” rain across the Iberian peninsula on Wednesday, forcing thousands from their homes in southern Spain, shutting schools and crippling rail service as authorities warned of life-threatening floods and landslides. Spain’s national weather agency, AEMET, placed parts of Andalusia under its highest red alert for torrential rain, saying the storm risked triggering flash floods and landslides in already saturated terrain. The agency said some locations in the southern…

Fifteen Killed After Greek Coast Guard and Migrant Boat Crash, Police Say

At least 14 people were killed after a Greek coast guard vessel and a boat carrying migrants collided off the Aegean island of Chios near Turkey, Greek authorities said. The crash set off an extensive search-and-rescue effort in the busy sea corridor between the two countries. The collision involved a port police patrol craft and what authorities described as a high-speed small boat transporting migrants. The Greek coast guard said two of its members were taken to a hospital, and 24 migrants were rescued from the water.…

Ukraine, Russia and U.S. envoys hold talks in Abu Dhabi

Ukraine, Russia open Abu Dhabi talks as strikes batter energy grid ABU DHABI — Negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States were set to gather in the Emirati capital on Tuesday, seeking to advance talks on how to end the four-year war as a wave of Russian missile and drone attacks pounded Ukraine’s energy grid in subfreezing temperatures. The meeting, scheduled to run through Wednesday after a postponement last weekend over what the Kremlin called scheduling issues, comes amid grim omens for diplomacy. Europe’s…

Fifteen Dead as Greek Coast Guard, Migrant Boat Collide, Police Say

At least 14 people were killed when a Greek coast guard vessel and a boat carrying migrants collided in the Aegean Sea off the island of Chios near Turkey, Greek police said. Rescue operations were underway following the crash, which happened yesterday. The collision involved a “port police patrol vessel” and a “high-speed” small boat, authorities said. The Greek coast guard said 24 migrants were rescued and two coast guard members were taken to a hospital. Seven children and a pregnant woman were among the injured, Greek…

France charges ten men over rape of drugged five-year-old boy

French prosecutors have charged 10 men in connection with the alleged rape of a five-year-old boy who authorities say was drugged during a “chemsex” gathering in Lille, a case that has jolted France with its severity and rarity. The Lille prosecutor’s office said an investigation opened on Feb. 15, 2025, followed a report of a drug-fueled party the previous night in the northern city. The case has been referred to an investigating judge for alleged acts committed between November 2024 and Feb. 14, 2025, including “rape and…

Donald Trump Signs Budget Deal, Ending the U.S. Government Shutdown

President Donald Trump signed a short-term spending bill to end a four-day partial government shutdown, hours after the Republican-controlled House approved the measure 217-214 amid a bruising fight over funding for the Department of Homeland Security and the administration’s immigration crackdown. The closure, which began Saturday, halted or disrupted nonessential federal services until Congress sent the measure to the White House on Wednesday. Twenty-one Democrats joined Republicans to push the bill through, while an equal…

Netanyahu to US envoy Witkoff: Palestinian Authority barred from governing Gaza

Israel rules out Palestinian Authority role in post-war Gaza; Denmark jails two over embassy attack; IDF to replace Arabic-language spokesman Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told visiting U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff in Jerusalem that the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority will not play any role in governing post-war Gaza, sharpening Israel’s position as international diplomatic tracks remain fluid. “The Prime Minister clarified that the Palestinian Authority will not be involved in administering the Strip in any…

Fourteen killed as Greek Coast Guard vessel collides with migrant boat

Greek authorities say 14 people were killed when a coast guard patrol vessel collided with a small high-speed boat carrying migrants in the Aegean Sea off the island of Chios, near the Turkish coast. The coast guard said 24 migrants were rescued from the water and two members of the patrol crew were taken to a hospital. A search-and-rescue operation, including a Greek air force helicopter, continued into the evening as officials looked for additional survivors. A coast guard official said the collision involved a port police…

French cybercrime investigators raid X’s offices amid ongoing probe

French police searched the Paris offices of Elon Musk’s social media platform X as prosecutors widened a year-long investigation into possible algorithm abuse and fraudulent data extraction. Authorities also ordered Musk to answer questions in April, the Paris prosecutor’s office said. The probe, led by the prosecutor’s cybercrime unit with support from French police specialists and Europol, began after a French lawmaker alleged that biased algorithms on X could have distorted the operation of an automated data processing…