The Fort Worth Press

Alive but weakened, Iran's Khamenei faces new challenges

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has re-emerged after the war with Israel but faces a struggle to maintain the authority he has wielded over the Islamic republic in over three-and-a-half decades of rule, analysts say.

One of Hong Kong's last opposition parties says it will disband

Hong Kong's League of Social Democrats, one of the city's last remaining opposition parties after a five-year political crackdown by Beijing, said Friday that it will disband.

UK govt climbs down on welfare cuts in latest U-turn

The UK government backed down Friday on controversial plans to slash disability and sickness benefits after a major rebellion by MPs, in a blow to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's authority.

China's top diplomat to visit EU, Germany, France next week

China's top diplomat Wang Yi will head to Europe next week for talks with counterparts from the European Union, Germany and France, Beijing said on Friday as it seeks to shore up fraught ties with the bloc.

Hong Kong's dragnet widens 5 years after national security law

Jailed pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong shrugged and shook his head after a Hong Kong court this month announced a fresh charge of breaching the city's national security law.

'Simple monk': the Dalai Lama, in his translator's words

With his flowing red monk's robes, beaming smile and contagious laugh, the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, has been the charismatic global face of his people's cause for decades.

Rwanda, DRC to ink peace deal in US but questions remain

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo will sign an agreement in Washington on Friday to put an end to a conflict in the eastern DRC that has killed thousands, although broad questions loom on what it will mean.

US Treasury signals G7 deal excluding US firms from some taxes

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled Thursday that a deal is forthcoming among G7 nations allowing US firms to be excluded from certain taxes imposed by other countries.

Iran says no plan for new US nuclear talks, plays down impact of strikes

Iran on Thursday denied it is set to resume nuclear talks with the United States after the end of a 12-day war with Israel, and accused Washington of exaggerating the impact of US strikes.

Trump admin insists Iran strikes success, attacks media

The Trump administration went on the offensive against the media Thursday over coverage of strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, insisting the operation was a total success and berating journalists for reporting on an intelligence assessment that raised doubts.

How Trump finally learned to love NATO -- for now

It will go down as the summit where US President Donald Trump learned to stop worrying and love NATO.

Spain PM alleges 'genocide' in Gaza as rescuers say 65 killed

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday became the most prominent European leader to describe the situation in Gaza as a "genocide", as rescuers in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory said Israeli forces killed 65 people.

G20 president S.Africa warns global turmoil hurts poorer nations

Global fragmentation is fuelling unprecedented turmoil and disproportionately harming poorer nations, South Africa's foreign minister warned Thursday, urging a united G20 response for peace.

Top US court allows states to defund largest abortion provider

The US Supreme Court cleared the way on Thursday for states to potentially cut off funding for Planned Parenthood, one of the country's largest abortion providers.

Nigeria's Tinubu signs major tax overhaul

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Thursday signed four landmark bills into law aiming to overhaul the country's tax system, after backing away from more controversial tweaks that would have upended revenue sharing among states.

After NATO deal, how far will EU go for trade peace with Trump?

After satisfying Donald Trump's calls for Europe to ramp up defence spending in NATO, EU leaders were meeting in Brussels Thursday on the next big challenge ahead: how to seal a trade deal with the US leader.

Pentagon chief backs Trump on success of Iran strikes

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth insisted Thursday that American strikes on Iranian nuclear sites were a success, backing President Donald Trump and berating the media for covering an intelligence report that questioned the results of the operation.

Spain PM alleges 'genocide' in Gaza as rescuers say 56 killed

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday became the most prominent European leader to describe the situation in Gaza as a "genocide", as rescuers in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory said Israeli forces killed 56 people.

US Independence Day event no threat to Hong Kong security: consulate chief

The top American diplomat in Hong Kong defended US Independence Day celebrations as "perfectly normal" on Thursday after local education officials reportedly warned teachers and students to stay clear due to national security risks.

UN air service slashes fleet by nearly a quarter

The UN's air service which flies humanitarian workers and cargo to hard-to-reach corners of the world has been forced to slash its global fleet by almost a quarter due to funding cuts, the World Food Programme (WFP) told AFP.

16 dead, thousands of businesses destroyed after Kenya protests

At least 16 people died in protests across Kenya on Wednesday, Amnesty International said Thursday, as businesses and residents were left to clean up the devastation in the capital and beyond.

In Finnish border town, worry mounts over Russian military build-up

In a Finnish town a stone's throw from Russia, Moscow's reported military build-up on its side of the border is raising concerns about the Nordic country's security, locals told AFP.

For Senegal women's basketball team, show goes on without US visas

Members of the Senegal women's national basketball team hustled across the court in central Dakar, dribbling and pivoting as the scuffing noise of their trainers echoed across the empty arena.

Spain PM alleges 'genocide' in Gaza as rescuers say 35 killed

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday became the most prominent European leader to describe the situation in Gaza as a "genocide", as rescuers in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory said Israeli forces killed 35 people.

Khamenei says Trump 'exaggerated' impact of US strikes on nuclear sites

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday said US President Donald Trump "exaggerated" the impact of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, in his first appearance since a ceasefire in the war with Israel took hold.

China hosts Iran, Russia defence ministers against backdrop of 'turmoil'

China hosted defence ministers from Iran and Russia for a meeting in its eastern seaside city of Qingdao on Thursday against the backdrop of war in the Middle East and a summit of NATO countries in Europe that agreed to boost military spending.

US to offer new defense of strikes on Iran nuclear sites

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to hold a news conference on Thursday to offer a fresh assessment of strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, following a stinging row over how much American bombardment set back Tehran's nuclear program.

The reluctant fame of Gazan photojournalist Motaz Azaiza

At a church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hundreds of people gathered recently for a weeknight charity fundraiser hosted by a celebrity guest.

Denmark to push for stricter EU migration policies

Denmark's strict migration policies have slowly spread across Europe and the country will now push for harsher EU-wide regulations during its upcoming EU presidency, including on asylum handling and legal appeals.

China hosts Iranian, Russian defence ministers against backdrop of 'momentous change'