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CIA suspects Covid originated from a lab but lacks confidence in finding

The finding is not the result of any new intelligence, and the report was completed at the behest of the Biden administration and former CIA Director William Burns

Families of hostages appeal to Trump to pressure Netanyahu to end war

Under the deal, about one third of the hostages are to be released during the six-week first phase. The release of the remaining hostages is to be negotiated during a second phase

Israeli military sets up roadblocks in Lebanon, won't withdraw by deadline

The Israeli military, meanwhile, confirmed that it will not complete its withdrawal from southern Lebanon by Sunday

Released Palestinian prisoners arrive to celebrations in West Bank

They were likely acting under duress, with previously released hostages saying they were held in brutal conditions and forced to record propaganda videos

Israel releases 200 Palestinian prisoners in Gaza as part of ceasefire deal

The release came hours after Hamas freed four young female Israeli soldiers from captivity in Gaza

Yemen's Houthi rebels unilaterally release 153 war detainees: Red Cross

This operation has brought much-needed relief and joy to families who have been anxiously waiting for the return of their loved ones, said Christine Cipolla, the ICRC's head of delegation in Yemen

Gaza ceasefire: Who are the four Israeli soldiers freed by Hamas?

Israel's military campaign has killed over 47,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters but says more than half were women or children

Ireland, UK begin clean-up after Storm Eowyn causes widespread damage

Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in the Republic of Ireland, neighbouring Northern Ireland and Scotland, remained without electricity on Saturday

China warns Rubio to act prudently in first call since his appointment

The short phrase seemed aimed at Rubio's vocal criticism of China and its human rights record when he was a US senator, which prompted the Chinese government to put sanctions on him twice in 2020

Fighting in Sudan's civil war ignites flames at largest oil refinery

Thick plumes of black smoke towered over the site, carried south toward Khartoum by the wind. Exposure to that smoke can exacerbate respiratory problems and raise cancer risks

Democratic states weigh support for immigrants as Trump admin cracks down

Resistance efforts in California, New York and other states are a counterpoint to the many Republican-led states advancing measures to aid Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration

Israel, Hamas set to swap more hostages for prisoners in latest exchange

On Saturday, four hostages are expected to be freed for 200 prisoners, including 120 who are serving life sentences after being convicted of deadly attacks on Israelis

Philippines accuses China's naval forces of harassing fisheries vessels

Beijing has repeatedly asserted sovereignty over most of the South China Sea and accused rival claimant states, including the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia of encroachment

Senate heads to approve Kristi Noem as Trump's homeland security secretary

Republicans were determined to barrel through on Noem's confirmation, threatening to keep the Senate working through the weekend to install Trump's national security Cabinet officials

Sudan's largest oil refinery set ablaze in civil war, satellite photos show

Attacks around the refinery, owned by Sudan's government and the state-run China National Petroleum Corp., represent the latest woe in a war between the rebel Rapid Support Force and Sudan's military

Trump pumps coal as answer to AI power needs but boost may be short-lived

Trump this week suggested coal can help meet surging electricity demand from manufacturing and the massive data centres needed for artificial intelligence

Trump proposes 'getting rid of FEMA' while visiting North Carolina

Instead of having federal financial assistance flow through FEMA, the Republican president said Washington could provide money directly to the states

Nigerian soldiers killed 79 militants, kidnappers in the past week: Army

Nationwide operation by Nigeria's military led to the arrest of 252 individuals and the liberation of 67 hostages held by the militants

Trump, Vance join anti-abortion activists, celebrate 'March for Life' gains

Trump has already made quieter moves on abortion, including pardoning several right to life activists and using wording related to fetal personhood in an executive order

State Department halts new funding for nearly all US aid programmes

Order sent in a cable to US embassies worldwide prohibits new government spending, which appears to limit programs to running only as long as they have cash on hand