Trump and Zelenskyy among dignitaries converging on Rome for funeral of Pope Francis

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Heads of state and royalty will begin converging on Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square, but the group of poor people who will meet his casket in a small crosstown basilica are more in keeping with Francis’ humble persona and disdain for pomp. U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei are among the leaders arriving Friday. That is the last day Argentine pope will lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica before his coffin is sealed in preparation for his funeral Saturday. More than 90,000 mourners have waited hours in line to bid farewell to Francis, who died Monday.

Donald Trump's trip to Pope Francis' funeral puts a sharper focus on their clashes over the years

WASHINGTON (AP) — The clash in style between Donald Trump and Pope Francis and their positions on migration, the environment and poverty will come into sharper focus as the president travels to Rome for Francis’ funeral. It will be held Saturday morning in St. Peter’s Square. Despite the billionaire former reality star’s divergences over the years with the holy leader known for a humble style, Trump’s support has risen over the years among American Catholics. He courted them in his last presidential campaign, and many influential bishops are among his supporters.

Pope Francis bestowed a special nickname on AP's Vatican reporter for her often-tough questions

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Associated Press reporter Nicole Winfield, who covered Pope Francis at the Vatican during his entire pontificate, earned the nickname “la prima della classe” -- or “the first in class” -- from him in 2018. It came during a particularly low point in his papacy, when he was struggling with cases of priests who sexually abused children. Francis bestowed the name after Winfield challenged him with especially tough questions about his seeming indifference toward Chilean abuse victims. In an AP interview in 2023, Francis acknowledged that the 2018 news conference where the exchange took place was the moment he began to understand the depths of the scandal.

Negotiations between Iran and the US over Tehran's nuclear program return to secluded Oman

MUSCAT, Oman (AP) — Negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s rapidly advancing nuclear program will return Saturday to the secluded sultanate of Oman. Experts on both sides will start hammering the technical details of any possible deal. The talks seek to limit Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some of the crushing economic sanctions the U.S. has imposed on the Islamic Republic closing in on half a century of enmity. Trump repeatedly has threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran’s program if a deal isn’t reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn that they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.

While the world watches Gaza, here is what’s happening in the West Bank

After the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, ignited the devastating war in Gaza, a deadly new reality also took hold for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. With the world’s attention focused on Gaza, Israeli military operations in the West Bank grew in size, frequency and intensity. The army launched the stepped-up campaign to counter what it says is a growing militant threat.

Houthi rebels have shot down 7 US Reaper drones worth $200 million in recent weeks

WASHINGTON (AP) — Houthi rebels in Yemen have shot down seven U.S. Reaper drones in less than six weeks. It's a loss of aircraft worth more than $200 million in what is becoming the most dramatic cost to the Pentagon of the military campaign against the Iran-backed militants. Defense officials say three of the drones were shot down in the past week. This suggests the militants’ targeting of the unmanned aircraft flying over Yemen has improved. Officials say the drones were doing attack runs or conducting surveillance, and they crashed both into the water and onto land. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

India and Pakistan again teeter on the brink of conflict over Kashmir. Here's why

NEW DELHI (AP) — A deadly attack on tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir has again moved India and Pakistan closer to war. The rivals have downgraded their diplomatic and trade ties, closed their main border crossing and revoked visas for each other’s nationals. Pakistan denies it was behind Tuesday’s attack in which 26 mostly Indian tourists were killed at a scenic spot in the Himalayan region. India claims it restored a sense of calm in Kashmir despite a decadeslong rebellion. India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, which is split between them and claimed by both in its entirety.

Judge halts parts of Trump’s overhaul of US elections, including proof-of-citizenship requirement

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has agreed with voting rights groups and Democrats that the Constitution gives the power to regulate federal elections to states and Congress — not the president. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington blocked the Trump administration from immediately enacting certain changes to how federal elections are run, including adding a proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form. Trump had called for this and other changes in a March executive order. The decision is a setback for the president, who has argued a proof-of-citizenship requirement is needed to restore public confidence in elections. Still, the judge allowed other parts of Trump's order to go forward for now, including a directive to tighten mail ballot deadlines.

As immigrant arrests surge, complaints of abuse mount at America's oldest detention center in Miami

MIAMI (AP) — As President Donald J. Trump seeks to make good on his campaign pledge of mass arrests and removals of migrants, the U.S. immigration detention system is being overrun with prisoners. The overcrowding has been especially acute at the Krome Detention Center in Miami, which last month saw its population swell to almost three times its capacity of 600 detainees. Nationwide, detentions have surged to nearly 48,000 as of March 23, a 21% increase from the already elevated levels at the end of the Biden administration. Complaints of mistreatment are going unattended after the Trump administration shut down three Department of Homeland Security oversight offices charged with investigating such claims.

Automakers focus on the global market, chide the US over tariffs at Shanghai's auto show

SHANGHAI (AP) — Booths of big Chinese, German and Japanese automakers are bustling at Shanghai's auto show as the industry keeps its sights on the wider global market not subject to steep U.S. tariffs on imports of cars and auto parts. U.S. President Donald Trump's 25% tariffs may fence the U.S. market in, raising costs and causing companies to recalibrate their strategies. Whatever happens with U.S. trade policy, auto and parts makers indicated their focus is on the fast growing global markets. Some attending the show said they believe that ultimately Trump will end up softening his stance.